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lifestyle MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2017 FEATURES Photo shows the Cova d’en Xoroi bar on the southern cliff of the island of Menorca, Spain. — AP photos Photo shows Cala Mitjana bay on the island of Menorca, Spain. Photo shows people on a restaurant-lined street in Mahon, the capital of Menorca, Spain. Locals say Menorca can be reduced to three words: Water, fire and stone he Spanish island’s three essential ele- Cultural legacies Menorca’s ecological sensibility res- ments are embodied in Cova d’en Xoroi, The ancient Phoenicians called it “Nura,” or onates at spectacular restaurants in the Ta natural cave that houses a sophisticat- the Island of Fire. Legend has it that passing atmospheric cities, which overlook natural ed lounge halfway down a cliff. As the sun sailors saw bonfires built along the southern harbors surrounded by battle-ready fortifi- dips into the Mediterranean, waves crash on cliffs, which the original inhabitants used to cations. In Ciutadella, check out Es Tast de the rocks below and selfie-snapping patrons signal each other. Signs of those first settlers- na Silvia, the only Slow Food-certified burn the same roasted-orange color as the Iberian tribes that came from the mainland in restaurant in the Balearics. They serve sun-bleached limestone. Then the staff lights the Bronze Age-are still apparent in more updated takes on local dishes like fideua, a torches under the craggy roof, and the stun- than 2,000 stone monuments spread sort of seafood paella with noodles. Over Photo shows colorful buildings in Mahon, the capital of Menorca, Spain. ning yet laid-back venue transitions into a throughout the island. the dining room, an arched stone ceiling is lively night club. The Talaiotic society left stone temples, stamped with the year 1704. Although the scene may sound as sum- burial chambers and monuments that resem- mery as a frozen mojito, it’s repeated nightly ble smaller versions of Stonehenge. Some of well into autumn, when Menorca remains as the larger clusters require tickets and have beguiling as it is in peak season. Through English guides in high season, but there are much of October, it’s still warm enough to so many monuments that most aren’t even enjoy the spectacular beaches, but visitors marked. You might stumble upon them while will find the island has plenty to offer besides hiking along a walking path, hidden in tall sun and transparent blue waters. Here’s a grass. Taken together, they comprise one of quick look at Menorca and its vibrant cities, Europe’s largest open-air museums. Mahon and Ciutadella, at a time of year when The following millennia brought ever you just might have them to yourself. more visitors and invaders, including the Greeks, Moors, French and Catalans, but no Nature vs nurture outside culture has left a more lasting stamp Menorca is the farthest east of the than the British. They ruled the island inter- Balearics, an archipelago between Spain and mittently during the 18th century and Italy that includes the better-known islands of moved the capital to Mahon from Ciutadella, Mallorca and jet-set Ibiza. All three enjoy an which had been founded before the Romans enviably mild climate in a picture-postcard arrived but was destroyed in the 16th centu- setting, but Menorca’s comes without the ry by the Turks. Photo shows the Cova d’en Xoroi bar on the southern cliff of the island of crowds or the 50-euro club cover charges. It The English legacy shines through in the Menorca, Spain. has managed to hold on to an understated, sash windows of Mahon’s architecture and in calmer style by restricting development to a the active gin trade. The Xoriguer gin distill- few existing, mostly low-rise resorts. ery is a cool spot for a pre-dinner tasting in The entire 270 square mile (700 square Mahon, and I saw beach-friendly bottles of Photo shows people dining and walking in Ciutadella on Menorca, Spain. km) island was declared a UNESCO biosphere frozen gin and homemade lemonade fre- reserve in 1993, and as a result, most of the quently for sale, including at an ice cream 125 beaches that encircle Menorca’s jagged shop in Cituadella. coastline have very little, if any, development. If you go... Along the south coast, walking paths that Farm to table start at inland parking lots wind through Though beaches get all the limelight, Menorca: Through the winter, several forested ravines to the beaches. Cala Mitjana’s much of Menorca’s economy is agricultural, airlines offer direct flights to Mahon powdery white sand is surrounded by cliffs, evidenced by the fact that there are more from the Spanish