ROQUETA
03
AUTUMN 2024
WELCOME AUTUMN 2024 - ROQUETA MAGAZINE October is a month of transformation in Menorca. As the summer crowds recede, so do the bustling activities of resort life. Restaurants and shops begin to close, their schedules dictated by the season’s footfall and the weather. With the sweltering heat and humidity behind us, the island invites us to explore it anew — by foot, by bike, and through countless other activities that offer a fresh way to experience its beauty. The island’s cultural scene comes alive in the cooler months, offering an array of events that promise to entertain and inspire. A hundred artists are gathering on Lazareto, while Hauser & Wirth closes out their season of Sunday lunchtime concerts at the Cantina with Xaranga des Xubec. Ciutadella’s popular guided tours run on, and Mahón town hall is offering monthly farm visits, providing a glimpse into Menorca’s agricultural heart. October is also the perfect time for theatre enthusiasts, with full programmes of music and dance filling the island’s venues. Highlights include the Gala Monte Toro, featuring ballet dancers from the Opera de Paris. Music lovers can look forward to tribute performances from bands like The Flaming Shakers (Beatles), Brothers in Band (Dire Straits), This is Michael (Michael Jackson), and The Buzz Lovers on their Teen Spirit World Tour (Nirvana). All these events, and more, are listed in our What’s On Guide, a handy resource to navigate the island’s rich cultural calendar. In sports, Menorca celebrates local triumphs. Nils Ruidavets, a native of Mahón, brought home a bronze medal from the Paralympics, while CF Sporting Mahon claimed victory in the Balearic Cup, earning a spot in the Copa del Rey qualifiers. The autumn season also sees a surge in local support for the island’s sports teams, with basketball, volleyball, and football matches attracting passionate crowds. Runners, too, are gearing up for October’s Trail Run, starting from various points like Son Bou, Cala Mitjana, and Cala Turqueta, before concluding at Lago Resort in Calan Bosch. Community spirit remains strong throughout the season. Local associations show boundless energy in their charitable endeavours. In Son Parc, residents played padel tennis through the night, while Bambu restaurant wraps up its season with a gala dinner benefiting the island’s equine rescue center. Volunteers from Isla del Rey recently traveled to London to raise awareness for their ongoing efforts to restore the British Hospital’s last wing. Fundraising continues for the Carlos Mir center, as well as for those affected by the recent floods. Autumn is also a time to reconnect with friends, especially those whose summer schedules left little room for socialising. One of the joys of living in Menorca is the proximity of friends — no one is more than a 45-minute drive away, making spontaneous meet-ups for coffee, walks, or attending local events effortless. In this issue, both artist Edward Povey and Rev. Paul Strudwick explore the profound impact of friendship. Povey notes that “behind the person you meet and shake hands with, there is another cast of people in the shadows that make up the whole package of the person.” Meanwhile, Strudwick draws inspiration from Anaïs Nin’s words: “Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive.” Through Roqueta’s pages, we hope you will not only discover the events and activities that shape Menorca in autumn but also new friendships and shared interests that enrich your life.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE ROQUETA BY POST? BUY A SUBSCRIPTION FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHO LOVE MENORCA OR ORDER BACK COPIES Publisher: John Davies Editor: Liz Parr Printer: LV Grupo Grafico y de Communication, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat Dep Legal ME: 187/1973 No. Registro: 1037/3.992 The Publisher reserves the right to edit any material submitted for publication.
All prices quoted were correct at the time of going to press No articles may be reproduced without written permission from the Publisher For Editorial contact info@roquetamagazine.net For Advertising contact roquetajohn@gmail.com For Subscriptions contact roquetajohn@gmail.com
ROQ U E TA M AGA ZI N E . N E T
Liz & John
IN THIS ISSUE ISLAND NEWS 04 A New Way to Enjoy Menorca, In or Out? Discovering Lithica & Isla Del Rey EATING OUT & WINE
17
THE GREAT OUTDOORS Tortoises in Menorca, Fennel, Sailpower Menorca, Pist N Broke & Keeping a Look Out!
25
ART IN MENORCA
34
WELLBEING
39
GRAPEVINE
42
CLUBS AND ASSOCIATIONS
47
WHAT’S ON
53
READERS CORNER
58
ISLAND NEWS
04
AUTUMN 2024
ISLAND NEWS
By Christine Brooker
TRIATHLON BRONZE MEDAL Nils Nil Riudavets, is now a celebrated Menorcan, having won the bronze medal in the PTS4 triathlon Paralympics held recently in Paris. Nil, who was born in 1996 in Mahón, had competed in triathlons for years but when he was 23 he suffered a head-on bicycle crash when competing in the Costa Brava triathlon and he lost the use of his right arm. He was “reborn” after 20 months and now is a para-triathlete. He emerged from the Seine in eighth position but made-up time in the next two phases. Read more on page 44.
DRONE AFFECTS FLIGHTS In early September a drone was flying at 2,500 feet over Favaritx, in the middle of the flight path; this meant that the airport had to redirect flights to the southern approach and caused subsequent delays to flights and passengers. A flight coming in from Milan spotted the drone and immediately advised the control tower. The person operating the drone had not asked for permission, in an area which is part of the Natural Park of S´Albufera des Grau as well as on the flight path. By the time police reached the zone, the culprit had disappeared. Fines for amateurs range from 60 to 45,000 Euros, and in the case of professionals committing infractions that are considered serious, the fine can be as much as 4.5 million Euros. Menorca is not an area where it is easy to fly a drone legally; between the airport, military zones, areas with distinct levels of environmental protection and urban nucleus etc., it is complicated to obtain permission. There is a website to help with information - drones.enaire.es – and some professionals say they have lost work because the permits have arrived too late; however they are annoyed at the lack of control for those who fly drones irresponsibly and give the sector a bad name.
MENORCAN OLIVE OIL The olive oil that is produced ecologically in Menorca is on the way to receive the maximum distinction from the European Community (IGP in Spanish) PGI Protected Geographical Indication. The characteristics of the oil are that it is fruity, of medium or strong intensity with a balanced taste; the production zone is limited to Menorca. There is a transitory period and then the accolade should be confirmed in The Official Journal of the European Union.
Another case shows that drones can be useful. A video posted on social media alerted national police in Ciutadella to a plantation of marijuana on the rooftop of a building in the centre of the city. The drug squad were able to confiscate 18 kilos of the drug, and a 39-year-old Spanish man with previous convictions was arrested; he had installed a thick dark fence around the plants so that they couldn´t be observed from the road! BACK TO SCHOOL The children are back to school and the estimated cost per pupil is 400 Euros. Hence the importance of recycling textbooks which parents have to buy each year. Another problem is that many can´t afford extracurricular activities, and the sporting federations are oversubscribed. D O N ’ T M I S S A N E D I T I O N , S U B S C R I B E T O D AY ! V I S I T: R O Q U E TA M A G A Z I N E . N E T
ISLAND NEWS
05
AUTUMN 2024
TOURISM
DRUGS FOUND IN TEDDY BEAR The Guardía Civil police have detained a man disembarking from Alcúdia at the Son Blanc ferry terminal at Ciutadella. They were alerted by his strange behaviour and, on searching him, they found a marijuana joint. He was carrying a teddy bear with a diadem that looked suspicious; after making a small cut they discovered 14 plastic bags full of Tusi, as Pink Cocaine is known. In the interior of the teddy they found a further 17 bags, making a total of 31. POSTMARK FOR GIANTS Correos, the Spanish Post Office, on 13th September issued a commemorative postmark with an image of the town gegantes/giants, Tomeu and Guida, who are seen at the local fiestas and other events. Philatelists will be able to post the envelopes locally. The giants have recently celebrated their 90th birthday. This type of “first day cover” has risen in value in recent years.
It seems there is always something controversial to report about tourism this year. We have mentioned already about properties that are advertised on websites for holiday lets that are illegal because they haven´t got a licence, and in many cases are in areas where they could never get one; plus the issue of lack of accommodation for seasonal workers, the difficulty for residents to find a permanent rental, high prices for properties that make it almost impossible for young people to get mortgages etc, etc... Now the Consell has come up with new ideas, the Plan for Social housing in Menorca 2024 to 2028 was passed in September. This will involve more inspections and fines for illegal tourist rentals plus the purchase of more properties that are auctioned off by Sareb (often referred to as the “bad bank” as many properties they have are from failed mortgages and promoters). They will also continue the census of empty properties in the municipalities in Menorca and will check these in the Property Register and cross-reference them with those that have tourist licences. They will check land and buildings “susceptible” to conversion into homes and also plots of land which will include military properties. The Consell and Ayuntamientos will work together to establish why empty properties are not available to distinct groups such as the young and the old. The idea is to cancel the fines of owners who are renting illegally to tourists if they agree to allow their property to be rented legally to people who need long term rents. Part of the money to fight illegal rentals is hoped to come from the Ecotax for Sustainable Tourism. Curiously the Govern in Palma, when Jaume Matas was President between 2005-2012, approved the commercialisation of tourist properties, eliminating technical requisites and substituting a Quality Accreditation. The Occupancy Certificate and the legality of the building were not asked for. Now we have the situation where properties built illegally on rustic land have a legal tourist licence; most of them in Menorca are in the Ciutadella area. Matas later went to prison. Another problem has arisen; Margarita Orfila the archaeologist who promoted Menorca´s World Heritage status has commented on the first anniversary of the designation about the disappointment on the island that there has not been an influx of cultural tourists. She says that the achievement has not been adequately promoted, commenting “While it is true that money has been spent, I don´t see Menorca Talayotica on tablecloths in restaurants, or T-shirts proclaiming it, nor specific channels on You Tube. I don´t hear “influencers” and experts in history discussing our monuments”. She also says that we need quality documentaries and a logo, something she sees in Malta but not in Menorca. Another point is that owners of properties that contain archaeological sites must allow visitors under certain conditions; this has been the norm since 1967 but unfortunately it has not been defined says Margarita.
ROQ U E TA M AGA ZI N E . N E T
ISLAND NEWS
06
AUTUMN 2024
CONNECT´UP INSCRIPTIONS OPEN Connect’Up is a Balearic competition, organised by the Serra Group and sponsored by Caixabank, which rewards innovations and new ideas (www.connect’up.es). The idea is also to increase technological learning. As with previous editions, the intention is to concentrate on start-ups and encourage entrepreneurs. The competition is divided into two principal categories, with a prize of 6,000 Euros for each one. In Start, eight finalists participate in an intensive formation course to develop innovative ideas. This is part of the Youth programme, in collaboration with Riu Hotels and Resorts, who want to encourage talented students who are under 26 years old. The other category is Sprint, destined for start-ups that are already beginning to establish themselves. The closing date is 13th October, obviously rather short notice for readers, but as this is now an annual event it could be of interest to young people for another year.
190 DEATHS IN BALEARICS FROM EXTREME HEAT Experts estimate that some 190 people have died on the Balearic Islands this summer from the heat. MACE is an acronym for Mortality Attributed to Heat in Spain and is run by different scientific teams. Extreme heat can obviously have a devastating effect on health, sometimes provoking or hastening death. Officially only sudden deaths through heatstroke are recognised as it is nearly impossible for the doctor to certify high temperatures as the cause. MACE bases its figures on up-to-date scientific data, which also includes houses without air conditioning, and prolonged periods in high temperatures. They say that social adaptation to increased temperatures has helped prevent deaths in Spain but it is insufficient. In the country as a whole some deaths are related to the aging population as well as the heat, although an estimated 9,500 have died through high temperatures this year.
A TICKET FOR ME AND ONE FOR MY CELLO The restrictive policies regarding luggage that airlines adhere to causes a great deal of tension and arguments when people check in. Some who are especially affected are professional musicians who are obliged to fly with large delicate instruments, often of great value, such as cellos, double bass, tubas, trombones, etc. All are too large to be accepted as hand luggage. Musicians can´t check them in as normal luggage as they could get crushed or affected by changes of temperature. The only solution is to buy another ticket, explains Álvaro Cardona, a cellist. He has seen broken instruments and is not prepared to take the risk of an instrument that is worth at least 15,000 Euros; he adds that often the ticket costs more than he is paid and the cello doesn´t qualify for the residents discount! This situation causes problems for Menorcan musicians building their careers and also stops other musicians travelling to the island. The professionals on the island had to buy a viola so that a professor could come and teach them. The European Community passed a norm over a decade ago to force the airlines to help with the transport of musical instruments; this has had no effect. Not only musicians are affected; sports are too, with extra costs for equipment such as surf boards, tennis racquets, ice skates and roller skates, etc. A young man aged 19 who is qualifying as a tennis instructor in Barcelona had to travel there eight times in July, and each time he was charged an extra 60 Euros so that his racquet could travel in the cabin with him. It seems time that authorities took some action. FREE VISITS TO FARMS NEAR MAHÓN Free visits to ten farms in its municipality are being organised by the Ayuntamiento in Mahón, with help from the Cooperativa del Camp (Farmers co-operative). The idea is to introduce people to the best kilometre zero products. The initiative is called “Mira quins llocs!” (Look at those farms!). The farms taking part are Son Cremat, Formet, Santa Catalina, Bolets de Menorca (Mushrooms and fungi), Mussuptà de Baix, Algendaret Nou, Grahame Pearce (beer I imagine), s´Eixam, Tornaltì Nou and La Solana. The first visit was in September, but the rest will take place monthly until June 2025. Visitors will be able to sample local products.
D O N ’ T M I S S A N E D I T I O N , S U B S C R I B E T O D AY ! V I S I T: R O Q U E TA M A G A Z I N E . N E T
ISLAND NEWS
07
AUTUMN 2024
TAXI DRIVERS TAKE ACTION AGAINST PIRATES “I usually charge 1 Euro a kilometre and if it is a return journey I can charge up to 80 Euros.” This is the text that was captured on a mobile phone, supposedly between a “pirate” (ie, illegal) taxi driver and some young people who asked for the price from Mahón to Ciutadella. Another contacted by British tourists agreed on a pickup area, warning that the police were on the lookout. Radio Taxi say that there are at least ten illegal taxis operating during the high season in Menorca. The practice is common in Mallorca, Ibiza and other well-known tourist zones. Generally, they work with young people through social media but prefer “word of mouth”. The legal taxi drivers, who say that the Consell (Island Council) has not taken action, are compiling evidence; the “pirates” stop outside the Caves of Xoroi in Cala en Porter, specific points in Son Bou and at the town fiestas. They are also taking videos, audios, noting down registration numbers. It is difficult to prove the illegality, but one way is catching the same driver with different clients. The answer is always that they are collecting friends. The Alaior police have made two charges this summer, catching the drivers in flagrante in Son Bou. The fine is 4,000 Euros. Taxi drivers complain that some hotels have minibuses and can legally take guests to a beach or the airport but are undertaking journeys that they don´t have permission for; they have already reported one. No mention is made about insurance in the article; professionals must have full insurance cover and “Civil Responsibility”. What would happen in a serious accident?
BUREAUCRACY FOR CALA EN PORTER BEACH Cala en Porter beach was badly damaged during the DANA storm and the force of the water broke the retention wall built in the 1960´s causing the torrent to revert to its original course which divided the beach. Now there is a bureaucratic argument that has emerged at the end of September. The Council for the sea and water cycle, which is dependent on the General Board of Hydraulic Resources plus the General Board of the Coast and the Coastline, are all the responsibility of the Govern in Mallorca. They have fixed part of the problem because the torrent of water is in the public hydraulic system. However, the Govern in Mallorca has passed the hot potato to the government in Madrid as they say that the restitution of beaches is the responsibility of the Coastal Demarcation Authority which is dependent on the Ministry for Ecological Transition in Madrid... Good luck, Cala en Porter!
ROQ U E TA M AGA ZI N E . N E T
ISLAND NEWS
08
AUTUMN 2024
MISSION “ALMOST” IMPOSSIBLE
“SIR ROBERT BADEN POWELL” HELPS IN RESCUE
The online system for appointments to renew or apply for a NIE, the identity card for non-Spanish residents, has become an almost impossible mission for many trying to legalise their residency or obtain a work permit. The websites only open for a brief time. Lawyers and people who are experienced in dealing with the paperwork are warning of the difficulties of completing procedures. Resident foreigners who have lost their documentation are finding it very complicated to renew everything. There are two systems and those with Spanish nationality ring 060 for attention; this service is not available to the others. People resident in Ciutadella can´t get appointments and must go to Mahón. The National Police admit that there is a lack of staff but say that they do not book advance appointments (cita previa). These are organised by “Administración del Estado” (State Administration). In Palma they have opened extra hours in the afternoon, but not here. The Government Delegate on the island says that it is difficult to find staff in Menorca and Ibiza. There are also digital defects and lack of information; it is not possible to make an appointment online as it is with Social Security. People are just informed that no appointments are available. Older people are particularly affected as some do not understand how to use the internet. There are cases where people have to present documentation by a certain date, and because of the delays their documents are archived and they have to start all over again. Also, there are reports of people who have time to sit in front of the computer all day, and for a fee of 20 to 50 Euros, will wait to make appointments for others.
The “Sir Robert Baden Powell” sailing ship that was based in the port of Mahón for over 30 years until 2022 and offers cruises in the Mediterranean played a significant part in saving the lives of the 15 survivors of the luxury yacht “Bayesian” that sank in Sicilian waters. The Dutch registered ship, captained by Captain Karsten Börner from Germany, was a few metres away from “Bayesian” when they were separated by the storm. Börner told Reuters that he had already started the engines to prevent a collision with the “Bayesian”, and when the storm abated he saw that the yacht had disappeared and that a distress flare had been fired. He says the “Bayesian” had hit the waves and sunk in under a minute. His crew acted rapidly and were able to find most of the survivors, including a girl in a dinghy. A rather different story of a 69-year-old French man who beached his yacht in Cala en Blanes; it was stuck there for three days. The man had been involved in arguments in the Club Nàutic in Ciutadella and had threatened staff after he had paid and was provided with a mooring. He also argued with crews on nearby yachts and had such a menacing attitude that the national police were called and he spent two days in jail. Once released, he set off for the south coast where he was reprimanded for dropping anchor on the meadows of “posidonía” (sea grass). He continued to the north coast and Cala en Blanes where he sailed dangerously into the area reserved for bathers; the keel hit the bottom and the yacht was stuck. Swimmers and other yachtsmen tried to reason with him but were met with aggression. The Guardía Civil were called who tried in vain to talk to him. The weather conditions were poor and his propeller had caught the chain from a buoy. Eventually, with a lot of help from the Guardia Civil, Police and divers, the yacht was freed and the yacht departed after three days of tension. It was reported to be on its way to Ibiza!
SUNDAY SHOPPING Despite changes in political parties, Mahón, Es Castell and Alaior are still the only municipalities on the island to allow large shops (usually supermarkets) to open on Sundays all year round.
NITRATES IN THE AQUIFERS The revision of the Balearic Island hydrological plan has found some interesting and relevant data. Amongst others, agriculture is not the only cause of nitrates found in the aquifers. Leaks from drainage pipes, and the proliferation of houses on rustic land that are not connected to the mains also contribute to the problem. As a result, the cesspits and septic tanks are to be inspected. 80% of our water supply comes from the aquifers. D O N ’ T M I S S A N E D I T I O N , S U B S C R I B E T O D AY ! V I S I T: R O Q U E TA M A G A Z I N E . N E T
ISLAND NEWS
BRITISH EMBASSY NEWS
09
AUTUMN 2024
LYNDA HAIR & BEAUTY HOW TIME FLIES... WE NOW CELEBRATE OUR 21ST ANNIVERSARY SINCE OPENING OUR SALON HERE IN MENORCA. AND YET STILL OFFERING THE MOST UPDATED TREATMENTS THAT YOU ALL LOVE. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOYALTY AND SUPPORT OVER THE YEARS, AND WE HOPE TO CONTINUE GIVING YOU THE BEST SERVICE.
New British Ambassador to Spain Sir Alex Ellis has taken over from Hugh Elliott in the service of His Majesty King Charles III as British Ambassador to Spain and Non-Resident Ambassador to Andorra. “I am honoured to represent His Majesty Charles III and my country as Ambassador to Spain and Andorra,” said Ellis.“Our countries enjoy a close and enduring relationship across so many areas: between our citizens, our cultures, our armed forces and across the world of academia, science and commerce. I am looking forward to supporting this relationship to become even stronger.” This will be Ellis’ second posting to Spain, a country he already knows well from his role in the British Embassy in Madrid in the early 2000s. Since then, he has served as Ambassador to Portugal and Brazil and most recently, as the High Commissioner to India. He has also held a range of different roles across the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Cabinet Office and the Department for Exiting the European Union. New Schengen entry requirements EES From November 2024, the new EU Entry/Exit System (EES) will start for all non-EU nationals, including British nationals, travelling in or out of the Schengen area. The EES does not apply to holders of residence permits and long-stay visas. The EES is a digital border system which registers non-EU visitors travelling into the Schengen area instead of stamping their passports. When EES is introduced, you will need to create a digital record on your first visit to the Schengen area at the port or airport on arrival. You will be required to submit your fingerprints and have your photo taken at dedicated booths. You will not need to provide any information before travelling to a Schengen area country. If you enter the Schengen area through Dover, Eurotunnel at Folkestone or St Pancras International, your fingerprints and photo will be taken before you leave the UK. You will also need to provide either your fingerprint or photo on exit. Your digital record is valid for 3 years. If you enter the Schengen area again during this time, you will only need to provide a fingerprint or photo at the border, when you enter and exit. EES is designed to improve border security within the EU and its neighbouring countries, and reduce illegal migration in the Schengen area. It will automate border control checks to help the EU stop visitors overstaying. EES is part of wider work the EU is doing to strengthen their border security. In 2025, the EU will introduce the new European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). When ETIAS is introduced, you will need to apply for authorisation to enter Schengen area countries if using a UK passport. You will need to provide personal information and details about your trip, and pay a 7 Euro fee, as part of the authorisation process. The EU has already set out more information on ETIAS, including what information will be required from each nationality, on the EU’s official Travel Europe website https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees _ en
BELOW WE HAVE CHOSEN SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE TREATMENTS AND ADDED FOR YOU A 21% DISCOUNT! CONTACT THE SALON OR RESERVE ONLINE ALL THROUGH THE MONTH OF OCTOBER. THIS IS ALSO AN IDEAL GIFT FOR YOU OR YOURS. FROM THE TEAM HAIRDRESSING AND BEAUTY, HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON!
