Somehow, someway, sometime, I must visit this little jewel in the Mediterranean. I've Google Earthed all over it. From its white powder beaches, turquoise and lapis lazuli waters, to its coves and inlets, to its interior of grassy rolling hills and quaint farm houses, to its pine treed walkways leading to the beaches, Menorca isn't just gorgeous, it's also very civilized, which is the way I prefer islands to be.
Archived Comments
Difster ~
FIRST!
That place looks absolutely awesome!
In the third picture, the boats look like they're floating above the water.
You should just move there and work from the beach!
Aug 02, 2009 01:19
Taylor ~
Hey there, Difster.
Yeah, Menorca is like a dream to me. I included that pic specifically because to me it looks just as you describe - like the boats are floating. I've seen quite a few pics now of boats in Menorca waters that look the same way, so I don't think it's just that one pic. The water around there must crystal clear.
My only problem is that Menorca is part of Spain, in the belly of the EU beast. I don't know if I could handle the leftist socialist attitudes there, the prohibitive gun laws, the sky high taxes, controls out the wazzoo, and who knows what sort of ungodliness is commonplace.
I've become wholly disgusted with this world. But, it wouldn't hurt to take a trip there to see for myself what kind of life is to be had. After all, I do speak the language.
Aug 02, 2009 02:01
Difster ~
Mind your business, find a weapon off book, keep your money off shore. There's always a way.
Aug 02, 2009 03:24
Taylor ~
Of course there's always a way, but only if there's a will.
And I've looked at this and thought about it but can't figure out what you mean by "weapon off book".
Aug 02, 2009 20:06
AJW308 ~
No papers. Off the gov't books. Unlicensed. Black. Untraceable.
Until now, I never would have thought that sailboats could levitate on a combined mixture of beauty and relaxation.
I too want to see the Southern (Nate, don't excited yet) coast of Europe. I've always thought it would be the Southern coast of France, but this place does make me reconsider.
After all, not only do I have an internet friend in Spain, there are some historical sites there I'd like to see.
Aug 03, 2009 16:59
Giraffe ~
Glad to see a post. I clicked the comments because I also found the levitating sailboats remarkable.
Aug 03, 2009 17:43
Taylor ~
Oh! Thanks, AJW. Regardless of how one acquires the guns, restrictive gun control laws will make you more of a criminal than the criminal you're defending yourself against. That's really the problem.
I like exploring around historical places, too. Menorca has ruins, megaliths, and man-made caves that go back to 2000 B.C. I guess people have been hanging out on Menorca for a long time. But for the oldest of all, there's nothing like the Middle East. How I would love just to explore all over that part of the world.
Aug 03, 2009 19:06
Taylor ~
Glad to see a post.
July was coming to an end, and I wanted to get in one post for the month. I am an utterly pathetic blogger.
If you Google Earth around Menorca and click on the photo icons, you'll see more of those amazing levitating boats. You'll also see how beautiful the interior is. It's an absolutely lovely little island.
There are more exotic and beautiful islands in this world, like the Seychelles (unbelievably beautiful), but they're wild, primitve, with jungles and stuff - meaning full of scary critters. Ick. They'd be great for a vacation getaway, but not for a permanent homestead.
Aug 03, 2009 19:24
MendoScot ~
Two words, Taylor. English tourists.
It might not be so bad now that the UK is imploding, but it used to have an awful reputation for yahoos.
Still, the photos are lovely.
Aug 03, 2009 19:59
Taylor ~
Hola, MendoScot.
I have read that the English flock to the Balearics. But, I'm surprised the Gallegos would put up with them acting like yahoos.
From what I've read, Menorca is more family oriented and quieter than Mallorca or Ibiza. Hopefully, all the yahooing is happening on those other islands. Like I said, I'd spend a while there before making any decision. I have a friend of a friend who lives in Mallorca, and has invited me to visit. That's a big help to have a local connection.
Aug 03, 2009 20:24
MendoScot ~
Yes, it is. My comment was based on old info and my brothers trip there I don't remember how long ago. He used to pretend to be Russian when he travelled to avoid being mistaken for the hated Sassenach, but I understand that it's no longer a good idea - the Ivans having managed to acquire their own bad rep along the way.