mainland and sev- and the calm, shallow water makes it easy to cows than people. Small farms, separated into eral European capitals. In nice weath- explore a cave and the rocky crags with snor- miniature parcels by dry stone walls, cover er, overnight ferries from Barcelona keling gear. In the north, Cala Cavalleria is a the rugged hills of the interior, producing a are the insider’s way to go. Spanish little easier to get to but no less unspoiled. shocking variety of produce (40 types of and a dialect of Catalan called The water may feel warm into autumn, but apples, for instance), olive oil, wine and the Menorquin are the local languages, visiting after the peak summer months also delicious Mahon cheese. The cheese even but many people, especially in the means paying half-price for activities like hir- made it into my ice cream cone at Ambrosia tourism industry, speak some ing a boat with a private captain. Just plan in the capital-not cheesecake, but chunks of English. — AP ahead and check the weather for wind as well sharp, near-cheddar cheese mixed with vanil- People dining on the coast of Ciutadella on the island of Menorca, Spain. as temperatures. la ice cream. Somehow, it worked. U2, Sheeran cancel concerts Jay-Z dedicates song to Colin Kaepernick at NYC concert in protest-hit St Louis ay-Z performed his first headlining concert in crowd, several times, that “love always trumps hate.” set also included big hits from his 21-year-old career, three years in his hometown of New York City on At the show, the 47-year-old icon wore a white T-shirt from “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)” to “Izzo ock giants U2 and pop star Ed Sheeran drawn a lot of attention in St Louis, where JFriday, a show that featured his popular hits and a featuring the artwork of the 1965 Beatles film and (H.O.V.A.)” to “Empire State of Mind.” His last main have called off concerts in St Louis, as racial tensions have been high since the 2014 dedication to outspoken NFL player Colin Kaepernick. album, “Help!” Jay-Z said he wanted to transform the show in New York was part of his 2014 On the Run Rthe US city braced yesterday for a sec- killing of a black man in the city’s suburb of The Brooklyn rapper kicked off the first of three days show into rock ‘n’ roll territory when he played his col- Tour with Beyonce, though he’s had some perform- ond day of protests over the acquittal of a Ferguson by a white police officer. of the Meadows Music and Arts Festival at Citi Field in laborations with Linkin Park, even paying tribute to ances for his Tidal streaming service and surprise former police officer in the shooting death of Hundreds of people turned out for initial- Queens, performing a 90-minute set that included his the band’s lead singer Chester Bennington, who appearances. a black man. The Irish rock band and enter- ly peaceful protests after the verdict, but the well-known songs as well as political moments. hanged himself in July. “If you know this song, I want Reggae artist Damian Marley joined in for “Bam” tainment firm Live Nation announced the situation turned violent Friday night, leading “I want to dedicate this song to Colin Kaepernick you to sing it so loud he can hear you in heaven,” Jay- from “4:44,” which was released in June and features Saturday show’s cancellation in a statement police to break up the crowd with tear gas. tonight,” Jay-Z said of “The Story of O.J.,” a song about Z said before performing the Grammy-winning songs about Jay-Z’s personal life and work as an citing concerns about fans’ security. Ten officers were injured in the standoff with blackness and managing money that also references mashup “Numb/Encore,” standing still and holding entrepreneur. The Meadows festival, in its second “We have been informed by the St Louis rock-throwing protesters, according to St O.J. Simpson. “I want to dedicate this to Dick Gregory. the microphone close with both of his hands. Jay-Z’s year, will also play Saturday and Sunday, featuring Police Department that they are not in a Louis police who made at least 23 arrests. On I want to dedicate this song to anyone that was held performers like Gorillaz, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nas, position to provide the standard protection Saturday, protesters gathered at a park and back and you overcame,” he added about the song Weezer, Future and LL Cool J across four stages. for our audience as would be expected for an then marched through two St Louis shop- from his personal and revealing album, “4:44.” Migos, Run the Jewels, Two Door Cinema Club and 21 event of this size,” they said.

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