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. 

Chess in the Time of Covid.

 

Mahon Festivals 2021. 

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.

Restoration of paintings in the vaults of Santa Maria

It has been hard work but the restoration of the paintings of the largest church in Mahón is already finished.

The Church of Santa Maria Mahon, was built between 1748 and 1772 on the site of a thirteenth-century Gothic church. The interior is neo-Gothic style, with a single vaulted nave, has many side chapels dedicated to different saints. Outside we find a very simple decor, with a bell tower and the door that opens onto a small enclosed space.

It has an impressive organ built in 1810 by masters Francisco Otter and Joan Kiburz from Barcelona. It´s 15 meters high and 9 meters wide. It has four keyboards and 3006 pipes sound (197 are made of wood and the remaining of metal).

All pictures by Andreu Murillo.

Sunrise in Mahon Harbour.

7.50 a.m. 11 08 2018, The danish sailing vessel GEORG STAGE (1935 ) moored at Port Mahón. —

Picture by José Muñoz

...somebody is watching? Cudia Cremada stone wall.

 In Menorca there are countless kilometers of dry stone walls. They are a heritage that, although simple, must be valued and taken care of. Some of them were erected more than four hundred years ago and sometimes, if you look closely, you can find some curious detail of those who raised it.

 One of the thousands of dry stone walls in the fields of Menorca.

 odd stones in the wall.

 Is that a face?

Someone watching.

Epic Trail Menorca 360. 2018

A 185KM legend

The Trail Menorca Camí de Cavalls (TMCdC) is an ultra distance event consisting of flip Menorca for coastal path originally drawn by the British over 300 years ago and whose main purpose was to defend the island.

This is a race of 185 kilometers that has a positive slope of 2863 meters in which each rider will discover their limits and enjoy the idyllic scenery in this wonderful lost corner of the Mediterranean sea, full of dreamy beaches, impossible cliffs, magical views and local cusine with which to celebrate that life is a race in which you score goals and experiences.

To overcome the challenge, each rider has 40 hours to finish an adventure with taste of an adventure. Also the organization provide 15 aid stations on the route with water, sports drinks, fruits, nuts, energy bars, among others products, or foods with the same caloric intake.

The start was last Friday, May, 18th 2018, and definitely a part in the life of any runner who took part of one of the longest non-stop test and no doubt pretty trailrunning european landscape.

Mahon town again lost under the fog

There it is, fog, atmospheric moisture still uncertain in destination, not quite weather and not altogether mood, yet partaking of both.

 Accurate words of Hal Borland.

 Beautiful picture by Sandra Pons.

Common Crane. Occasional visitor at Es Grau.

It could be said that today winter has arrived with all its severity to Menorca. Rain and cold winds have hit the island since last night.

The Common Crane is not a bird that is seen every year in Menorca, but this morning there was in the Albufera de Es Grau a group of specimens enjoyng the swampy meadows.

...another misty morning.

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

The warriors rest

The Super Series again in Mahon in September 2017.

The 'Secret' in Mahon harbour

Like many other millionaires, the Walton (owners of the supermarket empire Wal-mart) have visited with their superyacht the port of Mahon.

Secret Superyacht

Holly Week in Menorca. When the islanders express their devotion.

Although I am not a particularly religious person, I can not ignore the feeling of huge hurt and compassion shown in the processions of Holy Week in any town in Spain.

In Menorca, many people take part in the processions, either as Nazarenes, wearing their long tunics and hidden faces, or as part of the brotherhoods of centurions (representing the Roman soldiers who executed Jesus), or as components of the bands of drums and sacred music that accompanies them. 

 Our Lady of Solitude is one of the best-known and most widely-followed images in the town. 

The large group of brotherhoods, with their images, is really overwhelming.

All the pictures today, by Javier Coll.

Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor at the Teatre Principal in Mahon.

