Our day started with a spectacular sunrise over the sleepy town of Cuidadela. With the Caledonian Star at anchor, Zodiacs were used to convey all of us ashore, where we enjoyed an hour strolling around this very charming town.
Later in the morning we continued by bus to the islands highest point - El Toro (1000 ft) - to enjoy not only the fine weather, but also the breathtaking 360-degree views that this vantage point offers.
We then went on to one of a great number of archeological sites scattered throughout Menorca. The islands first inhabitants were probably cave dwellers. Prehistoric remains, dating from about the middle of the 2nd millennium BC and representing a culture that continued with little change until Roman times, include talayots and taulas (both shown in the picture at left). Talayots, a type of tower, were roofed, generally with the aid of a central pillar composed of circular superimposed slabs, and faced with clay to produce a monolithic structure. The taulas, so-called "tables," may well have been used for ceremonial purposes but certainly formed a normal element of the habitations associated with the talayots. Both talayot and taula are usually contained within an enclosure, frequently of D-shaped plan, with the entrance in the straight side; within the area stands a taula, a rectangular slab of dressed stone set horizontally on a vertical shaft. The stone naus, or navetas (in Catalan meaning "ships"), of Menorca, so termed from their resemblance to an upturned boat, were used as graves.
Then it was on to the beautiful town of Mahon, the capital of Menorca, where the Caledonian Star had relocated and was now waiting for us at the dock. There was plenty of time for us to enjoy lunch onboard and to follow that with some browsing through the local stores, situated along the charming waterfront area.
The departure from this beautiful natural harbor was equally spectacular. The whole experience was rounded off with a large school of common dolphins that spent a considerable amount of time playing in the bow wave.
