The Coventry Telegraph have run a good article about the island, and comment:

MINORCA is quite simply a Spanish treasure trove of natural beauty, a place to take a relaxed and unhurried approach.

Located in the centre of the western Med, it has more beaches than its Balearic bigger sisters, Majorca and Ibiza combined.

As we travelled by coach to the hotel I was quick to notice its quiet bays of soft sands and overjoyed when I found one right next to where I was staying – the Audax Spa and Wellness Centre – which sits on a pine-clad hillside, in Cala Galdana, in the south of the island.

Over the years, Minorca has become successful in avoiding the effects of becoming a tourist-stricken land mass. Instead it has kept its lush greenery and natural splendour.

The modest island is sprinkled with shimmering harbours, solitary coves snuggled between cliffs and relaxing walking trails. But that’s just a taster of a much bigger picture.

The first leg of the trip began in the eastern part of the island, the Port of Mahon, which is one of the deepest natural harbours in the world.

To read the full article click here

An interesting article appeared recently in the UK’s Daily Mail newspaper - here is an extract:

Apartments start at around £105,000 and entry level for a three-bedroom villa is £200,000.

Most people want to live in the Golden Triangle of the south-east tip, around Mahon, Es Castell and Sant Lluis.

‘There are some very nice properties with their Sunseeker yachts around the harbour in Mahon, but the island doesn’t attract a glitzy crowd like Majorca,’ says Guanaria.

‘Richard Branson’s family have owned a holiday home here for 40 years, but they like it because it’s so low-key.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/property/article-1248590/A-siesta-fiesta-The-laidback-Balearics-fail-tempt-holiday-home-buyers.html#ixzz0eh6EgOfN

More details about Menorca is at yourmenorca.net and includes information about Menorca property for sale

Depression can come in many forms and the causes be varied.

Unemployment and poverty are well known and understandable causes of depression, but suicide isn’t unknown among the successful and wealthy too.

Something as simple as the weather can have affect some people – the SAD syndrome has become more known about in recent years in both Europe and Northern America, where long dark winters impact some.

Diet is another cause for depression, and for those whose illness is due to diet happily something can often be done about this. Not eating and low blood sugar levels can cause erractic mood swings.

The general consensus among health professionals is that most people are not paying enough attention to their diets. Few are getting enough daily physical activity. Even more alarming are statistics showing that many people are dying from preventable illnesses. Others are becoming increasingly depressed or affected by emotional problems.

For many depression carries a stigma, and that’s it’s considered a mental illness results in many people being unwilling to seek qualified medical help.

Dealing with Depression

Depression affects many facets of a person’s health. It can affect the body’s normal functions, moods and thoughts and the way they behave. Depression varies in severity from person to person. Some sufferers may not even realise that they are displaying symptoms of the illness. Some of these symptoms are:

Trouble concentrating

Constantly feeling sad without knowing why

Sudden mood swings

Unusual behavior

A diagnosis is usually made if these and other symptoms persist for more than two weeks. For severe cases, drugs may be prescribed, but treatment recommendations also include exercise and changes in diet. In many cases a combination treatment option is best.

Diet as a Treatment for Depression

It is an acknowledged fact that diet does not affect the body only on a physical level. It also has an effect on a psychological level. While not considered a complete course of treatment, diet can lead to positive changes for people suffering from depression. Some suggestions for alleviating the symptoms of depression with proper diet are:

Eating foods rich in antioxidants, as this helps to prevent free radical damage, which can affect brain function.

Getting enough protein to help improve concentration and energy levels.

Consuming healthy carbohydrates instead of processed carbohydrates. It is best to consume whole grains and legumes to maintain overall mood and reduce stress levels.

Using Holidays To Help Deal with Depression

The significance of getting away from it all to help battle depression can never be overstated. Many people use the chance to go on holiday to keep stress at bay. For many Brits, nothing beats the Spanish island of Menorca. With its pristine beaches and diverse offerings, it is one way to battle stress and depression.