ISLAND NEWS
10
AUTUMN 2024
CO-OWNERSHIP: VIVLA + BONNIN SANSO
A NEW WAY TO ENJOY MENORCA Imagine the possibility of owning a luxurious villa in Menorca, along its stunning coastline, in prime locations, but at a much lower cost than the traditional market value. How is this possible? Thanks to the new co- ownership model offered by VIVLA, there are already four properties under this format, backed by Bonnin Sanso, the real estate group in the Menorca, with more than 35 years of experience. VIVLA is ideal for families seeking flexibility and who value real estate investment without being tied to one location. Furthermore, the model offers a return option within the first year if it does not meet your expectations, demonstrating the confidence they have in this proposal. Additionally, you can resell your share at any time, making it a purchase with future reinvestment potential. In just two years, VIVLA has completed 100 transactions in 9 destinations and boasts a customer satisfaction rate of over 90%. An innovative model that is revolutionising the real estate market.
Carlos Gómez, CEO of Vivla talking to Jose Pons, CEO of Bonnin Sanso
The first property available was at the Sa Llosa Homes development in Son Parc, and the eight shares sold very quickly and so a second unit was acquired in this exclusive new-build complex. Additionally, stunning homes with this model are available in Predio Sa Fua, Binisafua Rotters, and Coves Noves. The price per shares starts at €140,000, up to €225,000 depending on the property. Carlos Gómez is the CEO of VIVLA and a former Google employee. After leaving Google, Carlos founded VIVLA, a well-thought-out and developed project that he describes as his “baby”, among other successful projects and ventures. The idea arose from market research after the pandemic, which detected the growing interest in co-ownership as a solution to access unique holiday homes in exclusive destinations such as Menorca.
Son Parc 1/8th ownership €140,000
VIVLA offers a model that makes buying a holiday home more flexible, allowing you to own one or more shares, and thus enjoy the property without the obligations of a traditional purchase. Unlike other models from the past, VIVLA is based on a premium 5-star service that allows you to enjoy the property from day one. You will always remain the owner, able to enjoy the house for six weeks a year, across different commercial seasons. Additionally, if you don’t wish to visit the island, you can rent it out or exchange its use with another property in Baqueira, Formentera, or the Costa Brava, among many other Spanish destinations. D O N ’ T M I S S A N E D I T I O N , S U B S C R I B E T O D AY ! V I S I T: R O Q U E TA M A G A Z I N E . N E T
ISLAND NEWS
11
AUTUMN 2024
IN OR OUT? WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR BOAT IN THE WINTER – PROTECTING YOUR INVESTMENT By Katherine Rowberry
Menorca with its crystal-clear waters, beautiful calas and great sailing conditions attracts many a boat owner to the island to enjoy summer on the water. However, once the season comes to an end and visitors return home, there is always the question of what to do with your boat over the winter months. Maintaining a boat in prime condition can be challenging for those who do not live on the island and keeping a boat does not come cheap. It is often said jokingly that the definition of a boat is, ‘a hole in the water into which one throws money’ and this may sometimes seem the case. But buying a boat is a significant financial investment, and ensuring its proper care and maintenance is essential in preserving its value. This is where those owners who are not based in Menorca face a decision; whether to lift the boat and dry store it or leave it in the water and employ a company or individual to provide gardiennage services (a French term that means “guardianship”). Dry storage involves lifting the boat and transporting it to a warehouse where it should be thoroughly cleaned, covered and hooked-up to electricity. This has the advantage for the owner of knowing that the boat is protected from the elements. Usually, any polishing and antifouling is done before being launched again in the spring. However, this can be a pricey option as transportation and storage can be expensive. Gardiennage can offer a more cost-effective solution. The main consideration is ensuring the boat is protected as much as possible from the elements and adverse weather conditions. A
good company will make regular external checks of lines, shore power, fenders and covers with extra checks during storm events. Marine conditions can be harsh due to the amount of salt in the atmosphere especially during strong winds. If left, this salt and grime build-up can attract rust and corrosion on many surfaces and so it needs to be kept under control – even stainless can rust! A thorough bi-monthly clean prevents build up, including keeping rust under control with polishing out first signs of oxidation and tarnish. And let’s not forget the scourge of all boat owners and cleaners, red rain! Extra cleaning should be offered in the event of this phenomenon as leaving the sand to sit on gel coat and sealant joins can stain. Whilst onboard, the bilges and engines should be checked, for any signs of oil leakages or water, and battery levels monitored. It is also wise to flush the toilets, run taps, air conditioning and any other motorised system e.g. roof covers or the passerelle to ensure the motor is running freely and has not seized. Also, cycling the steering and ensuring the tilt mechanism is free on outboard engines. Performing these regular checks can prevent costly repairs later. Running the engines is usually at the discretion of the owner. Extra costs to consider with this option are lifting and launching in the spring to polish and antifoul the hull. To reduce the amount of time needed on the hard standing, it is possible to have any above deck parts e.g. coach roof, superstructure or flybridge polished whilst in the water. ROQ U E TA M AGA ZI N E . N E T
There are pros and cons with each method, these need to be weighed up when making your decision and choose which is best for you. Whichever method you chose, investing in winter cleaning helps safeguard your boat’s condition and preserve its value. By maintaining your boat through the winter, you help ensure it is ready to go next season and hopefully any unexpected ‘surprises’ can be avoided. If you would like to discuss an in-water gardiennage package using only eco-friendly products and avoiding harsh chemicals, contact Katherine at The Fish Friendly Cleaning Company on +34 608588028
ISLAND NEWS
12
AUTUMN 2024
DISCOVERING LITHICA: A UNIQUE & VERSATILE PLACE IN THE HEART OF MENORCA
by Vanessa Jeny, Menorca Blue
Tucked away in the rugged landscape just outside Ciutadella de Menorca, Lithica is a place where the island’s natural history and human ingenuity intersect. This vast sandstone quarry, now an extraordinary cultural and ecological site, offers visitors a glimpse into Menorca’s rich past while providing a serene escape into its presentday revitalisation. If you’re planning a visit to Menorca, make sure Lithica is on your list — it’s a destination that combines history, art, and nature in a truly unique way. A Historical Glimpse: The Origins of Lithica Sandstone can be considered one of the cornerstones of Menorca’s history. Locally known as “marés” it can be seen everywhere in the different phases of construction on Menorca. Quarries were actively mined for building blocks, which were essential for constructing houses, buildings, and other infrastructure across the island. Sandstone’s malleability made it ideal for the architectural needs of the Balearic Islands, and its use spanned from prehistoric times through the mediaeval period, well into the modern era. Excavation at Lithica was concentrated for 30 years from the mid 1950s to the mid 1980s. For decades, a small group of 9 workers from local families dedicated their whole working life to the manual extraction of massive blocks of sandstone, leaving behind monumental walls and geometric formations that now define the site’s striking appearance. The repetitive process of cutting into the stone left a signature pattern of vertical cuts and chiselled edges — marks of the quarrymen’s labour and legacy that are still visible today. However, by the late 20th century, quarrying activities began to wind down and the art and strength required for manual extraction was replaced by more modern machinery. By the 1990s, the work at Lithica had completely ceased and other (limited) sites for stone extraction were opened. As construction methods evolved and other building materials became more accessible, the demand for sandstone as structural material diminished. Sandstone is now used for decorative features typical of the style of the Balearic Islands. D O N ’ T M I S S A N E D I T I O N , S U B S C R I B E T O D AY ! V I S I T: R O Q U E TA M A G A Z I N E . N E T
ISLAND NEWS
13
AUTUMN 2024
A Hub for Culture and Events Lithica isn’t just a place for quiet reflection—it has become one of Menorca’s premier cultural venues. The quarry’s dramatic backdrop makes it an ideal space for open-air concerts, theatre performances, private weddings and art exhibitions, providing a stage that enhances the experience of both performers and audiences. The natural acoustics of the stone walls create a unique auditory experience, adding an extra dimension to live performances. One of the most popular events hosted at Lithica is the annual “Festa del Solstici d’Estiu” (Summer Solstice Festival), which celebrates the longest day of the year with music, dance, and other cultural activities. The event has become a major attraction for both locals and tourists, highlighting the connection between Menorca’s cultural traditions and its natural environment. In 2022, a memorial event was held to honour the small team of men who spent decades carving the quarry, working throughout their working life and changing seasons of so many years. Their remarkable legacy, like other historical stone monuments of Menorca, has become an enduring part of the island’s heritage—one that will continue to be cherished for centuries. Management and Visitor Experience Decades of Abandonment For over two decades, Lithica lay untouched. Nature began to reclaim the land, with wild vegetation creeping into the quarry and filling the crevices once carved out by human hands. Despite its abandonment, the site remained relatively intact, its stone walls enduring as a testament to Menorca’s architectural heritage. During this period, the quarry was largely forgotten by locals and visitors alike, its monumental landscape hidden from public view. The Birth of a Vision: Redevelopment and Restoration In the early 1990s, a vision for Lithica’s future began to emerge, spearheaded by a group of individuals passionate about preserving Menorca’s cultural and natural heritage. Chief among them was the non-profit organisation LithicaPedreres de s’Hostal, founded in 1994 by Laetitia Lara. Recognising the historical, aesthetic, and ecological value of the site, the organisation embarked on an ambitious redevelopment project aimed at transforming Lithica from an abandoned quarry into a multi-purpose venue. The restoration process focused not only on preserving the quarry’s physical structure but also on reimagining the space as a cultural and natural sanctuary. Volunteers and local artisans began clearing the overgrown vegetation, cleaning the stone surfaces, and creating pathways through the quarry. The team was careful to retain the quarry’s raw, industrial aesthetic while introducing new elements, such as gardens, art installations, and event spaces. Over the years, Lithica has been steadily revitalised, evolving into a living landscape that blends history with modern usage. Today, it serves as a symbol of sustainable restoration, with its transformation from an industrial site to a thriving cultural venue showcasing the power of creative vision. Lithica Today: A Cultural and Ecological Sanctuary Today, Lithica is a must-visit destination for anyone coming to Menorca. The site’s sprawling 40,000 square metres are a blend of stark, ancient quarries and vibrant, curated gardens. It offers a multi-sensory experience for visitors, where nature, art, and history converge in a truly peaceful setting.
The non-profit organisation Lithica-Pedreres de s’Hostal, continues to oversee the site’s maintenance and programming. The organisation is deeply committed to preserving the ecological and historical integrity of the quarry while promoting sustainable tourism practices. Their efforts ensure that Lithica remains a tranquil space for visitors while also serving as a venue for artistic and cultural expression. As of recent reports, Lithica welcomes around 50,000 visitors annually. The site has become increasingly popular, particularly among tourists seeking an off-the-beaten-path experience that blends Menorca’s natural beauty with its cultural legacy. Visitors can explore Lithica at their own pace, wandering through the quarry’s labyrinthine paths and taking in the stunning vistas from elevated terraces. Guided tours are also available, offering deeper insights into the site’s history, geology, and ongoing restoration efforts. Lithica has become a place where Menorca’s past and present come together in a breathtaking fusion of nature, history, and culture. As a symbol of restoration and creative transformation, Lithica serves as a reminder that even the most industrial of spaces can be reborn, becoming a source of beauty and inspiration for generations to come. VISITOR DETAILS: Open daily from 9:00 am until sunset in October and 9-2pm November-March The last entry is one hour before closing. Ticket prices are €7 for general admission, €4 for seniors, Menorca residents, and groups of 12 or more. Children under 12 can enter for free, and an annual ticket is available for €20. The foundation also offers memberships to those wishing to support their conservation efforts. For further information visit their website https://lithica.es/en/
One of the most striking features of Lithica is its labyrinth of stone walls and caverns, which provide an otherworldly atmosphere. These towering walls, carved from centuries of excavation, create a sense of both awe and tranquillity as visitors wander through the maze-like structure. As you explore the quarry, you can see the fossilised remnants of ancient marine life embedded in the sandstone, further connecting the site to the natural history of Menorca. Lithica also houses over a dozen themed gardens that have been carefully cultivated in the quarry’s terraces and pits. These gardens are not just a visual treat but also a testament to Menorca’s biodiversity. They include Mediterranean aromatic plants, native flora, and a variety of herbs and trees, each garden designed to thrive in the unique microclimate of the quarry. The juxtaposition of soft, colourful plant life against the rigid stone walls creates an inspiring contrast, offering visitors a chance to reconnect with nature in an unexpected setting. ROQ U E TA M AGA ZI N E . N E T
D O N ’ T M I S S A N E D I T I O N , S U B S C R I B E T O D AY ! V I S I T: R O Q U E TA M A G A Z I N E . N E T
ISLAND NEWS
15
AUTUMN 2024 By Beverley Ward
ISLA DEL REY Now a group of the Foundation together with local dignitaries (President of the Consell Insular, Adolfo Vilafranca, the Director of the Tourism Foundation, Begoña Mercadal, the Councillor of the Town Hall of Mahón, Susana Salom, and the Director of the State Administration, Isabel Lopez Manchón) are heading off to the Spanish Embassy in London to launch the fundraising campaign to complete the last part of the old hospital building. This is a large section that collapsed many years ago but was symmetrical to the Director’s House and when rebuilt will provide a meeting room for up to 100 people. 100 people will be involved in the Embassy meeting, which will be followed inevitably by Menorcan cheese and gin sampling and it will also provide a way of promoting tourism in Menorca.
Volunteer Mor
As the summer draws to a close, we’re taking stock of how the season has gone. Despite fewer British visitors in the high season when many families are here with small children (who just want to be on the beach), we had a very busy September with plenty of British visitors, in fact more even than Spanish and French combined! It’s very rewarding to take people around who are so interested and appreciative of all the work and effort that has gone into the loving restoration of the old British hospital. It’s truly an impressive sight! The activities taking place are very varied and international. Very soon we’ll have the Reial Academia de Farmacia de Cataluña for a weekend congress on the island. Recently we had the Italian sailors from the training ship “Palurino” - you maybe saw the beautiful old ship in the harbour - they came to remember the sinking of the Italian ship “Roma” 81 years ago. At the beginning of September, we had a visit from the Director of the New Smyrna Museum of History in Florida, with his wife, with invitations for the local dignitaries of Menorca to visit them next year. There is even talk of organising a walk between New Smyrna and Saint Augustine as the early settlers from Menorca had to do.
I would like to tell you this month a little about a very unusual and very interesting volunteer we have amongst us. His name is Mor, and he comes from the Golan Heights. This little-known area is in the southwest corner of Syria and is controlled both by Israel (two thirds) and by Syria (one third). Mor’s grandmother was Yemeni and was a healer and a specialist in medicinal infusions, a skill she transmitted to her grandson who remains passionate about herbs and also about bees. Surprisingly, the bee sting is able to cure many injuries and is an ancient treatment from that area. Mor has been in Menorca for a year and a half. It was an easy choice for him; first he fell in love with a Menorcan girl and then on visiting he fell in love with Menorca as well. Their beautiful daughter often comes to help too on the island. Mor is busy working and learning all about carpentry, using both the old and modern techniques, while his wife is employed at the airport as a ground hostess. This is a big change since he was working as a farmer in Golan and had 250 beehives. The Isla del Rey has become his Sunday morning activity twice a month. He loves the exciting mixture of people and the passionate attitude of the other volunteers. We’re glad he has joined us!
+ Info y Tickets: https://menorca.hauserwirth.com Fundación Hospital de la Isla del Rey - www.islahospitalmenorca.org https://www.yellowcatamarans.com/en/kings-island
ROQ U E TA M AGA ZI N E . N E T
D O N ’ T M I S S A N E D I T I O N , S U B S C R I B E T O D AY ! V I S I T: R O Q U E TA M A G A Z I N E . N E T
FOOD & DRINK
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AUTUMN 2024
EATING PRICE GUIDE € = up to €30 €€ = €30-50 €€€ = €50-80 €€€€ = €80-100 €€€€€ = Sky’s the limit!
OUT
Some autumnal musings… it has certainly been an interesting season on the dining front, and suddenly its beginning to draw to a close, or at least a pause as we ease into autumn mode. We are always anxious at this time to discover just who and where will remain open for the winter season!!! The answer is that many establishments have not yet made that decision. Last year was hard for those who kept going, but this winter we have DIRECT FLIGHTS twice a week to UK with EasyJet, which puts a whole new complexion on business prospects. So, we need to be patient as restaurants decide how long they can keep open. So, going back to this year, someone said to me in all seriousness the other day that they thought there were perhaps now TOO MANY restaurants in Menorca! Well, that’s an interesting point of view! Even during July and August in Calas Fonts, near to my house, the lunchtime trade was much lighter than in recent years. Prices have certainly risen extortionately, deterring diners. A decent meal with two or three courses and wine which cost 30 euros two years ago will certainly set you back 50 euros or more. This is a lot of money for a family to absorb on a daily basis. People are doing a lot more self-catering this year (which for the “caterers” amongst us does not necessarily indicate a restful and relaxing holiday). Do let us know what you think! Certainly, lower cost shopping opportunities have increased a great deal in recent years in terms of supermarkets. Lidl, Aldi and Mercadona all offer exceptional choice and value for money. If you are keen to support Menorcan businesses, Binipreu, is Menorcan owned and the amazing Sa Botiga in S’Uestra, where you will find all kinds of exotica! There are small fruit and vegetable shops and market stalls in each town selling local produce and in the industrial estates you will find the farm co-operatives such as Sa Cooperativa del Camp in Alaior.
By Lorraine Ure and Roqueta’s Team of Tasters
AUTUMN 2024 The freshly baked bread is available to buy in 500g loaves of three varieties, cereals, rustico and xeixa, which is a type of wheat recognised for its high content of protein, carbohydrates and fibre and low gluten. There is also a special bread of the day which was with maize and sunflower seeds when we visited. There is a pretty, vintage-style café with creative breakfast options which make the best use of the bread and focaccias, such as one stuffed with mortadella, pistachio and burrata. There are also some delicious home-made cakes, including carrot cake, which go nicely with a cappuccino coffee or hot chocolate or try one of their matcha or cumin lattes. Everything can be taken away to be enjoyed at home or al fresco but remember it is only open Thursdays to Monday from 9:00 until 13:00.
Well, here are some restaurant comments, which is what this is supposed to be all about!.
CALA MAR
AMAPOLA MENORCA
€€ Passeig dels Porxos, 9, Binibequer Nou, 07711 Binibèquer 9711510373 http://www.calamarrestaurante.com/ By Larissa le Sage de Fontenay
Carrer Ruiz i Pablo, 95, 07720 Es Castell, Illes Balears Open Thursday to Monday 9am to 1pm After much anticipation, Amapola bakery, famous for its slow fermentation sourdough bread is now open in Es Castell. Matthew Meacham from Sa Punta decided to reopen Amapola due to popular demand. The baker was the restaurant’s bread supplier for their first two seasons and last year they closed in Mahón and joined the Sa Punta team. The new bakery can be found on the top of the harbour, just before the curve to Sa Punta.
This review is all thanks to Ali, Andy and Archie (their dog) who we met just by chance moored off a stunning little Cala north of Es Grau. I am always intrigued by restaurant recommendations from those who live here full-time, Ali shared with me her secret place, which is loved by all her family. CalaMar, a fabulous little restaurant, perched in the bay of Cala Torret, right on the seafront and easy to get to by road and by sea! It was ‘by sea’ that really got me hooked, as I have been trying to find a way of mooring up and wading onto land for lunch, to give my boat picnic of sandwiches a rest.
ROQ U E TA M AGA ZI N E . N E T
RESTAURANTS If you would like to advertise your restaurant in the Eating Out section of Roqueta please contact John Davies by email: roquetajohn@gmail.com or by Whatsapp 609851186
D O N ’ T M I S S A N E D I T I O N , S U B S C R I B E T O D AY ! V I S I T: R O Q U E TA M A G A Z I N E . N E T
FOOD & DRINK
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AUTUMN 2024
There is a very comprehensive “Menu del Dia” for just 18 euros, with lots of choice, plus a Premium Menu featuring a 1 kg charcoal grilled T Bone (plenty big enough to share), plus special Lobster Menu for two persons. And if that’s not enough, there is an A la Carte menu too. The wine list is displayed in the form of labels on wine bottles! There’s great decor too. Inside the large restaurant can be subdivided into more private areas, and there are tables outside too. Fresh flowers on the tables, unusual in Menorca.
CalaMar is unpretentious, very busy, super tasty and has serving staff who smile! The menu is great and unexpected, the basics with a fancy twist. We started with cod in tempura, dried fruits, truffle oil and honey - honestly mouth-watering; prawns in chilli and garlic - now one of my favourite prawn dishes on the island and croquettes - which are homemade with the right filling density to crispy outside. For mains we had the special of red prawns, with (homemade) chips, padron peppers and fried eggs - which has now become my husband’s go to dish, whenever we dine there. I have had the seabass and the sea bream (for 2) both came with roasted potatoes and a tomato and onion salad, both simple and cooked to perfection; whilst my other daughter opted for the leg of suckling lamb, with baked and kind of curried potatoes, which she loved. We shared a chocolate pot, coffee crumble and salt for dessert which was dense and delicious. The view is spectacular and the adventure of mooring up in Binibeca and then popping onto land to eat, made for a more sophisticated boating experience on this beautiful natural island. I hope Ali, Andy and Archie, don’t mind me sharing their secret, but honestly it is one that needs to be shared. Price wise, super reasonable, for four with wine and beers was around 200 euros. Open 1-3.30pm and 7-10pm Closed Wednesdays
EL TXOKO Carrer Gregal 11, Binissafúller Platja, (behind Opera restaurant). 07711 San Luis Tel. 666 95 7414. €€ By Lorraine No sea view here, but they overlook a most attractive large water lily pond (which many years ago was a swimming pool, but you’d never know!) This is a great favourite of ours and with locals, as they have loyal and super-efficient staff. All the food is freshly cooked and top notch. There are many old favourites but they are correctly executed, with plenty of dishes to share. We particularly enjoyed the Russian Salad, prawns, mussels, steamed or with tomato sauce, chipirones, grilled sardines, baby squid, both fried and grilled with parsley and garlic. To follow they always have fresh fish of the day and meat options such as the popular lamb cutlets (18€). They also do a special chili con carne and don’t miss their patatas panaderas, an unusual take on fried potatoes, served very crisp. Delicious! There is a good selection of homemade desserts, plus ice creams to finish!
