Menorca, the Spanish island located in the Mediterranean sea 125 miles from Barcelona is  not promoted like its sister islands of Majorca or Ibiza. .Majorca, just 25 miles distant, is noted for its mass tourism and ever-growing expatriate population and Ibiza is famous of its expensive and expansive clubbing and yob culture. As someone once said: “Football hooligans have to holiday somewhere.”
Menorca is sedate and laid back. It is an island blessed with endless coves and bays and some of the prettiest beaches and coves in the Mediterranean. Many of them have white beaches and sparkling clear waters not seen off the Spanish mainland. Best of the beaches are on the south side of the island and we were particularly impressed with the beaches at Sant Tomas and Cala Santa Galdana.   
On the north side not far from the house where we were staying was the beach at Arenal d’En Castel which was very attractive with safe bathing and water sports in a well-protected cove. All the beaches we visited had ample parking close to the beach and amazingly there were no charges levied. 
Six of us had rented a house at Na Macaret on the north side of the island and a pleasant twenty five minute drive from the island’s airport of Mahon. 
To learn a little history and see the sights we took a glass bottom tour from Cala Fons, the bay area of Es Castell, a picturesque village a few kilometers east of Mahon. Peter, brusque and British, co-owner of the tour boat and the quayside restaurant Dinkums accepted our €10 per traveler fare and told us to report at noon for a 12.30pm departure.
Our vessel headed into the harbor – the second largest natural harbor in the world. The first is Pearl Harbor.  
Well worth a visit is the fish market in the center of Mahon where we toured more than a dozen stalls where vendors offered their morning catch for sale. The varieties of fish on sale included grouper, hake, sea bream, sea bass and numerous shell fish including squid, prawns, crabs and a few exclusive and expensive lobsters. We purchased a three and a half kilo sea bream for $75 which was expertly clean and prepared for us. Like many things in Menorca the prices were higher than the Spanish mainland but the quality was good. The fish was filled with herbs and spices, topped with lemon and garlic and placed on the barbecue. It provided more than sufficient for six hungry travelers with sufficient over to be served cold later with salad.
The fish market is open every morning except Mondays. Spanish fishermen do not normally head out to see on a Sunday.

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