Its healthy Mediterranean diet also includes the foods listed above. Anyone who spends time in Menorca could put themselves on the path to healthier living. It places a lot of emphasis on healthy carbohydrates and unrefined cereals, fish, vegetables and fruit. Studies have shown that following a diet rich in these foods may even help keep depression at bay.

Menorca is known for her quiet fishing villages and laid back resorts. Its holiday package differs from those of other islands in the area. It is geared more towards holidaymakers seeking relaxation as opposed to hard partying. The island also has a variety of attractions and sights to keep any visitor engaged.

Part of Menorca’s appeal rests on the fact that overdevelopment has been strenuously resisted. Her numerous green spaces make it a refuge for tourists who like to enjoy nature’s unspoilt beauty. The capital of Mahon and old capital Ciutadella offer numerous sight seeing opportunities, just the thing to wrap up a stress free holiday.

Menorca holidays needn’t be expensive, especially for UK residents. There’s an array of airlines who provide flights to Menorca.

For accommodation there’s a good choice of hotels, and companies like James Villa Holidays have a good choice of villa holidays in Menorca – often coming with its own pool.

There are no straightforward rules for beating depression. Making lifestyle changes, even small ones, can help improve one’s overall sense of well-being. Going on holiday to de-stress is an important part of the journey towards good mental and physical health. Whether you choose Menorca or some other destination, it will have a positive impact in the long run.

More details for Menorca are at http://www.yourmenorca.net including holiday deals, articles and news on their Menorca information blog while holidaymakers often recount their travel experiences on the island via social media

An article appeared on the internet recently that’s worth having a look at, if you’re considering holidays in Menorca at the moment.

Here’s an extract:

Get out your thesaurus and look up “Holiday heaven”, and a “Son Bou villa” will be first on the list. Well ok, that may not be strictly true - but it should be! This small but lively resort on the Spanish island of Menorca is the quintessential holiday maker’s paradise.

Even though Menorca is one of the lesser visited Balearic islands, Son Bou is a hive of activity in the high season. It might be the crystal clear waters, it might be the temperate climate, or it just might be the fact that Son Bou can lay claim to the longest (and widest) beach on the island. Its fine white sands stretch for nearly three miles, and unlike some of Menorca’s other beaches, it is also unusually wide.

The beach area in front of the commercial centre of town is the centre of the action. Every kind of activity you could want on your Son Bou holiday is on offer; pedalos, inflatable rides, canoes, water-skiing and jet-skiing for the energetic; and sun loungers and beach umbrellas those just wanting to laze away the day and top up their tan! The beach itself is gently shelved and gives way to the crystal clear waters of the shallows, which form an ideal natural paddling pool for young children. Out further, the currents can get strong, and although the beach is mostly patrolled by a life guard, it is always wise to heed the flag warning system in place.

Son Bou is an ideal family destination. Many of the hotels cater specifically for families, and the San Jaime complex houses a maze, tennis courts, children’s playgrounds and a fantastic water chute which will entertain children (and parents!)of all ages. There is also a great little ‘fun train’ running from the resort right down along the beach and back again. Perfect for a bit of family fun or just to take you back to your Son Bou villa, to save your legs after a long day spent relaxing on the beach!

To read the full article click here

For information about James Villa holidays visit yourmenorca.net

The Daily Telegraph recently ran a good article about property in Menorca.

Here is what they had to say:

Gentle hills, pretty villages, white-walled fincas, sunny beaches without the crowds – and very few of the ghastly new developments that scar the Costas. Isn’t this what Spain should be like? Well, on Menorca, the reality, for once, lives up to the promise.

The guide books for the Balearics say “Majorca” in large type, adding “and Menorca” in small font. But this island, with more than 125 miles of almost wholly undeveloped coastline, is anything but a little brother of its more famous Mediterranean neighbour.

Menorca’s capital, Mahon, sits on the eastern edge of the island and has little of the bling now found in Majorca’s Palma. It is modern, low rise, elegant and boasts plenty of multimillion-pound yachts in a picturesque harbour.

At the western tip of Menorca sits the old capital, Ciutadella, a much older Moorish town with a few dramatic and well-restored squares filled by tourist stalls. A maze of quiet back streets have so far not been turned into endless arrays of restaurants, and few of its houses have been converted into holiday homes. Its harbour – narrow and crowded – buzzes with visitors rubbing shoulders with divers and local fishermen.

