Southern Corners 50 - width and depth

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You can’t do anything about the length of your life,
but you can do something about its width and depth.

– H.L. Mencken

We started slow traveling because it suited us better, and we don’t like busy schedules or crowds. Now that I’ve spent more time with it, I realize how damaging fast travel can be to a local economy. 

When we rush around and spend no more than a day in any given place, we put a strain on the infrastructure and wear down its attractions, but we don’t support local beyond an entrance fee or transit. I’m not trying to make anyone feel bad or take the fun out of travel. 

I really do think there’s a balance, but it’s crazy how many benefits there are to taking it slow!

Because when you stop and look around, this life is pretty amazing.

– Dr. Seuss

°‧ 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 ·｡°‧ 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 ·｡°‧ 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 ·

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Wir haben einige Tage in St. Peter-Ording verbracht, und in den nächsten Wochen werden sicherlich einige Impressionen von diesem Aufenthalt folgen. Die Bilder in diesem Post stammen alle von unserem wundervollen Aufenthalt im Mai 2025 an der Costa Brava und wurden in und um Calella de Palafrugell aufgenommen. 

Liebe meeresfrische Grüße,

isabella 

Linked with: Skywatch Friday -  Travel Tuesday. - Mosaic Monday No. 184  - Sunday Best 

Costa Brava Greetings

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Our time oat the Costa Brava was simply amazing. We saw so much, enjoyed the tranquility of our small holiday resort Calella de Palafrugell, explored, hiked, relaxed, and feasted.

If Once You Have Slept on an Island 

 

If once you have slept on an island 

You’ll never be quite the same; 

You may look as you looked the day before 

And go by the same old name, 

You may bustle about in street and shop; 

You may sit at home and sew, 

But you’ll see blue water and wheeling gulls 

Wherever your feet may go. 

 

You may chat with the neighbors of this and that 

And close to your fire keep, 

But you’ll hear ship whistle and lighthouse bell 

And tides beat through your sleep. 

Oh, you won’t know why, and you can’t say how 

Such change upon you came, 

But – once you have slept on an island

You’ll never be quite the same! 

 

Rachel Field (1894–1942)

As you can probably imagine, I took hundreds of pictures. So, there will be one or two in-depth reports in the coming years. Now, as always, I need to let the impressions sink in, get back home, and get back to everyday life, strengthened and motivated.

Linked with: Skywatch Friday -  Image-in-Ing -  Travel Tuesday 

- H2O-Thursday -  Sunday Best 

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Southern Corners 37 - November at Girona

 

It was the last morning of my stay at Girona and the light was so fresh and the colors so crispy that I shortened my breakfast and went with my camera a few steps from our hotel to take some last impressions of this beautiful city. 

Time flys and I can't believe that this was at 2018! 

The Onyar (Onyar in Catalan, Undarius in Latin) is a Spanish river in Girona, Catalonia that begins at the Guilleries massif at the apex of the Catalan Transversal Range and the Pre-Coastal Range. It joins the Ter at the city of Girona, and crosses the city from south to north, separating the city into the old part (on the right side) and the more modern part (on the left side). 

Source wiki 

Photography can be a way into worlds and memories
that words sometimes fail to convey.

Stacy Martin

The best light was on the river as if this beautiful reflection would say, come back soon! And I did so! 

Skywatch Friday -  Weekend Reflection  - Image-in-Ing - Communal-Global

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Southern Corners 31 - Menorca

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We took a glass-bottom boat harbor cruise under a gorgeous May sky with picturesque surroundings and a very relaxing enjoyable atmosphere. I love this small island Menorca outside the main season very much.  

  The port of Maó is a natural outcrop in the easternmost part of Menorca. Historically, the harbor was the key to the island's dominion. For this reason, the harbor is full of historic buildings that make it a landmark to visit.

  

Cales Fonts

The port has a length of more than 5 kilometers, and extends from the easternmost tip of the island like a tongue to the gates of the city of Maó. The existence of the harbor has already documented since the 3rd century BC, C. documented; He offered the sailors an incomparable refuge.

Defense Tower 

 In Maó the Phoenicians, Greeks, Rhodians, Phocaeans and Carthaginians have left their mark. He's one of the longest natural harbors in the world. 

Defense Towers

In Menorca at the end of the 18th century, some coastal defense towers were built, by Spain first, and by Great Britain shortly thereafter. The towers of Spain were two, and eleven were built by Great Britain, during their respective dominations of Menorca.

Clot de la Mola 

Leaving the mouth of the harbor the tour stopped and we enjoyed the fish view through the glass bottom of our boat. 

Okay, no fish but a gorgeous and very clear sea water. 

Remains of St. Philips Castle

At the South side of the Mahon harbor´s entrance, halfway the XVI Century the Castle was built following the plans of the Italian engineer Juan Bautista Calvi.  It was built to oppose the occasional attacks of the Turkish fleet in the Western  Mediterranean sea, that attacked  Menorca  twice in a period of just over 20 years.