Suerte.
Aug 03, 2009 20:43
Taylor ~
Hah. Pretending to be another nationality can be an effective strategy, and one I've used before. But, Russian? I can't imagine that being an advantage, anywhere.
Hey, I learned a new word - Sassenach: a word used chiefly by the Scots to designate an Englishman. But, of course, I'm Argentine, with no need to conceal my English roots. There are quite a few of us Argentines living in Spain.
Aug 03, 2009 21:01
MendoScot ~
Hey, I learned a new word - Sassenach: a word used chiefly by the Scots to designate an Englishman.
More denigrate than designate - historically it's the Highlanders term of comtempt for a Lowlander.
The Argies living in Spain include one of my wife's cousins, and a bunch of our students from here - Argentine graduates are in high demand in the first world. The Idiots In Government haven't managed to destroy education here yet, altho' they are trying hard.
Time for me to go and pick the eldest up from her ballet class.
Un abrazo, Taylor.
Aug 03, 2009 22:08
Clay ~
Heya Taylor,
I was checking this place out, off the coast of Brazil. Know anything about it?
http://wiki.worldflicks.org/fernando_de_noronha.html#coords=(-3.8538,%20-32.4187)&z=13
Aug 07, 2009 20:13
Taylor ~
Hello, Mr. Clay. No, I don't know anything about those islands. They're pretty but very small. I mean, those are small enough that you'd want one all to yourself. Now, that would be very nice.
Aug 08, 2009 00:28
Clay ~
Doncha be calling me Mister, Missy.
Believe it or not, I first heard about these Island(s) because that Air France jet went down near them.
They sure look pretty, tho. Just looking for a gullible Gringo with some bucks.
Aug 08, 2009 09:09
Res Ipsa ~
T-Cakes,
Spain is very nice. I have fond memories of my time spent splashing about in those waters. My experience is that non-natives are generally left alone by the government provided they keep to themselves and stay out of trouble. If you really are thinking about making that kind of a change, drop me a line.
Aug 19, 2009 07:43
Taylor ~
Hey there, Res.
I had no idea you had been galivanting around Spain. Drop you a line for what? When I get there, do you want me to be on the lookout for any young Spaniards that look like you? :)
If and when I make such a move will depend on so many things to happen - none of which have yet to materialize.
Aug 19, 2009 15:49
Res Ipsa ~
Andorra
Google it.
Get a PO box, forwarding service, bank account(preferably one that has branches in Spain) and residency there. Legally emigrate if it suits your fancy.
Then get a little sea side villa on your island of choice. You will draw no attention from Spanish authorities unless you do something bad, like break an obvious law.
Should you need to conduct business a short boat ride followed by an, in my experience anyway, pleasant train ride to the mountains will get you to a nation where you can do so without a great deal of official oversight, and then another short ride home. The Spanish don't care and the American authorities can't do much about it.
I enjoyed my time in Spain, although most of my seaside experience was in Catalonia. I prefer the Spanish beaches to the french ones. Euro bathing is more enjoyable spectator sport when the women have less body hair than I.
Aug 19, 2009 20:06
Res Ipsa ~
Silly me I thought that Minorca was in the Canaries. You would be just a hop skip and a jump from Barcelona. I think you have to take a bus from Barcelona, but they might have the airport built now, so a plane ride might be faster. I rode the train from Perpignan and took a short bus, it only cost a few franc as I remember.
Aug 19, 2009 20:42
Taylor ~
That's interesting, Res. Thanks for that advice. At this initial stage of planning I would not have considered that, but it's a definite direction to the start of a plan. Woohoo!
Oh yeah, Menorca would be much closer to Andorra than the Canaries. And I love trains, especially through mountainous terrains.
If I ever get there, I'll have to remember to send you a photo of myself - and to be sure that I have less body hair than you. :)
Aug 19, 2009 21:42
Taylor ~
Get a PO box, forwarding service, bank account(preferably one that has branches in Spain) and residency there.
Things may have changed in Andorra. A quick search and I see that it's not possible to establish residency with only a PO Box and bank account.