IL PORTO Moll de Levant 225, Mahon port. Tel 971 483428. Euros €€€ East access. Closed Tues. Lunch and dinner. By Lorraine I would particularly like to commend Il Porto, my ¨restaurant of the month¨. They are particularly adept at handling largeish groups, ensuring that everything all arrives at the same time in the right order. When you book your table, there will be a big flag with your name on it and the time of booking, which gives great reassurance. I’ve been with a couple of large parties this year, one of which suddenly reduced on the day from 16 to 8 persons, and they did not bat an eyelid, quickly rearranging the seating seamlessly, without any fuss. I used to use the good old Minerva for my groups, but sadly that is no more, with no news about the future of the building, which has such potential. At Il Porto they offer a variety of different “Menus” to suit all tastes and pockets, including a special children’s menu.
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D O N ’ T M I S S A N E D I T I O N , S U B S C R I B E T O D AY ! V I S I T: R O Q U E TA M A G A Z I N E . N E T
FOOD & DRINK
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AUTUMN 2024
Of course, there are also barbecued meats from the grill. It also has an extensive menu of signature cocktails, with mixed drinks made with mezcal, tequila, aguardiente, cachaça, pisco and other Latin American spirits, as well as an interesting wine list. Look out for Cocktail special offers in October but this year it will not be open in winter.
THE VILLAGE PUB Carrer de l’Església, 16, 07730 Cala en Porter €€ By Liz It was a rainy day in September and so we decided to visit The Village Pub in Cala en Porter to enjoy one of their comforting English breakfasts. It is a family run pub with a small cosy interior and tables spread along the terrace overlooking the main square. We were welcomed by the lovely Tracey and John chose a baguette filled with bacon and egg while I opted for the full English vegetarian breakfast with mushrooms and hash browns but there are plenty of other choices, with omelettes and some healthy options. Susan the chef makes a mouthwatering range of pub food including delicious steak and ale pies and check out her cheesecakes with toppings such as maltesers or Belgian chocolate chunks. There is also a Pub Quiz on a Thursday evening. Visit soon as it will be closing some time in October.
RESTAURANTS OPEN ALL YEAR PORT OF MAHON / CALAS FONTS Akelarre, Port of Mahon Casanovas, Port of Mahon El Muelle, Port of Mahon Casa Mia, Port of Mahon Asiatica, Port of Mahon Latitude 40, Port of Mahon Cardamon, Port of Mahon Sa Lliga – open 9-5pm Special menu del dia El Chevito, Calas Fonts Sa Punta, Calas Fonts – open for lunch
OPEN UNTIL DECEMBER Arjau, Port of Mahon - closed Oct 7-14, open until the end of December Rosquilla, Port of Mahon – Closed Monday and Tuesday Tarambana, Port of Mahon – closing 15 December Wepi – Open Oct, Closed November, Open December
CLOSING OCTOBER 31ST
HAMMETTS MESTIZO Moll de Llevant, 274, 07701 Maó. €€€ Hammetts Mestizo in the port is a popular restaurant with the local boat owners. The Restaurant and cocktail bar offers something different, with culinary influences from Central America to the Caribbean and the Andes to the Amazon and Patagonia. The menu is designed for sharing plates with friends. Their Ceviche Clasico €18 fresh local fish, lime, onion, ginger, coriander, corn is highly recommended and also the catch of the day for €30 Euros which is a whole fish with macha sauce, lemon, coriander and chives.
Clandestino, Port of Mahon Can Vamut, Port of Mahon Mestre, Port of Mahon Mediteranium, Port of Mahon Hammetts Mestizo, Port of Mahon Calucha, Port of Mahon Paput, Port of Mahon Ana Luisa, Calas Fonts closing 14 Oct Sa Falua closing 22 Oct 22 Asorbas, Port of Mahon – closing 13 Oct Opera, Port of Mahon – Open again Jan 25 Paradas7, Port of Mahon – Closed 1 Oct
FOOD & DRINK
22
AUTUMN 2024
By Michael Stevenson
NAVARRA Once temperature control systems were introduced into wineries Navarra was able to churn out vast quantities of the clean, fruity and dry Rosado so loved by the Spaniards, thanks to the light coloured Garnacha’s suitability for pink wine at a very good price, unlike the Provencal rosés. They also planted other grape varieties such as Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Tempranillo overtook Garnacha as the most planted grape, but now Garnacha is being replanted and and is back in its former dominant position. The latest harvest figures show that 63% is red, 24% rosado and 13% white. The DO (denominacion de origen) was recognised in 1933. The size of the region is 11,000 hectares of planted vines and the average production per annum is around 90 million litres of wine. Despite being a relatively small region, of only around 10,000 square kilometres, the topography is very varied. The northern half of Navarra is mountainous, dominated by the foothills of the Pyrenees, whilst the south, La Ribera Baja, is flat with alluvial plains and the Ebro valley. The best wines of Navarra are well worth seeking out and can be found in Menorca in our wine shops and supermarkets. My selection of these and where to buy them is as follows: WINERIES /BODEGAS Bodegas Chevite Gran Feudo Rosado Garnacha. Widely available (Eroski etc around 4€) and their tintos are excellent. Bodegas Castillo de Montjardin tinto Garnacha (Eroski around 9€). Bodegas Inurietta, various reds and rosados.
I love the wines of Navarra especially their Garnacha wines, red, dark pinks and whites. Navarra is to the north east of Rioja and to an extent in its shadow. Like Rioja, its vines tend to be grown by smallholders who usually sell their grapes to co-operatives. These were formed in the 1950s and 1960s when WKH YLQH\DUGV LQ 1DYDUUD ZHUH WKH OHDVW SURÀWDEOH crop and their owners were leaving to work in the cities. The co-operatives made the vineyards more SURÀWDEOH WKXV HQFRXUDJLQJ WKHLU RZQHUV WR VWD\ LQ the villages. Navarra then became a pioneer in the Spanish sector.
Bodegas Principe de Viana, rosado around 4.50€ . As regular readers will know this is our house rosado in Menorca and widely available. Bodegas Sarria rosado Garnacha. If you are a member of The Wine Society in the UK this is an outstanding wine at £7.50. Bodega Tandem produces very good wines across the board and are stocked by Ulisses. Other producers of Navarra wines you should seek out are : Pagos de Araiz, Caudalia, Ortazu, Marco Real , Bagordi and Zorzal. As you will have gathered I am a great fan of the wines of Navarra especially the tintos and Rosados. I urge you to try them. You won’t be disappointed.
D O N ’ T M I S S A N E D I T I O N , S U B S C R I B E T O D AY ! V I S I T: R O Q U E TA M A G A Z I N E . N E T
FOOD & DRINK
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AUTUMN 2024
HERE IS THIS MONTH’S SELECTION:
TINTO MASUSTA, GARNACHA 2020 NAVARRA, 14.5% ABV. DE VINS 9.78€ Bright vivid red colour with an intense fruity and spicy nose. Young fruit on the palate, plums and red berries. Some tanicity which will soften in time . Good balance, silky and elegant. Wears its 14.5% ABV well and with a long finish. Good with grilled red meat and cheese. ZORZAL TEMPRANILLO 2023 NAVARRA, 14% ABV, DE VINS 6.55€ Ruby red with a young ripe fruit nose. Good Tempranillo fruit, tasty and fresh, smooth with a good balance, very quaffable, well balanced and has a refreshingly long finish. Good with meat and cheese tapas and BBQs. CASTILLO DE MONTJARDIN, LA CANTERA, GARNACHA 2020 NAVARRA, 13.5% ABV, EROSKI 9.53€ Bright ruby red with a nose of blackberries, plums and a hint of toasted oak. Medium bodied with tasty ripe fruit and a silky texture. Lovely balance and length. Drink with red meat, grills and stews, cheeses and vegetable stews.
ROSADO ARTAZUI ROSADO, GARNACHA 2023, NAVARRA, 12.5% ABV, DE VINS 8.46€ Bright pale strawberry with an intense red berry fruit nose. On the palate aromatic with fresh smooth fruit, good balance and a long intense finish. Good as an aperitif, with tapas or fish dishes. SONROJO ROSADO GARNACHA 2022, NAVARRA, 12.5% ABV, 9.95€ DE VINS. Lovely coral pink (sonrojo means blushing) with a red berry and floral nose, great fruit, dry strawberries, blueberries and a hint of lime, well balanced and with a fine length and finish. Drink as an aperitif, with tapas, fish and vegetable dishes.
BLANCO ZORZAL CHARDONNAY 2023, NAVARRA, 13% ABV, DE VINS 6.55€ Bright greenish yellow with melon and apple nose. Zesty freshness of apples and peaches on the palate. A lovely straightforward wine with a hint of lemons and a nice crisp finish. Great quaffing wine, good as an aperitif or with tapas and light fish dishes. Happy drinking! ROQ U E TA M AGA ZI N E . N E T
FOOD & DRINK
24
GASTRONOMIC AWARDS This year there were 30 exhibitors showcasing local products at Arrels Food Fair. This was held on 21 and 22 September at the Recinto Firal des Mercadal, with sponsorship from Balearia and the Foment Turisme de Menorca Foundation and the Consell de Menorca. There was a cooking classroom, where workshops, exhibitions and events were held, as well as another space sponsored by the Cooperativa del Camp. The annual awards given by the Association of Gastronomic Journalists and Writers of the Balearic Islands (APEGIB) were presented at the show.
LIST OF AWARD WINNERS - MENORCA Chef of the year: Sergi Villalonga, Café Balear. (Ciutadella). All the dishes on the Café Balear menu are made with fish and seafood freshly caught by their own boat, the Rosa Santa Primera. Fresh, top-quality produce for a menu with dishes that are already classics of the island’s cuisine, such as lobster caldereta (Sergi makes the soup especially thick), lobster with fried eggs and chips or Menorcan seafood appetizers. Passeig des Moll, 15 Port de Menorca 971 38 00 05. Closed November to January
AUTUMN 2024
EATING
OUT ! A R EXT ARRELS FOOD FAIR
New restaurant: Vermell, owned by Joan Bagur at the Vestige Son Vell country hotel. (Ciutadella). Vermell’s menus are inspired by popular and traditional recipes, with some influences from the cuisine of the Peninsula, Great Britain and France. There is a tasting menu for 115 Euros or choose from the a la carte menu but you will have to wait until next year to try it. Camí de Son Vell, s/n, 07769, Pastry chef/baker of the year: Juan Carlos García, ice-cream maker, La Fábrica de Farry. (Es Mercadal). Born in Galicia, Juan Carlos moved to Menorca in 1995. Since then, he has dedicated his life to perfecting his craft. He says they don’t just sell ice cream or desserts, they create memorable experiences that are reflected in the happiness of the customers. Flavours include cheesecake with red fruits, lime with Menorcan milk, and Intense dark Chocolate. Find them at Carrer Nou, 24, 07740 Es Mercadal. Best head waiter: Víctor Torrent Vivó, Pincel Restaurant (Ciutadella). This restaurant has its own farm, Binipati, and chef Joan Salord Roca offers gastronomic creations based on the Menorcan recipe book to create culinary experiences with a Menorcan flavour. This award shows that they have excellent service to match the creative food and beautiful décor. Plaça dels Pins, 4, 07760 Ciutadella Closed Tuesday. Best gastrobar: Calucha (Mahón). Calucha is a cosy, tastefully decorated with great views of the port of Mahón. Biel “Calucha” is very popular with locals and the gastrobar is famous for its spectacular Spanish omelette based on his mother’s recipe. You must try a portion which is served with tomato toast and olives. The menu is simple consisting of toasts, montaditos, Iberian ham platters, delicatessen, preserves, and some mini sandwiches that Biel has named “caluchitos”. He also offers about 5 dishes every day and has an interesting wine cellar. Moll de Llevant 306, Puerto de Mahon. Open Tuesday to Sunday 9-4pm (kitchen closes at 3pm) Best Menorcan cuisine restaurant, Ramon Caballero Award: Sa Fonda (Fornells). This restaurant, in front of the fishermen’s dock in Fornells, offers Menorcan cuisine, but also has touches of Balearic inspiration, bringing Mallorcan, Ibizan and Formenteran flavours to the table. The food looks delicious, from the local prawns and Menorcan rice dishes to the tart tatin which is a “caramelized homage to the years under French influence”. C/ Passeig Marítim Poeta Gumersind Riera, 1 – 07748 – Fornells. Closed Wednesdays. Professional career: El Paladar, with shops in Menorca, Mallorca and Evissa. Promotion of local produce: Vicent Vila, retired chef, Es Molí de Foc (Sant Climent, Maó). If you have eaten at any of these restaurants this year, shop at El Palador, or are an ice cream connoisseur (Ian) please send us a review. D O N ’ T M I S S A N E D I T I O N , S U B S C R I B E T O D AY ! V I S I T: R O Q U E TA M A G A Z I N E . N E T
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By Rachael Adams
TORTOISES IN MENORCA ORIGINS, EATS, INJURIES, AND TOES Tortoises have a great sense of smell and sight, and are sensitive to vibrations. They have a marvellous sense of direction too: no matter how many times, or how far away our neighbours carry them from their besieged vegetable garden, they make their way straight back. The dedicated couple are now barricading in the veg by sinking nets into the ground so that the homing reptiles can’t dig their way back in. Despite their camouflage, tortoises are very easy to spot; while most animals don’t like to be found by humans, it seems that these ones couldn’t care less. They crash about in the undergrowth, fight and even mate in close proximity to people out exploring. A rustling noise that doesn’t stop, even when walkers make their presence obvious, is a dead give-away that a tortoise is nearby. They dig holes with their big claws and lay eggs in them. In winter they fast for a few weeks to empty their guts then dig themselves in to hibernate, though they might wake up again during warmer periods.
Menorca is covered in bushes and trees. Vast swathes of our island are populated by wild olive, mock privet, and mastic trees (Pistacia lentiscus). Within these woodlands there are a lot of clearings for warming oneself in the sun which make the perfect home for a tortoise. The Mediterranean tortoise, or the subspecies Testudo hermanni hermanni to be precise, is rampant here. We have the highest population in the Mediterranean. They’re also found under holm oak and juniper trees and even amongst sand dunes.
They’re also delightfully odd-looking, and though they can power away quickly enough if needed, they’re easy to catch (or run over, strim, set fire to, or feed to the dog). Thus, unfortunately, there are many that end up being killed, injured, or taken back home as pets. Populations in Europe are declining quickly for all of the above reasons as well as human activity causing habitat fragmentation. Therefore, the species as a whole is strictly protected under law. They’re listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, and it is banned to own one in the Balearics. Because we have so many here, Menorca is a great place to study tortoises. Biologist, Albert Bertolero has been the researcher in charge of the monitoring programme since 2015. He comes over twice a year for a couple of weeks’ poking about in the scrub. When he catches one, he weighs and measures it, records its approximate age and sex and the exact position it was found. Then he whips out a hacksaw (or a small file if it’s a baby) and carves grooves into the edges of specific plates, (or scutes)
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on the shell to give it a number. Males have larger tails and concave plastrons, the part of the shell that is on the underside. The scutes above their tails sort of curl under whilst those on the female stick out more. This is to meet reproductive technicalities. Together with other scientists, Albert has found out some very interesting things over the years: Eating Habits They eat all sorts. Their favourite food in Menorca happens to be clematis, followed by dandelions, clover, poisonous Italian arum and buttercups, lords and ladies, and items from the pea and aster families. They don’t really like anything resinous from the juniper or pine trees, nor do they go for aromatic herbs like lavender and rosemary. More rarely, they’ll also eat meat and have been found gorging on dead chicks fallen from nests, bones, mussels and even poo. Ageing It’s very hard to accurately age a tortoise, though the internet reckons Testudo hermanii hermanii can get to around 75 years old. Scientists can get a rough estimate of how old they are by observing the concentric rings (which are actually expanding squares) on each scute. But a new ring isn’t necessarily formed every year throughout the tortoise’s life, and growth slows down considerable when they’re hibernating. Thus, they use an approximate guide to class tortoises into ‘un-sexed babies’ if under 10cm long; ‘sub-adults’ if the growth rings are all thick and well-defined; ‘young adults’ if the rings are a mix of fat and thin ones; and ‘old’ if the rings are fading and worn. Also, tortoises can only be sexed once their secondary sexual characters have developed, i.e. the concave plastron, wonky bottom and a bigger tail in males.
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Genetics Our population is actually made up of two different genetic lineages; the ones that are larger on average are found in the southeast of Menorca. This genetic group is not related to any known populations outside Menorca. Those living in the northwest have a smaller average body size and their genetic line can be traced back to the Albera mountain range in the eastern Pyrenees, between Spain and France. The two populations don’t mix, and some believe that the main road across the island keeps them apart. It is thought that tortoises were introduced to the island around 3000 years ago. Toes And last of all, some of our tortoises have five toes and claws on the front foot and some only have four. These differences have been shown to be genetically determined by taking blood for tests from the coccygeal vein near the base of the tail. Researchers estimate the population size by monitoring our tortoises year on year. They can observe how many there are each year, if the male to female ratio is stable, and predict movement patterns. Yet with such a long-lived species it will take many years to truly understand their dynamics.
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Photo Credit CREAF
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Injured Tortoises Going back to dog attacks and wayward strimmers, injured tortoises get sent to the Wildlife Recovery Centre at Lithica near Ciutadella. Every new individual that comes in gets a health check and a mugshot taken, is weighed, sexed, and then kept in quarantine for a few weeks to avoid it passing on any possible diseases to the others. If it’s healthy after that time it’ll be released back where it was found. This is important as the carers don’t want to contribute to any genetic mixing that wouldn’t have naturally occurred. If the animal is injured with a damaged shell it goes to the vet. There it gets sedated with a general anaesthetic (how cute) and then gets a plaster cast stuck on its back. Drainage holes are left at the base of the shell and then it’s back to the recovery centre to convalesce. Reptiles take a lot longer than humans to heal due to their cold blood and hibernation. In fact, sometimes the staff keep ill tortoises under heat lamps to prevent them from hibernating so that the healing process isn’t interrupted. Despite this, they’ve kept patients at the centre from months to even years. Still, the hope is that one day they too can be released into the wild. Every now and then there’ll be something in the media reminding the public that it’s illegal to keep tortoises in captivity – which results in a sudden influx of new tortoises to the centre. I remember many people had them in their flower beds, even on patios in town. One year they received around 2000 individuals. Unfortunately, and despite their trade being illegal, there’s also a black market for Mediterranean tortoises as pets. A recent report found some Menorcan ones at a street market in Madrid. Thus, another reason the recovery centre ends up with thousands of new ones a year is because they take in captive tortoises the authorities have impounded. These poor guys have to just sit there and be evidence until the culprit is brought to trial. To summarise, the centre, co-managed by both GOB and COFIB, is generally swamped with inmates of all shapes and size and in varying states of disrepair - making it a great place to learn about them and also contribute a muchappreciated donation to their upkeep. Ref: Seguiment de la Tortuga mediterrania a Menorca en 2016, Albert Bertolero
www.menorcabiosphera.org ROQ U E TA M AGA ZI N E . N E T
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By Marc Moll
FENNEL
A SWEET TOUCH TO OUR LIVES Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) is a perennial and aromatic plant belonging to the Umbelliferae family (Apiaceae), the same family as parsley. It grows in fields and on the edges of roads. • Height: It can reach between 1.5 and 2 meters in height. • Leaves: Its leaves are thin, feather-like, bright green, very divided and similar to dill. They have a very distinctive aniseed aroma. • Flowers: It produces small yellow flowers grouped in large umbels, which are clusters of umbrella-shaped flowers. • Fruit: Its fruits, often called fennel seeds, are small, green to brown, spindle-shaped. They have an aniseed, slightly sweet flavor. It is a versatile plant that is widely used in medicine, cooking and cosmetics for its many beneficial properties. The leaves are used in winter, flowers in early summer, seeds in September and roots in autumn. Medicinal Properties: 1. Improves digestion: Fennel is known for its ability to relieve digestive problems, such as bloating, gas and indigestion. Its seeds and fennel tea are commonly used to stimulate digestion. 2. Colic relief: It is effective in treating colic, especially in babies, by acting as a natural relaxant for the muscles of the digestive system. 3. Antioxidant properties: Fennel contains antioxidants such as the flavonoid quercetin, which helps fight damage caused by free radicals, protecting the body’s cells. 4. Improves respiratory health: Its essential oils have expectorant properties, helping to relieve cough, cold and congestion. 5. Natural diuretic: It helps eliminate toxins through urine, promoting kidney function and weight loss. 6. Hormonal regulator: It has been traditionally used to relieve symptoms of premenstrual syndrome and menopause thanks to its phytoestrogenic properties. 7. Anti-inflammatory: Its topical use in the form of oils or ointments can help reduce inflammation and muscle pain. D O N ’ T M I S S A N E D I T I O N , S U B S C R I B E T O D AY ! V I S I T: R O Q U E TA M A G A Z I N E . N E T
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Culinary Properties: 1. Versatile condiment: Fennel seeds, leaves and bulb are used in a variety of dishes, from soups and salads to meats and fish. Its aniseed flavor is light and refreshing. 2. Natural digestive: After meals, fennel seeds are usually consumed to improve digestion and freshen breath. 3. Flavouring: Its characteristic aroma is used to perfume breads, pastries such as cookies and cakes, with dried figs, sweet herbal liqueurs, etc. 4. Infusions: Fennel tea is consumed not only for its digestive benefits, but also as a relaxing and refreshing drink. 5. Sweet taste: Fennel bulb can be eaten raw in salads or cooked in stews and gratins, providing a sweet and aniseed touch. Cosmetic Properties: 1. Skin care: Fennel extract and essential oil are used in skin care products for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which help fight premature aging, improve elasticity and tone the skin. 2. Detoxifying: Its diuretic properties are also applied to the skin, helping to eliminate toxins and reduce fluid retention, which can improve the appearance of cellulite. 3. Acne control: Thanks to its antibacterial properties, fennel is useful for treating blemishes and acne breakouts. 4. Hair strengthening: It is used in shampoos and hair treatments to strengthen the scalp and improve hair health, providing shine and preventing hair loss. 5. Refreshing toner: Fennel infusions can be used as a facial toner to refresh and cleanse the skin.
