agentundercover
Active Member
Well well well. An interesting holiday, great in parts, mediocre in others. Stayed 4th July - 9th. Arrived back this afternoon.
Travelled with my mates K & A, together with the missus, Anna. A few other friends came out on the Sunday.
Landed approx 6pm Ibiza time on Friday. Through a miracle of logistics (and fair play to the airport) we were in our hotel - Nautico Ebeso in Figuerates, within an hour. First impression of hotel was excellent. Clean, smart - nice room sizes, corridor widths etc. Lovely pool by the sea and balconies with nice views out (below). Certainly very good value for money & I would recommend.
Of Figeurates in general, I have not a bad word to say either. I had been led to believe that it was dog sh1t central, riddled with ho's and the like & all round scruffy. Nothing of the sort. Where we were based felt safe, looked clean and had a few ok bars and some nice sea front restaurants. A good all round base.
Friday night, on the razz in Evissa. Kicked off with a wicked Mojito in Movie Bar, followed by dinner in La Bodega (sat to the left of the ramp entering Dalt Villa, over from the Croissant Show). Brilliant restaurant - some of the best tapas I have ever had & a nice interior & service. In and out for 20 euros each with a full tum. Then to Barzuka on Carrer De Virgin - strangely dead at midnight, but Mark the owner was as friendly as ever, followed by Base and a couple of others in La Marina. It appeared quieter than June last year, however this could all be in my head. Drank till 4ish, then a can on the beach followed by a few hours kip.
Sat , picked up hire car & went adventuring. It's a bit of a cliche on here that 'you have to explore the island', however I will repeat it! Visited Cala d'hort - full of blummin jellyfish, however I could look at Es Vedra all day:
Skirted San An, then to (I think, don't have map here) St Agnes for Lunch in Restaurant La Palermo, a charming little place with a cracking Paella & lovely local old dears singing songs over wine and lunch. Then onto Benniras - what a great beach. The way the ground slopes so steeply in the water makes it lovely for swimming - you end up 6ft deep just a short while out. Also a lovely setting, with the (I assume) dis-used fishermans huts & rocks giving it real character. Drove around the northern area in general before returning to the car drop off, next to El Divino mid-evening. Headed into town and had a chilled one over a pizza somewhere in La Marino before heading into Dalt Villa for a couple of 1 am brandies in a bar opposite La Oliva (names escapes) - a beautiful part of the world indeed.
Sunday, took it easy by the pool mainly, until approx 4pm. Headed to Playa DB, watched tennis final in a bar there before heading to WLS. See a good few people getting searched and caught. See a copper putting on rubber gloves
. First f&ck up. Not on guest list. OHHHH NOOO. Despite me showing them the email print out etc from my contact - no joy. Tried to get in touch, failed. As we were only planning on going for a few hours we decided to jack it & head to Bora Bora. Got there, dance floor heavily male dominated & a couple of big police men doing the rounds. Good few security making sure no one dances on tables - not sure why - H&S? Becoming very much like Britain in which case. Sacked it off.
Headed back to hotel, changed and out to meet our newly arriving friends in Ibiza town (Rock bar). They turned up and gave the slightly depressed me, the kick up the backside I needed. All smiles, rum and cokes and it's getting very messy very quickly! Amnesia parade comes past. What a grumpy load of bints! Ok, you very much would but...be jesus - cheer up pet! Not a smile between them - is this the model look?
Onto Pacha, in contrast to the over security at Space - only one bouncer it would appear on the whole door. None of this queueing lark - just a scrum. Not pleasant. Thankfully on the guesty this time & after 45 mins in queue in we go. Flower Power + Pacha Classics - what a great night. Seven mates tearing the place apart to Prince, Ultra Nate & god knows what. So far from cool, yet so very very good. Stayed until the last tune played before walking back to the Croissant Show.
Now bad decisions come into play. Instead of having a cup of tea & heading back for a chat and sleep, we had cup of tea, two beers, then 4 of us bought 2 litres of rum, some coke (a cola) & headed to the beach (San An bay mind, where the others where staying). Sat all day Monday there, demolised the rum - friends fell out, tears, heatstroke - all sorts of not really that good things. Less said the better etc. Finished up with a couple of us going to Sunset Strip with the lucky ones who avoided the day on the beach joining us later. Cue obligatory photo in case you dont know what the sun looks like:
I have to say, I was very impressed by the strip in general. Clean, good mix of ages and nicer bars than I remember. The big white seats at Savannah were particulalrly welcome. The missus who is far more sophisticated than I, was very impressed albeit we did not venture near the west end. Whilst getting some food the uglier side reared its head, when an elderly group next to us were nearly hit by a bottle that landed from somewhere near
. Headed back, reasonably early night.
