Day 22 - Menorca

Our last full day. Sunny, 26 *C no wind. 

Walked down to the harbour for lunch at El Cachito for lunch.

Catching some last minute sun before we have to return to 11*C in Sydney!

Dinner at Perla kitchen and bar. Very generous Aperol Spritz for my last drink on holiday! 

9 km. 

Day 21 - Menorca

Discovered the city park - Parque Es Freginal - in Mahon.  In 1535 it was the samp for the ottoman pirate Barbarossa - Red Beard.  In 1970 it was saved from a developer and now 12,000 square metres of park can be enjoyed by all. 

The gardens, the fish markets and lots of other places around mahon have flower displays “for peace”. 

Went for a cruise around the harbour. This is Mahon old town from the water with its three cathedrals. 

The owners of this house 50m off the shore we’re determined not to have neighbours. They can still drive up to their back door though. 

Illa del Rei - Illa de l'Hospital From British rule. It’s now an art gallery and gardens in the making. 

Quarantine Island from the back…

Quarantine Island from the main entry. 

The Moll Fortress that almost bankrupt the Spanish government in 1875. 

Saracen ruin. Actually it is the tower of Saint Claire nuilt in 1799 by the British.  There are lots around the island and hundreds around the Mediterranean. 

Tug boat. 

Dinner - Arjau Restaurant. 

11 km today.

Day 20 - Menorca

Sunrise - from our balcony. 

1695 Franciscan Convent now the Museum of Menorca

Interior

Special botanical display in the central courtyard of the museum where there is a well. 

A mosaic tile display. 

Close up of the mosaic. 

One of the tiny goats that once inhabited the island. They became extinct in 2500 BC so not recently! 

Iglesia San Francisco de Asís 1719 

Spectacular interior of the San Francisco Church. 

View from Amarre Restaurant where we had dinner. 

The big propeller. 

Dinner - Amarre.

9 km today. 

Day 19 - Menorca

Mahon rest and recovery day with some sightseeing and more of the same for our last 4 days. Sunny, 28*C and very little wind predicted for the next four days so should be lovely.

Mahon - sunny and warm. 

Came across some sort of festival today. Two large dancing figures accompanied by a brass band escorted by the police. 

The whole troupe. 

We were worried we wouldn’t keep up our daily average steps so we are going to dinner at 23 Can Avelino which is a ten min walk from the hotel! Fabulous dinner of Galacian octopus, aged beef tenderloin, suckling pig and apple tartin with Menorcan ice cream. Yum. 

View from our table - the waterfront you have when you don’t actually have a waterfront at a restaurant! 

 8km today. 

Day 18 - Menorca - Es Migjorn

Two “Cathedrals” and Son Bou To Es Migjorn Gran

Distance: 14km Total ascent: 280m

Starts in Son Bou & follows the new routing of the Cami de Cavalls which heads to the marshland of Sant Jaume. The route turns south to the sea and then west to Binigaus & its barranco (limestone ravine). The rugged path ascends close to Cova des Coloms (cave of the doves) said to be large enough to accommodate a cathedral. Our second “cathedral” of the day before returning to Es Migjorn Gran. 

This is the view of the first “cathedral” we expected to see for the day - The Basilica de Son Bou.  

This is what we saw! Needed a drone, obviously.

Son Bou looking west. 

Son Bou beach - Visiting to southern beaches today which are beautiful long expanses of just off white sand but there are lots of very imposing units built right ion the beach before heritage restrictions prevailed.

Same view as above with the unit block in the picture! 

One of the prettiest walks today along to coast. Lots of greenery as we are on the lee side of the prevailing winds and there are lots of farms with good soil. 

Substantial paving stones through the swamp. 

New olive wood gate. 

Lovely part of the walk with a tunnel of trees. We’ve often heard a nightingale on our walks. The British are stunned because they only sing at night in the UK. We figure they are on holiday over here and are free to sing in the daylight! 

First time it was possible to ride horses on the Cami de Cavalls (path of the horses!) and we saw horses.

Looking back towards Son Bou, where we started. 

   Tiny coves with incredible colours to the water. 

Sant Tomas

Leafy and shady. 

Long expanses of sand with no people.

Cova des Coloms (cave of the doves) A huge cave where bats and birds reside. The second “Cathedral” for the day. We arrived to hear a German choir singing which was incredible but maybe not for the bats, apparently!

Cows!

Climbing up out of the ravine to Es Migjorn Gran.

We’ve also seen this beautiful Hoopoe around the hotel but I haven’t got a good photo yet. 

16.1km today. 

Day 17 - Menorca - Cala Galdana

Cliffs And Coves Of The Southwest Coast Path, Son Xorgiuer To Cala Galdana

Distance: 15km Total ascent: 300m

Our journey to Son Xoriguer takes an hour. The walk follows the Cami de Cavalls with sections of limestone paths, pine woodland, low cliff tops and generally natural coast of remote and deserted caves and several sandy beaches. Including Son Saura, Cala debs Talaier, Cala en Turqueta, Cala Macarelleta and a viewpoint above Cala Macarella. 

The walk finishes in the popular village of Cala Galdana with plenty of bars to relax in after a day’s walking.

Cool and breezy but no rain so far.

Son Xoriguer

Cala de Son Saura. 

Field being ploughed. Despite years ago of clearing there are still lots of stones. Those bushes are piles of stone covered in vines. 

Cala de Son Vell

Limestone. 

Spanish civil war gun embattlements from Spanish civil war. 

Looking back at the well hidden gun embattlements.

Cala Turqueta - Unbelievable colour of the water, even on a cloudy day. 

Cala Turqueta. 

Steve celebrating 007. 

Cala Macarelleta. 

Cala Macarella

Cala Galdana is gorgeous. It’s a pity there is a huge 12 storey building taking over the whole seafront (just to the left of this photo). They’ve since revised planning laws and it’s now 3 storeys maximum! 

18.9km total today.