love letter to Ibiza:
Sometimes we use the word 'paradise' too lightly, when in reality, it should be reserved for places like this.
Places bathed by waters where turquoise and emerald merge in a hypnotic dance from which it is impossible to escape; where you can be whoever you want, and dance until your legs give out, and dream what your soul asks of you.
The island of dreams, of freedom, of hope. The hippie movement turned it into the promised land, into that paradise where the exception was the rule and happiness came out to meet you in every corner, in every sunrise, in every dip. How difficult it is to write a love letter to Ibiza with traffic noise in the background!
There is not a day that your airport does not receive someone with a suitcase full of desires and dismiss many others keeping their promises safe.
And our only promise was to return: to throw the clock and worries out of the car window again and squeeze every last drop of the verb enjoy; return to that dawn in which for an instant, we felt that the waves of the Mediterranean belonged to us. BACK TO IBIZA.
Dalt Villa.
LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT
Without even setting foot, from the window, love at first sight arises: the spell of Es Vedrá welcoming us for another year while the plane loses altitude.
A crush that makes us smile and makes us feel like the first time we landed on the beautiful island.
And when you hit the road, billboards with David Guetta, Armin van Buuren, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike seem like the best welcome sign –Where else in the world do you get to greet a handful of giant ants crowned by the most famous bunch of cherries in the world?–.
But there is still someone else who patiently awaits our arrival. Crowning Dalt Vila, Eivissa Castle stands imposing, knowing that it is the absolute protagonist of one of the most emblematic postcards of the island.
After all, love is a photograph etched in the depths of the heart. A memory for which the years do not pass, but for which you would spend barefoot over the flames as many times as necessary.
Ibiza: the eternal crush.
THE SEA
"He always thought of the sea as the sea, which is how the people who love her tell him." 'The old man and the sea', Ernest Hemingway.
People who love the sea with all their might know that Ibiza is a coveted treasure of beaches and coves whose beauty is only comparable to the wonders they harbor in their depths.
A beauty spread in spurts throughout the pitiuso territory: from the soft golden sand of Aigües Blanques beach to the mystical charm of Cala d'Hort at sunset.
Each cardinal point of the coast harbors great acquaintances and little secrets hidden behind the pine trees , of those that can only be found walking (not driving) a little further.
To the north, where the echo of the mixing tables does not reach and tranquility reigns over everything, the rhythm is marked by the song of the cicadas and the drums of Benirrás.
Here, the curves of the road are anticipating remnants of a landscape that seems like a mirage, but nothing is further from reality.
The San Vicente cove from the cliff.
The mountains protect the Cala de San Vicente –better known by the locals as Sa Cala–, jealous of having to share the views of Tago Mago.
A route through those wild landscapes impossible to tame makes you soon realize that in Ibiza it is better to travel in the passenger seat, to be able to look out the window and lose yourself in its beauty, feeling the wind in your face while Bruce Springsteen's Born to Run plays.
If you are one of those who always go a little further, you will not mind meandering until you reach the last curve of the road, the bay of Portinatx, where one of our favorite corners of the island is hidden: Lovers.
But let's keep winding and Let's dive into Cala Xarraca, splash around in Cala Salada, let's go say hello to its little sister, Cala Saladeta and set out on the road to Punta Galera –the clear example that the most difficult roads lead to the most beautiful places–.
Lovers, bohemian life in Portinatx.
Let's go to the west of the Balearic island and let's get lost clockwise in Cala Conta –Platjes de Comte for those who like to call things by their name–, with its hypnotic horizon dotted with islets. Yes, it is one of the busiest beaches, but Have you ever seen the Mona Lisa without a crowd around her?
If we have to talk about views, we cannot overlook Cala d'Hort and the magic that Es Vedrá radiates while the sun hides behind it, taking with him all the answers to the mysteries and legends that surround this islet.
And although the sun sets in the west and many times the trick to get away from the madding crowd is to look north, The southeast of Ibiza will be home to many of our crushes, starting with the Sol d'en Serra cove, where we will eat life –and the fish of the day– in Lover , anchored on a cliff whose views will be the mental refuge for the rest of the year.
Next stops? Cala Llonga, S'Argamassa, Cala Martina, Cala Nova, Cala Mastella and the icing on the cake, Cala Boix.
The Platges de Comte hold nudist coves, delicious restaurants and... one of the best sunsets on the island.
FROM VILLAGE TO VILLAGE
There is no sea that does not come for good, but the interior of Ibiza well deserves that we dedicate a good part of our attention to it.
If one day we disappear, they will surely find us in the square of some Ibizan town, trying to go unnoticed among the locals and tourists, and sipping a caleta coffee.
Before reaching Santa Gertrudis, some friendly colored cows greet us from the tops of the trees.
