Since we returned from Ibiza in mid July, my social media feed seems to have streams and streams of people enjoying the White Isle this peak holiday season. The island has this crazy pull to it, one that I didn’t expect to feel. I’d known many people before me that had visited year after year and I’d never quite understood just why?
James & I are no wild clubber’s, don’t get me wrong, we love a good night out and an early morning wander back to a festival campsite after a night at the dance tent but holidays for us have always been about exploring and relaxing. So, when I exclaimed to him that I really fancied heading to the Balearic island this year you can imagine the puzzled expression I was met with.
You see, I’d done my research. Like a pro, of course. And I had come across an island filled with natural beauty, gorgeous coastlines and a little bit of history too. And, despite Mr C having a few grumbles that we’d booked our summer holiday to Ibiza there is definitely a side to the island that is unexplored by most.
You have San Antonio where all the 18-30’s go who want a cheaper Ibiza experience, you have Playa D’en Bossa where all the big spenders go for the wild club nights at Pacha by night and we’re talking bottles of champagne by the pool at Ushuaia Ocean Beach Club by day (with David Guetta taking up a Thursday residence) and you have the families that play it safe with Santa Eulalia with the beautiful stretches of beach and the crystal blue waters.
We decided to head to a little cove called Cala Llonga. Located on the East Side of the island, only with a handful of hotels and a selection of small restaurants and bars, it fit our quota of a nice and quiet resort that we had longed for, but one that wasn’t too far away from the action either. The beach became busy but not so much that you felt on top of one another, the warm sea was a pleasant relief out of the hot heat.
We booked our trip via First Choice Holidays about a month or so before we wanted to go, so we saved quite a bit of money just hanging on that little bit of extra time. We stayed at the Sirenis Hotel & Resort which was a rather large complex (one that we weren’t quite used to) but it served it’s purpose with a comfy, modern bedroom (in the renovated section of the hotel), food that came morning, noon and night, along with San Miguel on tap.
Due to it’s central location we managed to hire a quad for 3 days of our holiday. Something I think James would have given his right leg for had we not. As much as Cala Llonga was a lovely little area sitting around by the pool isn’t ordinarily something we can do on a daily basis.
We got out and about on the island, with one of our first stops being Peurto San Miguel at the north of the island. Here again we found stunning views overlooking the bay and fisherman on the rock side. We started to make our way back down south and called in to a pretty, little seafront town called Cala San Vincent (not to be confused with Majorca’s resort) where the beach was thin but a long, golden stretch that allowed for people to stretch on the beach. The twinkling sea caught my eye on many occasions as we tucked in to the most scrummy seafood pizza for lunch.
I’d longed to go to Ibiza Town, if only for the Instagram fodder. I know such a basic bitch, so sue me? We were met with a very cosmopolitan city that just oozed “cool” – with shops such as Mango and Zara aligning the streets, once you looked past those you found authentic, family owned stores selling trendy, wicker bags, delicate kaftans and jewellery that even a non-magpie couldn’t walk past. There was an abundance of quaint restaurants that could whet you appetite too. We made our way up to Dalt Vila which is the “old town” of Ibiza, which is an old church surrounded by a fort. And when I say it is Insta-worthy, girl, you best believe. With wisteria-style, flora adorning doorways, the cutest-button like townhouses with pretty doors, I’d entered heaven. My camera snapping got to a point where even Mr C threatened to keep walking away if I didn’t calm it down. (Boy please, I’m up for Best Use of Photography and Best Instagram at the Bloggers Blog Awards, do you think I’m gonna stop taking photographs? Ha.)
Before we headed back to the hotel we made a tapas pit stop and ate the tastiest calamari either of us have ever eaten, with a glass of cold Estrella to mix things up a bit. And to walk off our carb induced lunch, we set to the harbour to lust after all the rather big and rather nice (and rather expensive!) yachts that were on show. When can I become a millionaire please?
Our final day with the quad was spent heading up to Punta Arabi where the oldest hippy market on the island takes place. With lots and lots of different home made trinkets, homewares, clothing and apparel we got lost in a sea of “things” – and whilst it was cool to experience it was also very hot making it a pretty unbearable experience. Luckily, we found shade and an ice cream van that had ice cold, bitter lemon ice drinks so we sought shelter and watched a really cool band play another one of their sets. I was sad that due to our flight landing and returning on a Saturday we couldn’t experience the Las Dalias market as well. This one looked like it sold a lot of vintage clothes which I think I would have adored looking at.
Later on that day we took a ride right across the centre of the island, taking in all of the wilderness. Blimey, the heat that day was unbearable that by the time we reached San Antonio, I was gasping for a drink. Sadly, we didn’t have chance to watch the sun set (which is one thing I missed about staying on the East Side of the island) as we had to return the quad bike later that evening.
It was definitely time for a bit of R’n’R after all our exploring of the sun kissed paradise. So, our final few days were spent with books by the pool or beach, enjoying the last morsels of the best sunshine we would probably see all year with a cold beer or cocktail in hand. (Well, we might as well have made the most of our All Inclusive option, right?)
We managed to explore so much of the island in a short space of time and luckily, I managed to convince my husband that there is so much more to the White Isle than just the partying aspect of it, but there are certainly a couple of other things I would have liked to have crammed in too. So I guess that just gives us another excuse to head back sometime soon, doesn’t it?
Have you been to Ibiza? Or are you think of going?
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