Marc Moll Marques was born in Ciutadella de Menorca. He is an environmental education guide, ethnobotanist, phytotherapist, floral therapist and forestry specialist. He has been teaching medicinal plant workshops in Menorca for many years and provides advice on gardening with native plants. He also advises on the cultivation of aromatic-medicinal plants native to Menorca for different farms on the island.
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SAILPOWER MENORCA Laurence Vinnie (centre) with his team
LAURENCE VINNIE Sailpower Menorca is the only dedicated sailboat service in Menorca. The company has premises on the industrial estate in Mahón, with 300m2 of space for its yacht maintenance workshop, boat storage area and a dedicated rigging area. We talk to founder Laurence Vinnie
How did you first arrive in Menorca? I was a commercial skipper with over 30,000 logged miles and I had called into the Port of Mahón on several occasions before I decided to relocate with my young family to the island. I grew up in Hastings and trained as an apprentice machine engineer before becoming a commercial skipper, obtaining my RYA Yachtmaster commercial certificate in 1997. I worked first for Sunsail as a flotilla skipper and then honed my current skills on the job as a delivery skipper, fixing pumps, navigation equipment, stripping down engines and repairing sails and rigging. When did you set up Sailpower Menorca? I started the company in 2003 to serve the needs of the owners of sailing boats based in Menorca and to provide a maintenance and repair service for visiting yachts and charter companies. The business has grown steadily as we have built up a reputation for knowledge, quality workmanship and reliability and we now have 5 full time employees. What services do you offer We are the official distributor for many suppliers such as Harken, B&G, Simrad, Victron Energy, Profurl, Ultra Anchor and Lewmar and the safety equipment supplier, Oscar Sierra. The company can provide full rigging services, internal and external carpentry, marine engineering, 12 volt electrical systems, marine plumbing systems and fiberglass and gelcoat repairs. We have the expertise to work on every part of a sailboat including the navigation and mast instruments. D O N ’ T M I S S A N E D I T I O N , S U B S C R I B E T O D AY ! V I S I T: R O Q U E TA M A G A Z I N E . N E T
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In 2014 we became the Distributor for Highfield aluminium Inflatable boats. In the last Year we have replaced the rigging on 12 yachts from 10-18m in length. We can also transform boats by replacing a tired teak deck with a beautiful new one. We have a good working relationship with the Cos Nou boatyard, where we use the lifts and cranes needed to work on the yachts. Recently, we have purchased a portable hydraulic tube press which enables us to work autonomously on yacht hydraulic systems and installations of back stay cylinders, vangs and steering systems. A lot of our work is in the Port of Mahón but we also work in Port Addaya and Ciutadella where we look after sailing yachts for regular customers. In summer much of our work is undertaken on behalf of other trade companies and we do call-outs for charter companies based in Menorca and Mallorca. How do you keep up with new technologies? I visit the Dusseldorf and Southampton Boat Shows and also travel to the Mets trade Show in the Netherlands every year. This is a meeting place for all the marine equipment manufacturers from around the world. It is a chance to find out about the latest innovations in solar systems and lithium batteries for example. We use the German company, Sunwear, for example as they manufacture excellent flexible solar panels which can be fitted into biminis and will last for 10 years. Laurence has three sons and a daughter and lives in Cala Santandria, driving across the island to Mahon each day which he says is no problem. He has his own sailing yacht named Xop Xop which he has re-rigged and refitted with a new teak cockpit ready for weekend sailing. Two of Laurence’s sons have followed him into the nautical industry and both are excellent sailors, having grown up on the island. We can recommend that you keep Sailpower’s telephone number to hand if you are visiting the island on a sailing yacht. Contact: Laurence Vinnie, Sailpower Menorca, www.sailpowermenorca.com. Email: info@sailpowermenorca.com Tel: 0034 679 516829
PIST N BROKE Right, listen up. This is an announcement for anyone who knows a spanner from a spark plug and fancies a bit of motoring banter under the Mediterranean sun. A new motor club has revved into life here in Menorca, born from the fevered minds of three blokes who couldn’t leave well enough alone with their bikes. We call it Pist ‘N Broke, and before you ask, yes, it’s exactly the sort of name you’d expect from a bunch of petrolheads with more passion than sense. Originally, it was just for the motorcycle lot – those who enjoy strapping themselves to two wheels and clinging on for dear life. But then, a brilliant thought hit me like a V8 on full throttle: why not throw cars into the mix? After all, there’s room for everyone, whether you’ve got a classic motor that leaks oil like a sieve or a shiny new hypercar that does 0-60 faster than you can say “expensive mistake.” Quirky, classic, modern – if it’s got wheels, it’s welcome. The idea is simple: every now and then, we’ll gather to swap stories, show off our rides, and generally indulge in our shared love for all things mechanical. Be it racing, restoration, or simply admiring some beautiful piece of engineering, this is the club for those who understand the poetry of pistons and horsepower. So, whether you’re living here on Menorca, visiting on holiday, or just fancy the odd jaunt to this glorious island with your pride and joy, we’d love to have you. If you’re as passionate about motors as we are, let’s talk – and who knows, maybe we’ll even fire up a barbecue while we’re at it. If you’ve got petrol in your veins and a healthy disregard for common sense, welcome to the club.
Sailpower Menorca has replaced many teak decks on sailing boats
You can email me on roquetajohn@gmail.com if you have any interest, funny photos or great stories.
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MARKET
PLACE Mood Swing 47’ Trawler Yacht Price 165,000 euros Refurbished in 2022 including: New cockpit canopies and upholstery Replacement of teak side decks and foredeck. Solar panel installation including 80A battery charger and 5000w inverter and much more....
Bavaria 36 Avantgarde Las Sirenas Price 100,000 Euros, Tax paid Spanish Flag, Mooring in Mahon paid until 2025, 3 cabins, length 11.3 metres, Teak deck, VHF, Log, Depth, Wind Instruments, hand-held VHF, GPS, CD Radio, Chart Plotter, Autohelm, Bow Thruster, Electric Winches. Electric toilet, heating, Radar, AIS
Bavaria 38 Cruiser Sa Barca Price 70,000 Euros, Tax paid Spanish Flag, 2004, Mooring in Mahon paid until 2025 3 cabins, Length12,3 metres, VHF, Log, Depth, Wind Instruments, hand-held VHF, GPS, CD Radio, Chart Plotter, Autohelm,
Dufour 405 Grand Large Isabelle Price 120,000 Euros, Tax paid Spanish Flag, 2011, Mooring paid until 2025, 3 cabins, 2 toilets, Length 12.2m Teak deck,VHF, Log, Depth, Wind Instruments, Hand-held VHF, GPS, CD Radio, Chart Plotter, Autohelm, Bow Thruster, Electric Winches, Heating, Radar, AIS
LET JOHN SELL YOUR BOAT Associated with the industry for over 25 years, Principal of an RYA sail and power school, Yachtmaster Instructor, Yacht charter business owner for 17 years, based in Mahon, Menorca For more information or viewing email roquetajohn@gmail.com Tel: 609851186 D O N ’ T M I S S A N E D I T I O N , S U B S C R I B E T O D AY ! V I S I T: R O Q U E TA M A G A Z I N E . N E T
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KEEPING A LOOK OUT! By Long John
Ahoy, me hearties! Now, as much as sailing the high seas sounds like a grand ol’ adventure, let’s not pretend it’s all rum and treasure. Sometimes, it’s more like dodging cannonballs when every sea dog and his soggy pet decide to set sail in every sort of vessel imaginable. Just leaving the port can feel like a battle in itself! But listen closely, because as much as I despise rules, there are a few you simply cannot ignore. Otherwise, you might find yourself on the receiving end of a rather hefty fine from the authorities – and trust me, mates, that’ll put a dent in your rum stash quicker than you can say “mutiny.” They are called COLLISION REGULATIONS, or the rules that stop us from bashing our boats together like a pack of drunken pirates. These apply to every vessel on the water, whether you’re in a grand ship or a dinky rowboat. So lend me your ears, and I’ll break it down for you in words even a half-sober sailor could follow. LOOK OUT RULES First rule of the sea, mate: always keep your eyes peeled. Use every trick in your salty book to know where every other ship, boat, and floating...thing is. Don’t just assume the other fellow’s paying attention either—half the time, they’re not. So, be smart, keep your wits about you, and always proceed with caution. WHO HAS THE RIGHT-OF-WAY? Now, if you’re thinking, “But Captain, who gets to go first?” Well, let me tell you. There’s something called the “stand-on craft”- that’s the lucky boat that doesn’t have to move. And then there’s the “give-way craft,” which, as the name suggests, better steer clear unless they fancy becoming driftwood. Factors, of course, determine who has the privilege, such as: • The type of vessel you’re sailing • What kind of ship you’re approaching
• The position and direction from which they are approaching • The type of waterway you’re on TYPES OF BOAT Emergency Craft: Always, always give way to these fine vessels. They’ve got places to be, lives to save, and absolutely no time for your tomfoolery. So when you see one, steer clear! And for the love of all things rum-soaked, never sail between a tugboat and its tow. That sneaky line between them might be underwater, waiting to snare the careless like a Kraken in the deep. Ferries and Large Ships: Now, here’s a tip for you—if you hear one of those grand ships bellowing its horn with a single, mighty blast, it means it’s about to depart. A pilot boat will be out in front, clearing a path. Your mission? Don’t be in that path, unless, of course, you fancy being flattened into driftwood. Fishing Boats: Ah, the fishermen. They’re out there, toiling away with their nets and trawls. Whether you’re in a sailboat or powerboat, give ‘em wide berth and steer clear. They’ve got work to do, and you—well, you’ve got the leisure of not being entangled in their nets, so best stay that way. Non-Powered Craft: Now here’s the tricky bit—canoes, sailboards, rowing boats, and the like, they all have the right-of-way over your fancy power-driven craft. You see a vessel without an engine? Take evasive action. And watch out for those tiny tots in their tiny dinghies from the yacht clubs. They’re often strung together like a merry little flotilla of chaos, and trust me, you don’t want to be the one that disrupts that parade. Boats Under 20m: For those of you aboard vessels under 20m, whether it’s a sporty little fishing boat or something for waterskiing, you’ll want to steer clear of the big fellas. They’ve got the right-of-way because, frankly, they’re bigger and harder to manoeuvre. And we’re all smart enough to know size matters... in boating, of course. ROQ U E TA M AGA ZI N E . N E T
Approaching Non-Powered Boats: If you find yourself on a collision course with a sailboat, canoe, or some other engine-less wonder, you are the give-way craft. That means you move, not them. And do it early! Don’t wait till you can smell the salt in their beards before you change course. Approaching Power-Driven Boats: Ah, now the fun begins. When two powerboats approach, it’s a matter of positioning. If the other boat’s on your port side (that’s your left, savvy?), you keep going steady as she goes. Starboard side (that’s your right) – you give way. And from the stern (that’s behind you, you scallywag), you just keep calm and carry on. The Danger Zone: Your starboard sector, defined by your green starboard light, is your give-way zone. If another boat sees your green light, they have the right-of-way, and you must steer clear. If you see the other boat’s port light (that’s red), get moving out of their way before you find yourself in a game of nautical chicken. Passing “Port to Port”: When passing another boat, most of the time it’s good form to pass port to port. Think of it as passing a jug of rum, always to the left, keeping your sword hand free. In the navy, they say it’s tradition. I say, it’s just common sense! Now, let me remind you, while these are the official rules of the sea, don’t expect every other skipper in Menorca’s waters to be following them! Quite a few are about as orderly as a pirate crew after a night of plunder. So always, always keep a sharp lookout for trouble! That about covers it, savvy? Next month – we tackle anchoring, or as I like to call it, making sure your ship doesn’t wander off without you!
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MEN IN RCA ART
QUARANTINE 14th-20th October 2024 and 7th-13th April 2025
Purgatory for Artists Quarantine takes place on Lazareto island in Mahón harbour, and unlocking artists is their thing. It is called a Boot Camp, which isn’t for everyone; it costs 3,270 Euros to participate, and you need to pass an interview before being accepted. One hundred artists gather together, including world-renowned celebrity artists who come to the island to share their experiences, their successes and failures, and to act as Mentors. If you see yourself as an artist with the courage to challenge yourself, confront your fears, and use your vulnerability as creative power, Quarantine is for you. They select students willing to dive into the unknown and let themselves be transformed. Their aim is “To cut the crap once and for all”.
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Lazareto is a real quarantine island that used to serve the whole of Spain. The walled fortress acts as a refuge and a place to reset. The programme is kept top secret; no phones are permitted and what happens on the island stays on the island. There are no distractions, just artists and their art, making up a community of kindred spirits. They spend 12 hours a day there, only returning to the mainland each night to collapse into exhausted sleep before returning early next morning. Some say the island is haunted so, just in case, the organisers ask the artists to respect the humans, voices and silences, dimensional wanderers, and ghosts. Quarantine is the brainchild of artist Carles Gomila. “For years I organised painting workshops (Menorca Pulsar) because I thought they were good. Now I know that’s not entirely true. I created Quarantine to radicalise what worked and eliminate what didn’t. Everything I do comes from my own experience. At Quarantine you’ll learn to unlock your creative power, not to be a good student or paint pretty pictures. Because being an artist is something else: it’s transmitting emotion, it’s connecting on a deeper level.” The other members of the organising team are Joan Taltavull, Itziar Lecea and Darren Green. The “surprise” details of Quarantine are devised by Joan, who organises the excellent and innovative Pedra Viva festival each year. Itziar is responsible for marketing and communication and Darren is Customer Service manager, there to help and guide. Amanda Szymanski took part in the last event. She says, “The week was incredible. Beyond words. By Tuesday evening I had everything I needed... Vincent Desiderio changed my life, and then every subsequent day further reverberated the messages and lessons I learned from him. I Am An Artist. It’s hard to explain what this means, and the gravity of it, to people who don’t identify as an Artist, but I think most, if not all of my quarantine pals, get it. We have a different, unique way of operating in the world. One which isn’t readily supported or celebrated in our everyday lives. It is of absolute critical importance that us Artists find each other, support each other, and encourage each other to live our lives in our most authentic ways possible. I am so grateful for this experience. My life, myself, it all makes sense now. I’m not crazy (I mean, I am. But I’m happy).” Interzone 2024 is this year’s event taking place from 14th to 20th October. Artists will be quarantined with seven renowned artists: Gary Baseman, Phil Hale, Eloy Morales, Edward Povey, Yuko Shimizu and Henrik Uldalen, along with gallerists: Ken Harman and Jennifer Rizzo If you think Quarantine is for you, the next event called `The Art Spirit’ will take place from 7th to 13th April 2025 and it is open for requests from artists wanting to join. But remember, Quarantine is an extremely demanding experience!!
Organisers, Darren, Carles, Itziar and Joan
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How did you become involved in Quarantine? Last year a friend of mine, Vincent Desiderio, the realist painter from New York, was involved in the event and he came to stay with me in Devon soon afterwards. He told me all about the unique and extraordinary experience and it is an honour for me to have been asked to take part. The exact programme is a secret, but can you give us a flavour of what you will be doing? There is an emphasis on authenticity. One morning I will be talking about my career and being honest about things that have worked for me and those that didn’t. I will also be involved in oneto-one mentoring with 35 different students. Each one gets the opportunity to be mentored by 3 established artists over the course of the week. I feel very strongly about mentoring and listening to what people have to say, but perhaps more importantly a second me is listening to what they avoid saying. I will be watching very carefully and feel very privileged to be involved in parenting the turning point in someone’s life. Do you have a message for aspiring artists? Mistakes are essential! You are not trying hard enough if you believe that every piece of art is perfect and you have not made mistakes. How has your career evolved? I started out by painting huge murals on the side of buildings in Wales and was lucky enough to be filmed by the BBC. I spent 7 years balancing on scaffolding as I had to drop the boards and walk on the rails to be able to see my work. Even then, I had to climb down and cross the road to be able to see the full picture. These works of art were so big it was impossible to correct any mistakes, due to the time and cost involved.
Interview with Artist
EDWARD POVEY Edward Povey is an internationally renowned painter and muralist, born in London and now living in North Devon. He is one of the celebrated artists giving his time as a mentor at the Quarantine event on the Lazareto. He is a lovely, charming gentleman and he was kind enough to take time away from his studio to talk to us.
I then moved to Grenada in the Caribbean when my first wife took up a teaching position on the island. This gave me the opportunity to paint on canvasses and to be able to correct and develop my work. There was an eclectic group of expats on Grenada, and I got to know Jeannie Fischer, who took an interest in artists. She is now 101 years old and grew up in Central America and as a child, she once peeped through the garden gate to see Frida Kahlo kissing Trotsky, the communist theorist! She invited me to present a slideshow of my work to a gathering of her friends. Halfway through there was a power cut (due to a rare homeless man sleeping in a vent at the power station) and I had to finish my talk by candlelight, which was a lovely way to present the works as my work was quite symbolic at the time, very much influenced by my childhood. In the lecture there was a man from Connecticut present who bought one of my paintings. At his invitation, I travelled to Connecticut and did a similar lecture in his home, sans the power outage! This is how I came to be known amongst USA art collectors. You are said to paint for 100 hours a week and not to read newspapers or listen to the radio or TV. Is this correct? I love living in Devon and find it the kindest place, but my mind and heart is in the studio. It is a very private occupation, perhaps a reaction to my very public painting of murals. Regarding the media, I choose to live without the opinions and lies of the outside world. In 1983, I got caught up in the US-led invasion of Grenada with my family and we were put under house arrest. Our only contact with the outside world was listening to the ‘Voice of America’ and BBC News who both reported that the bombing had stopped and that an interim government had taken control. Their words were drowned out by the sound of bombing all around us and it was a frightening time which I never want to repeat. Also, I have noticed that the local papers are much better at reporting accurately on my life and work than the national papers which are filled with nonsense.
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After Grenada, we moved to the North of England and then I went back to Wales where I was commissioned to paint “The Hall of Illusion” for the concert hall at the University of Wales in 1991. This was my final large wall painting. I met my wife, the artist Tolar Schultz, a decade after finishing the Hall of Illusion. I taught her how to paint as we spent most of our waking hours together when we could - the proverbial whirlwind romance! Interestingly, she had an unknown talent as an artist in her own right. We even worked as an artist duo for a number of years, until our creative desires shifted into divergent paths. We spent several years in Texas, USA until our home was destroyed by a ‘thousand-year event’ flood. The river rose 40 feet within minutes. Some of the homes in our village were swept downriver out to sea and more than a dozen lost their lives. We were fortunate to only lose our home. With this major disruption, we decided that we would return to the UK. We chose North Devon, at the suggestion of my son who was a keen climber - North Devon is known as a climber’s paradise. I have 2 sons; one is now Professor of Physics at Oxford University and the other is an inventor of human voice recognition software, working in Beijing. I am also stepfather to my wife’s son and daughter, who both live in New Orleans and are a horticulturist and an ICU nurse, respectively.
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BIOGRAPHY 2024 - REALISM NOW | MEAM Exhibition 2024 European Museum of Modern Art,Barcelona, a group exhibition showing the latest trends in current realist production. 2023 – HUMAN Solo exhibition at the MODERN FINE ART GALLERY, New York. 2023 - BLACKLIST – Watch out for Povey paintings in an episode of the American crime thriller television series. The paintings hang in a collector’s home used for the episode. 2011-12 - MOMA Wales publish a book on his career, in which he has created more than 3500 artworks with placement into 600 collections in 16 countries. 2000-01 - Goes to Buckingham Palace to meet with Her Majesty the Queen and The Prince of Wales. 1997-99 - Museums in Britain and the USA begin acquiring Povey works. 1994-96 - The BBC follows his evolution, in both his professional and personal lives. 1992-93 - Public commission: Hall of Illusion mural: 20 X 40 ft. interior oil painting in the Chamber Concert Hall of the University of Wales. 1982-86 - The New York Times send photographer Dith Pran (on whom the movie The Killing Fields was based) to photograph Povey in New York with The Trial of Saint Deiniol painting. The BBC film Edward Povey being interviewed by the former President of the Royal Academy of Art in London - Sir Hugh Casson KCVO, RA, RDI 1981-82 - Commission: The Trial of Saint Deiniol: 19-panel, 18 x 21 ft. 1974-81 - University of Wales: studied painting under Welsh artist Selwyn Jones. Makes his name painting 25 shop front murals and is filmed by the BBC 1972-73 - Eastbourne College for Art and Design: Fine Art Foundation Course Can you explain the background to your most recent paintings? Last October, renowned gallerists Ray & Sandra Waterhouse hosted a one man show for my work at their eponymous gallery Waterhouse & Dodd, now renamed as Modern Fine Art gallery. It was a chance for me to experience my own work as it is seen by others. I realised I needed to get more to the point in future and I am now working on 25 designs, moving on from ‘humans with artifacts’ and bringing it down to the human face. In May, I flew to Austin, Texas, to photograph a stunning model who exudes character, depth and honesty. Although I took photographs for more than twenty designs, one of the most interesting ones was when I asked her to lie on the floor with her face in a plate of tea. Floating in the tea there were slips of paper on which she had written the names of the people who had most influenced her life. I asked her to imagine all those people together around a dinner table. I turned away from her to allow her to “be” with her emotions while she was being photographed. From these extraordinary stills I created a large painting, 140cm wide, in which you can see the human face in all its complexity. I wanted to create this particular painting on such a scale as to show that behind the person you meet and shake hands with, there is another cast of people in the shadows that make up the whole package of the person. I feel you can intuit what is going on in the eyes to find the actual human being. After all, Shakespeare once said, “The eyes are the window to your soul.” From this collection one of the paintings, DOSE, will be shown in the REALISM NOW exhibition, on from 27 September 2024 to 30 May 2025, at the European Museum of Modern Art, Barcelona. We spoke to Edward before he travelled to Menorca. He says he is not a person who takes traditional holidays, preferring to go somewhere for a month and to ‘experience’ the place. He promised to update us on his experience on the island after spending his time in Quarantine.
