NEPTUNE GRASS IN MITJORN BEACH IN FORMENTERA

COVERED ROCKS WITH NEPUTE GRASS

Mitjorn beach or Migjorn (Mitjorn or Migjorn means the south wind) the name of this beach exists on both islands, both on the south side of Ibiza and Formentera islands, in Ibiza is best known as Playa de Las Salinas and in Formentera preserves this name; Is a really long beach of nearly five miles long. In one place there are some rocks that after storms are covered with Neptune grass (Posidonea in spanish) The Posidonia is a sea plant not a seaweed as often is confused.

In this picture above we can see seagulls resting on rocks covered with Posidonia. Many people mistakenly think that the beach is dirty because the rest of Posidonia on the sand, but the reality is that thanks to this marine plant, sand is held in place in summer thanks to the action of this plant, and we must thank the posidonia also for the spectacular blue of the sea in some areas of the islands because the action and presence of this plant into the sea.

Posidonia meadows between Ibiza and Formentera, have the title of UNESCO World Heritage Site which was granted to Ibiza, biodiversity and culture, in 1999 and declared World Heritage property to the fortified town of Ibiza (Dalt Vila) the Punic necropolis of Puig des Molins, the Phoenician settlement of Sa Caleta and seagrass meadows in the area of the saltworks of Ibiza and Formentera.

In any case the sight of these rocks completely covered of sea grass in the coast of Formentera is just amazing.

THE LITTLE BOAT THAT LINKS TALAMANCA AND IBIZA TOWN

FROM TALAMANCA TO IBIZA CENTRO

In Ibiza there are things simply temporary, and some that are a classic and every year there are present season after season. In this case I want to dedicate a small tribute to this little mode of transport connecting the two opposite sides of the bay of Ibiza, transporting tourists and residents from the center of Ibiza Town (port of course) to the area more "chic" of Marina Botafoch at the other end just separate for mile and a half one to another.

Of Course I am talking about this small little boat, now known by several generations of Ibiza. A boat identical to that which today crosses the bay from the capital of the island began in 1932 cruising this little paths that linked the two areas (the tourist area of ​​Talamanca and Ibiza Town) and currently still does so. So in this case the slab is fully guaranteed.

As a bonus should be added that the views of the old town of Ibiza from this boat is amazingly nice on each route that takes only about ten to fifteen minutes. Here we can also easily find large ships entering or leaving the port a few meters from us.

And among these great modern yachts, this one more modest but still experienced daily by joining the two points of the Bay of Ibiza in summer daily from late March to late October and from 09.00 Hours untill late midnight.

Aniano today is heir to his ancestors who created this company and today continues to carry out personally. In addition they also have a different boat, this one, daily links the port of Marina Botafoch directly to the port of La Savina in Formentera at very good prices and very convenient for all these tourists who stay in the area of ​​Talamanca, where they can go on foot from their hotels to Marina Botafoch and then directly to the neighboring island.

PLAYA DE LLEVANT (FORMENTERA)

EAST SIDE BEACHES IN Formentera

Although commonly known as Illetes are actually long beaches at the north side of the island of Formentera, the llevant means east side is referred to as "platges Llevant" and at the west side are located the famous "illetes" the name is because right in front are several small islands and so give the name.

Visit Formentera is always a great pleasure, but specially at down season as the beaches are empty but not that lonely neither as there is little human presence, as well as the colors of its waters along with the sand by step, without completely flat tracks and give an even is more wild on these shores over next days it will be packed.

But while these tourists arrive, the time can be taked to do with all the tranquility of a gentle walks along the shore or even venture to do some surfing. This beach is nearly two miles long, so it can not be considered small, if we cosider the island dimensions.

These very long sandy beaches are occasionally alternating with a more rocky area. Usually the lift area is where there exists more waves than in the west, although this depends on the wind direction and if there is a lot of waves in an area, we can very easily access the other where to find it completely quiet and calm sea.

the lucky first tourists of the season or the last ones, can go for long solitary walks (if desired) treading the fine white sand contrasting with the sea so transparent and clear. It is a pleasure to see these gorgeous beaches that other resorts of the world would like to have... Often is said that Formentera is the last Mediterranean paradise, and I hope it keeps that way, as it is now.

THE LIZARDS OF IBIZA AND FORMENTERA

LIZARDS OF PITYUSAS

The "podarcis pityusensis" is the only species of lizard that inhabits the islands and is endemic to Ibiza, Formentera and the islets that surrounds the small archipelago. Although summer is very frequently observed species this lizard is threatened. Can be easily seen on sunny days and after an hour and a half after sunrise. In winter lethargy especially on cloudy or cold days as they are a kind solar thermal animals. These lyzards has also been introduced on the island of Mallorca.

