September 18th. Happy Birthday!

Genesis of a storm and some of our wonderful guests

With Summer gone and Autumn underway its traditionally a good time for 'End of Summer Storms' in the Mediterranean Region.

This year’s exceptionally high sea temperatures may have been a catalyst for storms like this one which was forming a few miles North of Mahon.

And not only storms. We have had a number of repeating guests visiting us this end of season too.

The Gang, in words of Mrs. Haggar, 

Left to right: Mr. Luff, Mrs. Crook, Mrs. Maycock, Mr. Crook, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Maycock, Mrs. Luff, Mr. Langley, Mrs. Buckman and Mrs. Haggar.

Mostra de Cuina Menorquina 2016

In late September, and every year, some of the best restaurants on the island hold this gastronomic event in which the ingredients to make the dishes are exclusively local.

Despite being a dreary day with some showers, our choice was the Restaurant Binissues, north of Ferreries.

Located in an old farm house that once belonged to a famous noble family of Menorca, the architecture of the building imposed by its chromatic impact on the countryside.

 Binissues

 

Pork Fillet with Dates, Bacon and reduction of Sherry Wine.

 Baked Gilt Head Bream. 

52 Super Series in Mahon Harbour

Twelve TP52s are competing for the 52 World Championship title on the Balearic Waters off Mahón, starting yesterday.

 Everybody Wants to Rule the World

Whilst there is no denying that Quantum Racing are the stand-out team this season – starting the fourth regatta of the 52 SUPER SERIES with a handsome overall lead on the season standings – it would be no surprise at all if it were to be any one of half a dozen different crews which leave Menorca clutching the title and the silverware next Sunday.

Some members of the Crew of the Ran Racing Team are allocated in the Hotel del Almirante, so no doubt the RAN is our favourite for the victory.

Celebrities!

Hotel del Almirante had a surprise visit from Richard Branson today.  He played tennis with his coach.  Very accommodating chap.  He was very happy to have his photo taken wirh many guests.  Here'a mine. (Judith Lee)

This is a real VIP , Richard Branson came to play tennis, I hovered and he invited me onto court to have a photo, nice chat too, lovely guy. (Sue Wilson)

 Satur is the real VIP! (Reid McKillop)


Long time visitors to Almirante will know that the real VIP's for them are their regular customers. Exciting though isn't it. Two 'celebrities' so far this year. Nicholas Parsons who stayed with his wife, and now Richard Branson just popping in. Makes you wonder who's going to turn up next! (Barry Williams)

Correcting a mistake and an uncommon winter bird

A guest/friend who did not leave his/her name has pointed a mistake I've done when identifying a plant in a Wild Flowers post. The flowers that I showed as Allium Triquetrum is not that plant. Despite it is very similar in appearance, the real Allium Triquetrum is this one

In Spain where we tend to assign dramatic or religious (or both) names to many things, we call this plant 'Lagrimas de la Virgen Maria' Virgin Mary's Tears. The plant belongs to the same genus as onions and garlic.

I saw this bird yesterday evening in a flooded meadow close to Lluriach. According to Javier from Menorca Walking Birds, it might be a Glossy Ibis, which is rare in Menorca.

Glossy Ibis Plegadis Falcinellus in Menorca

Season 2015. Game Over.

It's been a long Season but it is now over.

Last Guests, Mr. & Mrs. Lee, Mr. & Mrs. Kersey and Mr. & Mrs. Houghton left on Saturday evening and the Hotel del Almirante has already closed its doors until late April 2016.

Nice meal with all the Staff in Es Casino de Sant Climent. Time to say goodbye and show out gratitude to Satur who has been for many, many years our right hand man. He retires this winter. We will certainly miss him althought he will always be in the Almirante's memories, and also I have the feeling we will keep seing him very often.

Bowles Tournament Hotel del Almirante 2015. Provisional Results.

The competition has just started two days ago but...

...the Ladies are three games ahead!

 

The sun sets over Menorcan fields.

The magic and charm of the island countryside pictured by Roberto Di Toro. Worderful photographer, guest and friend.

Grow, bloom, die: The curious case of Agave Americana

Not so long ago,  I was talking to one of our regular guests, Mrs. Moores about a particular species of cactus and the long stamen that was growing from the center of the plant. I told Mrs. Moores I would take some pictures of it in case when they come again in august the flowering season have already finished.

 

June 3rd.

 

June 27th.

 

July 12th.

July 22nd. 

 Agave Americana in bloom

Originally from Mexico, the agave now grows across the world in similar growth conditions: a sunny and dry climate, and well-drained soil. There are a few of them at the entrance of the Hotel.

Although it is called the century plant, it typically lives only 10 to 30 years. It has a spread of about 6–10 ft (1.8–3.0 m) with gray-green leaves of 3–5 ft (0.9–1.5 m) long, each with a prickly margin and a heavy spike at the tip that can pierce to the bone. Near the end of its life, the plant sends up a tall, branched stalk, laden with yellow blossoms, that may reach a total height of up to 25–30 ft (8–9 m) tall.

In the wild, agave plants flower at the age of between 10 and 25 years. After that, the parent plant will die, but not before leaving behind some genetically identical 'pups'.

In Mexico drinks are made by cutting off the flower head and collecting the rising sap - as much as 1000 litres per plant! The sap is then fermented into a drink called pulque, and can then be distilled to make the spirit mescal (a related plant, the blue agave, is used to produce tequila).

Agave Americana at the NHM of London.

Mogambo sails around Menorca

£100m super yacht Mogambo was seen yesterday at Cavalleria beach on the North coast of the island.

