Fri 24/09/04
The day has finally come!
After a on/off sleep, we rise (for the 5th time) and see daylight shining through the gap in the curtains. ITS HERE!!! nine months of waiting, nine months of saving, nine months of planning and nine months of visiting forums. Get up and switch the four alarm clocks off (mad I know but wanted to make sure we didn't oversleep). Off to the Manchester Airport for my first ever flight, slightly nervous but the better half reassures me there is nothing to it.
All checked in and chilling in departures, our flight is on time. Weeee always a bonus as I was aware the same flight one week earlier was delayed 11 hours!, was anyone on that? 2.25pm? On the plane, nice window seat and settle down for Shrek II (Still say Shrek was modelled off Wayne Rooney).
Two hours and twenty minutes later, it hit me. On descent to land and I saw what looked like the Bora Bora beach. It was like I imagined it, but no words can describe the beauty. We touch down, waiting in anticipation for the plane doors to open. Straight down the stairs onto a bus. Wow the air is so warm, such a nice feeling. Bus gets packed and were off. Well we turn one corner and we get off (whats that about?? we were on the bus for all of 12 seconds!!)
Follow the crowd of people over to where we get the bags, fight among the 'Pete has no time for no Monkey Business' party for a space on the conveyor belt. Get our bags and were offffffff!!!!!. Now we selected a package holiday with MyTravel being new to it all. A rep met us at the exit and told us which coach to jump on. At this point, I looked round and saw the EVISSA AIRPORT sign I have seen so many times on this forum. I am finally in HEAVEN!
Nice little coach trip over to San Antonio Bay, on first glance over at the bay as we drop over a hill and I get a shiver down my spine. Nothing could prepare me for this, blue sea (don't forget only ever sea I have seen before is in Skegness and it ain't blue!) and golden sands. We arrive at our hotel, Hotel Hawaii, tempature is 29 degrees and its lovely.
Hotel is spotless, staff were very friendly and direct us to our room. Get into our room around 7.30pm Ibiza time and first thing we do is open the balcony doors and go out on the balcony. We have a view of San An Bay and the harbour, I was speechless. We both stood here for 10 minutes completely speechless.
After unpacking we head over to the Funky Lizard bar after hearing great things from Vikkims. Straight to the bar and order a nice Southern COmfort with coke and a Bacardi and Coke for Allison (the better half). WHAT! OI! OI! STOP!, problem sir?? Yes I asked for one not five! Ah, we do not have measures over here sir - ENJOY!. At 10 Euros, what a bargain.
Sat down and looked along the bay once more then the first surreal moment hit me. There was a large television and everyone was watching Emmerdale Farm!! WHAT THE?? I wanted to get away for soap land!. Thankfully I was saved as the signal had heavy interference and the owner turned it over to football. Big smile on my face, Allison gives me an evil look... Time to go (saying she hates football is a understatement).
We have a walk round the bay for an hour, I know I keep going on about how beautiful it is but DAMN IS WAS. Wait till I add the pictures to my review, thats all I can say. After a incredibly large Southern Comfort, I look down the list and find SANGRIA!. Two litres of Sangria please. WOW, what a drink. Dark red like wine with pieces of fruit in, after finishing off the jug between us, we move back onto the spirits until Allison is feeling somewhat.... WASTED.
I help her back to the Hotel, she falls onto the bed and she is out of there. By this time the room is spinning for me but its far to warm for me to sleep. It's 11.30pm, I feel tired after all the travelling then I see the switch for Air Con. Within 5 mins I've gone!
Sat 25/09/04
The search for Mambo/Cafe Del Mar
I rise at 6.30am, too excited to sleep. Walk out to the balcony and sit down to watch the sunrise. Allison soon joins me while having her first cig fo the day. I still can't get over this view. As the sun rises and glistens on the calm sea below, I notice one elderly guy going out to sea with some bread. He continues to feed the fish, not seen anything like this before. Allison than enquired if they could be pirhanas LOL!
