You know what they say about men with big feet...

DecaDance's Web Diary
Chris White and Jeanna Coleman
Sat 6 Aug 2011 18:19
Position: 40:03.04N 004:08.33E - Fornells, Menorca 

 

 

Fornells is a quaint little place.  The rows of tiny ancient fishing cottages have been given a fresh lick of whitewash and new terracotta rooftiles for their more recent tourist occupants.  Perhaps learning a valuable lesson from other Spanish resorts, the modern buildings have been built low-rise in the same style.  At first glance you can't tell the place is developed at all and the town features frequently on postcards and in guidebooks.  We managed to nab a good anchor spot with a great view of the town, and we're close enough to shore to enjoy the entertainment in the waterfront restaurants from the cockpit each evening.  And to row ashore.

 

 

We ventured ashore for the first time in over a week to wander round the sidestreets and the ruins of a fortress.  We found a restaurant on a back-street that reminded us of Adega de Marina, our favourite restaurant in Lagos.  Unfortunately, many enthusiastic Tripadvisor reviewers have found it too, so it's booked up until next week.  The fisherman may have gone from their cottages, but their traditional recipes remain and Chris was determined to sample 'Caldereta de Pesca', (fish stew).  It was very good - much better than my dish of seafood pancakes, and - best of all - no cooking or washing up for me!

 

 

The only downside is that it's a little busy here, although I suppose it's to be expected slap bang in the middle of silly-season.  (We never know what day of the week it is so it's easy to forget it's now August - or maybe it's my impending 40th this month that's blocking the fact?).  Early evening yesterday, when Chris was mid-way through sausage-singeing on the Cobb there was a sudden influx of boats in competition with each other; motor-boats trying to produce the biggest wake possible as they buzzed past, and yachts seeing who could drop their anchor the nearest to our cockpit.

 

 

We intended to stay here a little longer and go diving on Monday as this is the closest dive centre to the marine reserve.  However, there's some very nasty looking Northerlies forecast for Monday, so we need to get out of here tomorrow to find decent shelter from them.  Chris doesn't need to go diving anyway - we heard a clank this morning and immediately realised the lid of the Cobb had gone overboard.  A Cobb can't cook without a lid so Chris donned mask and fins and free-dived the 6.5m to rescue it from the eel grass (beating his previous record of 5.5m).  I'm not sure how much extra help he gets from fins - his feet are size twelve to start with.  You know what they say about men with big feet...  Yup, big shoes.  Size 46 in local money.  Spanish shoes go up to size 45.  Which is a bit of a shame cos his only pair of sandals were in Tiny Dancer when she went walkabout in Formentera...

 

 

 

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