Great Things to Do Near Casa des Mousses
Es Castell
Es Castell has a lovely harbour to stroll around that comes to life in the evening with a street market. The huge square in the centre of the town was once the parade ground for soldiers when the British ruled Menorca. The barracks still line the square and one of them has been turned into a military museum.
Drive through the back lane to Biniparell
to the Menorca cricket club - our own M.C.C.! There may be a chance to join in and play, or you could simply sit back and watch the game with a cool drink from the pavilion bar.
Step into Menorca`s past
with a visit to Trepuco which is just off the road between Sant Lluis and Mao. Walk under the archways and explore the buidings that were once home to prehistoric man.
Stroll along to Binibeca Vell,
and see the Andalucian - style village, built in the 1970s as a hotel, and now a complex of private apartments. It won several design awards for the architect.
Explore the nearby sea caves
Hydro-jets can be hired from the beach at Binibeca which make the trip easy and fun.
For a change from the pool,
why not spend a morning at your local beach at Binibeca, and then stop for lunch at the beach bar, Los Bucaneros.
Drive down to Mahon harbourside,
and take a trip around the harbour on the glass bottomed boat. This is the second largest natural harbour in the world - Pearl Harbour is the largest. It is steeped in history, especially from the British occupation, and the boat often stops outside the harbour entrance to see the underwater life through the glass bottom.
Take a stroll along the length of Mahon harbour
with its fishing boats and modern pleasure yachts, perhaps stopping for coffee and a croissant at one of the many waterside cafes. Or go by night and have dinner - Il Porto 225 is a good choice of restaurant.
Retrace your route to the house back as far as the Venta de Quesos Binibeca,
where authentic local cheese can be sampled and purchased.
Spend a morning in Mahon at the Museo de Menorca
the museum of Menorca, which includes a video of the history from pre-history to modern times, as well as artefacts and objects, all well set out and described, and housed in the cloisters of a former monastery. Don't worry - it's all in English. Admission is free on Sundays, and for pensioners.
While in Mahon, make time to visit the covered market
in the cloisters of the church of Carmen. Many of the shops sell typical Menorcan produce, and in the café you can see photos of the market in its heyday, when it was Mahon's fruit and veg market. An escalator leads down to a supermarket beneath.
For a respite from shopping in Mahon
stop for coffee at the American Bar, and watch the world go by.
A few yards from the American Bar, in Calle Deya,
on the left as you look up hill you will see a small wall sign beside a covered entrance, saying Parc des Freginal. Go in here to find one of Mahon's best kept secrets - a green, shady park, away from the bustle of the town, where you can rest, or perhaps enjoy a picnic lunch.
On Sunday morning
how about looking for bargains and antiques at the car boot sale in Mahon's Es Freginal park.
Hire a bike
and follow some of the clearly marked cycle routes that can be seen all over Menorca. Maps can be picked up from the Tourist offices and there are routes to suit all levels. The Cami d`en Kane is a great route to take by bike as this ancient and well preserved track meanders through the picturesque heartland of the Island.
Inaki Sampedro
The unique leather goods on sale at Inaki Sampedro could potentially ruin your holiday budget! Try the accessories such as purses and mobile phone covers for something a little more gentle on your wallet. Or simply employ the expression: 'solo estoy mirando' (I'm just looking)! Situated at 26 Seminari, Ciutadella.
The parish church of Mahon, the Santa Maria,
houses one of the largest and finest organs in the world. Don't miss the chance to hear it being played, at one of the recitals held on every weekday morning at 11:00 o'clock.
Trotting races
The tradition of trotting races dates back almost 100 years in the Balearics and is not practised anywhere else in Spain. An afternoon at the races is a must for any lover of equestrain sports and it is very child friendly. The Maó Municipal Hippodrome, on the Maó-Sant Luis road, holds races on Saturdays from 17.30 (May to October). Grab a table, order yourself a drink and place your bets!
Drive out to Es Grau,
a small fishing village on the north coast not far from Mahon. The sheltered sandy beach and the warm shallow sea are ideal for relaxing. The nearby nature trail winds around the back of the sand dunes, through the woods, and skirts part of the fresh water lake, the Albufera, which is a bird sanctuary.
Lloc de Menorca
For a curious mix of Menorca's indigenous species such as its emblematic red cow, pop along to this working farm/zoo in Alaior, Carretera General.