Off to the first breaky in Ibiza, down to the buffet service. Wide range of food to choose from, I go for the traditional egg and bacon (well cooked ham). Excellent indeed. We head off for the hunt for Mambo at 10am. From the Hawaii hotel, we walk down the front and notice a nice little Bar called the 'Bay Bar'. We pop in there for a fresh orange, very nice. Walk a bit further and come across Bar M. Allison!! Its Bar M!! Bar M! Look!! Bar M. We pop in there for another orange, didn't really want one but just wanted to go in bar M. Allison!!! Look Manumission Manumission!, I was like a little kid a Christmas. After I calmed down we carried on and yes, right next door the orange corner. Allison.... SHHHHHHH lol. We were a bit oranged out so we gave it a miss. We saw all the boats lined up for the excursions and said we would try one later through the week. Walked over to the fountains and sat there for a while before asking a spanish waiter if he knew where Cafe Mambo was. he just shrugged us off :-(
Walked up a backstreet and eventually came a the Cafe Mambo shop!! RESULT! Enquired into the location of Mambo and she told us to go down this road right to the end and turn left. We went down the road but turned left a little early and came out at the bus stops at the end of the road in San Antonio. There was a small cafe there so we enquired there, they told us to go along the rocks and keep going. WHAT A DODGY ROUTE, we went along the path given to us, over rocks, narrow paths with bad drops. Eventually we came to a wooden platform and just past there was Cafe Del Mar. It was shut till 5pm. We carried on to Mambo's. We made it. Mission Accomplished! A very nice lady brought us a San Miguel each and we chilled here for a good few hours. The sea crashing against the rocks, the shear thrill of where I was. We head back along a road this time and realise where abouts we were.... DOH! we didn't have to go along any dodgy rock paths. We drop into an area that at this time was quiet (4pm). This has to be the West End, reviews I read described this place as a smelly horrid place. I found it rather different to anywhere else on the island, I wouldn't have given it either of those labels.
We look for 'Strikers Bar' as we spoke to Jack Striker (Darren) on this forum. We found it just past 'Hogans' but it was closed. We headed off back to the front and got the bus back to the hotel (mental note to make sure I get a ticket before trying to get on a bus). Time to freshen up for the evening ahead. So far I have found the local people very friendly, helpful and found there english very good apart from the one guy at the Cafe we asked for directions. This could have been for the reason he was at a cafe and I was asking him for another cafes location.
We head off down to Bar M for the evening, funky tunes and great cocktails. (Hurricane a personal fav) See Mrs Nando (hehe) creating some sexy looking chicken dishes so I plough in for a hot chicken in pitta. Mrs Nando can sure grill a sensational meal, was superb. Got to about 1am then we wobbled back to the hotel room and collapsed.
Sun 26/09/04
Ibiza Town
After a bit of a rough morning, we laze around the pool soaking up some sun and having an occasional dip in an icey pool. That evening we head off for Evissa, grab a taxi and 20 Euros later were there. On this point, why do the taxi drivers play english rock ballads? every taxi I got in played them (And they drove like the Bat out of Hell)!
As we walked around Ibiza town, it was all a bit much for us. Traffic constantly beeping there horns, people bustling about and I found the people much different than in San Antonio. We stopped off at a bar which must have been some kinda local establishment as when we walked in it was like in the wild west films where the piano man stops playing and a grumbleweed flies under the saloon doors. We drink some San Miguel then head off for a walk round. We only stayed in Ibiza Town for a few hours before jumping on a bus back to San Antonio. Wasn't impressed from what I saw but I was determined to re-visit the town in the daytime later in the week.
One thing has remained in my memory, people who drive scooters in Ibiza Town are looneys!
Mon 27/09/04
Roger Sanchez is the man
Nice bright morning, no clouds in the sky so we spend the morning lazing by the pool. I've nearly lost the 'look how white he is, he must be british' while the mrs is brown already, grrrrr. Could be something to do with me keep popping in the hotel bar for some light refreshment
.
We see on the notice board that Roger Sanchez is playing at Mambo tonight so that evening we jump in a taxi around 6pm and head off for Mambo. We grab a nice seat and have a few drinks while watching an amazing sunset. After a few more drinks we see the fire show duo warming up, this could be dodgy as the girl kept dropping her stick (this could be part of the false sense of security build up). Then the music changes from the usual chill out mood to something a bit more uplifting. Sure enough, Ali G is on the decks, no no - its Roger. Got some great pics of him on he decks. The fire show kicks off and its amazing, and this time she didn't drop it. The firework show with the release yourself board was cool.
Sat back, enjoyed the tunes being banged out and had to refrain from smiling to much when one of the Pacha dancing ladies wiggled her stuff next to me, damn those hotpants!. (pics coming soon lads I promise) Got to about 11pm and we headed off for something to eat, had dinner at a nice little cafe on the front which capped of a perfect evening.
Tue 28/09/04
Lazy day
Nice bright start to the day again, 31 degrees so its another pool day. We head of to San Antonio town to pick up a few bits before heading back to the hotel to spend the entire day soaking up the spanish rays. Got a bit more sleep on the sunbed and enjoyed every minute of it. In the evening we just had a few drinks in the bay, Funky Lizard bar had the Manchester United game on so I bought Allison loads of drinks so hopefully she wouldn't mind the footy, seeing Shrek score an hatrick on his debut was good to see. Popped in Trevors bar for a couple more before relaxing on a bench in front of the sea. Also took a picture of this cool dragon with fire a guy had made on the beach.
