MILL IN SA PUNTA DES MOLI

MILL IN SA PUNTA

It is believed that the Arabs were who introduced windmills and water wheels and other those days mechanics systemshere on the island. As a child I visited Formentera on a day where I saw that there was something in Ibiza had passed into history, were the mills with blades. Many years after, probably at the initiative of a political culture, became the restoring of few remained standing mills. As a curiosity always amazed me that Ibiza and Formentera´s mills had six blades, two more than those showing in the books from La Mancha (Castille), where Don Quixote attacked those giants. Also those nice ones on pictures surrounded by tulips. The famous Dutch windmills.

The beauty of Ibiza ones had a more primitive, but rough looking. The Ibiza and Formentera mills are similar but not identical to the rest of the Balearic Islands, although in Menorca and Majorca are very similar to each other and have a home below the mill itself.

To talk about these mills in Ibiza, we must refer to the Puig des Molins in Ibiza Town. There are most mills (although only one restored with the blades), there is also one in Puig den Valls, near the city, Puig means mountain and was above the mountains where the wind blew over. But today the mill I propose is the one located in Sa Punta in Sant Antoni de Portmany that unlike the previous ones is located at the coast at the edge of the sea, and when the west wind blows I guess I was rolling and rolling. When was made nothing was around but today is blended into a tourist coast full of hotels and tourist attractions.

They were used to grind wheat and then make a good bread, very important in the island long ago. It seems that some mills in the island date from the thirteenth century and therefore I consider it an asset to be protected ...

ES AMUNTS AND TORRES D´EN LLUC

DEFENSIVE TOWERS LOST IN TIME AND NORTHERN CLIFFS

Further the previous entry (the next in this blog) regarding the tour on January 2 in the north of the island, we saw the rural Ibiza and the magnificent countryside of this island of Aubarca and Corona area. Today we look towards the sea and other impressive places we saw that day... the cliffs.

This area called "Es Amunts" (The highs) extends from Cala Salada at the west of the island to Cala de Sant Vicent at the northeast, provides a visual spectacle full of nature. Es Amunts area is not only limited to the coastal zone but also a very important part of the whole mountain area north of the island, where there are numerous valleys and streams.

One of the most characteristic sites in this area are the islets called Ses Margalides. Today we were further north and could only see one leg of those rocks with the fall of the cliff in front of us.Una de las estampas más características de esta zona es la de los islotes Ses Margalides.

SES TORRES D´EN LLUC

Although the name of "Torres d'en lluc" is concerning to some archeological remains that appears to be an ancient wall, among the fishermen is customary to refer with that name that peninsula towers rocks that abruptly appear in front of us and that can be mistaken as small islands, although its real name is Punta de ses torretes. The real Torres d'en lluc towers are other towers that are very different but very close...

The real towers d'en Lluc are lost back in time. So much that even the experts are unable to locate them back in the time. A former defensive fortification that today we can only see their remains and is considered the oldest existing building on the island. Its defensive function is also difficult to determine, although it must deal with the remnants of a larger construction including walls and towers. A historical mystery to solve and may never find the answers.

Should be note that all this entire area "Es Amunts" (The Highs) is located at least 100 meters high and in some areas reaches 400 meters, very important for this island.

The last image already belongs to another area of Es Amunts and belongs to the area of Aubarca (San Mateo d´Aubarca) viewed from the way to go to the torres den lluc. But that area is another story and another day we will talk about it...

TOUR AROUND "ES AMUNTS"

ES AMUNTS THE NORTH SIDE OF THE ISLAND

Es Amunts is the most rugged mountainous area of the island of Ibiza, located at the north side of the island. And endless lush forest and spectacular cliffs above the sea are the best known landscapes of this place, mixed with sea views and the most rural area of the island.

So we organize an excursion around Es Amunts, so we were celebrating the starting of a new year.

A part of the landscapes were very rural and countryside, offering a spectacular green, full of vegetation.

We took chance to search mushrooms, during the walk, although not lack at all of good humor all day long prevailed during the first site of the day, because the second part of the day fatigue takes hold of some if not all on us.

While walking along the paths in the forest, we saw some old buildings that were used by shepherds to keep the herd at night in case they had to sleep out in this area. At least they could have a place to spend the night down a roof.

Although we are in the north of the island, if we look from the top of mountains, the view extends to the south, and we can even see the top of the famous island of "Es Vedra" due its 382 meters above sea level.

Such a large area of forest in summer requires constant vigilance to prevent forest fires or other natural misfortune. Unfortunately as we experienced during last summer we still have some of them, those awful events affects the flora and fauna of this island.

