Sant Joan d'es Vergers.

According to the Menorcan Chronicle, King Alfonso III, after a bloody battle against the Muslims, let his army to rest in a place called Pla des Vergers, only a few miles from the Hotel, and ordered two masses to be sung: one in honor of the Virgin Mary as symbol of the new era begins for the island within the Christianity and the other one for the souls of the killed in battle. Over time, a chapel to San Juan Bautista would be built in this place. This was built in the 14th or 15th centuries, since the construction system corresponds to the Levantine Gothic. 

 

 In the middle of the 16th century there was a brotherhood of San Juan in Mahón that annually organized a parade to the chapel to celebrate the Baptist festival. This was held until well into the 19th century.

The little church has undergone many reforms throughout the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. According to Archduke Lluís Salvador, the current church is the result of a restoration in 1712. It is a small building, with a single nave covered with a simple ribbed vault and divided into two sections by an ogival arch. It does not have side chapels and the vault discharges on two exterior buttresses. The interior decoration is very sober. The 19th century façade is a body added to the nave with a slightly pointed arch that gives access to a small portico covered with a pointed vault. This is topped with a belfry. On the access portal there is a small window with the openwork Maltese cross.

I hope this could also be the beginning of something new and the end of this pandemic that would be left behind.

End of Season 2019.

It's been a long 184 days season. May 1st. when we opened seems ages ago.

Now it's time for a deserved rest for all the staff. We've been to TAPS CAN AVELINO for a meal and get together, and this is how the harbour was after that. So Quiet.

As simple as that. Be natural.

When the summer season ends, it is time to discover the natural values of a more unknown island.

 Menorca Biosphere Reserve 

Since 1993

Portuguese ship

A Portuguese torpedo ship crossing the harbor in front of Collingwood House.

Sunset over Collingwood House

Picture by Jose Muñoz.

...another misty morning.

Mahon harbour and the Hospital Island in the middle of the fogg.

Splendour time for Almond Trees

Mahon 1959, ....and Collingwood House too!

In this video you can see (minute 5) how was Collingwood House in 1959. It was not a Hotel yet. The works to make a 'pension' here started in 1961.

The Atlante in Cala Figuera

The ship that appears in this picture was called 'Atlante' and during the Spanish Civil War, was used as a prison boat.

Today exactly 80 years ago that 52 people who were imprisoned in this ship were shot and killed. Most of them were people of the clergy.

I belong to a facebook group that publishes and comments old photographs of Menorca. Today this image has been published and a great controversy has been generated among descendants of the relatives of the murdered and defenders of the Spanish Republic. It is not a novelty. 80 years later the wounds of this war remain unhealed.

By the way, the building that you can see at the top of the cliff

 is the Collingwood House, the Hotel del Almirante.

Hotel del Almirante, Nelson's Home?

A pencil drawing made in 1851 that shows the South shore of Mahon harbour and Collingwood House on the cliff. 

 

The original is in the Maritime Museum of Greenwich and erroneously the author, George Pechell Mends, naval officer, indicated that it was the house of Lord Nelson.

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)

'Cel rogent, pluja o vent'

Hotel del Almirante. 5.22 AM

'Cel rogent, pluja o vent' is a Catalan proverb alluding to dawn with reddish sky presage rain or wind.

After several weeks of invariably blue skies, at little more than the five o'clock in the morning this was the color of the sky.

Clouds. Breezy South winds and some rain drops have fulfilled this portent once again. It is the popular wisdom.

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.

End of September with an Explosive Cyclogenesis

A very intense and rapidly deepening and intensifying storm passed yesterday over Menorca.

Several minor damages were hold in the island but aparently there was nobody injuried.

Here are some of the isobaric maps already that  reflected what it happened.

 This surface map clearly shows a well developed storm that can be categorized as a wather bomb due to its signature pressure drop. 

Fortunately it is sunny and bright -althought windy- today.

The worst storm in the last 33 years.

According to the local papers this has been the worst storm in the last 33 years. There were 460 lightning recorded in Es Castell 

between 12 noon and 3PM.

Calas Fons became a river.

Bowles Tournament Hotel del Almirante 2015. Provisional Results.

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

...the Ladies are three games ahead!

 

Early morning at Mahon harbour

Pictures taken from the fields surrouding the Hotel in this splendid Summer morning.

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.

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.