Wed 29/09/04
Hippy and Eden Day
Its getting hotter, 33 degrees today. We get to the hippy market and its amazing. Only had one problem with one stall holder, Allison sees a nice outfit and we enquire how much it is, she says 18 Euro's. We go to purchase it and she says its 80 Euro's. She was pleasant about the mis-understanding however. We took a break from the sun under a marquee with a bar. A group of people were playing some hippy music in the corner, it was different but cool. After purchasing a few items, we really enjoyed this day and will look forward to visiting Es cana hippy market again.
In the evening, we head of for our fav bar, Bar M. Mrs Nando cooks me up another smashing chicken dish and we get given free tickets for Eden. Its getting late and we feel like we don't want the night to end. We decide its time to visit an Ibiza nightclub. We get in Eden around 1am and there is only a handful of people in. I was very suprised on how small it is inside, I had it in my mind it was a massive club. Anyhow, even though it wasn't busy we had a great time in there and left around 5am. We've done it, we are no longer night club virgins!
MORE SOON (got to clean up b4 kids come home)
The day has finally come!
After a on/off sleep, we rise (for the 5th time) and see daylight shining through the gap in the curtains. ITS HERE!!! nine months of waiting, nine months of saving, nine months of planning and nine months of visiting forums. Get up and switch the four alarm clocks off (mad I know but wanted to make sure we didn't oversleep). Off to the Manchester Airport for my first ever flight, slightly nervous but the better half reassures me there is nothing to it.
All checked in and chilling in departures, our flight is on time. Weeee always a bonus as I was aware the same flight one week earlier was delayed 11 hours!, was anyone on that? 2.25pm? On the plane, nice window seat and settle down for Shrek II (Still say Shrek was modelled off Wayne Rooney).
Two hours and twenty minutes later, it hit me. On descent to land and I saw what looked like the Bora Bora beach. It was like I imagined it, but no words can describe the beauty. We touch down, waiting in anticipation for the plane doors to open. Straight down the stairs onto a bus. Wow the air is so warm, such a nice feeling. Bus gets packed and were off. Well we turn one corner and we get off (whats that about?? we were on the bus for all of 12 seconds!!)
Follow the crowd of people over to where we get the bags, fight among the 'Pete has no time for no Monkey Business' party for a space on the conveyor belt. Get our bags and were offffffff!!!!!. Now we selected a package holiday with MyTravel being new to it all. A rep met us at the exit and told us which coach to jump on. At this point, I looked round and saw the EVISSA AIRPORT sign I have seen so many times on this forum. I am finally in HEAVEN!
Nice little coach trip over to San Antonio Bay, on first glance over at the bay as we drop over a hill and I get a shiver down my spine. Nothing could prepare me for this, blue sea (don't forget only ever sea I have seen before is in Skegness and it ain't blue!) and golden sands. We arrive at our hotel, Hotel Hawaii, tempature is 29 degrees and its lovely.
Hotel is spotless, staff were very friendly and direct us to our room. Get into our room around 7.30pm Ibiza time and first thing we do is open the balcony doors and go out on the balcony. We have a view of San An Bay and the harbour, I was speechless. We both stood here for 10 minutes completely speechless.
After unpacking we head over to the Funky Lizard bar after hearing great things from Vikkims. Straight to the bar and order a nice Southern COmfort with coke and a Bacardi and Coke for Allison (the better half). WHAT! OI! OI! STOP!, problem sir?? Yes I asked for one not five! Ah, we do not have measures over here sir - ENJOY!. At 10 Euros, what a bargain.
Sat down and looked along the bay once more then the first surreal moment hit me. There was a large television and everyone was watching Emmerdale Farm!! WHAT THE?? I wanted to get away for soap land!. Thankfully I was saved as the signal had heavy interference and the owner turned it over to football. Big smile on my face, Allison gives me an evil look... Time to go (saying she hates football is a understatement).
We have a walk round the bay for an hour, I know I keep going on about how beautiful it is but DAMN IS WAS. Wait till I add the pictures to my review, thats all I can say. After a incredibly large Southern Comfort, I look down the list and find SANGRIA!. Two litres of Sangria please. WOW, what a drink. Dark red like wine with pieces of fruit in, after finishing off the jug between us, we move back onto the spirits until Allison is feeling somewhat.... WASTED.
I help her back to the Hotel, she falls onto the bed and she is out of there. By this time the room is spinning for me but its far to warm for me to sleep. It's 11.30pm, I feel tired after all the travelling then I see the switch for Air Con. Within 5 mins I've gone!
Sat 25/09/04
The search for Mambo/Cafe Del Mar
I rise at 6.30am, too excited to sleep. Walk out to the balcony and sit down to watch the sunrise. Allison soon joins me while having her first cig fo the day. I still can't get over this view. As the sun rises and glistens on the calm sea below, I notice one elderly guy going out to sea with some bread. He continues to feed the fish, not seen anything like this before. Allison than enquired if they could be pirhanas LOL!