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HISTORY OF THE LAZARETO – THE QUARANTINE ISLAND El Lazareto is situated on Illa Plana, next to Cala Taulera in the Port of Mahón. This island has been used as a quarantine station since 1490. Any goods and imports from plague infected countries were stored on the island. Construction of the current Lazareto started at the beginning of the second British occupation in 1771. The British built the onestory building that can be seen in different paintings of Port Mahón in the Museum of Menorca. In 1785, with Menorca once more under Spanish rule, Spain signed a peace treaty with Algeria and the island was designated to receive 365 freed Spanish slaves which had been imprisoned in Algiers, a place which had been ravaged by a plague epidemic. The facilities at Illa Plana were not big enough to house them all and so some were kept on Illa des Colom in Es Grau. On this island, temporary barracks were built to house the former slaves, and guards were stationed on the coast of the main island to control any attempted escapes. This situation highlighted the need for the construction of a new, much bigger, quarantine station. However, the third British Occupation of Menorca and the war of independence from France meant that it took many years to complete and the first ship, the Spanish vessel ‘Antonia’, did not stop at the quarantine station until 1817. Construction of the Lazareto The impressive facility is surrounded by a fortified stone wall in the shape of a polygon. The outer wall is 1200m long, 1.5m wide and over 7m high and incorporates 2 watchtowers. There were independent doors in the wall which led to three separate areas, each surrounded by a second inner wall of the same height and width and with a 12m gap between the two walls.
infected. This plague zone was located in the east and had a watchtower over its main entrance. There were plans for a fourth zone for people free of infection containing six buildings for accommodation of passengers, an inn, two infirmaries, staff quarters and a church. This zone was never built. Operation of the Lazareto In the 100 years it was operating, over 13,800 boats passed through the station and more than 111,000 passengers and 275,000 crew members were kept in isolation. During the month of August 1821, numerous vessels entered the port of Mahón infected with a typhus epidemic and the crews went directly to the premises of the Lazareto. The staff were unprepared and ill-equipped to deal with the large numbers of patients. Between August and October, 43 vessels were quarantined with 486 crew. Unfortunately, 196 of these then became infected with yellow fever and 122 people died of the disease, including the governor and priest of the Lazereto and other staff. It was later discovered that the cause of the transmission was stegomya calopus, a mosquito that was very common in the area of Mahón. Therefore, the patients had become infected whilst within the Lazereto. The last quarantine ship left the island in 1919 and the facility passed into the hands of the Ministry of Health. The island became a vacation spot for children and then, since 1967, the island was used in the summer months as a place of residence for health ministry employees and to host national and international health conferences. In 1993, it was declared a Site of Cultural Interest and in April 2015, the Spanish Ministry of Health transferred its ownership to the Consell Insular de Menorca, which has managed it ever since. The Lazareto has large rooms and open spaces, as well as lecture/training rooms of varying sizes. It has large gardens and outdoor areas suitable for concerts, cultural shows, plays, and events. Further details: Guided tours of the Lazareto can be booked through the menorca.es website or at tourist information offices for a price of 18 Euros. As we go to press, tours are available in English on 28th and 31st October, with more dates available in Spanish. Duration of the tour: 2.5 hours. Meeting point: Cales Fonts quayside (Es Castell), 15 minutes before the start of the tour. The tours are highly recommended, and they also organise private visits for groups; request information at llatzeret@menorca.es https://www.menorca.es/en/Visitas_guiadas_a_la_Illa_ de_Llatzeret/14057
The three inner zones were described as: the Suspicious Zone for goods and people arriving from areas suspected of contagion; the Dirty Zone for people and effects arriving from known plagueridden cities or ships with an infectious disease; the third was the Plague Zone for receiving people known to be D O N ’ T M I S S A N E D I T I O N , S U B S C R I B E T O D AY ! V I S I T: R O Q U E TA M A G A Z I N E . N E T
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NUTRITION AND FITNESS WITH TOM AND JESS
6 WAYS TO LOWER CHOLESTEROL LEVELS NATURALLY by Jess My Online Nutrition Clinic is back to full time now that September has arrived and the kids are back at school, and one of the areas that has repeatedly come up with the majority of my clients have been elevated cholesterol (triglycerides), so I thought I’d share with you a helpful guide on what to do as a first line protocol to lower your blood fats naturally. If you would like personalised one-on-one support, my clinic details are at the end of this article. Have you been told that your cholesterol levels are high? You may be curious as to what caused your levels to increase. You might also be wondering what you can proactively do to lower your triglycerides so that you can support your body naturally. This information is never shared in a 5-minute appointment with a GP, so in this article I’m going to share with you what triglycerides are, their relevance on a blood test, the optimal ranges for triglyceride levels, and how you can bring them back into optimal range again so you can take charge of your health and avoid medication where possible. What are triglycerides? Triglycerides are fats that are primarily derived from our diet and are composed of three fatty acids attached to one glycerol molecule. Depending on the length of the fatty acid chain, these fats can be saturated (short/medium fatty acid) or mono/polyunsaturated (long chain). These different types of fat have distinct health benefits. Their primary function is to be used by the heart and muscles. If they’re not required for immediate energy use, they will be stored as adipose tissue (body fat) for later use. Body fat is often thought to be solely a result of the fat we consume in our diets. However, it’s important to note that all macronutrients (proteins, carbohydrates, and fats) can be stored as body fat when a calorie surplus exists, i.e. when we consume more energy via food than we expend via movement. Despite the body’s preference to store dietary fat in the form of body fat, protein and carbohydrates can also be converted by the body into fats by a process known as de novo lipogenesis. In a blood panel, triglycerides are the measurement of fats in our blood, not body fat. The rest of this article will focus on the clinical relevance of high triglycerides and how it might affect your metabolic health. The optimal fasted triglyceride range Usually, optimal fasting ranges should be between 0.5mmol/L - 1 mmol/L, although some panels have higher upper thresholds of 1.24mmol/L. Depending on the lab and country you get your blood test from, most “normal” ranges will be anything below 1.7-2.3. If your triglyceride levels are within the “normal” range but above the “optimal” range, now is the time to address these imbalances. What causes elevated triglycerides in a blood test? In healthy individuals, triglycerides are redistributed from the blood to beneficial areas of the body where they are needed (organs and tissues). The body uses what it needs immediately and stores the remaining for future use. Increased blood triglycerides are often a sign of metabolic syndrome and/or insulin resistance. Metabolic syndrome is characterised by 5 signs/markers that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease when 3 or more of them are present. These signs include elevated triglycerides over 1.69 mmol/L. To understand what is happening here, think of our blood vessels as motorways/highways. These motorways transport travellers (carbohydrates and fats) to their final destination (muscle, liver, adipose tissue). ROQ U E TA M AGA ZI N E . N E T
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Ideally, we would like travellers to exit the motorway effectively and efficiently when they reach their destinations, but when insulin resistance is present, it’s as if the slip roads leading off the motorway and into the major cities are blocked, causing a lot of traffic congestion.
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4. Limit Alcohol Consumption
Congestion and build-up on the motorway lead to car accidents, honking, and general damage. Similarly, when glucose and fat build up in blood vessels, this causes inflammation and damage to the vessels, increasing blood pressure among other things.
One of the first things to address is alcohol consumption, as excessive amounts will elevate triglyceride levels in several ways. As a major source of empty calories, alcohol can easily contribute to unwanted weight gain and obesity. Alcohol also increases VLDL (very low density lipoprotein) levels in the liver, which increases the body’s triglyceride carrying capacity but it can also stop the body from breaking down fats, a process called lipolysis, resulting in more body fat and overall blood fats.
What caused this whole cascade in the first place?
5. Consume More Fibre
Considering the motorway as a whole, if too many cars enter the major cities yet no cars leave them, this results in the gradual overpopulation of the major cities. When this happens, slip roads get closed off to prevent further cars entering the already overcrowded cities.
In numerous studies, high-fibre diets have been proven to lower cardiovascular disease risk. Conversely, a diet high in refined carbohydrates and low in fibre is associated with elevated triglyceride levels. We should aim for 14g of fibre per 1000 calories as a baseline.
Likewise, when chronic excess calories consistently enter the body over time, and only a small portion of that energy gets utilised by the body, the ‘major cities’ (adipose, muscle, and liver) become saturated with carbohydrates and fats, and the surplus energy spills out into the bloodstream.
This may explain why the traditional Mediterranean style diet is so effective at reducing cardiovascular disease risks.
In time, the mechanisms behind the ‘entry point’ become dysfunctional, leading to a build-up of fat in the blood. Eventually, this can become dangerous.
Triglyceride levels can also be improved by regular exercise. Despite slightly better results with resistance training than endurance training in clearing triglyceriderich VLDL from circulation, both forms of exercise should be included in any exercise program.
Aside from the typical energy excess, there are other reasons behind the under clearance of blood fats. Slow thyroid function (hypothyroidism), for instance, inhibits lipoprotein lipase, an enzyme involved in breaking down triglycerides to make energy. A chronic psychological stress response could also contribute to this, as our catecholamines, like adrenaline and noradrenaline, release fatty acids into the bloodstream for energy as part of our fight or flight response.
6. Move More (Particularly of the Resistance Kind)
An overview • Among the many functions that triglycerides perform in the body, providing energy is one of them. • Fasting blood triglycerides should be in the 0.5 - 1 mmol/L range, but elevated levels may indicate an inability to eliminate these fats from the body.
From a dietary perspective, raised triglycerides are usually associated with increased consumption of refined carbohydrates/sugars since this eating pattern typically results in excessive energy intake.
• A person can have elevated triglycerides for a variety of reasons, but most often this occurs as a result of excess calorie consumption, resulting in insulin resistance or obesity.
Triglycerides can also be raised by excessive alcohol consumption as the liver produces more VLDL (very low-density lipoprotein), which is one of the main carriers of triglycerides in the bloodstream. Another potential negative side effect of alcohol is that it also appears to inhibit lipoprotein lipase activity, which is an enzyme involved in fat metabolism. If fat isn’t broken down properly, it accumulates elsewhere, including in the blood.
• The first line of treatment would be to evaluate and optimise nutrition intake, particularly around alcohol intake, saturated fats, and fibre.
Natural ways to lower triglycerides?
Jess
Elevated triglycerides in the blood can be caused by a variety of factors. Some are within your control, some are not. The first step should be optimising your nutrition intake and making positive lifestyle adjustments to support your body’s all-round health and stress management.
Nutritional Therapist - Personal Trainer - Yoga Teacher - Cooking Workshops
1. Reduce Excess Body Fat Approximately 70% of obese patients have dyslipidemia (elevated triglycerides, elevated LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol), so reducing one’s body fat should be a first-line protocol if you are currently holding onto excess body fat. Reducing body fat levels by even just 5% will positively influence triglyceride levels. It doesn’t need to be drastic to see positive shifts in blood triglyceride levels.
• Exercise, particularly resistance training should also be integrated into the protocol to enhance insulin sensitivity and fat utilisation. I hope the above has been helpful. Wishing you a great October.
www.TheOnlineNutritionClinic.com
YOUR TIME
by Tom
2. Reduce Saturated Fat Intake The American Heart Association revealed that replacing 1% of daily calories from saturated fat with polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fats can reduce triglyceride levels by 0.9 and 0.4 mg/dL, respectively. A diet high in saturated fats is known to contribute to insulin resistance, resulting in an increase in triglycerides. Oils containing predominantly saturated fats like coconut oil, palm oil, or butter could be reduced or replaced with foods rich in monounsaturated fats such as olives, avocados, and nuts. 3. Make Omega-3 a Priority Studies have shown that increasing omega-3’s in the diet helps clear excess triglycerides by upregulating lipoprotein lipase, which helps fat metabolism. Oily fish, such as mackerel, salmon, and sardines, as well as plant-based sources, such as chia seeds and flaxseeds, are good sources.
I’m writing this article from The Serpentine Lake in Hyde Park. It’s early, the morning sun is hitting the water and the swans are smoothly travelling on the water. I’m here for a two-day health conference about stem-cell technology, which is something Jess and I have been dedicating some time researching this year, and then I’m going to spend a few days with my parents up in Norfolk before heading back home to the island.
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Today’s article is on time, and how to enrich the time we have. Once time is gone, there’s no getting it back. The idea of “finding time” is one of life’s greatest paradoxes, especially when it comes to our health. I’ve worked with thousands of people over the years, and one of the things that the most successful people I meet have in common, and by successful I don’t mean financially, I mean people who live a whole and full life, with quality relationships and energy to do the activities they feel passionate about, is their ability to make health a non-negotiable, even through the busy periods of life. If you’re someone who isn’t in the place they want to be health-wise, and you can’t seem to get into a rhythm of movement, and seem to stop and start good habits, and more recently stop, this article is for you. How can we find the time to exercise, when we know it’s good for us, but we just can’t seem to get going? With family, work, social commitments and life in general, it’s easy to push our own health to the bottom of the priority list. I know, because I’ve been there myself. Luckily, my business is in health and wellness and I’m committed to showing up for my clients. Whether it’s online or in-person, I’m there to guide them through exercises and to go over their health priorities for the week, and that accountability rubs off on me, helping me stay active throughout the week and keep my health at the forefront of my mind, so I can walk the talk. If I didn’t have this constant trickle of a reminder from my clients, I’d need to be extra disciplined to make sure that movement was a part of my lifestyle. Still, I struggle to find time for my own workouts. Like many of us, I have to be intentional about it.
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Remember what I said about time? Taking time to move and exercise today adds quality time to our lives tomorrow. ‘If you do not make time for your wellness, you will be forced to make time for your illness’. I came across this quote years ago, and when I see people’s health decline, particularly those in their 50’s and upwards who aren’t actively making health a priority, I am always reminded of this quote. Exercising and staying healthy is the only thing that maximises the quality of our time. It gives you more energy, so you can make better use of your time. It clears your mind, so you can make smarter decisions with your time. It helps you sleep better, so you’re more alive and present with your time. The hardest part? It’s not starting, it’s *restarting* after life gets in the way. After you’ve had family or friends visiting and your routine is out of whack, after you’ve had kids off school for ‘x’ number of weeks, after you’ve been on holiday or staying with friends or family and you don’t have access to your kitchen and normal foods. Everything is figureoutable, the first step is making a choice that your health is a focus, and how to make it happen will follow. The environment doesn’t need to be perfect, your body will be grateful for imperfection over not at all. You want to restart, but the motivation just isn’t there. Here’s my advice: don’t wait for the motivation to arrive to get started. Start now and start small. Build the momentum, and the motivation will follow once you’ve been repeatedly reminded of how much better you feel for making movement a part of your day, a part of the way you live your life. Start with five minutes.
But here’s the thing, I don’t love going to the gym. I haven’t truly enjoyed it in about twenty years.
Five minutes of walking. Five minutes of going on a bike ride. Five minutes of doing some yoga. Five minutes of Qi Gong. Five minutes of *anything* that gets your body moving.
Yet, every time I finish a workout, I feel amazing - energised, uplifted, and clearheaded. Exercise does wonders for both my body and my mind. We all know that feeling.
Be intentional during those five minutes. Feel your breath. Notice each movement. Be present. It’s not just about exercise; it’s about reconnecting with yourself.
It even makes me a better person to be around. When I’m not feeling my best self or in a great headspace, Jess will gently encourage me to park whatever I’m doing and head to the gym, go for a hike, a snorkel or do some Qi Gong, anything to bring movement to my body as the lift in my energy and mental headspace is immediate, and she and the girls benefit from this investment in time on myself.
And from there, build up. Move to 10 minutes when you can. Then 15. Keep adding time as it feels right for you.
30 minutes, three times a week can transform not only your body but, more importantly, your mind.
Don’t neglect yourself. Respect yourself.
I make it to the gym 1 to 3 times a week. Ideally, it should be three times - because that’s when I see, and feel, the best results.
Do something you enjoy - or at least can tolerate - and commit to it. Find someone who you can share this goal with and ideally find someone you can do it with as this notably increases your accountability, or find an accountability partner so you can let them know your movement goals, and cheer each other on once you’ve achieved them. Because the truth is, the less we do, the less we want to do. But the more we move, the more we want to move.
Commit to this time for yourself, and I promise, you won’t regret it. Once you get going again, you’ll remember how much better you feel. Your life. Your health. Your choice. And most importantly - your time. Tom Nutritional Therapist - Personal Trainer - Yoga Teacher - Cooking Workshops www.TheOnlineNutritionClinic.com
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GRAPEVINE Philip North-Coombes Photographer and Tai Chi Instructor Last month, I met up with Philip North Coombes who moved to Addaya on a permanent basis in November last year with his wife Jane. Philip is an award-winning photographer and director of video and film. He has spent most of his career travelling the world capturing imagery for top international fashion, lifestyle, sport and advertising brands including Speedo, Sebago, Canterbury, Sweaty Betty, Cyclegear, Fatface, Boden, and Nike. He combines stills and video to produce stylish imagery and has also made two BBC documentaries, “Everest ER”, with indus films. These depict the life and incidents that occur at an emergency hospital set up for the climbing season and Philip spent 9 weeks at Everest base camp for each film. Through his work he has become fascinated and inspired by the natural world and its preservation. In addition to Everest, he has travelled to capture images and stories about Siberia, the slums of India, the barren beauty of Iceland, the fragile state of Zimbabwe, the mesmerising landscapes and wildlife of Namibia and the oceans of Hawaii and the Seychelles. Philip has worked with many charities and he is an ambassador for 4Ocean, The Ocean Foundation and Save wild tigers. iDiveblue.com is a community of Ocean Lovers whose content and donations are used to preserve the oceans and fight the war on plastic pollution. It is no surprise then that Philip has already become involved with Menorca Preservation taking photographs for their Shallow Areas campaign. Philip says that “The essence of photography is capturing a moment in time. In the click of the shutter time stands still, telling a story without end”. If you are working in photography Philip has also set up Photographers United. This is worldwide Community of Photographers and Film Makers, working together to share, support and sustain each other and the industry. Tai Chi Classes Philip got in touch to tell me about the Tai Chi and fitness classes he is running from the studio in Es Mercadal owned by Isabel. Philip has been practising Tai Chi for 15 years and during Covid he used this experience to branch out from photography to become a teacher. This led to him working with BUPA, teaching groups around his home area of Thame in Oxfordshire. Now that he is settled in Menorca, he wants to share his experience to introduce the benefits of Tai Chi to beginners. Philip explains that it helps balance and strength, coordination, posture and flexibility as well as improving cardiovascular fitness and reducing blood pressure. The classes are on Fridays at 9:30am at General Alberti 74. Tel or Whatsapp 620 78 42 04 Philip’s wife Jane is a former hair and makeup artist who worked in film and TV commercials. Jane also has a degree in Dance Movement Therapy and has worked with mental health patients in hospitals in the UK. In 1992, they moved out of London to Oxfordshire and now they have started a new chapter of their lives in Menorca. They have a daughter and a 2-year-old grandson. You can find out more about Philip’s photography and films at https://www.philipnorthcoombes.com/
Learn Tai Chi with Philip 0034 620 78 42 04
D O N ’ T M I S S A N E D I T I O N , S U B S C R I B E T O D AY ! V I S I T: R O Q U E TA M A G A Z I N E . N E T
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LORENZA WILDCARD
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, GRAB YOUR HEADPHONES AND TURN UP THE VOLUME, BECAUSE I’M ABOUT TO INTRODUCE YOU TO THE ONE AND ONLY, LORENZA WILDCARD! Now, you might know her as the breakout star of 2022, but what you might not know is how this powerhouse discovered her talent during one of the most unexpected times in history—lockdown. After a sudden heartbreak left her reeling, Lorenza poured her soul into song writing, and just 24 hours later, BOOM! She recorded her first track right from her phone. Talk about raw talent, am I right? Just four friends heard that track—and guess what? One of them happened to be a music producer, none other than Menorca’s own, Ettore della Campa. Weeks later, she was in his studio in Sant Lluis, laying down her debut single, “You & I,” and the rest, as they say, is history! That single didn’t just make waves—it made tsunamis across the international radio charts. And with no formal music education? Wildcard shows us that pure instinct and raw talent can absolutely take you places. She quickly assembled a killer backing band and hit the stage, proving that she’s here to stay. Now fast forward to 2024, she’s making waves at Headline Music Studios in the UK, working with the legendary producer Piers Mortimer, who’s had his hand in the sound of rock legends like Deep Purple and the groovy Jamiroquai. Together, they’ve been crafting some serious magic. Her music? Honest, raw, unapologetic—and she’s all about empowerment. This artist doesn’t shy away from the hard stuff. Her vulnerable lyrics mixed with catchy beats have made her a voice for the Wildcards—her ever-growing fanbase. Lorenza is out here not just making music but standing up for what’s real. She’s a living example of taking back control, rewriting the narrative, and finding your own power. So if you haven’t already, you better keep your eyes and ears locked on Lorenza Wildcard. She’s just getting started and - trust me - you don’t want to miss what’s coming next! And coming next is a gig at the Half Moon, Putney. Often touted as one of London’s most iconic music venues, having stood proud in the heart of Putney since the sixties. And it really is no wonder, with some of our greatest hits including U2’s first sell-out UK concert, KD Lang’s first UK appearance, and Kate Bush’s first public show. If you get a chance, grab some tickets and go along to give Lorenza the support she deserves. ROQ U E TA M AGA ZI N E . N E T
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MENORCA SPORTS Nil Riudavets wins Paralympic Bronze Medal Menorcan triathlete Nil Riudavets Victory has had a busy few weeks after returning a hero from the Paralympics in Paris with a bronze medal. He came from behind in an agonising final sprint in the last 200 metres of the race. The triathlon consisted of an initial segment of 750 metres of swimming in the Seine, 20 km of cycling and five km of running. Nil left the water in eighth position, 1’45” behind Frenchman Alexis Hanquinquant, who dominated the race until the end. Nil managed to gain two positions in the bicycle segment, when he was 49 seconds behind the third-placed Frenchman Pierre-Antoine Baele. But Riudavets was confident in his running and gradually closed in and overtook Baele. The American Carson Clough took the silver. Riudavets said he knew he still had a chance for a medal despite leaving the bike 49 seconds behind Baele. He told reporters, “Mentally, I had to be very focused to do my race and see how far I could go. I was passing people. First I passed the British, then the first Frenchman and then the last Frenchman. I was slowly making up ground and we played it out in the last 200 metres in an agonising sprint”. He said it was an incredible experience and his partner, family and friends were there to cheer him on during the race. Nil Riudavets’ life changed when he lost the use of his right arm after a head-on collision while riding at high speed in a triathlon five years ago. He was 23 years old and had been doing triathlons since he was a boy. He went through a difficult period trying to adapt to his new situation forgetting about sport, and especially the triathlon, which could have killed him. After three years he felt ready to run the marathon in the Paralympic Games but when they withdrew his category he overcame his fears and decided to go back to the triathlon. He took first place in the Paralympic Triathlon World Cup in A Coruña in 2022 and last year he was European runner-up in Madrid and took first place in the World Cups in Alhandra (Portugal) and Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates). Riudavets is part of the CaixaBank Paralympic Promises Triathlon Team, a project of the Spanish Paralympic Committee (CPE) and the Spanish Triathlon Federation (FETRI) that aims to prepare the most promising athletes for the highest level.
