Spring Donkeys From Menorca

I've opened this year's swapping 'season' in March when I was in Germany on island Amrum - I went there to work the season and had a contract until October. However, opposite from the previous year, I was met with conditions not matching the contract/agreement...and beside that totally ignored as a human being...So I ran away after three weeks. The thing is, thinking that I will stay for months, I've bought a considerable stash of postcards! Most I had to bring back home and will hopefully be able to swap them from Germany sometime in the future...

Anyways! From one of my march FB swaps, great Menorcan donkeys for my collection. Gracias Elena!

Sargantana De Menorca

Lilford's wall lizard is a species of lizard of the Lacertidae family endemic to the Balearic Islands. It is also endangered due to its habitat loss :( A lovely addition to my collection, gracias Elena :)

Menorcan Long-Ears

If you are wondering about Menorca / Switzerland relation, I mentioned it in my last post :) But actually I'm curious to find out a bit more...which doesn't seem to be that easy at all. Apparently Swiss Post operates on Canary islands too, and the mail gets to drop in on Malta on its way to you! (and accordingly takes ages to arrive). I am always happy to participate in any new posting adventures as long as the mail arrives in the end - shame about the lack of cancellation though.But hey its a donkey! :D

Naveta d'Es Tudons, Menorca

The Naveta d'Es Tudons (literally 'nave of the woodpigeons') is the most remarkable megalithic chamber tomb in the Balearic island of Menorca, Spain. It is located in the Western part of the island, approximately 3 miles out from Ciutadella. Navetas  are chronologically pre-Talaiotic constructions; this is a funerary naveta that served as collective ossuary between 1200 and 750 BC.

Now if I only knew this place is so close to town...I mean it was totally walkable. I had an early gangway - set off with first tender in pitch dark, and the ride did take a while so I witnessed the sunrise once in situ. The thing about having gangway while tendering - it takes too darn long to go back to the ship to change clothes and back again, so you end up walking around in your uniform. Ugh. On few occasions gangway was the only way to get off board, so yeah. You take what you get..! My postcard said 'finally someplace new!' but it wasn't only that, new (for me) was also the postal system by - Swiss Post? Got these self-adhesive stamps in a souvenir shop, got a special mailbox there to mail them too, and I just wondered if these (this and the donkey one coming next) will even arrive...I mean it IS the Swiss, they are always effective, right..?! (I was still remembering the unsuccessful try with 'special post' in Barcelona, those never arrived :/) Anyways, they're here, yuppie.

Lila i Lala

The caption is exactly what is written at the back of the card, I will assume those are the names of these cuties :) Sent from (what now seems to be ancient) my trip to Mallorca.

Valldemossa, Mallorca, Spain

One absolutely adorable place, this is...Valldemossa is a village and municipality on the island of Majorca, part of the Spanish autonomous community of the Balearic Islands. With a population of around 2,000, it is a quiet and traditional town with narrow streets and lanes constructed with blonde stone, as are the houses. Many doorways of houses feature a religious symbol of Mallorca's patron saint, Saint Catalina Thomàs to protect their houses from harm, a tradition set many years ago.

In the 1830s the Spanish government confiscated monasteries, and the historic estate was sold to private owners, who have since hosted some prominent guests. These have included the Polish composer Frédéric Chopin and his lover the pioneering French writer George Sand, who wrote a notable account of A Winter in Majorca, describing their 1838–39 visit. 

Valldemossa is surrounded by fertile land where olive and almond trees are grown and it has changed very little since it was first inhabited, despite the increase in tourism trade - it is part of Cultural Landscape Of The Serra De Tramuntana unesco whs, with the terraces also visible on these postcards. But I have covered that in a separate post :) And here is a photo of me posing smugly heh :)

UNESCO - Cultural Landscape Of The Serra De Tramuntana, Mallorca, Spain

The Cultural Landscape of the Serra de Tramuntana located on a sheer-sided mountain range parallel to the north-western coast of the island of Mallorca. Millennia of agriculture in an environment with scarce resources has transformed the terrain and displays an articulated network of devices for the management of water revolving around farming units of feudal origins. The landscape is marked by agricultural terraces and inter-connected water works - including water mills - as well as dry stone constructions and farms.

This is a good representation of the fantastic landscape on Mallorca west coast, the terraces and steep cliffs...I am happy to have seen it. Next time perhaps in nicer weather for the nice beaches :)

Un Amigo, Mallorca

Hope this buddy doesn't feel too restrained in this outfit...thanks Eileen :)

Vintage Photographs Of Puerto Pollensa

These beautiful photographs are work of the local author Arxiu Bestard, taken in and around Puerto Pollensa, northern Mallorca. Of course they don't accidentally feature donkeys, they have been picked out with care ;) I do love them being a testament of life on the island at the turn of the last century...

Red Long-Ears

Fantastic fur colour! And in a great contrast with the background green. Are all donkeys on Menorca this cute..?!

Views Of Menorca

A lovely view of the Port Of Mahon, which is the capital of the Balearic Island Menorca. The town's population is about 30 000 inhabitants and it has the second deepest natural harbour in the world. And what an awesome beach, the colour of the sea is just amazing..! Thanks to my nomad friend :))