Aug 19, 2009 21:57
Res Ipsa ~
183 days and you can be free of US Federal taxes forever. The requirements that are now in place aren't to difficult to live with. You can have your apartment there and a seaside bungalow on the island. There are two points of entry to the country that are maned, the others are roads you can drive across without dealing with customs. Whose to say when you are and are not in the country?
If you want to send euro tan pictures, you don't have to wait till you move to Spain. ;)
Aug 20, 2009 00:48
Taylor ~
How much money do you think I have? Own two living places - in two different countries - in Europe? Oh Res, you must have hit your head very hard...
I have dual citizenship. I am both an Argentine AND a US citizen - and have passports from both countries. Surely, I could use that to some tax advantage, somewhere.
If you want to send euro tan pictures, you don't have to wait till you move to Spain.
I do if I don't want to be a rotten little skank.
Aug 20, 2009 01:04
Res Ipsa ~
Taylor,
I never would think of you as a skank. A hot blooded Argentine temptress, probably, but never a skank.
Aug 20, 2009 18:14
Taylor ~
Hot blooded Argentine temptress, huh? Heh. I can live with that, but it does make me smile. You guys have never seen my hot blooded Argentine temptress side...
Aug 20, 2009 20:19
Res Ipsa ~
I've always suspected that you're the olive skined super-model that sent Nate the naughty pictures for his harem a few years back. I'm just looking for visual conformation. ;)
Aug 20, 2009 20:53
Taylor ~
Well, sorry to burst your illusion, Res, but I'm not olive skinned, although I tan very easily, and I'm not a super-model, or then I'd have no problem affording those two residences in Europe. And I certainly would never send Nate any naughty pictures of myself. You're barking up the wrong blog if you think that!
If I was looking for that kind of attention, I would be doing things a lot differently. Even so, that kind of attention always seems to find me, which is why it's amusing to me when I hear those types of remarks of me being a temptress.
Aug 20, 2009 22:02
Res Ipsa ~
I guess its true what they say. When you've got it, you've got it.
I could love you just for your looks, but, I love you for all the other things you do for me, like fix my blog.
BTW if you're feeling adequately buttered up...
Aug 20, 2009 23:17
Taylor ~
Uh huh. Yeah, I think you know there's some buttering up to be done here...
I made all those changes to your blog, which was my pleasure. Then I asked you to tell me if you approved of the new look, or if you wanted me to change it back the way it was. I made it a point to tell you that I would not be offended if you didn't like the changes I made. And you never responded, never said a single thing about it. Then I see you totally go and wipe out everything and created a new template. That befuddled me - and I don't like to be befuddled. But then I remembered that you're a Pisces... :)
I will do anything you ask me to do, happily, but you have to specify EXACTLY what you want done, and afterward, you have to give me your final approval. If I don't hear back from you, I will consider it as an implied disapproval of the changes, and I will undo the changes. Hmph!
Yep. You've brought this on yourself, ResBaby.
OK, now that I've said my piece, I think we may proceed if you like. :)
Aug 21, 2009 00:06
Res Ipsa ~
I thought I told you it was fine and I liked it. Your a fantastic friend to work on projects for me.
I apologize for not letting you know how much I appreciate your work. I was trying to adjust the pic and I accidentally screwed it up and didn't want to bother you about it, after you spent all that time on it.
Please put everything back the way you like it best. It was a work of art that I had no business trying to work on without your direct oversight. If you could bring halo scan comments back, I and apparently everyone else, would be grateful.
My password, credit card numbers and Swiss bank account are still exactly the same as before so feel free to have your way with my blog.
Any photos of you that show up can be anonymous. :)
Aug 21, 2009 01:37
Taylor ~
Oh, pish posh. It was no work of art. I really, really wasn't fishing for compliments, Res. It's just that you know I'm very insecure about anything I do graphic design-wise. I am (was) a software engineer, not a freaking graphics designer. Until the client tells me my design doesn't stink, I will always have my doubts about it.
Alright, I'll get started on it. And I'm happy to do it without maxing out your credit cards or raiding your Swiss bank account. All I ask is that you return my emails when I ask you something regarding the work. And never be afraid to tell me you don't like something. It will probably be mutual anyway. I pretty much hate all my graphic work.
Aug 21, 2009 02:47
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