Archive - July 19, 2012

Several changes happened in Menorca over the last three decades that deeply affected the small island and changed it perhaps for the better, but not right now. After Franco finally died. (Do you recall Saturday Night Live? ‘Franco is still dead!’) the middle class developed in Spain, the Spaniards discovered this quaint little place and began to travel to the island. Then with the Euro, and the flow of money, development started in earnest.  Also, immigration to the island began, especially to the Balearic Islands, I’m told, where the laws weren’t as tight. Now there are real problems, I told by Menorcan friends. Historically, Spain has always had higher unemployment rates. But today, one in four people of working age are without work, and that figure is exceeded on the island, and Menorca has the worst unemployment of all. In Menorca, 13,500 are unemployed, and of these 5,600 now no . . .

PCV Rachel Ricciardi was walking home early Saturday with another Volunteer, Andrew Kistler, when they were approached by machete-wielding thieves who tried to rob them near their home in the town of Wa in Ghana. One of the assailants slashed at Kistler with a machete, cutting his shoulder and hand but not seriously wounding him. Kistler reportedly stabbed one of the attackers in the chest with a pocket knife he was carrying. The assailant, who ran from the scene, was found dead Saturday morning near where the encounter took place. The two PCVs reported the incident to the local authorities Saturday morning, were interviewed by local police, and released later that day, according to U.S. State Department. “They have not been charged with any crime. The matter is under investigation by Ghanaian officials,” the U.S. State Department said in a message posted online. As a result of the incident, all . . .

  [Here is what’s right about Menorca] 100+ Beaches Within 30 minutes of Mahón are dozens of beautiful rock coves, such as Cala Mitjana, where part of Lina Wertmuller’s Swept Awaywas filmed. For long stretches of sand there’s Santo Tomas or Cala Santo Galdana, which, however, can be crowded, or Son Bou, that has, year after year, the whitest sand. I favor  coves or calas with their small beaches. They are less crowded, and the coves form natural and deep swimming pools. While the larger beaches have bars, it is not difficult to pack a picnic lunch and when you’re tired of swimming just step back into the shadow of pine trees that on the island hover at the water’s edge. People linger till dusk at these beaches, as the Mediterranean summer evenings are long.  Outdoor museum Menorca’s history, like that of all the Balearics, reaches back into prehistory, as . . .