25th Anniversary Trip - Day 7

Day 7. 

Today the ship docked early, at 8 am.  Mahon, Spain.  We get up and have a leisurely breakfast in the Windows Cafe.  Then we debark and look to explore Mahon.  It is a beautiful city of white buildings and green shutters. It is mostly built up on the cliff overlooking the bay.  

The hike starts with some steep steps leading up to the market area. This is the Mercat de Pescados.  An open market area with lots of shops and restaurants.  The air is stifling as there is no movement, despite the overcast sky's, it is 33 degrees and feels like 43!   We wander around the shops, but don’t find anything that we like. We wander around looking at the various shops, buildings and churches.  Its very nice.

The roads are steep and windy, we decide to take a train ride through the city, its a little motorized train that stops and picks up passengers, ferrying them around the island. Not very fancy, but for 7 euros, it beats walking in the heat!  There are some nice view points, but very few stops along the way.

Afterwards, we head back to the ship to cool down and have some lunch.  Relaxed and full, we decide to head out again, as we learn there is a Gin distillery where you can have unlimited samples!

The Xoriguer Gin Factory, a small unassuming building along the waterfront, away from the cruise ship drop off area.  The tasting area is the main retail space, with a couple if dozen or so open bottles and shot glasses.  You basically help yourself and drop the used glasses in a water filled basin.  There are no supervisors and you can have as many as you like.   We decide to sample them all, with our favourite being the coffee flavoured version.  A fun little stop at the end if the day.  There is no hard sell here, and the environment is welcoming.  If you are looking for a history of Gin or the distilling process, this is not the place.  But for free samples and a carefree attitude, it is comfortable and easy. Worth the stop for sure.

All in all, Mahon was nice for a short visit.  The ship sales at 6 pm!  We have a nice Spanish dinner, then wander the ship.  We see the last few minutes of a cabaret show.  Then settle into the piano bar.  We meet a nice couple from New York, and talk american politics.  All good.  We go to see the cabaret show, and catch the last few minutes again!  Oh, well, off to bed.