Making the most

Don’t worry, I’m still here my friends. Just taking a week or so to myself. I have taken almost a complete break from social media over the past week, other than messaging home I haven’t been active at all. Being without a mobile phone has made it easy for me to disconnect and instead concentrate on being where I am. I have had nothing buzzing in my pocket every two seconds and I have not lived behind my mobile phone camera. Instead I have seen and felt everything first hand. It’s helped me to realise that my mobile phone is the one thing keeping me attached to my old life, up until now I feel I was living my life here the way I wanted other people to perceive it on Snapchat or Instagram. Constantly concerned that I hadn’t posted a photo or an update every couple of days. This should not be my priority. So the last couple of weeks I have found myself curled up in the sun reading my book, rather than forcing myself to get out and visit all the tourist locations that will probably be much more interesting to see during tourist season itself. Seeing my flatmates leave the house every single day, it does make me feel like there’s a bit of pressure to be the same and make the most of exploring this beautiful island. But I am doing that, just in my own way, I’m not the kind of person who enjoys doing something every hour of every day. Instead I like to make the most of my free time with a nice, cold drink and a good book. It’s hard to remember that this is my everyday life now and although this is only the case for 8 months, I’m not going to spend the next 8 months hiking up Spanish hills every spare moment. I am taking this time to appreciate being where I am in my own way.

A couple of days ago I was struck down by another illness, a stomach virus which caused what seemed like and endless night of vomiting. My whole experience so far seems to have been impacted by illness, which makes me feel like I haven’t been able to show off my full potential in terms of work and even in my social skills. But for the first time since arriving I feel completely okay, so let’s get straight back into life here in Menorca. I took advantage of the couple of days I was stuck in my bed to start reading the Diary of Anne Frank, something I have always wanted to read but always hesitated and read something else before I could start. She used a phrase throughout the book which really resonated with me. Maybe because I can relate to her isolation from her friends and everything she knew growing up and the way she’s turned to a diary for support. She said,

‘Paper has more patience than people.’

It made me smile simply because of the truth behind it, I write every day, not necessarily for this blog but I write something everyday and I write without fear of judgement or interruption. Paper is the best kind of friend for someone who feels alone. Anne’s story is fascinating, well written and with the lighthearted tone sometimes it’s hard to remember that her story is one of torment and destruction. Her teenage woes match that of any young girl growing up but her situation differs completely. The whole story is a tragically fascinating insight into the lives of Jews in the second World War. I would highly recommend it to anyone.

On a less gloomy note a festival took place in my local town last Saturday called ‘Young World’ which was night of colour, culture and cuisine from all over the world. Now I didn’t know what to expect but I have come to know and love Sant Lluis and I’ve realised that they don’t do things in half measures. The street was transformed with tepees for henna and African crafts, stall upon stall of food from USA, Spain, Germany, Italy, Africa and some places that I wasn’t quite sure about (give me credit, the country names were in Spanish). I was helping support my flatmate on her stall from Alemania (Germany) where we served apple strudel and potato salads. It was a night of great festivities and the loud African atmosphere transported me back in time to when I was there myself.

Talking about travelling back in time, I recently visited the ancient Talaiotic runes in Trepucó. The Talaiots were the original settlers of the island here in Menorca and they were considered to be race depicted by war, evident by the remains of defensive towers and walled towns. The Talaiotic towns generally are much bigger here in Menorca than in our neighboring islands such as Majorca and the one that we visited featured the construction known as the Taula. A ceremonial construction that served as a sanctuary, the monument itself is recognised for resembling a table which explains the name ‘Taula’ which is the Menorcan equivalent of this.

There is so much historical beauty to this island that I can’t wait to discover more, but like I said previously, this can be done over a much longer period of time. There’s no need to rush anything.

I want to end this by mentioning the horrific incident that happened outside Parliament in London yesterday and pay tribute to those who were killed and Keith Palmer, the Metropolitan Police officer who paid the ultimate sacrifice on the job. It’s devastating to know that there is the potential for these incidents to occur no matter where you are, with this in mind, please do not let acts such as these prevent you from traveling to any location. Heartbreaking and terrifying as they are, as soon as you let acts of terrorism control you, they have won.

Lots of love, Lottie xoxo