Alcaufar. Beach and Martello Tower.

During the last period of British occupation (1798–1802) of Menorca, Sir Charles Stuart, the then British governor, ordered Engineer Captain Robert D´Arcy to build some 12 Martello towers along the coast.

These, when added to the three Spanish towers already in place, gave Minorca 15 towers. (wikipedia)

The Spaniards built the tower at alcaufar in 1786.

Click here to see a detailed work about Menorcan Towers, with their location at Google Maps.

Beach in the winter

The water may be too cold to swim in...

 but still a beautiful place for a long walk.
Calan Porter, today.

Apricot trees

Despite awful weather, apricot trees, (Prunus armeniaca), have started their blossom in the fields close to the Hotel.

Very low temperatures are expected during the weekend.

Iron bird crossing Mahon harbour

A Boeing Chinook helicopter was used yesterday to transport two extremely heavy artillery guns from the fort of Saint Phillipe to the fortress of La Mola

Vincent

Vincent Van Gogh wrote to his brother Theo Van Gogh in March 1888 in Arles.

 "The weather here is changeable, often windy with turbulent skies, but the almond trees are beginning to flower everywhere."

The same things might have been written in Menorca these days. It's cold and windy today, but the almond trees (Prunus amygdalus) are blossoming everywhere.

Camí de Cavalls, Son Bou to Calan Porter

 It has been a beautiful morning so far today, and we have done a long walk along Cami de Cavalls. From Torre d'en Gaumes to Calan Porter and back. 

 The track goes through the fields at the beginning and going deep into the ravines full of fruit orchards to exit by the beachside

The farm house Torre d'en Gaumés, with an old defense tower attached

The Orchard

 The two large trees in the picture are pecan trees.

The pecan  Carya illinoinensis, is a species of hickory, native to
 North America and Mexico.

Old times in Es Castell

A regular French guest has sent this old picture he bought in a flea market in a village close to Paris. He recognized the building at the back and he thought we'd like it. The photography is printed in France but it is clear that is taken in Es Castell. I will try to know more about the group of people who appear in it

Strong winds and high tides at Cala Sant Esteve

A buoy off the coast of Mahón harbour reported last night a wave height of 8,2 meters (27 feet),
It is very, very cold!

Dry stone walling

in the fields around the Hotel