| We were both huddled around a tiny electric fire. | | | | The resort of Son Bou could do with more restaurants |
| Outside, the sky was the same turbulent mixture of | | | | but those that it has provided us with reasonably good |
| greys that it had been since a short interval of | | | | meals at a price that was slightly above typical |
| unconvincing sunshine, had awakened us and offered | | | | Spanish prices. Our walks to the restaurant every |
| false promises through the bedroom blinds. More rain | | | | evening were usually accompanied by another short |
| blew almost horizontally across the sea and our view | | | | interval of dry weather with a watery sun poking |
| deteriorated as the window pane became laced with | | | | through the clouds and creating patches of blue. Each |
| wet streaks outside and misted over on the inside. | | | | time this happened we fell for the trick all over again. |
| Yesterday was being repeated and yesterday had | | | | "Its clearing up for tomorrow" is what we would say to |
| been pretty much a copy of the day before. That had | | | | each other; but it wasn't and our seven day holiday |
| been the day we had arrived. | | | | remained constantly unsettled to the end. |
| Weather like this was not what we had expected in | | | | We did manage to grab the odd hour between |
| June in Menorca. We were totally unprepared for it. No | | | | showers to bravely try out the beach. It lived up to our |
| rainwear, no sweaters and nothing warmer than very | | | | expectations of being one of the most beautiful in the |
| light jackets had been included in the packing for our | | | | Balearic islands. Its sand is golden for most of the three |
| one week holiday. We hadn't bothered to hire a car | | | | kilometres but there are several spots where the |
| because Son Bou, the resort at which we stayed, has | | | | colour becomes almost a tropical white. We would |
| the longest beach on the island. Our plan had been to | | | | have loved to have enjoyed it in the normal summer |
| spend every day enjoying the three kilometres of | | | | climate but it wasn't to be. Each time our clothes came |
| golden sand, sunbathing, swimming and taking a few | | | | off, the clouds came back. On one occasion, we sat |
| beach walks. | | | | huddled under our beach parasol, using it as a rain |
| Normally, June in Menorca is fairly typical of the | | | | umbrella and refusing to dress again in a fruitless act |
| Mediterranean climate, with 24 degrees Celsius being | | | | of defiance that left us both shivering. |
| the average maximum and 16 being the average | | | | As we waited at our apartment for the taxi to take us |
| minimum. Throughout the year, the island averages 300 | | | | back to the airport, we reflected on the week. |
| days of sunshine, so considering that the other 65 | | | | Weather-wise we might as well have spent the time |
| days are most likely to be during the winter months, | | | | at home in England. But despite the disappointment of |
| the odds were clearly stacked in our favour. However, | | | | a washed-out holiday, we had seen enough of Son |
| Menorca does experience more changeable weather | | | | Bou to know that under normal circumstances this |
| than the other Balearic islands and it is the coolest and | | | | beautiful part of Menorca is a holiday destination worth |
| wettest island of the group. Menorca is also subjected | | | | visiting. It is also one of the nearest to the U.K. with |
| to no less than eight prevailing winds, causing it to be | | | | cheap flights taking only two hours to get there and |
| referred to locally as "The Windy Island". | | | | being available from every U.K. airport. |
| Son Bou, is a purpose built holiday resort on the west | | | | As the taxi pulled up we stepped out into the pouring |
| coast of Menorca. It is situated less than thirty minutes | | | | rain which was being blasted by a swirling wind that |
| drive from the island's international airport at Mahon. It is | | | | seemed to blow from every direction at once. We had |
| a very pretty, hilly resort with many luxury villas and | | | | regretted not hiring a car but on reflection, driving |
| apartments. Our one bedroom apartment was not | | | | around Menorca in these conditions would not have |
| amongst the most luxurious but it was extremely well | | | | increased our enjoyment of this Mediterranean holiday |
| furnished and catered for all our needs - except the | | | | destination. |
| sunshine, that is! | | | | |