The Mogambo has five decks, four of them above the waterline. The top deck, or "sky lounge", has a hot tub, gym and a glass roof, and directly below that is the captain's bridge and an outside deck area. The third, main deck has a master suite, a private terrace and an entertainment area, with six cabins for the 12 guests on the fourth deck.

There is also a sauna, steam room, massage room and rain shower, which all open on to a swim platform. In the "tender garage" at the rear of the ship there is a 25ft inflatable boat and a 38ft motor yacht.

It was flying a Grand Cayman flag and is registered to George Town, the Caribbean tax haven's capital.

As our customers know, the policy of discretion that our company keeps does not allow us to provide details on whether some of our guests have been seen on board. Maybe there are only rumours.

Superyachts Mogambo website

Cycling in Menorca.

Our first guests this season have been Mr. Pierre Di Marco and his friends. A group of enthusiastic cyclists who pedaled around part of the island by the "Cami de Cavalls" last April.

This video is the result of his journey.

Nos premiers clients cette saison ont été M. Pierre Di Marco et ses amis. Un groupe de cyclistes enthousiastes pédalé autour d'une partie de l'île par le «Cami de Cavalls" Avril dernier.

Cette vidéo est le résultat de son voyage.

Rock Samphire

A few days ago, Mr. Johnson, a British guest who can cook Paella better than many Valencian chefs, showed to me a plant that had collected on the coast. He knew it well.

On the cliffs by the sea, in places where the waves often splashing rocks during bad weather periods, it grows the Crithmum commonly known as Rock Samphire or Sea Fennel. 

The plant developes with a minimal need for land, between the cracks of rocks and their growth depends on ground conditions or moisture.  

It is well known in England and in the 17th century, Shakespeare referred to the dangerous practice of collecting rock samphire from cliffs. "Half-way down, Hangs one that gathers samphire; dreadful trade!". In the 19th century, samphire was being shipped in casks of seawater from the Isle of Wight to markets in London at the end of May each year. Rock samphire used to be cried in London streets as "Crest Marine"

This pickle is very popular in Mallorca, for centuries, as a companion to traditional dishes (pa amb oli, trempo, soups ...) previously prepared in vinegar. Its collection was banned for a few years, but it is so abundant that now, its collection is currently allowed for family or personal use. 

The ideal season for its collection is in May, before it starts  flowering.

John Curtis British Entomology (1824-1840) Folio 174 Coreus scapha synonym of Enoplops scapha (the Sea-side Coreus).The plant is Crithmum maritimum (Rock Samphire)

Rock samphire has fleshy, divided aromatic leaves that Nicholas Culpeper described as having a "pleasant, hot and spicy taste". Althought it is not as popular as it is in Mallorca, here in Menorca it is lately getting fashionable to do so. 

There is no a universal formula forits preparation. The basic thing is to put the fennel in glass jars, after washing and cover completely with goos quality vinegar. But there are who claim that it has to be washed in seawater and brackish will make it more resistant to the passage of time and will give more firmness to the products. There are also some superstitions that say you have to add chickpeas in each boat, always in odd number (3, 5 or 7) so they do not corrupt and keep in perfect conditions.

What is said about Lord Nelson, and our sincere thanks to Mr. & Mrs. Lee.

May I start by thanking to Mr. A. & Mrs. C. Lee for their gift of a beautiful antique satirical cartoon engraving known as "Nelson and crocodiles" that today hungs on the Hotel walls. It is a magnificent piece and another copy of it is at the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich.

SW Fores (publisher). The Gallant Nelson Bringing Home two Uncommon fierce French Crocodiles from the Nile as a Present to the King (October 1798) James Gillray.

This caricature was published in the wake of Nelson’s victory at the Battle of the Nile (1798). Anti-war politicians Charles Fox and Richard Brinsley Sheridan are shown in the guise of crocodiles, a recurring theme emphasizing Nelson’s exotic victory. Muzzled and in chains, they are led by the pro-war Nelson to George III and cry crocodile tears which fall on deaf ears.

 Horatio Nelson by Lemuel "Francis" Abbott

But was Nelson ever in Menorca? Is it any truth to the legend of his stay in the Golde Farm with Lady Hamilton? 

Nelson did visit Minorca in 1799 for the purpose of convincing Minorca's military governor, General James Erskine,  to give him troops for the siege of Malta.  Nelson’s diary indicates that he arrived in Mahon on October 12 of that year.  It’s also clear that Lord and Lady Hamilton stayed behind in Naples. There’s correspondence between Nelson and Ambassador Hamilton where Hamilton reports on his wife’s health and passes on her greetings to Nelson. Nelson’s diary confirms that, except for a visit to General Erskine and the Naval Yard, he did not leave his flagship.  As one historian concludes, the documentary evidence shows the story about Nelson and Lady Hamilton enjoying a romantic sojourn in Minorca to be “a fairy tale.”   Still, it’s a good story.

The photo above is of “Golden Farm” or San Antonio, a beautiful building high on the northern slope of Port Mahon Harbor. Some reports say that Nelson stayed here while visiting Minorca in HMS Foudroyant.  Menorca tourist guides and and the occasional publication will also refer to it as Nelson and Lady Hamilton’s “love nest.”  The fog of legend once again clouds the immortal memory.

July. Some Guests.

 

Mr. & Mrs. Gregory

 Ms. Bevan & Ms. Pollock. Winners of our Quiz Game 2013

Mr. & Mrs. Healey

The Hotel del Almirante in stitches

For some two years one of our guests; Mrs. Maureen Wright has been capturing the ambience of the hotel entrance carefully perfected in the medium of cross stitch.

Maureen has presented this to the Hotel and I am pleased to tell you it is framed and displayed in our home.