Grab your favorite warm drink, find a comfortable seat, and let me tell you the legend of the creation of the islands of Mallorca and Menorca.
The story begins when God created the Earth. He created a beautiful sea called the Mediterranean. He thought the sea was delightful, but it was missing a little something. Therefore, he decided to create a group of islands, the Balearic Islands, and had great plans to embellish them for all to enjoy.
On his first day of work, he set off to build the biggest island first: Mallorca. He was so excited that he grabbed his bag of supplies and actively put everything that one could want on an island paradise: sandy beaches, lovely towns, an impressive mountain range, rivers and forests. He was completely absorbed by his work and once he completed his first project, he was very proud of the final result. He decided to keep going right away with the second island: Menorca. He got ready to dive into work once more but was horrified as he looked down to see that he had almost no supplies left in his bag! He had used most of it for Mallorca. A bit nervous about the result, he decided to do the best he could with what was left. He stretched the land as much as he could, but the island was still much smaller than the first one and he only had enough material for one hill in the middle of the island. Luckily, he was still able to add a few small beaches and patches of forests.
With the time he had left, he decided to make up for the lack of quantity by making sure everything on this island was of superior quality. He made the beaches splendid and the forest enchanting. He built the most charming villages and created a gorgeous coastline. Every detail was carefully crafted to give Menorca the value it deserved. Nonetheless, he finished his first workday slightly disappointed in his work and went home. That night, he tossed and turned all night wondering how to correct the imbalance between the two islands. In the early morning hours, the answer came to him. He got up quickly, eager to get back to work.
On his second day, he focused on adding the people to the islands. And this time, he started with Menorca. Therefore, Menorca Island was granted the best of the best humans: the funniest, the most handsome, the smartest, the strongest, the most outgoing, etc. When it came time to populate Mallorca, God put what he had left of people and hoped that everything would even itself out.
And that is how the legend of the creation of Mallorca and Menorca goes… well, according to one island’s people at least.
As you can certainly guess by now, I was told the story by a Menorcan. And while funny and endearing, I have to say that the legend is not accurate. After spending over a month working back and forth between both islands, I recognize that Mallorca has perhaps a more dramatic landscape, but Menorca is, without a doubt, also worth a visit. And more importantly, I can guarantee you that the people on both islands are equally as charming, welcoming and kind. Each island offers a different, but perfectly complementary energy. Come see for yourself on our Spain's Mallorca & Menorca Bike Tour or Hiking & Walking Tour.
