“What’s on your agenda this afternoon?” Lynn asked as we walked in Stanley Park one day this summer.

“Writing a blog on two little beaches in Menorca. They’re described as virgin, hidden gems, but even in May, the parking lot was full, as were the beaches. They are beautiful, but I don’t know how to write about them. Maybe I’ll try that AI program.

ChatGPT told me Cala Macarella and Cala Macarelleta were virgin beaches for four reasons:

1. Natural Setting: Both beaches are set against a backdrop of lush pine forests and dramatic cliffs, giving them an untouched, pristine appearance.
2. Limited Development: Unlike some more commercialized beaches, Cala Macarella and Cala Macarelleta have minimal infrastructure. Cala Macarella has a small restaurant, but otherwise, there are few buildings or facilities.
3. Access: These coves are accessible by foot via scenic trails, which helps preserve their natural environment and limits the number of visitors compared to more easily accessible beaches.
4. Conservation Efforts: Local authorities have implemented measures to protect the environment, such as restricting vehicle access and promoting sustainable tourism practices, which help maintain the beaches’ natural charm.

And, surprise, it gave me four (not three, not five) reasons why they could also be called hidden gems:

1. Scenic Beauty: Both coves boast stunning turquoise waters, white sandy beaches, and picturesque settings surrounded by cliffs and pine forests, making them visually striking and memorable.
2. Seclusion: While they are well-known to tourists, the effort required to reach these beaches (especially Cala Macarelleta) via walking trails or boat means they often feel more secluded compared to other more accessible beaches.
3. Preserved Environment: The limited development around these beaches helps maintain their pristine condition, offering a more authentic and serene beach experience.
4. Local Favor: Many locals and repeat visitors consider these coves as special places on the island, cherished for their beauty and tranquility compared to busier tourist spots.

Personally, I’ll give you our two reasons for liking them.

1. The route Magellan chose for us, even though it had its moments!

The reason the parking lot was full at Cala Turqueta, a large and popular beach where we started our hike, was because May 3 is a holiday in Spain, Fiesta de las Cruces (“Festival of the Crosses”). Even though it’s not an easy drive into Turqueta; stone walls (parets secas) line the road on both sides. “The parking lot was nose in wherever you can—luckily we found a good spot,” I wrote in my diary.

On such a busy day, Magellan’s choice of the (almost) deserted ocean path above the cliffs to Cala Macarelleta proved to be a good one. It’s described as a route with “a more irregular orography” in our guidebook to the Camí de Cavalls, the famous trail that encircles Menorca. The path, stage 13 of the Cami, was quiet, the views spectacular.

The wow view was from a fork just before the “pleasant descent along the ravine that ends in the marvellous Cala Macarelleta.“ The little detour takes five minutes to reach the headland, Castellet, with a “I’ll never forget this view” of Cala Macarella.

After Macarelleta, we climbed up a staircase carved into white limestone to a stony track along the inside of a ravine to Macarella.

Rather than returning to the parking lot via the cliff trail, we followed the Cami. But it was busy, wide and dusty, so we veered off onto a side trail alongside a farmer’s fence. Mistake! The trail petered out and not wanting to backtrack, we bush-whacked our way back to the Cami.

2. Cafeteria Bar Susy

One of the delights about hiking in Europe is stopping for lunch at a local spot along the trail, like the family-run Susy’s Chiringuito on Cala Macarella.

Juan and Margarita Caules moved here in 1962 with their two-year-old daughter and began selling bread, milk and eggs to people camping on the beaches. In 1971, they set up a beach bar.

Today, Juan and Margarita’s seven children and their partners along with their grandchildren run the business. Magellan and I had fun trying to guess who was family, but from the way they were hustling, it may have been every person working at Susy’s.

For fun, I asked ChatGPT to compose a description of these two beaches in the style of acclaimed travel writers Jan Morris, Pico Iyer, and George Saunders.

