THE SALT MEN

MONUMENT TO THE SALT MEN

In April 2.007 there was inaugurated this statue of bronze of the sculptor Pedro Hormigo in the same reservoirs of the salt mines of Ibiza recalling and honouring all the workers of Ses Salines that with their hard work were extracting the salt course to the ships or the trains (yes, trains still today can see the rails) where they were loading the salt, with destination on the tables of many families. Never rather that these men were earning their "salary".

The statue measures 1,85 meters high which is what would be a model to natural scale.

The monument is placed rightly next to the church of Ses Saline´s Sant Francesc, and sight of distant view makes us recall these past times where men's big rows with their basket on the head full of salt, were parading these places, today already replaced with machinery that does the same work for fewer "salary".

PAS DE S´ESPALMADOR (Formentera)

Punta des Trucadors y Pas de S´Espalmador

Is located at the very Northern point of Formentera or the Southern point of Espalmador and is no much more than 300 meters. So we can say it´s possible to walk from one island to the other when the water is calm. But the frequent currents in this area can be very dangerous.

The area of "Es Trucadors" is rocky place but surrounded of a lot of sand. Also is very interesting the dunar system at both areas, at the south of the island of Espalmador and the North area of Formentera.

As sample here we see some sand coast of Formentera and at the back the dunes of Espalmador. Nothing to envy to the best Caribbean pictures.

During summer Es Trucadors is the favourite place to anchor the numerous yachts that come neighboring Ibiza.

The seagulls take advantage of the draughts of this maritime strait to fly fast around this area.

ONE DAY IN CATAMARAN

DESTINATION ILLETES - FORMENTERA

Some days ago an agency invited us to do an excursion in a catamaran. On my way to the ship... SURPRISE....!!!!!!!! Six tourist guides of a French TT OO, which they are every Saturday at the airport while I check in the flight to Marseille (always someone assign this flight to me), but today they were going to this sailing tour.

Leaving the port of Ibiza

The whole group full of energy and vitality

As they never stop, in the return this ball of colors that is placed in the right side, it finished in the Mediterranean. This is what can happen when you play onboard a ship, things can end on the sea... as my bonnie lies over the ocean....!!!! remember???

the catamaran anchoraged in the Illetes beach of Formentera.

Renée dancing on board at the left Josepha

Estelle looking the maritime landscape and Habib always in good humour

Nadyne in a very seaworthy image and Tony looking far away to the horizon

During the journey, we can see the Espalmador Island.

Some dramatic images at the return to Ibiza. The weather changed and some big clouds appeared.

Never ending energy, even in sunbathe they continue with activities. At the back we can see the catamaran waiting for us.

Looking this picture we may think is a swimming pool. But is not, it is the sea of Formentera. So with this water, who wants to remain on board??????

HASTA LA VISTA AMIGOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

STORM

Some time ago since I want to take some photo of beams, but no way ... Finally I made the dream reality, and one night ago with the storms that lately are so frequent, finally I plundered them... Storm, beams, suitable distance, ideal frame (Talamanca's bay), and certainly camera in hand. This is the way I can celebrate the first year of this blog (spanish version), and by the way to illustrate a bit my state of mind ....: (

CHURCH OF SAN MIGUEL

SANT MIQUEL DE BALANÇAT´s CHURCH

The September 29th the little village of Sant Miquel is celebrating their Saint patron day.

It seems that this year the weather will be not the best due a threat of storm and raining.

The white shape church of Saint Miquel is the oldest church in Ibiza after the Cathedral and in it´s origin was as well a fortress, the church dates from the XIV century.

Indoors shows a beautiness and white temple.

This three crosses, which are usually in each church in Ibiza, were very famous at the beginning of the 70´s decade due a famous turistic picture that with the name of Ibiza promote the Island all over Europe. In the picture appeared also a Ibicencan old lady entrying to the church.

In the XVII century were added two chapels on both sides of the main altar. The north chappel was called d´en rubiò and the South one was called "de Mitgorn" or "de Benirras", is also knowed as the painted chapel due the interesting paintings on their walls. The words JHS are the main motive of the paintings.

This cross is outside of the church. As all the churches in Ibiza the Via Crucis sign are located with fourteen different crosses around the church. This one surrounded by nature remains that this church is also from the country side of the Island.

This is a very curious image. Saint Vincent in this image seem a very modern image and also with great movement in opposition to the others images of the church which are quite serious.
On the main Altar of the church we can see Saint Miquel in the middle and Saint Rafael at one side and the other one is for a image of Maria Goretti a young Italian saint. Sant Miquel and Saint Rafael fest day is the same day 29th september, but for any reason the village of Saint Rafael in Ibiza celebrates it on October 24th.

There exist 7 Archangels, though in the Bible they appear three, one of them Michael. The church puts Michael first. he is represented in the art as a warlike and conquering angel of Lucifer to the one that puts the heel in the head of the wicked one. It is the angel that defeated Satan and his followers and threw them of the sky with his sword.

ES CASTELLAR - SES MARGALIDES ISLANDS

SES BALANDRES (CORONA)

Es Castellar is a breathtaking zone of precipices, at the northeast coast of the island and very near of the small village of Santa Agnès de Corona. Precipices that fall down dramatically on the sea. As may be seen in the picture above the name of "Castellar" derives from the Castle and is that in this zone one finds a few high places of precipices that are very similar to the walls of a Castle.

From this zone can be observed the islands of "Ses Margalides" that the legend says that Christopher Colón (who according to Nito Verdera's thesis was From Ibiza) put to the Island Margarita of Venezuela this name in honor to these islands.

An excursion downwards is not a bad idea, but is necessary to go well prepared. " Es Amunts " is a northern island area that starts for the west with the Cap Nonó of Sant Antoni, and ends to near San Vicente at the east side.

The colors of the water of the sea contrasts with the green colour of vegetation of the nearby precipices.

It is possible to come down the precipices of this zone, using some paths and these when they do not exist, only there are some slightly risky options... as you can see at this picture.
Ses Margalides is composed by several small rock islands. This island has the endemic lizard which has a black colour. In addition it possesses a natural arch of great size that up to small pleasure boats can pass across.