...and suddenly Spring bursts in

 

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.

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

Favaritx, the Light in the Darkness

 

 

 

 

I hope this finds you, your family and friends, safe and well.

May the Joy of Christmas give you Light to dispel any darkness.

Picture: Favaritx, by José Orfila.

Cala d'es Pou d'en Caldes

 

 

One of the sections of Cami de Cavalls that best define the rich and varied environments that make up the island’s north coast. The itinerary starts at Cap de Favàritx, a space that is well known for its dark rocks and the scarcity of vegetation.

The course passes through typical Minorcan agricultural surroundings, formed of ploughed fields, fields for livestock to graze in and areas with Mediterranean bushes. As the path approaches the coast again, it reaches Pou d’en Caldes, a space with dense concentration of endemic plants.

 

 Arenal de Mongofre

Pou d'en Caldes

Mongofre Vell
 

Cavalleria

 

Undoubtedly, the times we are living are uncertain, but that gives us the opportunity to revisit some places that I wanted to see after some time.

The initial idea was to walk from Cala Pregonda to Cala Viola, in the Cavalleria area, trying to find in the rocks of the coast a deposit of cephalopod fossils that I had heard of.

But the area well worth a visit. 

 

 The beach at Cavalleria, also known as Cala Viola de Llevant.  A beautiful and lonely beach in these first days of November.

Although it was not what I was looking I found this set of fossils of plant appearance.

In practically the entire coastal contour of the island there are military structures that were built before the Spanish Civil War. Most of them belong to the state because they are located within the maritime-terrestrial domain zone.

 
However, in many of them, some locals have turned them into fishing warehouses or even places to spend the weekend .It's not the right thing to do, but at least they take care of the buildings and prevent their deterioration.

Lathyrus ochrus. Muntanya Mala.

Lathyrus ochrus is a annual growing to 0.6 m (2ft). It is in flower from March to June, and the seeds ripen from August to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. 

Although no records of toxicity have been found for this plant, the seed of some species in this genus contain a toxic amino acid that can cause a severe disease of the nervous system known as 'lathyrism' if they are eaten in large amounts (although small quantities are said to be nutritious)

Gloria

A storm with the disturbing name of Gloria has hit our country viciously.

And despite its destructive power, it has left precious images in the island.

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.

April

Camí de Cavalls. Binigaus, Cala Escorxada.

In a splendid morning of January we have completed the stage of the coastal path that goes from Santo Tomás to Cala Escorxada.

The route always passes near the sea, through pine groves, rocky trails and cliffs. It is not difficult and in just over an hour and a half we have reached our goal that was Cala Escorxada -very lonely at this time of year- and found a paleontological site of what I had read, but I had never seen before.

 Cala Escorxada

Binigaus

 Gastropod fossil on the rocks near Escorxada.

What is this I found on the beach? is it a mermaid's purse?

The enchantingly named structures are the egg cases of skates and some sharks. This is why they are also known as skate cases.

While some sharks bear live young, some sharks (and all skates) release their embryos in leathery egg cases that have horns and sometimes long tendrils at each corner.

The tendrils allow them to anchor to seaweeds or other substrates. Each egg case contains one embryo. The case is made up of a material that is a combination of collagen and keratin, so a dried egg case feels similar to a fingernail.

Barranc d'Algendar and the story of "Es Capitanet"

Barranc d'Algendar, in Ferreries.

 One of the nicest walking routes in Menorca.

Es Barranc d'Algendar is a wonderful place in the area of the south of Menorca. There are few legends and stories that are hidden among the majestic vegetation and cliffs. Stories of distant times, lost pirates, looting, mysterious animals, lovely ladies ... There are many topics and stories, but there is one that arouses a special interest: the story of Jaume Soler Adrover, popularly known as "Es Capitanet".

"Es capitanet" which is a diminutive of captain that was applied as a consequence of his short stature was a very peculiar person. Is is believed that he was born in Ibiza and in Majorca is where his military career started, he bravely fought in the Carlist Wars in Catalonia and after having made a small fortune he came to Menorca where he married a woman from Ciutadella and bought the farm called S'Aranjassa in Es Barranc d'Algendar.

 An old picture of S'aranjassa. Might be taken while "Es Capitanet" was still alive.