Tuesday - up early for a good fews hours exploring the Dalt Villa. I love this place more than almost anywhere on earth. The natural beauty of it's position, the architecture itself, the history, the mix of gay and straight, lovely restaurants etc etc. And also, importantly, for me it retains an air of mystery. I will never know everything that goes on in there - particularly at a night time - and that is a good thing. A few pics from our day time walk:
http://photos-611.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-snc1/v263/220/96/673780611/n673780611_3564716_161.jpg
Headed back to hotel & found another downer. Our mates in San An were ill as hell and were not coming over to Carl Cox
.
So making the best of it, we grabbed something to eat on Figeurates front - great italian/seafood place with a jetty style dining area & headed straight into Space. Got in about 12.55. Went into Terrace as it opened to hear some proper dodgy mixing by James Lavelle, however Green Velvet fairly tearing the place apart in the main room (altho I was suprised at how hard the tunes were from both him and Cox, must be getting old). I have to say, in contrast to Pacha, Space feels to clinical, to well organised, to neon signed, corporate, clean - almost organised fun - and far to much security to make me feel comfortable!
That said, we were not up for it. We found the red box where a guy with dreads was banging out some great techish house & stayed there (anyone know his name? Really good DJ). As I looked down on the crowd in the main room, evidently having the time of their lives (what a great show - if you were there, the thing with the white sheet was amazing to see!) - for the first ever time I wondered if I was to old for this clubbing lark. It could have been the heat, the knowledge that our friends were ill, the few days prior with to much booze, the fact we were on a plane 9 hrs later or eating too late. But 'it' never kicked in, we never got traction etc. I think we were all grateful to leave around 4 - couple of biffs on the balcony & then sleep. Up a few hours later, to the airport - and again, in contrast to Manchester - a really easy transition through. Shocking queue for burger king tho.
So, in summary in terms of a break - some quality time with some of my best friends - and making new friends at the same time - brilliant holiday. In terms of food eaten, sights seen & beaches visited - brillant holiday. Mojitos in lovely bars? Box ticked.
Clubbing? Well, we only went to two clubs in five nights. This reflected the make up of the group in age and interests. Of those one was brilliant, the other never really got going. This nigh on entirely due to us tho. I do think that the lack of day time affected me - if anything in my head - I always used to think when I was in Ibiza 'someone somewhere is tearing a dancefloor apart', now this is not the case (legally that is) I feel somewhat saddened, and it is really when you are there that you realise the contribution that the Spaces of this world make to the economy of the island. That said, it certainly has the natural beauty to potentially thrive as a more middle aged spot.
Does this feel like the end of my ibiza club days? Very possibly - altho there is the possiblity of me and my Sept partner in crime reprising again for the closing. Watch this Space8).
http://photos-611.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-snc1/v263/220/96/673780611/n673780611_3564711_8574.jpg
Travelled with my mates K & A, together with the missus, Anna. A few other friends came out on the Sunday.
Landed approx 6pm Ibiza time on Friday. Through a miracle of logistics (and fair play to the airport) we were in our hotel - Nautico Ebeso in Figuerates, within an hour. First impression of hotel was excellent. Clean, smart - nice room sizes, corridor widths etc. Lovely pool by the sea and balconies with nice views out (below). Certainly very good value for money & I would recommend.
Of Figeurates in general, I have not a bad word to say either. I had been led to believe that it was dog sh1t central, riddled with ho's and the like & all round scruffy. Nothing of the sort. Where we were based felt safe, looked clean and had a few ok bars and some nice sea front restaurants. A good all round base.
Friday night, on the razz in Evissa. Kicked off with a wicked Mojito in Movie Bar, followed by dinner in La Bodega (sat to the left of the ramp entering Dalt Villa, over from the Croissant Show). Brilliant restaurant - some of the best tapas I have ever had & a nice interior & service. In and out for 20 euros each with a full tum. Then to Barzuka on Carrer De Virgin - strangely dead at midnight, but Mark the owner was as friendly as ever, followed by Base and a couple of others in La Marina. It appeared quieter than June last year, however this could all be in my head. Drank till 4ish, then a can on the beach followed by a few hours kip.
Sat , picked up hire car & went adventuring. It's a bit of a cliche on here that 'you have to explore the island', however I will repeat it! Visited Cala d'hort - full of blummin jellyfish, however I could look at Es Vedra all day:
Skirted San An, then to (I think, don't have map here) St Agnes for Lunch in Restaurant La Palermo, a charming little place with a cracking Paella & lovely local old dears singing songs over wine and lunch. Then onto Benniras - what a great beach. The way the ground slopes so steeply in the water makes it lovely for swimming - you end up 6ft deep just a short while out. Also a lovely setting, with the (I assume) dis-used fishermans huts & rocks giving it real character. Drove around the northern area in general before returning to the car drop off, next to El Divino mid-evening. Headed into town and had a chilled one over a pizza somewhere in La Marino before heading into Dalt Villa for a couple of 1 am brandies in a bar opposite La Oliva (names escapes) - a beautiful part of the world indeed.