Despite the threatening weather of the previous day, it changed to cloudless skies and the day let us enjoy a magnificent sunny day that filled the landscape on green, very green, mainly because the big amount of mediterranean pine and the island's native flora.

Another thing we can observe, is the holes on to rocks, they were used as a place were animals and herds could drink. Here we call them "es cucons"

Thanks to the cooperation of this lovely lady, we kneew we were in the right direction of our walk. The people of "Es Amunts" is really nice. This lady called Antonia is a neighbor of this place.

And here comes some of the hikers. Loli from Cadiz and Toni from Ibiza.

Carlos from Colombia
and Christina she comes from Denmark.

José and Pedro both locals from Ibiza and here below Conchi show us the two other hikers Luna and Snowy.

The way was not much difficult... and let us enjoy the nature.

In some places the great green offers great views surrounded by olive trees, specially during the afternoon is ending..

The green turns up to yellow due the sunlight.

As we continue the landscape changed a bit, offering pale colour plants that made contrast with the green carob trees.

Just before sunset the vinyeards turn into a landscape with orange colours. These plants still have no leaves, but in future will be green again

The landscape in this area turns impressive with the olive trees with gnarled trunks.

The sunsets in Ibiza are famous, but onto the sea. Today we see a different one, between olive trees. Very nice also.

The part of the cliffs in this excursion will come in another entry very soon.

Below a picture with all the excursion members, except one... That´s me.

GREETINGS SEASONS

Merry Christmas

Again Christmas... the winter is back and in the island the streets are getting emptier and the families more united.

In these dates of greetings the Christmas trees are all over, and also here are very often to see the Christian Nativity scenes.

In these case, I took the angel´s picture from the Nativity´s scene in Saint Elmo´s church in La Marina of Ibiza and the second one from the street market placed at Vara de Rey´s square where I could find this one that´s really original and costumed as the old local´s island people, and the scenary belongs to the Sant Mateu village.

I take chance to greet all the visitors of this blog during 2010, and wish you a very Happy Holidays and a great year 2011.

ES MERCAT VELL - OLD MARKET

Es Mercat Vell - THE CITY´S OLD MARKET

The appearance reminds one of those roman temples surrounded by columns and gabled roofs.
There is still here, after all these years, the place where different generations have been doing their shopping there more natural products, especially fruit and vegetables

Here, time passes very slowly, no long lines of people to pay as in bid department stores or supermarkets. Also not long from this market, we find very close the most modern fashion stores waiting for us.

The flowers smell like flowers, but these do not come from the Netherlands, but from the sellers own houses to display their products, sometimes even from their own gardens, very fresh and they smell like freshly harvested fruit farm, nothing do with these fruits without taste of some big shopping malls.

Household containers, household products that coexist with others that are manufactured in factories, but the top products of this place are fruit and vegetables themselves. Ibiza homemade herbal oil, made here, olives on the island, biological products, natural flavored salt....

Just a few meters from the portal de ses taules, main entrance to the walled city of Dalt Vila, and while some tourists buy, others are visiting the city's Historical Heritage

Prices are reflected on the blackboards, making more real this place and avoiding plastic labels or tickets onto the regular grocery, and here in the city, we have an extremely natural and genuine trade ...

But the important thing is that we can buy here as we were in the country, and very close of the most historical place of the island outdoors of the walled city and also in neoclassical style building that seems eternal and will continue now and where future generations will continue buying here as time goes by...

S´ESTANYOL

S´ESTANYOL BEACH

Again, when winter arrives, the island is embraced by a blanket of calm that surrounds leaves steeped in a deep sleep, where silence and solitude is the traveling companion for some months.

The visitor may well rediscover the places he knew from a summer, but without the pressure of time and now alone and meditate or simply enjoy a calm landscape where the silence and deep contact with nature is a constant thing in his visit to Ibiza.

The sun's reflection into the sea are just as spectacular now than in summer or perhaps more brilliant as the sun is closer to earth now. The sunsets more beautiful than in summer and the island is waiting to be rediscovered, but this time without the rush, few traffic and without the stress of summer.

In very specific cases this calm will be broken by something, this time by a boat coming from the neighboring Mallorca, an event that is repeated in summer at all times but now it is something to celebrate. The fishing boat is quiet for a moment the uproar by the pass of the giant ship, but within minutes the calm in which they were immersed will back again.

And while S'estanyol with sand covered by posidonea seaweed, sand will remain protected until next summer which will be held again elitist celebration place for weddings where the white clothes is mandatory and the calm will be over.