Sporting de Mahón excitement CF Sporting de Mahón, the mens football team, won a coveted place in the qualifying round of the Copa del Rey. They were proclaimed champions of the Copa Illes Balears after defeating CF La Unión on 9 September. The match, played in Mallorca, was extremely evenly matched. Despite the efforts of both sides, there were no goals, both after 90 minutes, and 30 minutes of extra time, so the title was decided from the penalty spot. The Mahón team, won the shoot-out 5-3, unleashing euphoria among the team. Sporting de Mahón will face Unió Esportiva Vic from Catalonia, from the recently created Lliga Èlit, in a single match at the Estadi Hipòlit Planàs in Catalonia on 9 October. Whoever comes out on top will face a team from the First Division, in the first round of the 2024-25 Copa del Rey. See cfsportingdemahon.com
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Combat 2 Coffee for Army Veterans 24 Hour Padelathon 12 participants, including residents of Son Parc and Es Castell, took part in a sponsored 24 hour padel tennis marathon organised by Adrian Deamer, an army veteran living in Menorca. They all played 2 hours on 4 hours off for 24 hrs, and the Go Fund Me Page is still open if you would like to donate. They are on target to raise €2.5k but would love to get to 3k. The Combat 2 Coffee charity was inspired by Nigel Seaman who began suffering from depression, anxiety and flashbacks from an incident during his time on operations with the armed forces. He was formally diagnosed as suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and was accepted onto a 6-week trauma related residential course. He took his coffee machine with him and noticed what a draw this was to other veterans and serving personnel.
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He realised that people felt comfortable to talk about difficult things and enjoy community over a cup of coffee. The Combat2Coffee project was set up in 2018 and the dedicated team provides outreach to veterans and their families through mobile coffee vans that travel far and wide. There is also a dedicated outreach worker and cafes in Bury St Edmunds and Ipswich.. Participants in the padelathon: Mark Bannister, Paul Clark, Sam Clark, Andrew Denning, Lee Edwards, Paul Holden, Dean Horsley, Stephen Long, Neil Penn, Ken Piercy, Les Smallwood and Simon Tarrel h t t p s : / / w w w. g o f u n d m e . c o m / f / c o m b a t 2 c o f f e e - 2 4 - h o u r s padeltennisthon https://www.combat2coffee.co.uk/ Changing lives one sip at a time
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ESTÉTICA LYNDA 21ST ANNIVERSARY This year, Lynda Morris is celebrating 21 years of running her beauty salon at Punta des Rellotge in Fort de L’Eau. Since setting up the business in 2003, she has brought many new beauty innovations and treatments to Menorca. For example, Lynda’s was the first salon in the whole of Spain to offer eyelash extensions and she is the only salon offering Guinot products and treatments on the island. Lynda came to Menorca from Newcastle as a fully qualified Beautician. She looked around for suitable premises while at the same time going through the process of getting all her qualifications recognised in Spain; each certificate needing to be translated and stamped. She says that dedicated Beauty salons were rare here at that time. Nail treatments and facials were mostly offered as an extra service by hairdressers, whereas she had trained for 4 years at a dedicated college for beauticians. Lynda arrived on the island in March 2003 with two daughters, then aged 14 and 16, and a love of horses. In June, when arranging for her daughter’s horse to be transported to Menorca, she met her partner Javi, who had stables in Es Castell. Javi has worked as a joiner at the Naval Base since he was 16 and together they set up the business, making use of his practical skills to refit the premises and rearrange the plumbing and electrics. This first salon was close to the old Sa Nostra bank near the rusty roundabout and when it became too small they moved down the road to her current premises. Lynda and Javi live in Cala en Porter and although she doesn’t get to spend much time there due to work, it is a great place when the family visit including her 2 grandchildren, aged 11 and 2. I arrived to meet Lynda just as she was putting the finishing touches to the eyelashes of her latest client, placing them one by one using a new German method which dries them separately under a light. She no longer uses the original glues that can sometimes lead to allergies and the new lashes last longer and are more durable, so wearers can go swimming or shower without worry. They only need rebalancing after around 5 weeks, as the natural lashes undergo their lifecycle of growth and dropping out. Lynda offers hairdressing, nail, and pedicure treatments. Carol, her hairdresser, speaks perfect English and they have recently launched a dedicated website: peluquerialynda. com. At the end of the summer, Lynda and her team are kept busy getting feet ready for winter, removing nail polishes, brightening and buffing the nails and caring for any hard skin. There are 6 staff working in summer and 4 in the winter and Lynda says she is always looking out for new beauty therapists and nail technicians. To celebrate her 21st anniversary, Lynda is offering a 21% discount on new sets of light lashes and some other treatments. One is the Visible Age Reverse treatment from Guinot which recreates the skin’s youthfulness using a combination of three essential steps: Stimulation of epidermal regeneration by means of the Age Influx concentrate, smoothing of the skin by means of the Vibrolissante electrode and then equalisation of the dermis by frequency diffusion via the Vibrodermie electrode. It promises that you will observe anti-aging results on the forehead, between the eyebrows, the crow’s feet, and on the neck. There is also a 21% discount on Age Summun treatments and Olaplex hair treatments. Details of the full range of treatments and prices can be found on her website esteticalynda.com. D O N ’ T M I S S A N E D I T I O N , S U B S C R I B E T O D AY ! V I S I T: R O Q U E TA M A G A Z I N E . N E T
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CLUBS AND ASSOCIATIONS Christmas is coming so here’s a ‘heads up’ for your diary!
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NEWS
If you have a collection box that needs to be emptied or if you would like to have a collection box on your premises. please get in touch.
On Sunday December 1st we are holding the Christmas Fair in Bar Pons, Cala en Porter. Further details will be publicised later, including on our Facebook page. If you are interested in having a stall, please email Margaret Rourke at margaretrourke74@gmail.com Thursday December 5th is the proposed date for our Christmas Lunch, again, in Bar Pons. Further information will be available soon. We are limited to about 70 guests and it usually fills up quickly. As an organisation we are dedicated to improving the lives of our ‘senior citizens’. We can only do this with your help. Volunteers staff our shop and run our other services and, of course, we need your donations of goods or money to raise the funds we need. Shelley Michelle Englefield (Shelley) is a longterm volunteer at Age Concern. She came to Menorca on a family holiday to Cala Galdana in June 2014 and fell in love with the island. Her husband, Gareth, had worked here in the early ‘70s building a tiny private complex in Los Delfins, the only building for miles around. He already loved Menorca for its beauty and the sailing. After visiting for a week every month for about a year, to be sure they’d picked the right place in all seasons, they left Plymouth in April 2015 and moved to Addaia permanently. Shelley says Gareth was working six days a week, 18hrs a day which wasn’t sustainable, and it was the only way to stop him! Shelley started volunteering in the shop shortly after moving to Menorca. Over time her role has changed somewhat. These days, Shelley works in the shop when needed and monitors an Age Concern Lifeline phone, helping Carol occasionally if anything is needed in the north of the island. She also acts as our Membership Secretary. She says, “I love working in the shop, helping customers to find what they need and spending time with the friendly team, it feels good to give back to the island when we take so much joy from living here. It never ceases to amaze me how generous people are with bringing donations to help others. The care and empathy given to perfect strangers when we helped the refugees from Ukraine and now the donations to help people left in need after the storm and flooding in Mercadal and surrounding areas. I get a real boost helping to distribute our Christmas Hampers too. It restores my faith in humanity when people are so altruistic toward complete strangers.” For relaxation Shelley enjoys being a part of the ladies’ lunches, the Age Concern fish and chip lunches and singing in the EnFusion choir.
So, we get all these donations, what do we do with them? What services do we offer? The Age Concern Shop – you name it, we sell it (well, not quite!). Good quality clothes, furniture, bric-a brac, books, toys …. All at very reasonable prices. Open Monday to Saturday, 9.45-1.15. Christmas cards and decorations will be on sale from mid- November. menorca@ageconcern.org.es +34 971 156 110 Lifeline is our confidential service geared towards helping individuals who have various types of problems -help and support is just a phone call or email away. lifelineminac@gmail.com +34 676 904 487 Our medical equipment short-term loan service is available to residents or visitors of any age who need to borrow mobility or hygiene equipment. Again, help is available at your fingertips. acmenorcamedequip@gmail.com +34 629 016 307 Our social activities are open to anyone and provide an opportunity for people to socialise in a friendly and inclusive environment. We normally hold two lunches every month, fish and chips at Bar Pons, Cala en Porter on the first Thursday of the month and a Menu del dia at Can Avelino 23, Mahon on the third Thursday of the month. Our next lunches are: Bar Pons, Thursday October 3rd and Thursday November 7th 1.00 for 1.30pm Please contact Sandy on 650 729 430 Can Avelino, Thursday October 17th and Thursday November 21st 1.30pm Please contact Chris on 669 949 370 Everyone, visitors, guests, members of all ages are most welcome but you need to book. Our Es Castell ‘Drop in’ is in the Jubilado Centre on the Esplanade every Monday morning between about 11.00 and 12.00. Our Cala en Porter ‘Drop in’ is at Bar Pons, currently on every Tuesday morning between about 10.30 and 12.00. Feel free to just ‘drop in’, chat and make new friends! Membership
Please contact us if you are interested in becoming a volunteer. You won’t regret it! Translators are always needed.
You can become a Member of Age Concern by paying 12€ to our Membership Secretary, Shelley, either at a lunch or in the shop or by bank transfer if you wish. You can also donate through the DONATE page on our website. Apart from the importance of offering your support to our organisation you also get a discount on the lunches you attend!
We have a number of collection boxes in various places which we empty from time to time. We have recently taken the donations from two of these boxes. The box in our shop contained over 70€ and the one at Jonnie’s Bar in Cala en Porter over 50€. We are enormously grateful to those of you who choose to donate and, off course, to people like Jonnie who are happy to have our boxes in their premises.
Shop: menorca@ageconcern.org.es 971 156 110 Manager: 636 347 286 Opening hours: Monday-Saturday, 9.45 – 13.15. For the latest information and current offers follow us on Facebook: Age Concern Menorca 2015 or visit our website www.ageconcernmenorca.com
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ENFUSION CHOIR By Elaine Martin, Secretary
ONE NIGHT ONLY
Saturday 31st August was the choir’s concert ‘One Night Only’ held on the outdoor terrace at the Aero Club in Sant Lluis. 140 tickets were sold for the event and all proceeds were to go to the Carlos Mir Centre, an organisation with which the choir is proud to be associated. Along with two sections of popular songs from EnFusion, we were joined by several invited guests who performed in the interval. Huge thanks go to Richie Guyatt, Colin Cork, Toni Pons Carreras and Maria Pons along with pianist Mauricio Fernandez. During the interval a raffle was held with amazing donations including: a bottle of Black Label Johnny Walker whisky from Iain McKewan; Tapas for 2 at Café de Torro from choir member Roswitha and her husband; a meal for two at the Aero Club... thank you Jorge!; a body massage from Vicki Hutchinson; a meal for 2 from Ana Luisa at Calas Fonts; another lunch for 2 from Nuria at Binarroca Rural Hotel; a meal for 2 from Noelia and Patrick at Pan y Vino; and yet another meal for two people from Andrea at Puig Sa Roca. Sarah, a choir member, kindly donated a Mahón harbour boat trip for two people in her boat with tapas and cava. Thank you, everyone, for your extremely kind donations. Our guests were thrilled with their prizes and everyone enjoyed a wonderful evening of song and entertainment. We made a grand total of €3,000 which we handed to Carlos Mir Centre on 20th September, also taking the opportunity to put on a performance (photo below). Huge thanks, again, to everyone involved - and especially to our loyal supporters. EnFusion’s Christmas concerts will be held on Friday 6th and Saturday 7th December. Another repeat and very beautiful event scheduled around Xmas time will be a coming together of several choirs in Santa Maria Church, Mahón, normally held during Christmas week. More details on this will appear in the December edition of Roqueta.
Andrew Prince, “FROM DOWNTON TO GADSBY: Jewellery and Fashion 1890 to 1929”. Thursday 24th October! It is quite hard to believe we have arrived at the ultimate lecture of our 2024 season. I could say we have saved the best for last, but all our speakers have been fantastic! That said, who doesn’t love a beautiful piece of jewellery, kind of like Cary Grant in “To Catch A Thief?” Join us as The Arts Society Menorca presents master jewellery craftsman, Andrew Prince. Andrew’s (literally) consuming passion for jewels can be traced back to him swallowing one of his mother’s pearl earrings as a 3-year-old. His exquisite jewels have adorned celebrities, including Judy Dench and Michael Jackson. His entertaining and informative lectures on the history of jewellery and fashion have delighted audiences around the world. Mr. Prince is probably best known for the jewellery he designed for the British television series “Downton Abbey.” But he has also added sparkle to other cinematic adventures such as “The Young Victoria” and “Muppets Most Wanted,” where Miss Piggy’s pearl necklace and diamond tiara are his handiwork. In his talk, Andrew also guides us through the extraordinary decades and events between 1890 and 1929, where the great couturiers collaborated with the finest of jewellers to produce jewels and complementary clothes of outstanding quality and glittering opulence. As with all our lectures, we gather at the AeroClub, Sant Lluís. Drinks and tapas before and after the presentation are available for sale. If you are a guest, you will receive a voucher for a complimentary drink. Doors open at 7:15pm with the lecture beginning at 8pm. We ask members and guests to be sure to check in with Clive and Paul at the door. As always, please contact Malcolm at menorca@theartssociety.org to let him know you will be attending this very special lecture. You can request guest tickets as well from Malcolm. Be sure to follow us on FaceBook with up to date information and some fun stuff too ! We would really like to thank you for making The Arts Society Menorca happen. And we couldn’t succeed without the support and sponsorship of Blevins Franks. Your Committee: Victoria, Clive, Malcolm and Kate
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LADIES LUNCHEON CLUB Lunch was enjoyable at the Hotel Agamenón and as usual there was a varied buffet and the raffle prizes were original thanks to Elizabeth; as there was no speaker, Jayne our president had put together a fun quiz which people enjoyed. Our next luncheon will be back at the Hotel Port Mahón on 2nd October and on 16th October we are going on a trip to Ciutadella, these trips are always very popular and bookings are good, after time to browse and enjoy shopping etc. the coach will take us for lunch near Ciutadella to finish up the trip. We are going to raffle a painting by Richard Montesdeoca, who has Parkinson´s disease and belongs to the Associaco de Malalts de Parkinson de Menorca His mantra is “I am frightened but I won´t give in”, which he proudly displays on the back of a tshirt. He works in a restaurant in Punta Prima and says this attracts many people who come up to him to say they suffer too. Richard took up painting when he was diagnosed and is trying to explain more about Parkinson´s and encourage those who have it to find hope through painting. We have decided to raffle one of his paintings and the money will go towards materials for the paintings and generally to help the association. The raffle will probably take place in December and is open to people outside the club. We met him at the Carlos Mir Foundation near Trepucó where he goes for rehab. It was very interesting to go there and see the work they do. On a sad note, one of our long-standing members Jane Thornely Higgs has died after a debilitating illness. I remember Jane when she and her husband Alan used to come on holiday here regularly, she was a teacher. Eventually they settled here after retirement, she was a colourful, often controversial character who will be remembered. She served on various committees in the club and in recent years made the stuffing for our Christmas Lunch. I never thought I would sit in a church and listen to the opening themes from Poirot and Midsomer Murders as I did at the Santa Margarita church in Es Castell, during her funeral which she had planned! Jane Thornely Higgs
Susan Carter
LADIES PROBUS By Shelley
The Probus Ladies Lunch for September was held at Asiatico, an Asian fusion restaurant on the Port of Mahón and attended by 27 of our members. The food was delicious, the wine flowed and the service was good. Jesus and Elva did us proud, and we will definitely return as we were all impressed by this venue. We all raised our glasses to honour Susan Carter and Jane Thornley Higgs. Susan, who sadly passed away last month, was our Probus Secretary and a valued member of our committee; a sweet lady with a sunny disposition, always smiling and ready with a kind word for everyone she met. Our member, Jane Thornley-Higgs, also lost her battle to cancer in the last month. Jane had been a member of Probus Ladies lunch club for many years and was very intelligent and bighearted. Both of these lovely ladies will be sadly missed. Our next luncheon will be held at Dos Pablos in Cala en Porter on the second Thursday of October. If you would like to join this fun-loving, friendly club please contact us at probusmenorca@gmail.com or phone 07791273062 or 689177164. You will find a warm welcome
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SPIRITUAL WELLBEING
RECONCILIATION Recently, I conducted two funerals, on successive days, for two people who were 33 years apart in age. The younger one was just a year older than my daughter, Mandy. It was a stark reminder that mortality stalks all of us. There were, of course, numerous differences between the two, but one difference was particularly interesting. According to her mother, one of the hallmarks of the younger woman’s character as a child was that she had the gift of having rows or tantrums but getting them out of her system very quickly. She carried that ability to let go of anger into adulthood. She did not bear grudges. For the older one, I had been instructed to read ‘something silly,’ so I found a poem called ‘Pardon Me For Not Getting Up.’ It begins, ‘Oh dear, if you’re reading this right now, / I must have given up the ghost. / I hope you can forgive me for being / Such a stiff and unwelcoming host.’ When I came to the line, ‘Don’t worry about mourning me, I was never easy to offend,’ I simply paused before continuing, and a ripple of laughter spread around the church, because we all knew … well, the deceased would have been quite amused! In the Bible, in the letter to the Ephesians, there is a verse that is quite well known: ‘Be angry, but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.’ It comes from a series of verses that encourage telling the truth and avoiding destructive talk in favour of constructive ‘building up,’ to meet the needs of others. It is, in fact, rather good advice. Although it is not always easy to deal with what makes us angry, and although the causes of anger can seldom be resolved at a stroke, grievances that are not addressed tend to fester and amplify in the dark, rather like the mould on the damp, dark walls of untended houses in Menorca. Of course, generalisations do not apply to everyone. Two decades ago, when I was preparing a couple for marriage, the subject of dealing with disagreements came up, and I quoted the passage from Ephesians. The groom recoiled: ‘I have to go away and think about things,’ he said, ‘quite often until the next morning.’ His bride-to-be concurred: ‘It’s true,’ she said. ‘It’s better to let him go away and reflect. Usually that results in reaching agreement and a more peaceful solution.’ I suppose that it was a case of allowing emotions and feelings to cool. Even so, for most of us, the sooner we reach reconciliation, the better. The relationships that we forge in this life are one of the most precious gifts of life. After all, we are in essence the sum of our stories, and our stories are formed and shaped by our relationships. The writer Anaïs Nin wrote, ‘Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive.’ But relationships require work. We are, inevitably, created as individuals and therefore we differ from one another. Yet ironically, differences can make us uncomfortable, or insecure, and so we seek to form connections with people who are like us - or, more realistically, less different from us. And that can be a mixed blessing, because it is the root cause of tribalism, which is one of the most damaging causes of the polarisation that afflicts our world today. So, ironically, an instinct that ought to bring us together has the shadow side of driving us apart. The tribalism that lies within us is real and will find outlets. If we do not acknowledge it and deal with it, there can be dire consequences.
By Rev Paul Strudwick
For example, I came across these words from an American writer, Sam Kriss: ‘We are no longer comprehensible to each other; we inhabit different systems of signifiers, and all the mediating fantasies have melted away.’ That sounds rather convoluted, but in essence it expresses the idea that we are losing the ability to listen to one another and to learn from one another. So, for example, social media has turned political discourse into a game with the greatest rewards going to those who can most spectacularly bash their opponent’s head against the wall in front of a crowd of braying supporters. As a result, humanity has been reduced to a seemingly infinite number of bands of political tribes and sub-tribes, each with their own language and purity codes, each dedicated solely to the inflation of themselves and their in-group members as The Most Righteous. This does not help to make us comprehensible to one another. To be open to listening to one another is to be open to learning, because no matter how difficult some of the relationships in our lives may be, they can all teach us something - even if it is to avoid making the mistakes of others. This is why anger is such a difficult emotion to manage. It has its place, and a useful function, in our lives as individuals and in communities. Anger at the mistreatment of the innocent, or anger at violence that harms the vulnerable, can fuel the desire to speak out and to act. But uncontrolled anger can cause us to stop listening to one another, or even our own better instincts, and impair our judgement. Since these thoughts were prompted by funerals, perhaps a good way to bring all this together would be to reflect upon our mortality and ponder the potential content of our obituaries. Would we like it to be said of us that while not denying the very human emotion of anger, we knew how to manage and control it? Would we like to be remembered for valuing and treasuring the gift of human relationships, remaining true to our own core values, yet open to listening to others in order to broaden our perspective? Whether we realise it or not, we are in fact writing our own obituaries, one act, one remembered story at a time, in the consciousness of those around us.
