Monday 24 June 2019

We moved from the anchorage into the marina, so we could fill up the water tanks. After also some food shopping and tidying up, we caught the bus to get us back to Ciutadella. We had missed the morning cavalcade of Caixers and the heats of the medieval style equestrian tournaments. As we arrived, mid afternoon, we were lucky enough to catch the afternoon cavalcade. The horsemen looked absolutely splendid in their black suits, with white shirts, bow ties and almost tricorn hats. Each removed their hat as they entered the square outside the cathedral. The young man at the end of the line was given lots of cheers from the crowd lining the streets and every few metres got his horse to go up onto its hind legs, to even more joyous response. We then saw him up on the balcony of, I think, the mayors house, being saluted with chanting, similar to that at football matches. That young man, who looked about eighteen, was so overcome with the honour and response of his role, that he was in tears as he waved to the crowd.

We had a splendid lunch, in one of the harbour side restaurants, of lobster paella. The waitress gave us the low down on where to be when, for the evening activities so we decided to forego seeing the horsemen parade before the mayor outside the town hall, in order to get a good spot in the arena. After quite a wait, we were rewarded with amazing scenes. The caixers demonstrate their equestrian skills, by all getting their horses to rear up and walk on their hind legs for as long as possible. They also make them do 360 degree turns and walk them sideways. This is all accompanied by the tradition fiesta music and a lot of cheering from the crowd. This all goes on amongst the crowd and young men run under the horses, as they rear up, to try to touch the horses heart, for luck.

After this, there was an announcement that the tournament final would begin and that this would be dangerous, the crowd were to keep out of the marked lines. It was similar to the narrow channel that forms in the Tour de France mountain stages, where the riders go through a narrow passage of encouraging supporters. In this one, though, the horse is at full gallop, the rider holding a lance. The rider has to try to break a wooden ball suspended at his head height, at the end of the channel. When this happened, the crowd went absolutely wild, singing and dancing, as the band played.

Unfortunately we had to leave to get back at 11 pm, so we had to miss the bit where pairs of riders gallop, in pairs, with their arms clasped to each other. That also must be quite a sight.

It was all spectacular and I have never seen anything like it. More goes on tomorrow, ending with a firework display. What a fabulous continuation of these ancient traditions.

Ciutadella, Ciutadella, ole ole ole
Ciutadella, Ciutadella, ole ole ole....

Distance covered today	0	nautical miles
Trip distance covered	885	nautical miles
Distance covered 2019	885	nautical miles
Tricia (and Steve)