The wealthy, well-healed tourists carved their niche on dramatic Northwestern coast from Estellencs through Valledmossa, Deia, and Soller. Here, care was taken to preserve beautiful old fincas, and a number of them became small exclusive hotels and resorts. This area was always more exclusive than more accessible regions of island because of Serra de Tramuntana Mountain range which divides it from rest of island. Up until late 1990's when EEC began to make money available for major development, even major roads leading to Northwestern coastal towns were very narrow and poorly maintained. The trip to Deia from airport at Palma took over an hour even though actual distance is only about 30 km as crow flies. Now, however, new roads have made travel much easier.

Today Mallorca is home to quite a few expatriate residents from England, and America, but many of these long-term residents are leaving due to current "German Invasion." As European Union became a certainty in 90's, Germans afraid of loosing money with equalization of European currencies began to flood Mallorca spending exorbitant sums on properties and businesses where rate of exchange worked in their favor. The net result of all this German investment was rapid, massive inflation on island. Now, less than ten years later, no native Mallorquin can afford to buy property. On entering any restaurant, foreign guests now are addressed in German first. Upon learning that guest is not German, many waiters will visibly relax, and if guest speaks Spanish or Mallorquin, waiter will often indulge in a bit of good-natured "German-bashing."

The negative effects of tourism long ago seeped through very fabric of life on Mallorca. Now, however, with dramatic escalation of prices locals can no longer afford to buy houses. Maintenance work for those who already own their houses can only be done at outlandish prices since wages have increased to compensate. The Germans have been chilly neighbors, fortifying their properties with impenetrable walls to keep prying eyes away.

Now, however, financial advantages for Germans have evaporated, and other expatriate residents are expecting property prices to return to a more affordable level.

Here are some agencies that place enrichment providers: International Voyager Media 11900 Biscayne Blvd., Suite 300 Miami, FL 33181 (305) 892-6644

Karp Enterprises, Inc. 1999 University Dr., Suite 213 Coral Springs, FL 33071 (305) 341-9400

Lectures International P.O. Box 35446 Tucson, AZ 85740 (520) 297-1145

Lauretta Blake, The Working Vacation 4277 Lake Santa Clara Drive Santa Clara, CA 95054-1330 (408) 727-9665

On Board Promotions 777 Arthur Godfrey Blvd., Suite 320 Miami Beach, FL 33140 (305) 673-0400

Program Experts, Inc. P.O. Box 510 Cresskill, NJ 07626-0510 (210) 569-7950

Posh Talks P.O. Box 5417 Palm Springs, CA 92263 (619) 323-3205

Semester at Sea, Institute for Shipboard Education University of Pittsburgh 811 William Pitt Union Pittsburgh, PA 15260 (800) 854-0194 shipboard@sas.ise.pitt.edu

Entertainers - are employed directly by large cruise lines, but are contract temporary employees. It is also possible to get gigs through agencies which keep a percentage of entertainer's salary. (My guitar teacher at university spent her summers cruising back and forth to Mediterranean while playing jazz flute and guitar. In her spare time she combed hillside villages for makers of unique renaissance style instruments which she taught her students to play each fall.) Contracts can run from just a few days in length to several months. You may work on 1 ship or rotate between several. If you are a professional entertainer, one of following agencies should be able to assist you in finding a position on a cruise ship.

Bramson Productions 1501 Broadway New York, NY 10036 (212) 354-9575

Fiesta Fantastica 230 S. W. Eighth St. Miami, FL 33130 (305) 854-2221

Jean Anne Ryan Productions 308 S. E. Fourteenth Street Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316 (305) 523-6399

Peter Grey Terhune Productions P.O. Box 715 Cape Canaveral, FL 32920 (407) 783-8745

Ray Kennedy Production Co. 244 S. Academy Street Mooresville, NC 28115 (704) 662-3501

Ship Services International, Inc. 370 W. Camino Gardens Blvd., 3rd Floor Boca Raton, FL 33432 (407) 391-5500

Showmasters 3038-D N. Federal Highway Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33306 (305) 563-8028

There is one other short-term temporary position available on many cruise ships, and I would be remiss if I failed to mention it. There is sometimes a need for Male Escorts of a "certain age". This role is best filled by gentlemen who are good conversationalists and dancers. In exchange for keeping single ladies company they earn free cruises. Contracts usually last 2 - 4 weeks. Applicants for this position should be well groomed, out-going and courteous, with some ability on dance floor. Their health must be good, and they should not be heavy drinkers. Contact cruise lines directly to learn more and to apply for jobs.

Here is a list of websites to contact if you are interested in finding a job on a cruise ship:

actionjobs.com shipjobs.com cruiselinejobs.com jobsonships.com travelwest.com cruise-jobs.com cruiseshipschool.co.uk www.cooljobs.com

And finally, I found several books listed at amazon.com about working on cruise ships:

Working on Cruise Ships, by Sandra Bow, 192 pages, $15.95 new, $7.50 used

How to Get a Job With a Cruise Line: How to Sail Around World on Luxury Cruise Ships and Get Paid for It, by Mary Fallon Miller, 352 pages, $11.87 new, $5.05 used

American and Canadian Cruise Ship Employment Manual, by John, Degolacao Rodrigues, 120 pages, $19.95 new, $17.00 used

How to Get a Job on a Cruise Ship, by Steve Hines (editor), Don H. Kennedy, 152 pages, $14.95 new, $10.64 used

Cruise Ship Jobs!, by Cynthia Ossenfort, 80 pages, $12.95 new