With a Little Help From Big Al... and Jesus

DecaDance's Web Diary
Chris White and Jeanna Coleman
Wed 24 Aug 2011 16:04
Position: 39:52.10N 004:07.89E - Cala en Porter, Menorca 

 

 

After all those nights eating aboard on anchor we opted for a restaurant our first night in Cala en Porter, especially as it wasn't very far to row ashore.  Now normally we look for somewhere a bit out of the way, more of a traditional local place (often difficult to find in busy resorts), so how come we ended up in Big Al's all-you-can-eat-buffet / Western themed ranch?  Well, sometimes it's nice to visit places obviously run by ex-pats, to have a chat, get the local info and talk about how crap the UK is.  Tony (he's not big and he's not called Al) and Debs who own it are the friendliest couple we've met and they've been so helpful and kind we've been back to see them a few times.  Our first night here we mentioned the possibility of a second-hand outboard.  "I can't help you, but I think I know who can," said Tony and introduced us to a member of his staff, Jesus.  Despite the fact a decent second-hand outboard is as rare as rocking-horse droppings, Jesus's dad (God?!) had one for sale and Tiny Dancer is now purring along the waves - rather than huffing and puffing.

 

 

We've been here for over a week now, sometimes we're the only boat, other times we've been descended on by mainly French and Italian yachts.  Literally so one morning - we were drinking the first cuppa of the day in the cockpit when there was a bang and we turned round to see a forty foot boat hanging off our bow.  Chris jumped into action and I jumped into my usual panic mode, but we managed to fend the idiot off without any damage.  He headed straight back out to sea with a flea and a few choice words in his ear.

 

 

I am now a decade older than when I arrived here - I've finally joined the forties club (yikes, how did that happen?).  Thanks for all the messages and phonecalls.  Chris is taking me to Rome in the Winter as a present and on the day itself we went on a jeep safari.  The rave tripadvisor comments were all deserved; Francis was the perfect guide, friendly, knowledgable and passionate about Menorca.  We weaved our way around the north of the island, recognising some of the places we'd seen from DecaDance, and it was a refreshing change to see the sea from the land rather than vice versa.  I then had the biggest fillet steak of my life in Big Al's and Chris dented their profits by opting for the buffet.

 

 

We had an unexpected fantastic evening dancing to a Temptations tribute band, and the band were as impressed with us as we were with them.  Seeing the huge grin on Chris's face on the dancefloor, we'll have to make more of an effort to find places with music, although I won't be spinning barefoot on concrete next time.

 

 

Tony picked up some spare spark plugs for the new engine and taxied us to the Eroski supermarket to stock up, so we're off to see him and Debs again tonight to thank them before moving westwards tomorrow (probably - it's been nice to stay put for a while).  If you're ever in Cala en Porter, pop in and say hi and give them our best.

 

 

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