In between is an island with pleasingly few telltale signs of those Spanish resorts that have become characterised by English theme pubs. Yes, there are a few of them – but “few” is the operative word.

Traverse the island by car (it will take no more than 90 minutes on its good roads lined with well-preserved dry stone walls) and you will instead see far more isolated coves, enclaves of family houses with the Menorcan signature white walls and roofs.

This year especially, with an unusually hot summer in the Mediterranean, it is a pleasure to see the island. But beauty is not enough in a global downturn and the Menorca property market has suffered a double whammy in recent years. Firstly, the mainland Spanish, who constituted 55 per cent of holiday-home buyers on the island until 2007, effectively disappeared when their domestic economy went into freefall. Secondly, in 2008, and so far this year, holiday-home buyers from Britain have been deterred by the recession and a strong euro, too.

The result is the island’s homes remain expensive – as on all the Balearic Islands – but better value than before. “Prices are 30 to 40 per cent down on Menorca as they are throughout Spain,” says Rhona Hutchinson of Integrated Relocation Spain, a buying agency. They are also much lower than on nearby Majorca; for instance, three-bedroom villas – the most popular Menorcan home for Britons – cost between €300,000 (£257,000) and €500,000 (£429,000) on the coast, and less inland…

To read the full article click here:

Menorca

Menorca holidaymakers are often curious about the Mediterranean diet, and many don’t realise that Menorca cooking even in popular resort areas involves ingredients they wouldn’t use themselves at home.

But it can be quite easy to incorporate some popular Menorca ingredients back at home if the Mediterranean diet does appeal.

A shopping exhibition to your local health food store isn’t always necessary. When the growing season is in full bloom, there are often many opportunities to source your nutrition from the wild. This is certainly the case when it comes to dandelion and nettles. As a low cost alternative to supplements, they’re vitamins and minerals in unadulterated form.

The dandelion for example has a rich history as a nutritious food with medicinal properties. The word “dandelion” comes from the French “dent de lion” or “lion’s tooth.” This is in reference to the plants leaves, which are jagged edged.

The official name for the flowering plant is Taraxacum from the Asteraceae family. The word Taraxacum has its basis in the Greek language, and its definition is “remedy for disorders.”

The dandelion is native to Europe and Asia, with two species found as weeds globally. Common in the northern temperate zone, dandelions grow in pastures and meadows, on waste ground and by roadsides.

The head of a dandelion is actually a small cluster of yellow flowers. Being plenteous, it’s no wonder the plant came into wide usage in the past and continues so today.

Concerning nettles, there are numerous species of the plant. However, Stinging nettle (officially called Urtica dioica) is the perennial flowering plant used as nutritious food. Native to Europe, Asia, northern Africa and North America, it also goes by the name “common nettle.” 

Stinging nettles grow between 3 to 7 feet in height during the summer. They have soft green leaves with edges that resemble a serrated knife. The leaves and stems have non-stinging hairs and many stinging hairs. The chemical compounds in hairs that come off when touched emit chemicals that cause a sting, hence the name.

Today there is much concern about unhealthy fats in a typical diet. Many people are espousing the benefits of a Mediterranean diet instead. Common fare for people of this region includes plenty of green vegetables, fresh fruit, fish and the use of olive oil.

Dandelions traditionally find themselves as salad greens in the Mediterranean diet. Stinging nettle, with a flavour akin to spinach, is also becoming more popular as a side dish.

Always experimenting with culinary delights, the Mediterranean diet now includes different recipes using dandelion and stinging nettle. In culinary concoctions, dandelion leaves are becoming more prevalent on restaurant menus. They are a part of braised dishes and salad dishes. As a leafy green vegetable, stinging nettle finds use as a flavouring in some Gouda cheeses. It also makes a substantial soup and is rich in protein.

The medicinal uses of dandelion and stinging nettle are plentiful. After washing them well, you can boil both of these plants. Next, you infuse them to make a rich tea full of vitamins and minerals.