It feeds on pollen, flowers, nectar, leaves, fruits and seeds but also eat some small insects occasionally. Their worst enemies are cats, the almost non-existent genets and some small birds such as owls. Its color varies depending on the geographic area of the islands, so for example the ones in this post are photographed in the south-west of Formentera and have a turquoise color. In the eastern part of Formentera and the island of Ibiza in general are green and in the north of the island of Formentera, and some areas of Ibiza predominantly brown. In some of the small islets they have a blackish color.

Ibiza and Formentera have their small but intense "Jurassic Park" in miniature of this species in the case of the island of Formentera has become a symbol, not in vain in the past Formentera was called by the Greeks as Ophiusa (as is told by the huge number of snakes that lived there) maybe they existed already at that time in large quantities (many more than at present) and are the same lizards that today still enjoy the sun of this island paradise and that surprised their first visitors.

SAINT GEORGE´S CHURCH - SANT JORDI

PARISH CHURCH OF SAINT GEORGE (SANT JORDI)

Small but strong, not in vain was one of the few that were built thinking about worship and the protection of the population in the past, where Berber incursions were abundant on the island, a dangerous place to frequent looting and kidnapping of people who were sent to other lands as slaves

Small but strong, not in vain was one of the few that were built thinking about worship and the protection of the population in the past, where Berber incursions were abundant on the island and so it was a dangerous place for living due to frequent looting and kidnapping of people who were sent to other lands as slaves.

But along the Christian faith that built this church is the important work of protecting that some churches performed in the past. Here in this church is quite clear, to see the crenellated roof, which made ​​my delight imaginative picturing small battles between good ones(who were inside trying to defend themselves) and bad ones who were trying by all means go inside the small fortress

The roofs of some of its chapels contrasting with the bright white of the walls which in turn are contrasting with the blue sky, all in a very typical architectural vision in old buildings on the island. These chapels are from the eighteenth century when the church was not anymore a fortress and turned exclusively to worship.

Nowadays, as more peaceful time, this building is dedicated solely to the Christian worship. Its simplicity is its greatest feature like most churches on the island. Its three crosses (indispensable in the field churches) are located very close to the front door protected from strong midday sun by a magnificent and large porch that shelters and shade at the entrance of the temple, where voices echo of the assistants to the church service and after they greet and chat themself for a while.

In the western part this building can be seen in a less pleasant side, since instead of the calm white walls from the other side, so here we are aware of the more hard evidence of the previous stone fortress stage.

Below the image of St. George, a saint almost mythological faces a fierce dragon who kills in order to save a beautiful maiden (hence on the island to the inhabitants of Sant Jordi are known by the nickname of "matacucas" kills bugs ) And is venerated especially in former Soviet or Anglo-Saxon countries (eg the flag of England is simply the cross of St. George) that is repeated in countless flags of countries, including Georgia, Sardinia, and the former republic of Genoa among others, and is present in the coats of many places, including London, Milan, Aragon, Catalonia or Barcelona, Freiburg, Batalha in Portugal, Bologna, Montreal ... and even more places. The Moscow coat of arms bears the image of the saint.

CALA SAONA

CALA SAONA - FORMENTERA -

The last paradise in the Mediterranean as it is called to Formentera is now gorgeous in the spring, but from now on the small number of visitors every day grows as season advances toward the middle of the hot summer months. But still they have not arrived yet (although they are about to do so) the masses of Italians who with their "motorinos" will change the face of this island.

The turquoise waters reveal that we are in Formentera, which enjoys a spectacular colors and worthy of the best images of the Caribbean, which together with the blue sky as a set of several shades of blue and turquoise that really impress a lot.

From the beach you can access several trails that lead us down the coast of the island and, close to the coast there are some interesting piers or docks houses made ​​of wood and used to keep small boats from Formentera fishers keep them there while their boats are on standby awaiting the return to the sea.

This beach is the only one in the West side of this island, and there is no one around just rocky coast. Its white sands and calm waters make them highly recommended for families and people who love snorkel. Being situated on a bay waters are usually pretty quiet sea.

TYPICAL COSTUMES DETAILS IN IBIZA

TYPICAL DETAILS

Ibiza was a great unknown place in the world few decades ago, and then was gradually discovering the world and the first tourists enjoyed an island where everything was virtually unchanged for centuries. Among other things the costumes of their inhabitants. The arrival of tourists made things become different for their people, maybe in forty years has been brought forward a few centuries on the island, but thanks to some people efforts in maintaining the traditions nowadays we can still see how our ancestors were dressed and how it was their life style.

