Bob Travel

The Balearic Island of Menorca can often be overshadowed by its two neighbors. Majorca is its slightly larger neighbor and is probably the most prominent of the four major islands. It has the largest population and definitely receives the largest amount of tourists every year. Ibiza is the island’s slightly smaller neighbor. It has a world reputation for its amazing nightlife and club scene. Meanwhile, beautiful Menorca sits back and quietly fascinates it visitors who are lucky enough to stumble onto it, or are aware of the island’s beauty and many diverse elements and choose to make it their vacation destination. Menorca is so greatly loved my its many tourists, that it is common for them to return again and again, making it their standard vacation getaway.

What is interesting about this island is that although it is not as large as Majorca, it has about as many beaches as Ibiza and Majorca combined. This is one of the reasons the island is so popular with families and all others seeking to enjoy water sports, sun bathing and great views. The tourism industry cultivates this family friendly aspect of the island and many of the luxury hotels Menorca are suited to accommodate a family environment. The southern end of the island is where most of the popular beaches and resort areas are located. The northern end is more prominent for its fishing villages. These rougher shores are less attractive to many who want to enjoy the pleasures of the warm sandy sand.

There are many other things for families to do and see on this peaceful and relaxing island. There are museums, major landmarks, great shopping opportunities and much more. There is also a thriving nightlife scene with entertainment options. The club scene is diverse and caters to crowds of all interests. There are large dance clubs, as well as smaller and quiet pubs. Most of the bars are open all day and serve light meals, appetizers and snacks. What is interesting about the clubs on this island is that they stay open until the last customer leaves. There is not a standard closing time. There are also casinos located on the island. Juegos de casino is one of the more prominent, and is an excellent place for all levels of gamers to come for fun, competition and possible earnings.

Menorca has so many things to recommend it as a splendid place to spend a vacation, that it would be impossible to list them all, but it is certain that the best Menorca hotels have all the bases covered.  Whatever your desires for the perfect holiday, you can certainly find them fulfilled here.  Our hotels have luxurious accommodations and a very good dose of local flavor, so that all members of the family will find something here.  Adventure, exploring, sun and sand, excellent food, or rejuvenation of the body and mind, all of these are within reach.  Menorca has a reputation for excellent snorkling, a marvelously healthy island vibe, and an immensely fascinating prehistory.

One of the prehistoric cultures here, the Talayots, was named for the towers that greeted visitors.  Every villa had them, and they all face southeast or southwest.  Archeologists recently started to suggest that these were built with another reason: to observe the Southern Cross.  It’s entirely likely, since this would have been a unique point to observe this constellation at the time.

This is just an example of the fascinating marvels of Menorca, and there are many.  Enough that archeologist William Waldren would devote many years, and many pages of academic writing, to the mysteries here.  Waldren, who passed in 2003, was by all accounts a fascinating character.  A real renaissance man, he was an accomplished artist, and a champion figure skater, before he pursued his doctoral degree from Oxford when he was fifty years old.  Waldren was also supported by Earthwatch when it was just a fledgling organization.   An expert on the prehistoric cultures and artifacts here, his memory lies somewhere in these old stones.

This month the people of the city of Manchester, England got quite a treat, quite a show.  As part of a three day festival, that brought the Balearic Islands to Albert Square, the legendary Menorcan Horses of Spain gave the people a small glimpse into their beauty, the skill of the riders and the culture of this small island in the Mediterranean Sea.  For close to fifty years, the British have made up a large segment of the population of European tourists who have made the Islands their favorite destination for relaxation in the spas of the best Balearic hotels, dancing in the trendy clubs, and walking on the pristine beaches.  However, tourism in the Islands has dropped substantially during the economic crunch, and so the Islands were brought to tourists.

These horses have been important throughout Menorca’s history, having been pivotal and necessary during times when the island was defending itself, and during times of celebrations.  This is a very unique breed of horse, with only 1,500 animals registered with the Horse and Breeders Association.  This breed rivals that of the Arabian Horse, as in appearance they are exquisite creatures.  Their coats are black and they have billowing manes.  And much as with the Greyhound racing dogs, they are proportioned with incredible necklines, they are extremely muscular, and are well known for their sober demeanor and consistent character.  They are tireless when it comes to performing, either for the shows or for their owners.

The shows are extraordinary in part due to the skill of the riders, and in part due to the fact that this breed is not only beautiful, but extremely smart as well.  They have been gaining the reputation as the best breed for training, for riding and for their ability to interpret the intricate commands the riders makes using the harness.  They are well known and loved on the Island, and after the performance they gave in Manchester two weeks ago, they are well loved internationally now as well.