Nobody knows how they got there but this unmistakable picture is the entrance to the surreal and addictive universe of Sluiz, whose objects and design pieces will make you seriously consider returning to the Peninsula by boat to be able to take a few decorative wonders home.
Sluiz: Wonderland.
In Santa Gertrudis de Fruitera, life moves to the rhythm of the bell tower of its beautiful church, with its unmistakable yellow stripes on white lime. Here the coffee must be accompanied by a ham and tomato toast at the Costa bar.
Guided by the bells, We will go up to the church of Puig de Missa, in Santa Eulalia del Río, we will walk through Santa Agnès de Corona and we will look out over the cliffs of Es Cubells.
On the way to Sant Carles de Peralta, we will stop at dahlias and, full of hippy spirit and good vibes, we will end the afternoon toasting with an Ibizan herbal liqueur at the Anita bar.
Santa Gertrudis, the unavoidable stop in the interior of Ibiza.
FROM PLATE TO PLATE
Eat Ibiza by mouthfuls, savor it without haste, join the after-meal conversation with a siesta and have dinner saying goodbye to the sun... the only problem? Choose the place. Of course, with the certainty that pleasure is assured.
A bullit de fish in El Bigotes, a cuinat in Ca n'Alfredo, the erased of ratjada of Sa Nansa, the peasant sofrit of Ca's Pages, the fideuá of It's Torrent , rice –in all its varieties– from Carmen... Take a breath and sigh with me: AY.
Perched on the sea -as Atzaro Beach either Tower– or on top of a hill –like Maca House–, Eating in Ibiza is a ritual, a unique moment and an experience in itself.
Summer is paella in Ibiza.
And not only from the sea –although it would not be an impediment– it lives. Let's take another breath and salivate with the image of a steaming pizza in the garden of Macau, the focaccia and the parmesan Dove, the entire Pau Barba orchard in Dog Dome, the covers of David Reartes in Re.Art or the original creations of Óscar Molina in the gaia.
By the way, the dinner show is back this summer at the hands of one of the veterans of the port of Ibiza, Mess, which will open its doors again on July 10.
Oh, and although this summer it will also remain closed, we will always have Heart and his impressive show in a little hole in our hearts, waiting for him to remove the lock again.
La Paloma Ibiza, in San Lorenzo.
OUR BELOVED HOTELS
Hotels, those places that make us live so many wonderful experiences. In Ibiza there is everything and for all tastes.
Let's start by winking at that newcomer we are so looking forward to, the W Hotel and without leaving Santa Eulalia, let's continue through an old acquaintance, the Ibiza waters.
Let's go up the south coast a little bit and stop at take a dip in the pool I Ibiza to then regain strength at Etxeko, Berasategui's house, in the Bless Hotel Ibiza.
BLESS Ibiza: hedonism in its purest form.
Are you into 'seeing and being seen'? Pacha Destiny, the Hard Rock Hotel and the Ushuaïa Tower They will be your base camp.
Although we will not ignore the Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay, the Sir John –With special mention to his restaurant, Izakaya– and the always impeccable Ibiza Grand Hotel.
Do you prefer quiet? We have the perfect accommodations: Agrotourism Atzaró, PureHouse, 7 Pin Kempinski Y The farm. Four refuges where you can truly disconnect from the world.
Atzaró Agrotourism.
AND FROM TRACK TO TRACK! (ALTHOUGH THAT WILL HAVE TO WAIT)
Ibiza does not understand solstices and equinoxes , here the summer begins and ends with the opening and closing of the clubs.
The island that never sleeps, the island that always dances. Some give themselves up in the arms of Morpheus while others walk along the beach, and the latter go to bed when the former are barely listening to the first song of the night. And works.
The summer of 2020 will be remembered as the hardest in the history of the island's nightlife. But finally, the sun, and in this case also the moon, shines again in all its splendor.
Who's gonna save the world tonight?
Ushuaïa vibrates under the sun of Playa d'en Bossa while thousands of people wave to Guetta and Garrix –oh, Martin, how we had missed your High On Life–.
the cherries of Pacha they receive us juicier than ever and Amnesia makes us lose track of time.
the dome of privilegethe biggest club in the world raise your hands before Carl Cox and Circoloco returns to DC10 –Yes, we want to jump higher again, if possible, with Seth Troxler and The Martinez Brothers–.
Who's gonna save the world tonight? We have it clear: the beating of hearts that can be heard again over the music from the loudspeakers.
And you feel that you breathe for the first time.
WAIT FOR US, IBIZA
The beautiful island is the place where the word enjoy takes on all the meaning in the world, where upon landing, you feel that you breathe for the first time.
And when the plane gains altitude back to the Peninsula and Es Vedrá becomes smaller and smaller, you realize that you would give EVERYTHING TO COME BACK TO DAWN IN IBIZA.
Ibiza will always be a yes.