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Published: September 8th 2017
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We are staying in Menorca for nearly a month, so it is worthy of an introduction. Daddy's parents bought a small apartment just outside of Mahon some 25 years ago (when daddy was 16 years old), and it has been rented and used irregularly. It is a beautiful spot, and certainly an easy way to secure accommodation during the huge European holiday rush in August. The capital of Menorca is Mahón (or Maó in local dialect), which sits on the world's second longest natural harbour (5 km in length, second only to Pearl harbour), and has a significant naval history - control of mediterranean trade / taxes; boat maintenance Privateering / corsair control of North African Barbary raids; British fleet efficiency (health) & hospitalisation services etc. In modern times the array of beautiful beaches (& agrotourism) have seen it emerge as a favoured European holiday destination (if you want to look at the beaches I am talking about, see: www.mymenorca.info). For more on the history of Menorca, the local magazine (Roqueta) has a nice capture of the history spread over several issues (see https://roquetamagazine.net/)
Rather than describe all the events that occurred here, I am rather going to summarise key
events that I think you might like to hear about. I'm not really sure how to select good from bad, but here goes:
#The apartment is fun ... I get carried up four stairs of spiral staircase on the way up, and another spiral stair case when inside. Upstairs there is a play area with wooden floors which I can slide on and a big black table that I can hide under. I don't know why mummy and daddy don't let me near the stairwell...
#Mamie is here. When she put on those glasses things, I recognised her again! Also she wears nice necklaces. I like pulling on the glasses and necklaces, or else her blond hair. She is lots of fun, and talks to me a great deal.
#The apartment is in a place called Es Castel ("The Castle" in the funny local dialect) which looks out over a harbour. Daddy often gets distracted and looks out at the harbour. It is as if the world stops for him, when something (boats?) pass by, but he still plays with me all the time, and gets down on the floor with me.
#It is really, really
hot. I sweated from the back of my head all night the first night and the next day I felt dry. Mummy let me try water from a water bottle today (nobody drinks out of a tap here). It feels a bit weird, but I feel much better after sucking from it for a bit.
#We walked (in really dry heat ; 43°C they say) to a nearby fishing port where there are lots of restaurants by the sea (Cala Fonts). I sat at a high chair with fans blowing air on me. This is where I drank water from a bottle. It is very pretty, and daddy is still getting distracted by the white floating things.
#Mamie wanted to show mummy the nearby beach called Binibeca. There was no tree cover, so we rented a chaise longue and umbrella. I tried watermelon for the first time, whilst mummy and daddy cut up lots of other little things to eat. The water was a bit weedy, but nice and warm and salty. I went into the water for the first time! I love the beach!
When we got back to Mahon central bus station from Binibeca, we
walked down through the town and along the maritimo. There were lots of different lights, laughter and people talking. We found a restaurant which sent us upstairs. Here the soft music allowed me to go to sleep.
#Mamie was celebrating a milestone birthday (75 years) - I can't imagine how much world can be explored in that time. Grandpa's birthday was also on the 7th August so we called him on the funny telephone thing and I saw his face there. I couldn't find him though, just a funny moving picture! There was lots of planning for boat hire for Mamie's birthday, but that didn't eventuate due to horrific peak season costs and no availability. We had a wonderful breakfast with lots of patisseries. We then visited Son Bou beach and had lunch with plenty of prawns.
Mamie had never been to Son Bou before. It is a very long, wide beach, with fine sand. Inherently physically beautiful, but traded against "continental Europe beach density" - meaning there were LOTS of people! My pram was carried onto the beach, and we managed to secure the LAST available umbrella. Mamie looked after me while mummy and daddy had a
big long swim. There were lots of people on big floaties being towed along by speedboats and pedal boats with slippery slides. I can't wait to be a bit bigger so I can play like the other children!
#Dinner for Mamie's birthday, was in a beautiful garden courtyard associated with the Jardí de Ses Bruixes hotel. I was a little rambunctious initiailly, but the ambient music, and lots of little walks with daddy calmed me down. It was a very romantic restaurant with lots of pretty candles and plants that crept up the wall.
#Mamie and daddy have been sanding and painting, so mummy and I have been taking walks and mini-swims in the pool. Mummy has come up with a plan to return with me to Geneva for a week.
#The effect of eating solids is starting to have effects on my bowels - regular farting; odd shapes and smelly poos. Sometimes mummy and daddy have to wince when changing me - hehe!!
[During the week that mummy and I were in Geneva, Mamie and daddy did more renovations, and had a visit to the Binisafua beach. Daddy said the walk from Binibecca Vell was
picturesque but hot. The beach sits within a rocky harbour, and had a cave within which to hide from the sun. He said a day of relaxed reading was a good break from renovation efforts. Daddy also bought mummy a lovely bracelet. After a dinner in Cala Fonts, Mamie and daddy apparently visited a nice jewellery shop "Uno de 50", where Mamie also bought a big dress ring.]
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