WINDSURF IN FORMENTERA

WINDSURF AT S´ESTANY DES PEIX IN FORMENTERA

Very near from where the boat in Formentera arrives, is one of the two small ponds of Formentera, the smallest is actually a bay, quite well protected from strong winds and has a small outlet to the open sea and makes it ideal for anchoring small boats that here are fully protected from strong winds. An afternoon I was going to take the ship to back me in to Ibiza, and I went to the pond and when the sun was falling on the horizon, I was offered this print backlit silver and windsurfers were flying inside this lake with a stage full of local small fishing boats.

Although other sports like kitesurf have moved a bit back to this classic sport sea, which still have many supporters, as we see in Formentera where still is very popular. Sails up to the wind and swell with strength and power are the ones who move must overcome all the obstacles in the form of small boats which they should avoid.

The Windsurf has its origins in the 30's when a man named Tom Blake tired of rowing thought a way to move through the water that would be with a single sail. In the 60's popularized the sport and yet much still remains their supporters.
Here the viewer will also enjoy watching the sails moving almost in unison, and occasionally sails on the horizon disappear and reappearing shortly afterwards and seeing how they go on and come from a comfortable terrace with a beer or sometimes from the beach or shore and going up, and surfers, enjoying being able to walk or sometimes fly over the sea.

BARBARIA´S CAPE LIGHTHOUSE IN FORMENTERA

LIGHTHOUSE IN CAP DE BARBARIA

The Cape de Barbaria indicates the end of the island of Formentera on the west side, becomes the own Formentera´s Finisterrae. It is located there a lighthouse that is situated at an altitude of 78 meters above sea level and over a cliff. Barbaria's name seems to come from the nearby Barbary Coast from where the pirates and the consequent danger for the population came time ago.

This lighthouse became famous because when it was the image of a Spanish film that was shot a few years ago on the island, and appeared just behind the starring. To reach this lighthouse, a long narrow road takes a fairly desolate landscape and just sorrounded by savinas, (tree native of the island).

Perhaps this is one of the best places in Formentera to enjoy a nice sunset as it is situated on the west side of the island. There also exists lizards that live in this area with a distinctive and impressive blue color that only exist in the southwestern part of the island.

night falls the lighthouse´s light slowly begins to flash soft at first, then stronger, and is guiding home the boats that navigating in the dark of night are looking for their port, but at the same time give us a good show of light to those have come during this time of the day when the sky gradually darkens.

ES PAS DE S´ESPALMADOR

BETWEEN FORMENTERA AND ESPALMADOR

Es pas de s'Espalmador (or Es Trucadors) is a water sea passage that separates the islands of Formentera to the north of this and the Espalmador in its southern side. The color of the water is turquoise which makes this area a place of great beauty and great ecological and landscape value. On clear days you can see the southern island of Espalmador, the lighthouse is at the other end of the island and even we can see perfectly the island of Ibiza and its mountains in the background.

Although the island of Espalmador is the largest of the uninhabited islands pitiusas, still has some old houses that were inhabited until the nineteenth century, there is also a chapel dedicated which is visible from Formentera and is under the name of San Bernardo. Espalmador word, comes from the word "espalme" a verb that refers to the cleaning of vessels that were formerly in this island.

Part of this amazing color of the sea is owed to strong currents in this location, but we must not forget that these currents are also very dangers, even this year have failed victims in this regard, so even relatively easy "walk" from one island to another in the sea must be very cautious as the danger is always lurking in this area.

There is also on the island of Espalmador an old maritime surveillance tower, called Tower s'Espalmador, which warned of the dangers of pirate raids, between the sixteenth and seventeenth. In Espalmador there were several episodes of war between pirates and "Ibicencos", and early twentieth century the island was used as an important smuggling center. Espalmador is also famous for its salt water lagoon that is inside the island and its famous mud baths of doubtful therapeutic benefits.

In fact the sea leg we see today between Formentera and Espalmador used to be communicated through sand as the inhabitants of both islands put branches savina (native shrub very common in both islands) and made the sand that formed in these branches by the action of the sea, forming a path between two islands, where even carts and mules passed between the two islands. Espalmador was planted decades ago by wheat, figs, grapes ... etc until it was vacated and left to grow in it, taking the place of ancient mediteranean the native crops and other vegetation.

Below we can see the wooden path that we had to reach the northern tip of Es trocadors of Formentera and from there we expect to enjoy these magnificent views this place offers.

SA FERRADURA ISLAND

ILLA DE SA FERRADURA

Despite the name, it is not an island, but a sort of peninsula or isthmus, which is located on it a great mansion. One of the finest homes in which there has been speculation who would be the lucky owner of it with a pool of names and mysteries surrounding the possible ownership of that property.

This place is located in the port of San Miguel and is quite visible from within the port located just north of the island of Ibiza.

As we approach there, we see in more detail from the short distance of the mansion and surroundings, Ibiza certainly has a number of oddities large as housing is concerned, and this is a good example.

You can find some more information in the net, including fake pictures that looks like a real island due the isthmus is erased. the reality is that island is perfectly reachable by car.

We can see very well the gardens and that the white color predominates in the house, certainly a luxury available to few people.

The isthmus that separates the "island" of the island of Ibiza is an area that on one side is rocky and in the other is a beach called Playa des pas. On the other hand is a good view from the tower just above the cliffs and not just of this small island, but also all the view of around the port of San Miguel and as well as all this north of the island.