ChatGPT in the style of Pico Iyer:

The hike to Cala Macarella and Cala Macarelleta is a journey not merely through Menorca’s scenic vistas, but into the heart of one’s own contemplations. As you traverse the winding trail, each step seems to echo a gentle reminder of the world’s quiet subtleties. The path, flanked by the whispering pines and the rhythmic dance of the Mediterranean waves, becomes a moving meditation, where the exterior landscape mirrors the inner stillness sought by the traveler. Arriving at Cala Macarella, with its vast stretch of serene sand and crystalline waters, and then further to Cala Macarelleta, a more intimate sanctuary, offers a profound pause—a moment to reflect on the deeper currents of existence and to appreciate the simplicity and beauty that lies in the spaces between each breath and step.

ChatGPT in the style of Jan Morris:

The trek to Cala Macarella and Cala Macarelleta is less a mere passage through Menorca’s terrain and more an evocative exploration of the soul’s yearning for tranquility. The path, winding with an almost deliberate grace, guides the traveler through a landscape of timeless beauty, where the interplay of light and shadow on the cliffs tells a story of serene persistence. As you traverse this coastal route, the journey becomes a meditative act, each step on the sun-dappled trail echoing the island’s gentle rhythms. Upon reaching Cala Macarella, with its sweep of golden sand and azure water, and then Cala Macarelleta, a more intimate retreat tucked away, one finds not just a destination but a quiet, affirming space where the heart can rest and the spirit can find solace in nature’s unspoken promises.

ChatGPT in the style of George Saunders:

Embarking on the hike to Cala Macarella and Cala Macarelleta is like stepping into a vivid, nature-filled episode of your favorite travel show. You start off with all the grand ambitions of a seasoned adventurer, only to be delightfully humbled by the simple, unassuming beauty of Menorca’s trails. The path meanders, as if it’s trying to have a conversation with you—‘Hey, look at this view!’—while you, in turn, are caught between trying to catch your breath and mentally processing the sheer clarity of the turquoise waters below. It’s a journey where each twist and turn offers a new perspective, making you laugh at your own earnest attempts to take it all in and perhaps even leading you to a profound, if slightly sweaty, appreciation of nature’s effortlessly perfect moments.

Which of the three do you like best: ChatGPT’s imitation of the writing of Pico, Jan or George?

This is where I was going to end this blog.

Instead, I prompted ChatGPT one last time:“Compose a paragraph on Cala Macarella and Cala Macarelleta in the style of www.latitude65.ca.” (Please tell me I don’t write as syrupy as this!)

Cala Macarella and Cala Macarelleta, nestled on the sun-drenched coast of Menorca, are more than just a pair of pristine beaches; they are a hidden sanctuary where nature and tranquility reign supreme. Picture this: a perfect crescent of powdery white sand meets the crystalline embrace of the Mediterranean Sea, its hues ranging from dazzling turquoise to deep azure. The surrounding cliffs, adorned with lush pines and fragrant wildflowers, create an intimate amphitheater, inviting you to lose yourself in the beauty of it all. As the gentle waves lap at the shore, time seems to stand still, and the hustle of modern life fades into the whispering breeze. Whether you’re basking in the sun or exploring the scenic trails that wind through this idyllic landscape, Cala Macarella and Cala Macarelleta offer a glimpse of paradise that leaves an indelible mark on the soul.

Suddenly I realized a step I always follow when writing our blogs had been forgotten.

I interrupted Magellan, who was watching the last seven minutes of the Canadian Women’s Olympic soccer team play Colombia to qualify for the finals, (I know, not the best time, was it?) for his thoughts on the trail. He barely took his eyes off the TV as he answered, without hesitating, fast as ChatGPT:

Having chosen the coastal path, it really made you feel you were in a transition zone between water and land, between historical and current civilization. You were in a place where things come together.

I should have asked him to write this entire blog.

Navigation

Cafeteria Bar Susy

Lara, Sergi. The Cami de Cavalls of Menorca. Menorca: Triangle Books.

Ansell, Rodney. Landscapes of Menorca. UK: Sunflower Books, 2023.