Those who knew him, say that over the years, he lost his mind and saw enemies where there was nobody, and so, sometimes he was seen fighting with his sword in the middle of a path against .. .no one.

This situation got worse with the years and even more after his wife passed away. Then, his extreme religiosity was added his undoubted belief in reencarnation and also in the witches that he claimed were watching him.

When he felt close to dying he did not want to make a will in favor of his distant relatives -the couple never had children-, nor did he want to give his belongings to the Church in case he returned from his grave, so he finally wrote a document in which he agreed the Bishopric of Menorca could use in the following 400 years his estates S'Aranjassa and Es Canalo, (which, incidentally, was another farm that he had won to another farmer playing cards in a stormy night), but the two farms had to remain under his name, so he could recover them in case he came back.

Es Canalo.

Jaume Soler "Es Capitanet" passed away in 1922, so the Bishopric of Menorca can use the farms but not sell them. Not in the next 304 years as he might come back to claim for them. Today, both properties are carrying out enviromental education activities for children and teenagers.

walking off the beaten tracks

Still very good weather, which invites to do long strolls.

Ses Coves Noves. A farm which appears already listed in an old 1722 British map of Menorca. So the house can be over 300 years.

Bindweed. "Corritjola Borda"

Hedge bindweed or bellbind (Calystegia sepium) with its pure white trumpet flowers is a familiar sight, choking plants in borders and twining around any plant shoot or cane.

According to an old Menorcan superstition if seeds of this plant are placed under the pillow we can have telltale dreams.

Wild flowers in May

Cistus salviifolius

Hippocrepis balearica

Ferula communis

Vicia benghalensis

Gladiolus illyricus

Anacamptis pyramidalis

Sanitja and Malva Sylvestris.

The Sanitja port or Sanisera is a natural port located next to the old roman town Sansiera. The port is in the Caballeria cape and it has an approximately lenght of 800 meters and very little depth which represent a perfect shelter against Tramuntana wind for boats.

The port isn’t very exploited and you can barely see few little wooden boats during high season. The entrance to the port used to be very protected by the Sanitja Tower, a british Tower of Defense built of stone and mortar in 1801. The inside of the tower can’t be visited because over time, it has deteriorated significantly and it’s almost demolished.

The scientific name, Malva sylvestris, is just as lovely as this flowering plant in the Malva genus, and is more popularly known as high mallow or common mallow. This plant is often found in fields and hedgerows and has a striking purple flower. It is native to western Europe, but has spread to portions of the Mediterranean and northern Africa, and has been imported to much of the English-speaking world. 

 The flowers and leaves of this unique herb are used for medicinal purposes, particularly in topical applications as a pain reliever.

Ornithogalum Arabicum

or Llágrimes de Sant Pere. 'Sant Peter's tears' is how we call this plant in Menorca.

In full flower, close to Algendar, today.

San Gabriel

The charm of derelict places.

Malachite in Es Pla de Mar.

For years I had wanted to follow the trace of the malachite mineral that was extracted in Menorca from very ancient times. Experts say that mining has been carried out in the island from prehistoric times up until the end of the 19th century. 

Although there is no clear evidence of this, the filon that alternates malachite and lignite crosses the cliff and it is so colorful that it is not difficult to think that these small nodules that of mineral that appear could be collected and worked in small scale, as it happens in many other prehistoric communities.

Macar d'Alfurinet.

Copper mineral Thread

Malachite (a Copper Carbonate Hydroxide) is a famous semi-precious stone. The stone's name comes (via Latin and French) from the Greek molochitis, "mallow-green stone", from molochē, variant of malachē, "mallow". Its banded light and dark green layers are so characteristic that malachite is easily recognized, even by non-specialists. The beautiful green of Malachite has been known for millenia. It was mined by ancient civilizations, and when ground to a powder it was used as a pigment.

Malachite is typically associated with copper deposits within limestones (limestone being the source of the carbon in Malachite). 

Malachite from Es Pla de Mar.

Thus, and based on quotations from old archaeological works and more recent works on the history of local mining, we were looking for ore veins in the area of Costa de Alfurí, Cala Pilar and Bombarda until we found the old mines.

Nearby farm Sant Bernat