Dandelion finds use mainly for disorders related to the liver. This includes congestion and inflammation, cirrhosis, hepatitis and jaundice. It also includes gallstones and bile-duct inflammation. In addition, the dandelion has diuretic properties.

The stinging nettle has cleansing and strengthening nutrients. A quality remedy for hay fever, asthma and eczema, they have a strong anti-allergenic effect. Some hair shampoos contain nettle to control dandruff and to give hair shine.

Legend has it that dandelions were responsible for saving a people from a famine. This was on the Mediterranean island of Menorca. Stories of old speak of how a plague of locusts on the island consumed virtually most of the plant life on Menorca. The residents of the island survived for almost a year by eating dandelion root.

One of Spain’s Balearic Islands, Menorca - which is also known as Minorca - lies between Spain and the North African coast. It’s not surprising, to this day, to find dandelion in Mediterranean dishes in homes and restaurants on Menorca. Along with its healthy Mediterranean cuisine, the island offers sun, sand and siestas by the sea.

Menorca is home to more than 120 beaches. Water and water sports abound on this piece of western Mediterranean archipelago. Holidaymakers who travel to Menorca can enjoy a host of activities and good eating in places such as Mahon, the island’s capital. 

You can make the Mediterranean way part of your lifestyle even before you travel. Mediterranean diets rich in leafy greens like dandelion and stinging nettle are beneficial in many ways.

More details about Menorca including hotels and Menorca villa holidays are available at yourmenorca.net while people who are trying the Mediterranean diet often use social media to report their findings.

From The Times in the UK this appeared recently:

For a completely different world, head to Menorca, the second biggest of the Balearic Islands, largely undeveloped and rich in Neolithic taulas (T-shaped stone monuments) and talayots (stone cones). Mahón, one of the main cities, was established as the island’s capital in 1722 when the British began their 80-year sojourn.

Four-storey Georgian town houses with sash windows still remain. The Scientific, Literary and Artistic Centre is filled with paintings and mementoes of Menorcan writers, poets and musicians, along with natural artefacts from seashells to stuffed birds. The Principal Theatre, built in 1824 as an opera house, is a miniature La Scala.

Menorca’s main cultural events are Mahón’s international opera week and the Capella DavÍdica concerts at the other main city Ciutadella, along with the summer organ festivals in Santa Maria Church, Mahón, and Ciutadella cathedral. Easter week in Mahón brings out spectral penitents, while in late June Ciutadella’s dancing horses perform in honour of St John the Baptist.

To read the full article visit The Times at http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/specials/artistic_spain/article5904117.ece

For holidays in Menorca visit yourmenorca.net

The number of property sales in Menorca and the other Balearic Islands has slowed down - no surprise there.

Majorca has seen a 50 per cent drop.

Here is an extract from the article we saw at the movechannel:

Long a favourite with the rich and famous, Mallorca is traditionally the most popular of the Balearic Islands.

Stunning coastlines and months of mellow sunshine provide the perfect backdrop to its role as the super yacht hub of the western Mediterranean. The true jewel in the crown is the capital city of Palma which offers a far more cosmopolitan and cultural twist that most holiday hotpots.

The other Balearic Islands, namely Minorca, Ibiza and Formentera, are also popular with holidaymakers and investors and, according to Spain’s National Statistics Institute, the number of foreigners living in the Balearics rose by a whopping 17.2 per cent last year.

More than 32,000 foreigners arrived to set up home on one of the islands last year, with Germans heading up the exodus. German nationals now account for the largest single group of immigrants to the Balearics, swiftly followed by Brits, Moroccans and Italian citizens.

Mallorca’s stunning capital city of Palma is the most populous town, followed by Calvia, where over 33 per cent of residents are foreign. Ibiza Town came in third place with 11,604 foreigners, or almost a quarter of its inhabitants.

But, local estate agent Engel & Volkers which specialize in selling luxury second homes, said that Mallorca endured one of the most challenging financial quarters at the end of last year.

To read more click here

http://www.menorcaprops.com

There’s seven new photos of Arenal and Addaya at the photograph galleries of http://www.yourmenorca.net - here’s an example: