Tuesday 4 September 2012

Menorca 2012 Day 13 - Pomada & Rain

The clue is in the title. Pomada. The local drink made from Menorcan Gin and real lemonade. It is very refreshing and somewhat alcoholic.

Nothing else to say! (apart from I know a group of girls who would love it. Beats peach schnapps any day).

Oh and it rained (and rained and rained)!





It will be the choice of refreshment at Courtman Road for the rest of the year. We have a litre of the gin in the case. Waitrose can supply the lemonade


Sunday 2 September 2012

Menorca 2012 Day 12 - The Road to Nowhere, Socks & Intestinal Gas

Well our second Sunday arrives. So what do we usually do on a Sunday morning? (keep it clean please Mrs Beeney, I am referring to 9am and not 8am). We go on a 5 mile walk of course. As the weather has cooled slightly we decided that we would partake. So off we set on the road to nowhere across the cliff tops without maps or any real knowledge of destination.

The walking was certainly a little tougher than we are used to around Stanwick Lakes. The inclines were rocky and steep and the declines, which are tougher on the legs, the same. The scenery however was spectacular.

After 50 mins of walking and finding nothing but trees, fantastic views and the odd fellow weary traveller, we decided to head back. The estimate was that we had travelled at least 5km and including the ups and downs this would convert quite happily into 5 miles.

So back to the hotel for relaxation in the lovely spa area and onwards into siesta land. An evenings entertainment was planned. As usual I was first down to the bar (whilst Mrs CT was applying all those potions and ointments that you ladies swear by) and was met by one of those peculiar British traditions of the over 60's - sandals and long socks. Please, if anyone ever sees me doing this you have permission to shoot!

The poster for that night's entertainment also intrigued me. Flamenco or just a young lady lighting her own f@rts? (yes, so from the blog title you thought I was going to talk about my own bottom fuelled misdemeanours - no chance!).

The 3 ladies that did eventually appear we're nothing like the photograph. I demanded my money back :)

Saturday 1 September 2012

Menorca 2012 Day 11 - Mahon, Gin & Boats

Today was our one and only venture beyond the confines of Cala Galdana. Onwards towards the island's capital, Mahon. A few interesting facts-
1) the 2nd largest natural deep water port in the world. Only beaten by Pearl Habour.
2) named by the Romans as the minor island in the Balearics (Menorca) as opposed to the major island (Majorca).
3) Nelson docked his fleet here twice

Anyway, our trip was to include a visit to the gin distillery (as mentioned in a previous blog), a sail around the harbour and shopping time! So that's 2 out of the 3 on Mrs CT's approved list.

Here we are at the gin distillery where not only do they make the neat stuff to have with tonic or real lemonade (pomada) but also 17 gin based liqueurs. We were invited to taste them all and tried our best to. At this point I must tell you that is only 8.45 in the morning! Great start to the day.

Definitely a game for all the family including this 11 year old lad learning his trade early. A chugging champion of the future (what do you reckon Misses JB, LC & LR ?).

Note - I got reminded on a couple of occasions by you know who, that the boy's mother was off limits!

Next up, a one hour cruise around the harbour in the motorised catamaran, the Don Joan.........

.......or in our case not. Mrs CT does not do boats of any description since our infamous disembarkation halfway through a sunset cruise in the north east of Cyprus after she had threatened the captain that she would jump otherwise.

This proved to be the correct decision. Today the sun had done a disappearing act to be replaced by clouds and a very strong northerly wind. When our fellow passengers returned to the coach they were all complaining of frost-bite and wind burn! This included the 2 Danish girls from our hotel who I was not allowed to take a picture of.

TOP TIP #2 - Mahon is not Palma. The shopping is very disappointing.

When we returned to resort at lunch time we went on a Sangria fuelled bar crawl around town. Hence the lateness of this blog.