Menorca, Spain

See some views of Cala Galdana, and it looks like the worst of Brits in Spain: packed beach, towering hotels, Irish pubs. Look selectively, and it’s still a wonderful, natural bay. The view from our rented apartment (above) edited out the architectural blunders, leaving us the sea, pine trees and boats in the bay. There was a black and white photo of Cala Galdana in one of the restaurants as it was in 1965: with not a building in sight.

Some of the best beaches, though, are a bit further, accessible on foot only, and much less crowded in their natural (and naturist) glory. My notes say this is Cala Macarella, but to be honest we visited so many I’m not sure it is. The water is so wonderful to swim in – especially to someone who has grown up next to raw Atlantic. One beach up by the lighthouse on the north coast was the beach of our dreams. No cafe, no shop, no car park, no crowds. Just sand, sea and sun, and a day stretching out before us.

The old towns were fascinating, too. Ciutadella, Ferreries and Alaior were lovely to wander around. I’ll post a few drawings of them in a few days also.