Ibiza and Formentera in its folklore and costumes are unique, as the folklore of the rest of the Balearic Islands is totally different, like the architecture of Ibiza which is sober and simple, the folklore of this island remains at the same rate as architecture although perhaps with many colorful touches. For example, in their musical instruments (always played by men) we can see that in their hands they use large castanets made ​​of juniper (some sources say are the biggest in the world) and elaborate for relief and different designs surfaces.

In the women's dresses we see that there are two types. That of "gonella" (a kind of long skirt pleated narrow) and usually wore headdress, or a hat or a long veil on her head with which covered the head to attend religious services. Women even in the twentieth century (at the end of this century began to disappear) always had covered the head with at least one tissue (picture below) and very rarely left her head uncovered. Hats (pictured above) but very sober always wore colorful ribbons as decoration, like those held the jewelry (on holidays) that carried the girls chest and marked their economical "status". The oldest were coral and silver jewelry and the most modern ones (XVIII century) were made by gold.

Usually these gold beads on the chest, they would inherit and enlarging over time from mother to daughter. Usually use at least two or more large beads in rhomboid shapes called "collarets" and then a finer accounts thick gold chains that used to take nine or thirteen strings (moon numbers), although for reasons of superstition they turned in twelve. They carry a large gold cross and sometimes below a jewel of gold with a religious image. Complete the collection of gold jewelry a large number of buttons and rings on every finger 3 (24 total) except on thumbs.

On the other hand, men of Ibiza in the folklore does not leave out the details. Curious the Phrygian cap (also called barretina) with curved top cap (the bottom black was the hallmark of the maritime areas) and has a curious history, as the origin of this piece would be in ancient Phrygia (now Turkey), in Roman times was the hallmark of the freedmen. In the nineteenth century, symbolizes freedom and the republic. In the shield and/or flags of several countries in Latin is present as a symbol of freedom such as Argentina or shield their former flag of 1,840 and shields that are on the flags of Haiti, Paraguay, and El Salvador, and in the shields of Bolivia, Cuba and the seals of the Senate and the U.S. Army among others. As a curious note regarding this cap is that only used in Pitiusas and is totally absent in the rest of the Balearic Islands, although used in several Mediterranean areas (sailors places), and is widely used in rural areas as Sicily, Sardinia, Catalonia, Valencia, Naples and even the Balkans.

SAN JOAN DE LABRITJA CHURCH

CHURCH OF SAINT JOHN (Sant Joan de Labritja)

On hot summer afternoon the church square of San Joan is a cool and shaded place by leafy trees shadows. In my particulary case this church is where I have had more family events. Baptisms, communions, weddings and of course some funerals, a church that has marked many of my memories. So come back here (which I usually do not do much) is like coming back home. My mother was born in this town that also is said to be one of the villages where people have the greatest life expectancy in Spain. It is very common to see people who is over one hundred years in this municipality
En las calurosas tardes de verano la plaza de esta iglesia se encuentra fresca y con sombra gracias a los frondosos árboles que cobijan este lugar.

This church is dedicated to Saint John the Baptist and is curious how the bell is said (and totally true), which is equal to the towers that exist on the Asturian churches, and so, although reminds its neighboring town church of Sant Miquel Balançat. Anyway as a whole has an amazing aesthetic typically Ibicencan. whitewashed walls lend an air of white refreshingly its surroundings

Vicent Ferrer Guash was a beloved priest for 26 years and the nearby parishes of San Lorenzo and San Vicente and was also priest of distant churches as San Rafael and San Telmo this one in the city of Ibiza. Born in 1906 and died in 1,986

In 2,007 some neighboroughs and several institutions have dedicated this monument of modern styling but that is perfectly suited to the architecture and outline of this place. A plaque recalls as a memorial for this beloved priest.

In all churches of the rural Ibiza, there's something not missing. These three crosses together known as Calvary. In this case three large crosses with grand staircases access the form in this church, which like everything that surrounds this place have simple and sober lines.

As in most rural churches a small chapel forms outside a kind of little dome, in this case also rural style. Surrounded by white walls are the tiles covering the chapel and when it rains the water droplets leading to a nearby well.

The porch of the church of Sant Joan is placed in one side, like for example the church of Our Lady of Jesus or the nearby San Vicente (Sa Cala)or Sant Antoni de Portmany (although is not usual) from here it can be see the trees in the square and in summer they protect us from the heat and stays cool to the porch.