For about 100 years Menorca was a part of the British Empire, but after the Napoleonic Wars the island became Spanish again. Before this English period the island belonged to Spain, who took it from the Moors. When you visit the island you can still find a small English influence.
Today this island, one of five in the Balearic Islands, is mainly a tourist resort but also very important for agriculture. While we were driving around the island we could see uncountable miles of stone walls, small fields and cattle. Cheese production is still of great importance and cheese is exported to the mainland.
During the tour through Menorca, bird watchers got some good sightings: Egyptian vulture, red kite and booted eagle. The tour took us to the old capital, Ciudadella, and our guides took us around the old part of the town.
The tour later took us up to the highest mountain, El Toro, where you could overlook the whole island. We could even see Mallorca to the south.
Menorca has a long history and the last stop was to visit the megalithic site clled Talati de Dalt (see the photo). This is really an incredible place to visit and try to understand or guess what Bronze Age man used this site for. Obviously it had some social and religious meaning but why and how? Questions can be asked and maybe we in the future will find an answer.
By late afternoon we came back to Ma¢ to embark the Caledonian Star and sail to mainland Spain. While we were leaving the harbor we enjoyed the great scenery of this spectacular natural harbor. Just by the entrance, you can still see the old barracks built by the English.