CHURCH NEWS Worship in the church of Santa Margarita takes place on Sunday mornings at 9am (except 6 October) and 11am, as well as at 11am every Wednesday and Friday. On Sunday, 6 October, the Archdeacon of Gibraltar, Rev. David Waller, will be leading worship and preaching. On 20 October, we will celebrate Harvest Thanksgiving in the church (and in our recorded worship online). Santa Margarita continues to offer worship online, to respect the needs of those unable to worship in person at the church. The church web site will continue to be the place to seek up-to-date news and information about online worship. Our new web site can be found at https://www.anglicanchurchmenorca.net.
The phone number for the chaplain, Paul, is +34 617222382 and his e-mail is chaplain@anglicanchurchmenorca.com (which remains the same).
D O N ’ T M I S S A N E D I T I O N , S U B S C R I B E T O D AY ! V I S I T: R O Q U E TA M A G A Z I N E . N E T
LOCAL NEWS
JANE THORNELY HIGGS It would be remiss of us not to mark the passing of Jane Thornely Higgs. She was a larger-than-life presence in the lives of the people she knew and who knew her - in Menorca, in Mallorca, in the UK and beyond. Before she died as the result of a brain tumour, a WhatsApp group was set up, where people shared remembrances, stories and anecdotes. It was clear that Jane had many friends, with a ton of history attached, which made up for not having any next of kin. Like the schoolteacher in her she was highly organised and in her final days it was difficult not to feel sadness at how frustrating life must have become for her. For Jane to be unable to have the last word, nor to express herself both in jest and seriousness was simply not who she was. Despite the tumour taking away her ability to shout and scold, even her consciousness, she still managed to give us a grin - a mischievous one at that. Her friends always laughed at the many times when she would get into a lift, or taxi, or bar - and by the time she got out, she would have made a new friend and have their number in her book. She loved people and while it is true that sometimes her expectations of them were high, her generosity, her love for fun and a brandy would more than make it up. Jane had a big heart, a generous spirit, and she did not suffer fools gladly. And she did not take kindly to being let down or disappointed. But she did rather like to dress well and to have a glass in her hand, which had better not be empty. She was a unique and loving lady. We have commended her spirit to the care of her divine creator and we have prayed that she is now at peace. The prayers of the church often make reference to the ‘communion of saints’ - an opportunity for Jane to make a thousand friends with whom to continue her journey. There are many stories to be told and retold - may her memory be a blessing.
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TREBALUGER EQUINE RESCUE CENTRE
By Samantha Lake
I am always very busy at the Rescue Centre. The days are long and the volunteers put in many hours to help these beautiful equines we have saved from a life of misery and neglect. It is sometimes challenging and hard work but always rewarding and great to be around nature and gentle animals. This month I have been asked to visit a few animals that people feel are neglected around Menorca. This is always very difficult to do as I have no legal authority, but I will always go to find the animals concerned and see for myself. One was a Menorcan horse that had been reported to me as being very thin and covered in flies. When I visited, he was thin on his rear but had a well-fed tummy, his hooves were cared for, but he was covered in the horrible biting flies and was very agitated. I waited around for a long time to catch the owner and as tactfully as possible asked if he needed any help with his horse and the flies. He explained he has spray but the horse always ran away, so I gave him some liquid to help. The horse is 28 years old and losing muscle tissue but looked cared for and on re-visiting a few days later all the flies had gone. It is a fine line to help the animal and not anger the owners. The vet came to visit our ex-fiesta horse who has been unwell. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get him calm enough to take a blood sample as when he sees a syringe he gets very agitated and aggressive. However, she prescribed treatments which seem to be helping and he is much better and happier, so fingers crossed this has worked for him. It is so hard but because of their mental wellbeing sometimes it just isn’t possible to do everything we want to for them. He is safe, pain free and very loved so this is what is important, and he never stops eating!!! Some tourists brought a very young cat down to the Centre as they had been feeding it whilst here on holiday but then didn’t want to see it left on the streets once they went home. We don’t encourage people to bring cats because there is the Protectora and Cats in Need to help and honestly we have enough to do with donkeys and horses. One of our volunteers has taken her home and she is such a happy, playful and very grateful cat, so another happy rehoming story. There is a lovely male 17-year-old donkey that needs a new home. He has been offered to us but I cannot accept any more at the moment. He does have a chip and passport but is not castrated and even though donkeys hate living alone, this one has done so for many years. Can anyone offer him a loving home please? There are always calls about taking on donkeys, so if anyone can help in any way please contact me. There is still no reply from any of the town halls to offer help and cooperation. They obviously don’t want to deal with the problems as we do. We are open every day between 09.30-12.30 all year round, please come and visit and interact with the animals, and just say hello. We have a small shop and it’s always lovely to meet new people who share our love for animals. Whatsapp 689802108. https:/trebalugerequinerescue.com
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By Janice Bocking
CATS IN NEED MENORCA Neutering and caring for stray and feral cats. Making a difference since 1999
25 YEARS CARING FOR CATS IN NEED On an October day back in 1999 I decided to start Cats in Need Menorca, or rather to give it a name for I had been caring for cats since 1981, feeding, catching them when I could. It all really started when I wanted a pair of Labradors and my late husband famously said “Why don’t we have a cat, they are less trouble” Little did he know how it would change our lives. And if someone had said to me back then that 25 years later I would still be doing it and that there would be several people involved in the Charity, well honestly I don’t know how I would have answered. Someone did say to me a few years ago that rescuing animals is like joining the Mafia, once you’re in it’s impossible to leave. I go along with that but as time passes it is no longer possible to be out until 2 or 3 in the morning catching elusive street cats, 11 pm is about my limit now. We work over half of the island now although in the early days I did go over to Ciutadella to help catch cats for neutering. Teams of vets came over to help and we would catch and neuter maybe 150 or more in a week. My personal record I think was 165 in 10 days. Slowly more people joined in the team and most have been with us for many years , Ana 20, Sharon and Paul Cant about 17 years, Irmgard, Sally, Bernardo to name just some. Not forgetting Zenda Barlow who kindly set up the UK Registered Charity No 1161878 in 2015 Our main objective is to neuter, if they are not born they can’t suffer. Many years we neutered over 1000 cats. I stopped counting when we got to over 6000. It’s still our primary objective and we have several different kind of traps, automatic and manual for different circumstances. Our colony cats are fed at night, currently numbering around 200. We never put a cat to sleep if it can have quality of life, so several of us take them in. Here at Noria Riera 16 Es Castell we have several who lived on the streets for 15 years or so and when it became too difficult for them they come here to enjoy home comforts. We also have cats who have been hit by a car, had a broken pelvis or some neurological damage but who can live a safe contented life in a safe environment with good food, shelter and TLC, when they allow it. We currently have a lot of 17 or 18 year olds. They live happily together because they grew up with colonies and are used to living with other cats. What we can’t do is take in someone’s pet because they are freaked out by all the other cats here. If you are in Menorca I would love you to come and visit them one day. We open to the public on Fridays and Sundays from 11.00 to 13.00. Everyone is welcome and there are lots of cats to cuddle. Children
love it and often come more than once during their holidays. Find us at Noria Riera 16 , Es Castell. We sell small gifts, stationery, jewellery, mugs, T towels etc and lots of Greetings cards for all occasions including Christmas. Our 2025 calendars will be available soon and just a few of our popular diaries. Also refillable desk calendars. Drinks and ice creams are available. Check out our Facebook pages, Cats in Need Menorca and my personal page Janice Bockling as well as our website, sadly in need of updating, my life is full of good intentions. We get no official subsidies and depend entirely on donations and gifts of food plus any profit on the sale of cards etc.
Coco The Arisocat with Cattitude
If you can sponsor a cat for 40 pounds per year as a gift to a Cat lover it would be wonderful. If you are a UK tax payer and fill out a form we can claim a further 25%. Monthly donations can be set up either through Barclays Account number is 20 53 77 13280128 or PayPal.Me/catsinneedmenorca199 Gift Aid forms available from janicebockling@gmail.com Some memorable cats. One of the first rescues was Tripod, a Tortie who lived in a basement in Es Castell, Accidents had left her with a broken jaw and a broken leg which later had to be amputated. For many years she was the matriarch taking any new orphan kitten under her stump.
Donald. Everyone falls in love with him
Which reminds me of the totally amazing Wibbly Wobbly who went to live in the most wonderful home in Cheshire. Now living the dream. She had 3 and a half legs! Visitors from recent years will remember Seve, a gentle giant of a ginger and white Tom who we found stuck in a tilt and turn window one Sunday afternoon. We thought he would never walk again, but he did and without even a limp, he was loved by everyone who met him.
The wonderful much missed Bini.
Lulu a Tortoishell kitten who at 4 months old we took in and tried so hard to save her sight, sadly failing but she lived a happy life until this summer. Bini was incorrigible, breaking into bags of cat food, then one night he found the remains of an entire dustbin full of barbecue left overs. What a mess I had to clear up. He never forgot this and sat hopefully by the bin night after night. Sadly we lost him to cancer of the nose last winter. Leaving a black and white cat shaped hole in my heart. So many wonderful stories of amazing cats, each with their own story and their own character.
The Gentle Giant. Survived being trapped in a tilt and turn window
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AUTUMN 2024 Every month we try to list events that we know are happening to help you plan ahead. Of course if you hear of anything else yourself that is of interest to the readers, then please let us know - info@roquetamagazine.net
HIGHLIGHTS 5 October: Classical music concert with Anna Pirozzi (soprano), Jorge de León (tenor) and the OSIB conducted by Christopher Franklin, 8pm. Teatro Mahon 12 October: Gala Monte Toro, starring ballet dancers from the Opera de Paris, 8pm. Teatro Mahon 18 October – GALA Dinner in aid of Trebaluger Equine Rescue Centre BAMBU MENORCA, BInibeca 19 October: Brothers in Band, the Dire Straits tribute show, 8.30pm. Teatre de Ciutadella (Teatre de Calós) 26 October: XLIX Gala Premi Born de Teatre Cercle Artístic de Ciutadella, 9pm. 26/27th October The Flaming Shakers Beatles tribute band, Akelarre, Port of Mahon. 23:30 start. Tickets: TheFlamingShakers.com 28 October: Concert Crónicas vivaldianas performed by Midori Seiler and La Galatea, 8pm. 8 November: Gospel concert performed by Moments a Cor, 8.30pm. Teatro Mahon
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JAZZBAH Located in the port of Ciutadella, jazzbah holds live music events. Check online for more information on https://jazzbah.es/ 30 novembre,19:00 THE BUZZ LOVERS (The best Nirvana world tribute) TEEN SPIRIT WORLD TOUR
TEATRE DES BORN Plaça des Born, Ciutadella Ciutadella’s theatre puts on a full programme of events, listed on the website https://www.teatredesborn.com/ Tickets available online and from the ticket office, which is open Tuesdays 11.30am to 1pm, Thursdays 7 to 8.30pm, also one hour before the start of the performance. 6 October: Documentary El salón, Menorca Doc Fest 2024, 7.30pm. 12 October: Drama La dernière danse de Brigitte, by Zero en Conducta, 8.30pm. 13 October: Gala Monte Toro, starring ballet dancers from the Opera de Paris, 7.30pm. 20 October: Drama Helen Keller, ¿la mujer maravilla?, by Chévere, 7.30pm. 26 October: XLIX Gala Premi Born de Teatre Cercle Artístic de Ciutadella, 9pm. 28 October: Concert Crónicas vivaldianas performed by Midori Seiler and La Galatea, 8pm. 31 October: Children’s show Kl’aa, la teva cançó, performed by Inspira Teatre, 10am and 11.30am. 1 November: Drama A la deriva, performed by La Planeta, 8.30pm. 3 November: Drama Jauria by Velvet Events, 7.30pm. 9 November: Drama Edmond by Xàfec Teatre, 8.30pm. 15 November: Music show for children Sense lluna by Samfaina de Colors, 5.30pm. 17 November: Music show A Beginning #1616D by Aurora Bauzà and Pere Jou, 7.30pm. 23 November: Concert Simfonia dels adeus performed by the Orquestra de Cambra Illa de Menorca (OCIM), 8.30pm. 24 November: Circus performance WoooW by Nando Caneca, 6.30pm. 28 November: Jazz Irene Reig and The Bop Collective, the Alternatilla Jazz Festival, 8.30pm. 30 November: Contemporary dance Hacemos como que bailamos performed by UNAIUNA, 8.30pm.
MICHAEL JACKSON TRIBUTE CONCERT 9 November: This is Michael, a Michael Jackson tribute show, 9pm in the Pabellón Binitaufa de Menorca (bus transfer to concert available). Tickets from https://www.ukalarimenorcaevents.com/
BALLET AT THE CINEMA http://www.cinesmoixnegre.org/ 12 December: The Nutcracker, transmitted live from the Royal Opera House London, 8.15pm.
NIGHTS OUT: ES CLAUSTRE 4 October: Live music Bigott in concert, 10pm in the courtyard in Es Claustre, by Iglesia del Carmen in Mahón town centre. https://www.esclaustre.com/es/agenda/ ROQ U E TA M AGA ZI N E . N E T
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TEATRE DE CIUTADELLA (TEATRE DE CALÓS) Carrer de María Auxiliadora 38, Ciutadella. Tickets available from https://www.ukalarimenorcaevents.com/ 5 October: T-Rex El musical, Jurassic Park tribute, 6pm. 12 October: Magic show with Santi Marcilla, 8pm. 18 October: Efectivi-wonder, with stand-up comic El Monaguillo, 9pm. 19 October: Brothers in Band, the Dire Straits tribute show, 8.30pm. 2 November: El Fantasma de la Opera tribute show, 8pm. 10 November: Ángel Martín, punto para los locos: stand-up comedy, 7pm. 23 November: Vaiana, the musical, 5pm. 30 November: Symphonic metal concert by Najash, 9pm in the Sala Multifuncional de Ciutadella.
TEATRE PRINCIPAL Carrer d’en Deià 40, Mahón This is the oldest opera house in Spain, dating from 1829, with a wide programme of shows and concerts. See website for full programme. Tickets available online or from the box office. Box office open mornings Tuesday to Saturday 11.30am to 1.30pm. Afternoons: Thursday and Friday 6.30 to 8.30pm. Also, one hour before the start of the performance. https://www.taquilla.com/mahon/teatre-principal-de-mao 3 October: concert Fona Fall Fest, by Yann Tuersen, piano and electronics, 8.30pm. 5 October: Classical music concert with Anna Pirozzi (soprano), Jorge de León (tenor) and the OSIB conducted by Christopher Franklin, 8pm.
CONCERTS AT CASA REYNOLDS 17 Carrer d’Isabel II, Mahón. 5 October: Quim Ferrer (flute) and Georgina Masanés (piano), 7pm. 12 October: Jorge Munuera (cello) and Oscar Amieva (piano), 7pm. 19 October: Dani Molina (piano), 7pm.
OCIMAX CINEMA MAHÓN: https://www.aficine.com/cine/ocimaxmahon/ Cineclub films shown in the original language on Thursdays.
CINEMES MOIX NEGRE CIUTADELLA
10 October: Children’s show Tina convida a volar! with La Fornal d’Espectacles, 5pm.
http://www.cinesmoixnegre.org/ Films shown in the original language most Tuesdays. Cineclub films screened every Tuesday and Thursday at 8.30pm.
12 October: Gala Monte Toro, starring ballet dancers from the Opera de Paris, 8pm.
BALLET AT THE CINEMA
19 October: Final event in the Contemporary dance programme, 8pm. 25 October: World Opera Day, interview with Joan Pons, world famous baritone, 7.30pm.
http://www.cinesmoixnegre.org/ 12 December: The Nutcracker, transmitted live from the Royal Opera House London, 8.15pm.
27 October: Crónicas vivaldianas, concert performed by Midori Seiler and La Galatea, 7pm.
MENORCA DOC FEST
2 November: Drama Jauria by Velvet Events, 7.30pm. 8 November: Gospel concert performed by Moments a Cor, 8.30pm. 10 November: Circus show Lullaby, 6.30pm. 16 November: Dance show Jondo. del primer llanto, del primer beso performed by Cía. Eduardo Guerrero, 7pm. 22 November: Concert Simfonia dels adeus, performed by the Orquestra de Cambra Illa de Menorca, 8.30pm.
4 October – 1 November: Documentary festival https://www. menorcadocfest.com/
STARGAZING Info and bookings on www.nurarq.com 1 October: stargazing in Spanish from quarantine island Lazareto, 8.30pm. 2 October: Stargazing and guided tour in Spanish of prehistoric settlement Son Catlar, 9.30pm. 8 October: stargazing in Spanish from quarantine island Lazareto, 8.30pm.
GUIDED TOURS Torre d’en Galmés: Every Sunday in October at 10am (in English). Tickets online https://www.menorca.es/es/Visitas _ guiadas _ al _ poblado _ de _ Torre _ den _ Galmes/15447 Cova de s’Aigua, in Cala Blanca: guided tours in English daily at 9.30am and 3pm until 31 October. https://www.menorca.es/es/ Visitas _ guiadas _ la _ Cova _ de _ sAigua/14052 D O N ’ T M I S S A N E D I T I O N , S U B S C R I B E T O D AY ! V I S I T: R O Q U E TA M A G A Z I N E . N E T
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MENORCA BIOSPHERE RESERVE
HAUSER & WIRTH
Guided visits on different aspects of the Biosphere Reserve. Visits are in Catalan and free of charge. Places are limited and are to be booked in advance on www.menorcabiosfera.org or by WhatsApp to 699 824 897
Contemporary art exhibitions on Illa del Rei. The gallery is open until 27 October, showing works by Roni Horn and Eduardo Chillida. Admission free. Lunchtime Live music concerts on Cantina’s terrace in collaboration with Es Claustre. 12.30pm, free to attend, no need to book 13 Oct, Figues d’un altre paner 27 October: Xaranga des Xubec
26 November: Una guarderia al mig del mar, 10am to 1.30pm. 16 December: De la pesca de l’anguila a la gestió de l’aigua, at 9.30am then again at 11.30am.
TALAYOTIC MENORCA GUIDED VISITS: These tours are in Catalan and are free of charge: you just need to sign up for them. Tel: 689 33 28 88. 20 October: Trepucó 17 November: Es Grau – Torre de Rambla. 14 December: Rituals in talayotic times, Museum of Menorca.
ENFUSION CHOIR CHRISTMAS CONCERT 6 & 7th December, Aeroclub, San Lluis
GUIDED TOURS NAVAL HOSPITAL ISLA DEL REY Guided visits around the Hospital on the Isla del Rey in English: Thursdays at 11:14 and Sundays 09:15 (Sundays is best to be with the volunteers) until the 27th October. Booking: • + Info y Tickets: https://menorca.hauserwirth.com • Fundación Hospital de la Isla del Rey - www.islahospitalmenorca.org • https://www.yellowcatamarans.com/en/kings-island
SPORTS EVENTS
ARTS SOCIETY MENORCA Thursday 24th October at 8PM Aeroclub San Lluís ANDREW PRINCE lecture: “From Downton to Gatsby: Jewellery and Fashion 1890 to 1929” For ticket information or to make a reservation contact Malcolm at: menorca@theartssociety.org
6 October: Artiem Half Menorca Triathlon. www.artiemhalfmenorca.com 11-13 October: Mountain bike tour of Menorca. www.menorcabtt.com 18-20 October: International cycling tour. www.menorcacicloturista.com 21 October: The October Trail run. https://illadelstrails.com/programaoctober-trail/ Menorca Cricket Club Fixtures 12:30 start
EXHIBITIONS La moda d’antany. Com es vestia a Menorca entre 1850 i 1930: photographic exhibition of clothes through the ages, at Camí des Castell 28, Mahón. Open 9am to 2pm until the end of the year. Admission free.
4th Oct BINSTEAD VS ARUNDEL 5th/6th Oct TEMPLE GRAFTON 12/13th Oct EDGWARE CC
Cossos, diàlegs amb Matías Quetglas, by Carles Jiménez, at El Roser exhibition hall at Carrer Roser 11, Ciutadella. Open Monday to Saturday 11am to 1pm and 6 to 9pm. Until 2 November. Admission free
19/20th Oct ZAMBUCA TIGERS
LÔAC: Contemporary art gallery located at Calle Santiago Pons Quintana 56, Alaior. Open Tuesdays to Sundays 10.30am to 2pm, and 5.30 to 9pm. Admission 5€.
26th/27th Oct SOUTHWICK WANDERERS
21st-25th Oct MENORCA T20 CRICKET FESTIVAL WEEK 2nd/3rd Nov BARCELONA INTERNATIONAL
NEW ART GALLERIES ALBARRÁN BOURDAIS This new gallery has opened on Carrer d’en Deià 51 in Mahón (opposite the Teatro Principal), with an exhibition by Swiss artist Felice Varini. Open Tuesday to Saturday 5-9pm, until 26 October. Admission free.
CENTRO NUMA. https://www.numamenorca.com/ A new cultural centre has opened in the Sa Quintana area of Ciutadella, located on the corner of carrer Santa Barbara and carrer Marino Benejam (on the northern side of the port, just up the hill from the bridge). Run by the Fundación Numa, the centre is opening with the Inner Voice exhibition of 30 sculptures by Dutch artist Caspar Berger. Open until 31 October, Thursday, Friday and Saturday 9.30am to 12.30pm. Also Tuesday to Saturday 3 to 8pm. Admission 15€. Guided tours in English every Tuesday at 11.30am. ROQ U E TA M AGA ZI N E . N E T
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BANK HOLIDAYS 12 October: Spain’s National Day 1 November: All Saints’ Day 6 December: Constitution Day 8 December: Day of the Immaculate Conception. 25 December: Christmas Day.
