...and suddenly Spring bursts in

 

Talatí de Dalt. 2022.

Continuing with my intention of revisiting all the T shaped monuments called 'Taula' on the island, this afternoon I went to Talatí de Dalt.

At the entrance to the ruins of Talatí de Dalt there is a talayot. The structure of the settlement is divided into the public area, with a sanctuary and central taula, and the private area, with houses and hypostyle chambers (storage rooms). This taula is unusual in that it is balanced against a column which must have fallen against it accidentally, but which is still in equilibrium today.

Taula Sanctuary

The finds located during the excavations shed light on the trype of diet people had by then. The study of the bones that were found gives us informations about what the inhabitants of this settlement had.

Storage chambers

Goats. For meat and milk.

Sheep. Their wool was posibly used to produce textiles.

Pigs. Their fat was very important since olive oil was not produced in Menorca yet in this period.

Oxen. Possibly used as draught animals for transportation and plowing.

Cows. For meat and milk to make cheese. 

Camí de Cavalls. Els Alocs to Benimel.lá

The "Cami de Cavalls" is a hiking route that borders Menorca in its entirety. Sometimes it runs a few meters from the shore and other times it goes into the interior of the island.

Years ago, the young people used to go around the island in stages. Today it is a tourist attraction and in summer many people go hiking, although the hardest stages are not usually done in summer due to the heat.

The geological wealth of this area is remarkable. On the other hand, the vegetation is scarce and in general there is little natural life. At least we didn't find much on this cold February morning.

This is one of the least easy stages since, although the distance to be covered is not very long - about twelve kilometers - it crosses some quite inhospitable landscapes and some impressive cliffs over the sea.

Na Beltrana

 

Another of the prehistoric religious sites called Taulas. This one in Ferreries. In a farm called Na Beltrana

Son Rotger.

Experts believe that there are 33 of these monuments from the Neolithic Era. It might be there were more but they were either destroyed or just they have not survived to this day.

In any case, I was determined to find this winter some of those that are not easily accessible and this is one of them.

Just before entering the town of Cala en Porter, by road with a gate entitled 'Sant Vicent' which leads to the farm of San Rotger can be seen. In the bush on the right side  lies a talayot (block piled tower). And on the eastern rocky foot of the talayot, a headless taula with scratches stands. Curiously, this taula does not stand on the rocky foot level but in a pit like a bathtub with other pillar stones.

Es Caparrot de Forma

On the cape of Caparrot de Forma near the Es Canutells development is a necropolis consisting of 23 artificial caves or hypogeums.

Of particular interest on the site is a large wall running across the coastal headland along the isthmus. Inside, two circular constructions can be distinguished, and under a pile of stones, a fresh water well. The wall is included as part of the Talayotic Minorca World Heritage bid.

Llosa d'en Pudent

 

Walking the Camí de Cavalls around the island. Llosa d'en Pudent in the south Coast.

26.11.2021

Torrellafuda

The Torrellafuda settlement dates from the Talayotic era and was inhabited until Islamic times, as indicated by the archaeological remains found. 

The settlement, set in a holm oak wood, consists of a single large talayot, a taula enclosure, several houses and a necropolis of four hypogeums or artificial caves. There are other structures including a cistern from the Roman or Mediaeval era and sections of a cyclopean-type wall.

In one of the hypogeums a batch of lead sling balls from the Roman era was found.

Rocket man

 The Russian Soyuz MS-19 spacecraft in space above Menorca.

Chess in the Time of Covid.

 

Mahon Festivals 2021. 

Aquijo and Hotel del Almirante

 

 

The 86 m (282 ft) superyacht Aquijo was launched at the Oceanco yard in Alblasserdam, United States based Tripp Design Naval Architects designed the exterior of Aquijo, with interior design by Dölker + Voges GmbH.

As of June 2018, she is the largest ketch in the world.

 

Superyacht Aquijo, just outside Hotel del Almirante. (picture by Francesc García Arbos)