Summer, sunshine and celebrities... After the "misters", the budding starlets and other super-humans, it's now turn for the A-People, those known in international circles as the really beautiful, rich and famous: Michael Douglas has already been here (see Mallorca News No. 0 and No. 2), it looks like Claudia Schiffer won't be coming, but Peter Gabriel's visit is confirmed. However, for the locals the summer highpoint is still the Royal Family's yearly visit. Prince Felipe has been seen on the decks of the royal yacht, near Portals Nous, in the company of friends and his new "girlfriend", a New York model (Foto). King Juan Carlos is expected next week, for his usual stay at Marivent, his summer residence. Security measures have been significantly increased after the King's close shave with the terrorist band, E.T.A. last summer. Tourists will also be affected by these measures since the Civil Guard has decided on passport controls. What it really comes down to is keeping the terrorists away and letting the "paparazzi" enjoy their high season.

She came for fun and games with some friends..., and by the time she left she had posed as a model for the first time. Contrary to the popular belief that she was first discovered at a famous Dusseldorf disco, Claudia Schiffer first posed as a model in the summer of 87, a year before she became internationally famous. The Mallorcan photographer, Pedro Coll, met that sweet sixteen year-old "fraulein" at Tim's Bar in Puerto Andratx and convinced her to pose for him. The French magazine Paris Match has now published those photographs taken at the pool and at Es Trenc, a local beach, along with juicy anecdotes concerning the event. It seems that Claudia's parents, owners of a house in La Mola, Andratx, for the past twenty years, were a little reticent when it came to signing the contract, but they were happily surprised to find that their daughter's summer fun could bring in a little extra money: a 30 pound check for Claudia's very first photographic session.

It's finally officially confirmed. On August 31st there will be an exciting boxing match at the very same setting where usually powerful bulls and daring bullfighters defy each other: at Palma's Bullring, considered one of the most beautiful in the country. Olympic middle-weight champion, Thorsten May (one of promoter Sauerland's team) will put on a special show. Contrary to what was originally said, he won't be fighting world champion Adolpho Washington, who will have to defend his position against aspiring Alfred Cole. Although May's rival hasn't been decided on yet, RTL television channel (who have acquired broadcasting rights) is waiting eagerly for the final outcome of such an event. Sports' department producer Horst Fuhrig says "it's bound to be quite a show given the setting, in spite of the fact that they aren't fighting for world championship". Anyway, this Cologne based private German TV channel is ready and waiting to broadcast the event.

First the new terminal at Son Sant Joan, Palma airport's was going to be finished by January '96. Then it was winter '96. But at this point it's doubtful whether it will even be ready by spring of '97. The real explanation for this outrageous delay is the following: for financial reasons, the project was given to the company offering to do it at the lowest price, an alliance between FCC and Dragados. It now turns out that these companies will have to make do with the fixed stipulated price, 21 thousand million pesetas, with no margin for bonuses or extra payments of any sort. According to Mateo Cladera, spokesperson for airport administration, AENA, quoted from Mallorca Magazin, "the contract did not state deadline for the completion of the construction". As the saying goes, buying cheap ends up being expensive.