Take your seat as the action begins and get transported to 17th-century Scotland and let the talented Orchestra Simfónica de Les Illes Balears and the Royal Opera de Valonia (Liegge) take you on an exhilarating, high-drama flight of murder and madness. From secret rendezvous between lovers and tragic duels at dawn to the chilling bel canto notes of the unhinged bride in Lucia's aria "Il dolce suono," this tale of star-crossed lovers unfolds entrancingly over three captivating acts.

Friday June 2nd at 9 PM and Sunday June 4th at 8 PM

Binifaell Vell

Binifaell vell is the name of a farm that has existed for hundreds of years near Sant Climent. According to the inventory of archaeological sites in Menorca, there are the ruins of a Talayot of considerable size in their lands, so this morning I took advantage of the day to get there.

I have not been able to find the talayot. Although ancient ceramic remains are seen in different places and even a 'moló', which is a prehistoric hand mill, I have had to settle for photographing the old farm building and the flower of chicory.

Common chicory, Cichorium intybus is a perennial herbaceous plant of the dandelion family Asteraceae usually with bright blue flowers. It lives as a wild plant on roadsides in its native Europe, and is now common in North America, China, and Australia, where it has become widely naturalized.

The chicory plant is one of the earliest cited in recorded literature. Horace mentions it in reference to his own diet, which he describes as very simple: "Me pascunt olivae, me cichorea, me malvae" ("As for me, olives, endives, and mallows provide sustenance"). It is not only an edible plant as it has also traditional medicinal uses.

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.

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.

The Amerigo Vespucci in Mahon Harbour in a windy morning

The Amerigo Vespucci arrived early today to Mahon Harbour and it will remain in port for a few days.

The Amerigo Vespucci is a tall ship of the Marina Militare, named after the famous Italian explorer. Its home port is La Spezia, in Italy and it is in use as a School Ship.

In 1925, the Regia Marina ordered two school ships to a design by General Lieutenant Francesco Rotundi of the Italian Navy Engineering Corps, inspired by the style of large late 18th century 74-cannon ships of the line(like the neapolitan ship "Monarca"). The first, the Cristoforo Colombo, was put into service in 1928 and was used by the Italian Navy until 1943. After World War II, this ship was handed over to the USSR as part of the war reparations and was shortly afterwards decommissioned.

The second ship was the Amerigo Vespucci, built in 1930 at the (formerly Royal) Naval Shipyard of Castellammare di Stabia (Naples). She was launched on February 22, 1931,^[1] and put into service in July of that year.

The vessel is a full rigged three-masted steel hull 82.4 m (270.34 ft) long, with an overall length of 101 m (331 ft) including the bowsprit and a maximum width of 15.5 m (51 ft). She has a draught of about seven metres (23 ft) and a displacement at full load of 4146 tons. Under auxiliary diesel-electric propulsion the Amerigo Vespucci can reach 10 knots (19 km/h) and has a range of 5450 nm at 6.5 knots.

The three steel masts are 50, 54 and 43 metres high, and carry sails totalling 2824 m² (30400 ft²) The Amerigo Vespucci has 26 sails – square sails, staysails, and jibs: all are traditional canvas sails. When under sail in severe sea and wind conditions she can reach 12 knots (22 km/h). The rig, some 30 km of ropes, uses only traditional hemp ropes; only the mooring lines are synthetic, to comply with port regulations.
The hull is painted black with two white stripes, harking back to the two gun decks of the ships her design is based on, but she carries only two 6pdr saluting guns in pivot mountings on the deck, forward of the mainmast. The deck planks are of teak wood and must be replaced every three years. Bow and stern are decorated with intricate ornaments; she has a life-size figurehead of Amerigo Vespucci. The stern gallery is accessible only through the Captain's saloon.

'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.

Winter colours in Mahon harbour.

Although being a rather temperate winter evenings are a little cooler. Mahon harbor was deserted yesterday afternoon, just a few strollers or boats owners repairing a fault. Most sadly closed bars and restaurants. The tourist season seems so far away ...