Although we could have been perfectly content to spend the entire week at the beautiful villa, we ventured around the island, exploration-style with four adults crammed into the backseat of a “large” crossover. At every potential sight, overlook, or vista - the car came to a screeching halt and we eagerly tumbled out, happy to have a reason to vacate the tiny space. However, most evenings, we found our way happily back to the villa, to sit around the pool, music playing, ice clinking in cocktails, and conversation rolling. The six of us easily let the hours pass under the blanket of stars, thankful for a slight breeze, and content to be sharing this holiday together.
The villa is in Sant Josep, which is on the south-western side of the island. The village itself falls away in a series of steep cliffs and rounded coves all the way around the south coast. There are pine-covered hills in the distance and some of the best beaches, that are more family friendly, but still very European - swarming with topless babes. Our local beach, Cala Tarida, is one of the sheltered coves and has flat rocks shaped by wind and sea that form natural platforms for sunbathing or playing “king of the world.” Sailboats rock in the water just outside the swimming area, the water is a clear aquamarine, and the sand is white and rock-free at least 60 meters out. There are a handful of great restaurants up on the cliffs overlooking the beach cove, three of which we tried. Each one was great - serving all the Spanish specialties like gazpacho, mussels, paella, sangria, and bread with aioli and olives. We haven’t gone hungry.
Monday, our first day of exploring, we found ourselves in a small village that felt like a ghost-town, with a beautiful little church and one amazing leather shop where the owner was making his wares right there in the shop - exquisite craftsmanship. We continued on our jaunt north, up the western coast to a beach called Cala Salada - the views were breathtaking! We drove through the mountains, passed by olive tree groves, and wound our way along the steep cliffs. The beach turned out to be a bit rocky for our taste, but we enjoyed the excursion down the half-mile of stairs to get to the bottom. We drove through the center of the island, again through different altitudes, and ended up on the south coast at Es Cubells - where we found a lovely small beach with a beach cafe that served cold beer, fresh mussels and tasty gazpacho. We drove through Eivissa and Sant Antoni, the two major towns on this side of the island - more touristy and hopping with gaggles of 20-somethings with clubbing on the mind.
Tuesday we spent the entire day at the beach - Cala Tarida - and thoroughly enjoyed being moved by the waves. Wednesday we headed north to the eastern part of the island to Santa Eularia and the the Hippy Market in Es Canar, near Punta Arabi. Yes - it is actually called “The Hippy Market” and there are signs indicating so. This spectacular takes place once a week in a shady, pine-clad headland that is transformed into a replica of the 1960’s, as the few remaining hippies of Ibiza sell their wares. Of course, it’s mostly become a trendy market with commercially minded entrepreneurs - but it’s still fantastically fun to walk around. Try on a pair of Aladdin pants, look at the bangle bracelets, get your hair braided, listen to the various musicians and bongo drums, have some paella, smoke a joint...whatever tickles your fancy.
After our blast from the past, we drove south again to Cala d’Hort, where the dramatic rock faces of Es Vedra are visible. Es Vedra looms large and is probably the most famous and most photographed rock around Ibiza. We stopped at the beach cafe for sangria and chilled as we watched the sun dance on the water. Lovely.
Thursday was another day at our beach and then the late afternoon and evening spent at Cala Comte, at the Sunset Ashram. Might be the coolest bar/cafe on the island. It’s bohemian and laid-back and funky. Live music plays with a club-like beat, sun-drenched people come up from the sand for cocktails, and the views of the sun setting are impossibly perfect. We enjoyed our last night together at the Sunset Ashram, clinked champagne glasses, and agreed that our week in Ibiza had been everything we’d hoped it would be.
As I write this now, I’m at the villa, sitting at the teak patio table, under the umbrella, by the pool. Helen is painting her nails, the boys are engaged in various activities - last minute sun bathing, reading, and watching golf on television, and I am enjoying the last hours in this beautiful paradise. I can see the ocean from my chair, the stucco houses and mansion villas nestled into the pine hills, and the sky is blue without a cloud in sight. In a few hours, we’ll cram ourselves one more time into the rental car and head to Ibiza’s small airport - adding five more tanned bodies to the tired crowds, although thankfully, we we won’t be sporting the hung-over, dazed look of a long night partying at the clubs! So for now - goodbye to Ibiza...hoping to see you again in the future.
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