GETTING AROUND THE ISLAND If you prefer using public transport as an alternative to taking the car, there are three bus companies covering different parts of the island. Buses are very punctual, although bear in mind timetables vary greatly depending on the time of year. Up to date bus timetables can be checked online. TORRES www.bus.e-torres.net Torres buses run between Ciutadella and resorts along the west coast, as well as to the unspoiled beaches to the north and to the south of Ciutadella. Torres also operate the line from Mahón town centre to the airport. TMSA www.tmsa.es TMSA buses run across the island connecting all the main towns, as well as routes to the resorts on the southern coast and eastern coast AUTOS FORNELLS https://www.autosfornells.com/ connecting Mahón with the north-eastern coastline up to Fornells, also connections to Alaior and Es Mercadal.
MARKETS FARMERS’ MARKETS Ciutadella: Wednesdays and Saturdays 8am to 2pm in Plaza de la Libertad (by the fish market). Mahon: Sundays 9am to 2pm, in Carrer de s’Arravaleta and Carrer Nou (by the American bar). Mahón Tapas by the fish market: Monday to Saturday, 11am to 11.30pm. Also, open Sundays in July and August. Ferreries: Saturdays, 9am to 1pm in Plaza España (main square).
STREET MARKETS Mahón: Tuesday and Saturday 8am to 3pm in the Plaça Esplanada. Mahón: Daily, Pla de Baixamar, 10am to 8pm. Ciutadella: Monday and Friday 8.30am to 3pm in the Plaza Borne. Alayor: Thursday morning in town centre. Fornells: Wednesdays, 9am to 2pm. in Carrer de la Mar. Sant Lluis: Mondays and Wednesdays, 10am to 1pm in Pla de sa Creu. Es Castell: Mondays and Wednesdays, 8am to 2pm in Plaza Esplanada. Ferreries: Saturdays 9am to 1pm in Plaça Espanya.
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ISLAND INFORMATION CONSULATES How do I contact the British Consulate? You can call or send an email to our contact centre Tel: 933666200 Email: spain.consulate@fco.gov.uk (Make sure you put ‘Menorca’ in the subject line) They will be able to answer most general enquiries and will pass you through to the team in Palma, should you need further assistance. www.gov.uk/government/world/spain. Germany San Andreu 32, Mahón. Tel 971 36 90 12 EMERGENCY NUMBERS General Emergencies 112 (equivalent to 999 in UK). 24 hour service in 4 languages. Domestic Violence 016 Local Police 092 National Police: 091 Police station Mahon: 971 363 712. Police station Ciutadella: 971 363 066 Fire Service 971 35 10 11 Sea Rescue 900 202 202 Emergency Ambulance 061 OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION Tourist Information visit www.menorca.es. Offices in Mahón and Ciudadela Taxis 971 36 71 11
Chemist shops are closed on Sundays, but some are open on Saturdays. Shop Opening Hours 09.00 – 13.30 and 16.30/17.00 – 20.30 Larger supermarkets Monday to Saturday 09.00 – 21.00 Sunday mornings in summer Banks Monday to Friday 08.15 – 14.00 If hiring a car, you are required to keep with you: Hire documents, driving licence and a photocopy of your passport. NB: Seat belts are compulsory, and children must be in the back of the vehicle For a comprehensive list of all bus times on the Island, please visit www.tmsa.es Internal flights in Spain from Menorca: Iberia – www.vueling.com, www.iberia.com POST OFFICES Carrer de Ciutadella, 76, 07701 Maó Plaça des Born, 9, 07760 Ciutadella de Menorca Carrer Llevant, 5-7, 07720 Es Castell Carrer Lepanto, 43, 07740 Es Mercadal Carrer de sa Lluna, 13 (antes, Carrer de Sant Esteve, 14), 07710 Sant Lluís HOSPITALS WITH 24 HR EMERGENCIES MAHON Hospital Mateo Orfila Rda. de Malbúger, 1, 07703 Mahón, Phone: 971 48 70 00
CIUTADELLA Canal Salat C/ Sant Antoni Maria Claret, s/n 07760 Ciutadella Tel: 971 480 112 PRIVATE CLINICS CLINICA JUANEDA Avenida Vives Llull, 6 07703 Mahón Tel. 971 351 115 info.menorca@juaneda.es CLINICA JUANEDA Jose Delfin Serra, 10, 07760 Ciutadella Tel. 971 480 505 info.menorca@juaneda.es POLICLINICA VIRGEN DE GRACIA Av Vives Llull 6, 07003, Mahon Tel: 971351115 RED CROSS CREU ROJA MAÓ C/ Josep Anselm Clavé, 162 ·07703 Tel.: 971 36 11 80 Creu Roja Ciutadella c/ de la Creu, 2 07760 Tel.: 971 38 19 93 CREU ROJA FERRERIES Av. Jaume Mascaró, 66, 07750 Tel.: 971 37 31 39 Creu Roja Es Mercadal C/ Veterinaris Gomila, 12, 07740 Tel.: 971 37 53 00 CREU ROJA ALAIOR C/ Orient, 39 · 07703 Tel.: 971 37 12 38
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CREU ROJA SANT LLUÍS C/ Pere Tudurí, s/n · 07710 Tel.: 971 15 10 01 CHEMISTS Chemists or Farmacias are found around the island. For emergencies out of hours, there is a list of duty chemists displayed on the chemist door. GAS All cooking gas used in Menorca is bought from REPSOL BUTANO. Bottles can be exchanged at petrol stations and at the depots. Mahon: Avinguda de Fort de l’Eau, 125, BJ, 07701 Mahon: Main Road. Maó-Ciutadella ME-1, Km. 3,5. 07714 Ciutadella: Cala Morell Road, c/ Algaiarens, km. 1,5, 07760 See the website for opening hours https://gasmenorca.es/centros-dedistribucion/ FLIGHTS FROM THE ISLAND For all information and timetables regarding travel by air and sea to and from the Island please refer to the airline websites. To contact the airport, call 971 157 000 SANTA MARGARITA ANGLICAN CHURCH +34 617222382 e-mail chaplain@anglicanchurchmenorca.com
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READERS LETTERS Brits in Menorca I read in the August edition of Roqueta, (Menorca Population by Nationalities P15) with considerable alarm, that the number of British Nationals living in Menorca had dropped from 4042 in 2012 to 2053 in 2022, according to statistics reported by Real Estate Agents, Home Menorca. This, I found rather alarming. A 50% reduction in 10 years! Then I began thinking about this, and I realised that this was only part of the story. It is not the number of Brits living here that makes the island so popular with the British, it is the number of Brits who come here who have villas or apartments here, and visit the island every year, and in many cases 3-4 times each year, that is more important. Add to this the number of Brits who have been coming here every year staying in the Islands Hotels for many years, and still continue to do so, that is really important.
I was reading the August issue and saw the ‘then and now’ photos and thought I would send you photos of my family over the years. I first came to Menorca in 1979 when my parents decided to buy a small villa in Binisafuller Roters. We have been coming to Menorca ever since and now my first grandchild is with us! Here are my photos from 2001; 2011; 2016 featuring Robbie, Nicola and Bradley and this year with the addition of Amelia, Robbie’s daughter. Victoria Dennison
How many Brits own a villa or apartment on the island? I have no idea, but judging by the number I have met year after year, and have been told about, it must be something like 10,000 at least. That is a significant number of ‘Menorcaphiles’, if that is the right word? Add to these and their families, the regular British tourists who come every year. Could you have as many as 25,000 combined or even more? It is certainly a significant number to make a sizeable contribution to the island economy. They will all convert deteriorating British Pounds into increasingly more expensive Euros, to spend on the island, whether it is on maintenance of their properties, improvements and renovation, refurnishing, etc or just on buying Spanish Utilities to use whilst living in Menorca from one or two weeks, maybe 2/4 times each year and over the whole time that their ‘home in the sun’ is sitting empty in Menorca. In addition, they will spend their converted British Pounds in the cafes and restaurants which make visiting Menorca so attractive. They will buy food from Menorcan shops, bakeries, and supermarkets to stock their fridges. Then there is the amount they will spend on drink in Menorca – soft drink, fruit juices, beer, wine and spirits which is bound to be a considerable volume in the heat or according to British reputation! That keeps a considerable number of Menorcans in work! Now, I have first-hand experience of a degree of prejudice by some persons in Menorca now that Britain (UK) has left the EU. Two or three times when confronting some new problem (and there are a considerable number since Brexit), I have been told ‘It’s your fault for leaving’. This seems a somewhat prejudiced view of Brits who still come to Menorca to spend their money regardless of Brexit. They still come because they love and enjoy the island and its people. My answer to such statements is always the same. ‘The people of UK voted to leave. I still come here to enjoy the island, support it and invest my money in it’. And I do, and will continue to do so along with the many thousands of other Brits. Graham Capel - coming to Menorca for over 50 years.
Pool evaporation- Miguel Camps Further to the article in the September magazine regarding the above perhaps the Town Hall could approach the 2/3 swimming pool operators on the island and propose a subsidised (reduced cost) plan for villa owners to purchase manual floating covers. Alternatively as a gesture and for good publicity the 2 biggest operators could offer an attractive lower priced deal through yourselves. Seems to me the materials and roller equipment are affordable without any installation cost. Over to you. Richard Villa Owner in Son Bou D O N ’ T M I S S A N E D I T I O N , S U B S C R I B E T O D AY ! V I S I T: R O Q U E TA M A G A Z I N E . N E T
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High Cost of Self Employment in Spain I am writing to let your readers understand how hard it is for a young person in Spain to be self-employed compared with the UK. I wanted to give a breakdown of the costs from first-hand experience. The accountant can do all the paperwork to set up the business for a fee of €250. This includes €35 to set up your ‘digital certificate’ which is commonly known as your DGT. This allows the accountant to pay your taxes direct to the hacienda ‘tax office’ online. For the first year you can get a reduced ‘autonomo’ which is the social security you must pay each month to be able to work on a self-employed basis in Spain.The accountant’s monthly fee Is around 80 euros plus IVA (VAT charged at 21%). After the first year, the autonomo will increase to a minimum of €260 per month which is taken from his account on the last day of the month. This amount may be more, depending on turnover per month. The monthly accountant’s fee may also increase depending on how much paperwork they have to deal with.
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need to be able to earn a fair salary and pay a fair amount of tax. It’s unsustainable and is forcing the young workforce to leave the country. There is no incentive for young people to work for themselves as they can earn so much more working on a contract. The high tax burden then falls upon the employer who must pay more than 30% on top of the employee’s salary to the hacienda. And the employer has to pay the equivalent of 14 months’ salary a year... but that is another story. In my opinion the government needs to change its policies on taxation so that a young person can keep more in their pocket allowing them to contribute to the economy rather than having to leave the country. A Man who knows A reader sent in this photo. They ask, who remembers a bull ring on Cala en Porter beach and was there ever a bull fight?
On gross earnings you have to pay 19% tax and must charge 21% IVA. Unlike in the UK there is no VAT threshold and so you must charge this tax from the first euro/ centimo that you earn. IVA paid on any bills can be discounted as in the UK. Taking all these taxes into account, if you invoice clients 1200 Euros per month including IVA, and have few expenses the amount you will keep in your pocket each month is only 418,40 Euros after the first year. There is a personal tax allowance of €12450 per year but this is not worked out until the end of the business year. If you are owed any money back, it will not be reimbursed until June of the next year, 15 months from the start date of your business. The problem with the Spanish system is that historically you were so heavily taxed by the hacienda that many people were forced into a black economy. This caused the taxes to be so high, that they have created an unaffordable system where people don’t have enough to pay their rent bills and buy food. People want to work but they
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PIG TALES
By Rachael Adams
A PRAYER TO MY PIG
W Wildlife loves the ravine of course. It’s a beautiful, s sun-kissed but sheltered haven, where nature truly d does seem at its best. A place of sanctuary. Dot’s home h for the past three years. All I can hear is birdsong as I take a shortcut through the orchard, b so s I can get to her sooner. “WHERE’S THA’ PIIIIIGGGGGG”, “DOTTY PIIIIIG” “ I croon. It’s early afternoon as I reach her field, sandals s flapping and already sunburnt. She’s dozing up u against her big flat sandstone. She likes to lie with her h back onto something, I imagine she feels safer that t way. “Oh sorry to disturb you” I greet her. She gets g up and stands with her head hanging low at my feet. I squat down and cradle her big heavy head in f m hands. There’s no jumping about or ecstatic tailmy w wagging like a dog: because she’s a pig. My pig. But I know she recognises me and is happy, because s she’d never let a stranger touch her, much less hold h head. She smells utterly delicious. We sigh her in unison. Home at last, with my soulmate. Being t together for us is to be home…
Phew, it’s hot! Sunny, pale pastel sky, almost deserted runway. I leave my fellow Brits at the passport queue and head out the door. I’ve been a resident here for 29 years. I had to leave in 2021 due to being priced out of home by the tourism industry. But now I’m back on the first direct flight of the season to see my pig. Coat and trainers off, straw hat and shitty old vest on. RRRight, now where’s that pig? I’ve bought her some grapes in Alaior as a treat, though I know she’ll be sharing my cheese, macaroni, crackers and anything else I’ve got for our month-long camping expedition. I’m going to try her on chai tea for a change from her usual Tetley’s. Honey too – if she’s not fussed by the chai she’ll happily suck on a blob of that. I bomb down the lane into the ravine, the Barranc de Cala’n Porter. A man-made channel snakes along the middle of the ravine for miles out to the sea and is flanked by fruit orchards. Water that gathers in Alaior and the surrounding fields all once drained through here, via this main watercourse and smaller tributaries. One of the tributaries is called the “Torrent de sa moixa”, or the Cat torrent, and borders the south edge of Dot’s field. After many years of illegally-born wells and over-extraction that have significantly lowered the water table, water barely flows through this system anymore. The torrent is for the most part almost empty. I’m reassured again and again that it has never flooded in 40 years. It’s also overgrown because, ironically, as a protected area, farmers aren’t allowed to maintain it themselves anymore. Despite climate change causing increasingly frequent and violent floods, they’re still waiting for the Balearic Government to cut out what are now fully-grown olive trees and brambles, and swathes of invasive canes.
“Enough of that silliness”- she says, suddenly business-like and wagging her white-tipped tail, rounded bottom bustling and trotters clacking. “Let’s put the kettle on”, “what’s in your bag?”, “I can smell something”. Having soon noticed it cast aside behind me, she’s nosing my bursting backpack to death, shoving it around the dirt, quickly changing it from grey to brown. “Oh yes sorry pig, I’m coming”. I set up the camping stove and feed her her grapes while I go to get the folding chair, fetch an old paint bucket of water from the well for showering, and dust down the leaves from my hammock. Next for the best bit – an early afternoon doze. I’ve already written about how marvellously delicious it feels to lie with a pig. It’s a sensation beyond tremendous, one so big it leaves me in awe. One of incomparable privilege. She’s an animal that could easily gash me to bits with her small tusks. Or head-butt me senseless with her massive jowls. Yet the way her lips lie over her razor-sharp fangs makes her look like she’s smiling, and I think she is. I have my head on her tummy. She has six nipples on the left side and seven on the right. Some long white bristles on her belly between her front trotters. A short scar-like line which I take to be the pig equivalent of a belly button. Four scent glands line the inside of each front trotter. I squidge her fleshy snout, run my fingers along the soft downy edges of her ears, and feel the soft warm skin of her armpits. The softest skin known to man. I know every single atom of this creature’s body. This to me is utter - pure - eternal - bliss. I have no worries: I couldn’t care less about jobs or the future or even having a roof over my head. Dot showed me the purest happiness for nearly 12 years. We doze together to the sound of insects and her warm earthy smell. Joy. And these memories are what I’m trying to cling to— not the morning drizzle after a stormy night sleeping in the cowshed next to her field, hoping she’d have survived the flash flood and come back.
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Wishing for a miracle. Hearing her sounds in my head. Hearing pigeons flapping their wings in the elms. I hate those birds now – for they can fly. Not trying to find her in the pulverised remains of her home. Not her soaking patchy blanket I found squashed to the back of her hutch, now sporting a waterline of leaves almost to the roof. Later that morning I sit bewildered in front of her hutch cross-legged. I look at her belly-scratching stone, and side-scratching tree trunk, both darkened and smoothed by countless exquisite itches. I examine the sides of her hutch where her flanks also wore the sides smooth each time she came out. But she’s not here anymore. I can’t feel her presence at all. It’s still. Yet these marks tell me she was here, she did exist. She was a very real supapig. And she made me the happiest I’ve ever been in my life, with nothing but a field and a notepad, a camp chair to sit in and a pig at my feet. It’s time to leave. To everyone who knew Dot, the big storm on the 15th of August took her away. She likely died very quickly. I couldn’t find her body after days of searching. Though I believe I wasn’t meant to nor would she have wanted me to. I didn’t manage to figure my life out in time to be able to live with her again. Nevertheless, writing about her keeps her alive, and I don’t want to forget an instant of our time together. I’m therefore expanding our stories and making a book titled “For the love of a pig”. If anyone would like a copy send me a message and I’ll let you know when it’s done. https://rachaeladamsblog.live/contact/ We thank you all for reading our stories. And I thank you my Dot, eternally, for sharing such joy.
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AIRLINES AND LUGGAGE by Ann Port
As a diversion from stories of holidays and village life I will deflect to memories of the various airlines that have formed part of our many trips to Menorca over the years. The first trip involved a Vickers Viscount en route to Barcelona but which flew round rather than over the Pyrenees. This was followed by a Spanair flight to Menorca which landed smoothly on the rough runway at the aerodrome. My mother was a great admirer of the skills of the Spanish Air Force trained pilots in those days, some of whom had been trained during the Spanish Civil War. In the very early 1960s tourists were few and far between. However, the expansion was rapid with the 1500 hospitality places in 1965 doubling by 1968. Yet my jaw drops when I take in today’s figures of over 1.6 million visits to little Menorca each year. We have travelled with several airlines, many long gone but not forgotten, and been involved during the collapse of some of them. My husband worked for Danair which was one of the early airlines and the centre aisle on their planes, rather than being flat, was quite steeply sloped. Not only that but the seats were facing the tail. Drinks were free in the early days and a tray was brought round before take-off and landing offering butterscotch sweets to suck. I remember British Caledonian in 1971 which to this day holds the record for us of a flight from our northern city of only 1 hour 50 mins (though almost equalled by EasyJet this year at 1 hour 54 mins). We have flown with Iberia in a Caravelle, Airtours, Courtline, Freddie Laker, Thomson, Thomas Cook, Vueling from Barcelona, EasyJet from both Liverpool and Manchester, Jet2 and for many years with Monarch winter and summer. In October 2017, we were unfortunate enough to be in the third week of our holiday when they collapsed and we spent most of the following week chasing up alternative ways home before being phoned in the wee small hours with the offer of a repatriation flight to Gatwick with Trojan Airlines. It was a very comfortable flight with wide black leather seats but unfortunately it was the wrong destination for us, landing at the opposite end of the country. A long taxi ride ensued. Does anyone else have an affection for their luggage? From our early travels I loved the smell of our brown leather suitcases. In the old days they were adorned with stickers (now outlawed) from the various cruise lines and favourite destinations. My favourite sticker was a round one of the Sagrada Familia. I was mortified when an airport worker unceremoniously ripped it off. I had a particular affection for my 21st birthday present, a blue monogrammed suitcase from Harrods with a diamond quilted silk lining. I was very sad when it became damaged beyond repair on a trip to Menorca and had to be replaced with a red moulded plastic case from Parpals department store. Long gone! Then we moved on to trolley cases on wheels, the Delsey ones, Antler and others but they were quite heavy. We replaced these with trolley cases with retractable handles and multi-directional wheels. Another favourite was a black patent leather case from Kendals but this was damaged on one corner during transit along with other soft cases which were ripped or broken into and on one occasion totally sodden with all the clothes inside, completely unwearable. We now have replacement cases from House of Fraser with reinforced corners along with a selection of hand luggage to meet various airline requirements in terms of dimensions, which annoyingly are not all the same when travelling light. I really need a clear out of surplus to requirements suitcases but even so I can’t help admiring some of the fabulously coloured and patterned ones you see nowadays or the matching sets of Louis Vuitton. The important thing is not to have ones that look like anyone else’s as you are more likely to discover your luggage is missing, a disaster we have encountered on more than one occasion. This necessitates half an hour of form filling and considerable inconvenience and expense. Even when your case is miraculously found and sent out on delivery it isn’t always the end of the story as we had one returned to the wrong house though luckily the neighbour painstakingly enquired after its owner until we were finally reunited with it. One of the things I really like about Menorca is the airport experience and I am not at all surprised that it has received awards for being one of the best in Spain. Compared to our own airport it is considerably cleaner. When Special Assistance is required, it is friendly and readily available, passport control is efficient and there are no winding, circuitous routes to negotiate. If you want to avoid duty free you are not obliged to wind through it and, best of all, taxis or hire cars if booked are immediately available just outside the exit doors. Compared to Pisa (where you need to take a train ride with platforms at different levels) it is an absolute doddle. As an aside, it always amuses us when they call the airbridges “fingers” but we are so grateful when we are able to use them rather than having to take a bus on the tarmac. Which reminds me, there was no tarmac over 60 years ago on our first landing, just a dirt track earth runway. The other major advantage in Menorca is that nowhere is over an hour’s ride away from the airport. We have navigated the security precautions, the Covid documentation, the pre–European Union era, then the EU era and then the start of the Brexit era. There are more changes on the way, along with fingerprint recognition, but so far it has been worth it to reach our beloved island. D O N ’ T M I S S A N E D I T I O N , S U B S C R I B E T O D AY ! V I S I T: R O Q U E TA M A G A Z I N E . N E T