Sunday, took it easy by the pool mainly, until approx 4pm. Headed to Playa DB, watched tennis final in a bar there before heading to WLS. See a good few people getting searched and caught. See a copper putting on rubber gloves
. First f&ck up. Not on guest list. OHHHH NOOO. Despite me showing them the email print out etc from my contact - no joy. Tried to get in touch, failed. As we were only planning on going for a few hours we decided to jack it & head to Bora Bora. Got there, dance floor heavily male dominated & a couple of big police men doing the rounds. Good few security making sure no one dances on tables - not sure why - H&S? Becoming very much like Britain in which case. Sacked it off.Headed back to hotel, changed and out to meet our newly arriving friends in Ibiza town (Rock bar). They turned up and gave the slightly depressed me, the kick up the backside I needed. All smiles, rum and cokes and it's getting very messy very quickly! Amnesia parade comes past. What a grumpy load of bints! Ok, you very much would but...be jesus - cheer up pet! Not a smile between them - is this the model look?
Onto Pacha, in contrast to the over security at Space - only one bouncer it would appear on the whole door. None of this queueing lark - just a scrum. Not pleasant. Thankfully on the guesty this time & after 45 mins in queue in we go. Flower Power + Pacha Classics - what a great night. Seven mates tearing the place apart to Prince, Ultra Nate & god knows what. So far from cool, yet so very very good. Stayed until the last tune played before walking back to the Croissant Show.
Now bad decisions come into play. Instead of having a cup of tea & heading back for a chat and sleep, we had cup of tea, two beers, then 4 of us bought 2 litres of rum, some coke (a cola) & headed to the beach (San An bay mind, where the others where staying). Sat all day Monday there, demolised the rum - friends fell out, tears, heatstroke - all sorts of not really that good things. Less said the better etc. Finished up with a couple of us going to Sunset Strip with the lucky ones who avoided the day on the beach joining us later. Cue obligatory photo in case you dont know what the sun looks like
:
I have to say, I was very impressed by the strip in general. Clean, good mix of ages and nicer bars than I remember. The big white seats at Savannah were particulalrly welcome. The missus who is far more sophisticated than I, was very impressed albeit we did not venture near the west end. Whilst getting some food the uglier side reared its head, when an elderly group next to us were nearly hit by a bottle that landed from somewhere near
. Headed back, reasonably early night.Tuesday - up early for a good fews hours exploring the Dalt Villa. I love this place more than almost anywhere on earth. The natural beauty of it's position, the architecture itself, the history, the mix of gay and straight, lovely restaurants etc etc. And also, importantly, for me it retains an air of mystery. I will never know everything that goes on in there - particularly at a night time - and that is a good thing. A few pics from our day time walk:
Headed back to hotel & found another downer. Our mates in San An were ill as hell and were not coming over to Carl Cox
.So making the best of it, we grabbed something to eat on Figeurates front - great italian/seafood place with a jetty style dining area & headed straight into Space. Got in about 12.55. Went into Terrace as it opened to hear some proper dodgy mixing by James Lavelle, however Green Velvet fairly tearing the place apart in the main room (altho I was suprised at how hard the tunes were from both him and Cox, must be getting old). I have to say, in contrast to Pacha, Space feels to clinical, to well organised, to neon signed, corporate, clean - almost organised fun - and far to much security to make me feel comfortable!
That said, we were not up for it. We found the red box where a guy with dreads was banging out some great techish house & stayed there (anyone know his name? Really good DJ). As I looked down on the crowd in the main room, evidently having the time of their lives (what a great show - if you were there, the thing with the white sheet was amazing to see!) - for the first ever time I wondered if I was to old for this clubbing lark. It could have been the heat, the knowledge that our friends were ill, the few days prior with to much booze, the fact we were on a plane 9 hrs later or eating too late. But 'it' never kicked in, we never got traction etc. I think we were all grateful to leave around 4 - couple of biffs on the balcony & then sleep. Up a few hours later, to the airport - and again, in contrast to Manchester - a really easy transition through. Shocking queue for burger king tho.
So, in summary in terms of a break - some quality time with some of my best friends - and making new friends at the same time - brilliant holiday. In terms of food eaten, sights seen & beaches visited - brillant holiday. Mojitos in lovely bars? Box ticked.
Clubbing? Well, we only went to two clubs in five nights. This reflected the make up of the group in age and interests. Of those one was brilliant, the other never really got going. This nigh on entirely due to us tho. I do think that the lack of day time affected me - if anything in my head - I always used to think when I was in Ibiza 'someone somewhere is tearing a dancefloor apart', now this is not the case (legally that is) I feel somewhat saddened, and it is really when you are there that you realise the contribution that the Spaces of this world make to the economy of the island. That said, it certainly has the natural beauty to potentially thrive as a more middle aged spot.
Does this feel like the end of my ibiza club days? Very possibly - altho there is the possiblity of me and my Sept partner in crime reprising again for the closing. Watch this Space8).
http://photos-611.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-snc1/v263/220/96/673780611/n673780611_3564711_8574.jpg