The position of the Castle helped the Spanish communications with Italy during the XVI and XVII Centuries, and later on, during the British rule of Menorca  served as a naval arsenal to support the other British Colony in Spanish territory, Gibraltar.

Defense Tower

The construction of the two Spanish towers was carried out quickly to defend the coast of the island against the threat of an attack by the Regency of Algiers, in 1787. The fortress of San Felipe at the entrance to the port of Mahón had been demolished in 1782, as King Carlos III considered that the fortress was not necessary for the defense of Menorca, because the proximity of our coasts ensured the immediate presence of a strong Spanish garrison, in the face of the threat of an enemy with bases far from the island.

The largest of these islands is Lazareto Island. It is so called because it housed a hospital between the beginning of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century. Now, two hours of guided tours are held during the summer months. In the port we can also find the Illa de la Quarentena, or Illa del Rei, in honor of King Alfonso III.

Skyline of Mahon - Maó 

Thanks to its excellent state of preservation, Fort Malborough is the best example of the fortresses that the British built in Minorca throughout the 18th century. Nowadays it is an interpretation centre of military history in the port of Mahon and provides an insight into everyday life in the area.

   

I hope you enjoy the boat trip with me and my camera as much as I've done while creating this post. Now I know it really time to return to this lovely island soon. 

Skywatch Friday - Image-in-Ing - Travel Tuesday 

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Southern Corners 31 - Where the Summer stays longer

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“Our one wish is that Summer never ends!” 

– Paul Dini 

Calella de Palafrugell, Costa Brava - Catalunya, Spain,  is a place like a dream with its picturesque flair which only small fisher villages have. Maybe in the hot month of July and August, it's busier, but in the pre-and, after seasons it's like heaven on earth.



Skywatch Friday - Image-in-Ing - Travel Tuesday 

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Southern Corners 28 - Menorca

 

 

Es Migjorn Gran

 Its origin dates back to 1768 when Sant Cristófol Church (Església de Sant Cristófol) was built. Es Migjorn is a sleepy rural hamlet with an enchanting feel. Its narrow cobbled streets hide some exquisite restaurants, some of which over look the countryside.

As with many of the islands buildings, the homes are painted in white with green shutters and occasionally you have the odd facade painted in colonial red or Mediterranean blue. Buildings and streets that please the photographer or artist.

Es Migjorn is a gem, a peaceful corner where you can enjoy a discreet conversation or enjoy a lazy moment wrapped in a pure silence. With such an ambience it`s easy to appreciate that many residents are artists or musicians, who seek inspiration amongst the town’s calmness.

 

 

Once out of the hamlet you will discover steep green rural paths that lead down towards the sea, or rocky gorges with prehistoric settlements, fauna and flora.

by www.visitmenorca.com

 

The white villages of Menorca

 There are places that remain in the memory of a traveler and suddenly unleash the need to return and visit them again. We all have those special corners that dazzled us because of their beauty, their environment or the kindness of their people. After visiting the Balearic Islands, you won’t be able to avoid adding some of the most beautiful towns in Menorca to that list.

Skywatch Friday - Our World Tuesday - Image-in-Ing

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Southern Corners 27 - November Beach Callela de Palafrugel

 

 “After a visit to the beach, it’s hard to believe that we live in a material world.” 

– Pam Shaw

Skywatch Friday - Our World Tuesday - Image-in-Ing - Through My Lens - Travel Tuesday 

These impressions are memories from a painting holiday at Girona, Catalunya - Spain in November 2017. Unbelievable how normal the world was... 

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Southern Corners 25 - Menorca's Silence

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  “I've begun to realize that you can listen to silence and learn from it. 

It has a quality and a dimension all its own.”

― Chaim Potok, The Chosen

  

Menorca is one of the marvelous Spanish Balearean islands located in the Mediterranean Sea and if you can visit this gorgeous spot during the pre-or after-season. It's incredibly beautiful and silent and it's easy to discover wonderful places only on you alone. 

Skywatch Friday - Our World Tuesday - Image-in-Ing - Travel Tuesday - Through my Lens 

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Southern Corners 22 - Menorca Longing

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  “It seems to me we can never give up longing and wishing while we are still alive. There are certain things we feel to be beautiful and good, and we must hunger for them.”

― George Eliot

This magical place is a new post to my series: Southern Corners. We discovered the incredibly enchanting bay during an evening walk on Menorca. Cala d'Alcaufar is surely an absolute insider tip when you're looking for an uncrowded, wonderful place for a quiet vacation. It was our last visit there in May 2018 and I miss this lovely island with its friendly people and the tasty food very much. 

Skywatch Friday - Our World Tuesday - AWWW Monday - Through my Lens No. 284

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