The increased wealth brought to the island has not radically changed Minorcans' way of life. Not all projects succeed, and much capital invested may not show returns for many years. But there is full employment and no poverty, and if the foreign resident hopes for domestic help, she will be fortunate to get it once a week at rates as high as she paid at home. With prosperity has come a measure of inflation, and prices of food are high. Wealth per capita in Spain is greatest in the Balearics, and the standard of living in Minorca is the third highest after Madrid and Barcelona.
The Minorcan housewife has a well-furnished house or flat, with modern sanitation, electricity, gas cooker and refrigerator. She is accustomed to buying frozen foods, and will shop in supermarkets. Both she and her children will be well dressed, and her house will be scrupulously clean. If she lives in a village or the country, and is going out she will leave her key in the front door, in case a friend should call.
The public services at her disposal will be up-to-date, and for the most part adequate.

Electricity services
To meet the increasing requirements of mechanised farming and industry, and of tourism, bold steps were taken in 1973 to ensure more than adequate electrical power for the foreseeable future.
Electricity for lighting purposes on a small scale was first introduced in Minorca by private enterprise early in the present century. GESA (Gas and Electrical Company), a nationalised firm based in Majorca, took over this responsibility in 1959, when it built the present oil-operated power station at the head of Port Mahon. At its inception this had a capacity for 3,000kW, which was increased to 17,000kW by 1973. As this was insufficient for future needs, GESA took the far-sighted step of bringing electrical power from Majorca by means of a submarine cable link, which increased Minorca's electrical capacity six fold to 100,000kW. The Mahon power-station remains as an ancillary unit. This operation was carried out by an Italian firm with a world-wide reputation - Industria Pirelli  -at a cost of £5.5 million.
Four cables were laid from Cala Mesquida in Majorca (not to be confused with Minorca's beach of the same name) and Cala Bosch in the southwest corner of Minorca. Each cable was of record length - 42km - had a diameter of 82mm, and weighed 750 tons. Before being laid, each cable was encased in an outer tube containing oil. In this sophisticated installation, provision is made for pumping oil into the submerged tubes. Three cables will be in constant use, and one held in reserve. The final stages of the installation were witnessed by top engineers from Britain, America and Canada, who specially flew in for the occasion.

Water supply
Water is supplied by artesian wells, and is piped to towns, villages and tourist developments. Piped water supplied by municipal authorities is chlorinated and frequently tested, so that one may drink the tap water. A modest water rate is paid. Engineers are satisfied that water reserves are adequate for the foreseeable future.
In country areas and in farmhouses generally, wells and cisternas (domestic reservoirs partly excavated underground) are the usual source of supply. These are common in Spain, and if their water level falls very low drinking water can be delivered.

Postal services
Town post offices conform to modern standards; village ones are more basic. The latter are often also small bars and sell cigarettes. One must not commit the social blunder of licking a stamp, a moist pad being provided. As is general on the European continent stamps are  also sold at tobacconists. Philatelists will find the wide variety of Spanish pictorial stamps of high artistic quality, often illustrating their history and art.

Telephones
The island has a modern telephone system and Mobile telephone networks. 
Public Phone boxes are located in the towns and villages and also the various tourist developments

Banking
There are banks in all the towns and cash machines (Telebank) are almost as common as phone boxes.

Transport
Mahon had a bus service as early as 1911. Today, public transport is served by a network of modern coaches, which connect Mahon and Ciudadela, together with all the main centres of population. There are regular services between the airport and Mahon. The tourist town of Cala'n Porter also has a year-round service to Mahon. Taxis are available at fixed rates depending on destination. The visitor he need not fear overcharging, as Minorcans are honest. It is advisable to hire a car when on holiday and this can be done at the airport if desired. 

It is not known exactly when the first car reached Minorca. The earliest recorded horseless carriage was driven by coal and was very noisy, sounding like some form of steam-engine. The first cars were owned by a few of the wealthier farmers just before World War I, and became commoner after 1918. The commonest car in the early twenties was the Ford Model T. Other early cars seen at rallies are a 1922 Renault, a 1925 Oldsmobile and a 1931 Adler. Right up to about 1968 British and other cars more than twenty-five years old were a common sight on Minorcan roads; the construction of spare parts presented no problem to ingenious local engineers and blacksmiths. Nowadays the likes of the Seats, the Renaults and the Fiats have replaced them.
Apart from the congestion in Mahon and Ciudadela road traffic is pleasantly light, and the foreign motorist is helped on his way by a profusion of international road-signs and road markings.
Mahon's progressive mayor and counsellors have closed much of the centre of the town to motor traffic, and constructed a ring road round it to Villa Carlos.
 

RECENT TRENDS

Since Spain joined the European Community, many Britons and other Europeans have been allowed to work or set up business on the island, and have made their presence known especially in the field of service industries and building trades. So quite a large number of younger emigrants have joined the retired Britons, Dutch and Germans there.
The tourist industry has taken off, with daily flights of holidaymakers arriving from all over Europe to fill the huge number of apartments and villas that have been built.

Minorcans have shown no signs of losing their heads as a result of the avalanche of tourists that has overtaken them, and despite the debatable slight over-development, the island can still afford a peaceful holiday environment if you seek it out.
In the 1980’s the authorities started becoming alarmed at the rate of development and it was halted. The whole Island became a Biosphere Reserve . 
The distinction Biosphere Reserve is defined by UNESCO as a place of important natural and cultural heritage where economic development is compatible with nature conservation. To date, UNESCO has designated 411 places in 96 countries Biosphere Reserves, each year evaluating new candidatures.
The area around the failed 'Shangri-la' urbanisation was even declared a National Park. 
Minorcans may be becoming more sophisticated, and internationally minded, but are in no danger of losing their identity, for nothing can take away their individuality as islanders. 
 

NEXT:  Chapter 10 - Island Life and Culture      68