Off to the first breaky in Ibiza, down to the buffet service. Wide range of food to choose from, I go for the traditional egg and bacon (well cooked ham). Excellent indeed. We head off for the hunt for Mambo at 10am. From the Hawaii hotel, we walk down the front and notice a nice little Bar called the 'Bay Bar'. We pop in there for a fresh orange, very nice. Walk a bit further and come across Bar M. Allison!! Its Bar M!! Bar M! Look!! Bar M. We pop in there for another orange, didn't really want one but just wanted to go in bar M. Allison!!! Look Manumission Manumission!, I was like a little kid a Christmas. After I calmed down we carried on and yes, right next door the orange corner. Allison.... SHHHHHHH lol. We were a bit oranged out so we gave it a miss. We saw all the boats lined up for the excursions and said we would try one later through the week. Walked over to the fountains and sat there for a while before asking a spanish waiter if he knew where Cafe Mambo was. he just shrugged us off :-(
Walked up a backstreet and eventually came a the Cafe Mambo shop!! RESULT! Enquired into the location of Mambo and she told us to go down this road right to the end and turn left. We went down the road but turned left a little early and came out at the bus stops at the end of the road in San Antonio. There was a small cafe there so we enquired there, they told us to go along the rocks and keep going. WHAT A DODGY ROUTE, we went along the path given to us, over rocks, narrow paths with bad drops. Eventually we came to a wooden platform and just past there was Cafe Del Mar. It was shut till 5pm. We carried on to Mambo's. We made it. Mission Accomplished! A very nice lady brought us a San Miguel each and we chilled here for a good few hours. The sea crashing against the rocks, the shear thrill of where I was. We head back along a road this time and realise where abouts we were.... DOH! we didn't have to go along any dodgy rock paths. We drop into an area that at this time was quiet (4pm). This has to be the West End, reviews I read described this place as a smelly horrid place. I found it rather different to anywhere else on the island, I wouldn't have given it either of those labels.
We look for 'Strikers Bar' as we spoke to Jack Striker (Darren) on this forum. We found it just past 'Hogans' but it was closed. We headed off back to the front and got the bus back to the hotel (mental note to make sure I get a ticket before trying to get on a bus). Time to freshen up for the evening ahead. So far I have found the local people very friendly, helpful and found there english very good apart from the one guy at the Cafe we asked for directions. This could have been for the reason he was at a cafe and I was asking him for another cafes location.
We head off down to Bar M for the evening, funky tunes and great cocktails. (Hurricane a personal fav) See Mrs Nando (hehe) creating some sexy looking chicken dishes so I plough in for a hot chicken in pitta. Mrs Nando can sure grill a sensational meal, was superb. Got to about 1am then we wobbled back to the hotel room and collapsed.
Sun 26/09/04
Ibiza Town
After a bit of a rough morning, we laze around the pool soaking up some sun and having an occasional dip in an icey pool. That evening we head off for Evissa, grab a taxi and 20 Euros later were there. On this point, why do the taxi drivers play english rock ballads? every taxi I got in played them (And they drove like the Bat out of Hell)!
As we walked around Ibiza town, it was all a bit much for us. Traffic constantly beeping there horns, people bustling about and I found the people much different than in San Antonio. We stopped off at a bar which must have been some kinda local establishment as when we walked in it was like in the wild west films where the piano man stops playing and a grumbleweed flies under the saloon doors. We drink some San Miguel then head off for a walk round. We only stayed in Ibiza Town for a few hours before jumping on a bus back to San Antonio. Wasn't impressed from what I saw but I was determined to re-visit the town in the daytime later in the week.
One thing has remained in my memory, people who drive scooters in Ibiza Town are looneys!
Mon 27/09/04
Roger Sanchez is the man
Nice bright morning, no clouds in the sky so we spend the morning lazing by the pool. I've nearly lost the 'look how white he is, he must be british' while the mrs is brown already, grrrrr. Could be something to do with me keep popping in the hotel bar for some light refreshment
.We see on the notice board that Roger Sanchez is playing at Mambo tonight so that evening we jump in a taxi around 6pm and head off for Mambo. We grab a nice seat and have a few drinks while watching an amazing sunset. After a few more drinks we see the fire show duo warming up, this could be dodgy as the girl kept dropping her stick (this could be part of the false sense of security build up). Then the music changes from the usual chill out mood to something a bit more uplifting. Sure enough, Ali G is on the decks, no no - its Roger. Got some great pics of him on he decks. The fire show kicks off and its amazing, and this time she didn't drop it. The firework show with the release yourself board was cool.
Sat back, enjoyed the tunes being banged out and had to refrain from smiling to much when one of the Pacha dancing ladies wiggled her stuff next to me, damn those hotpants!. (pics coming soon lads I promise) Got to about 11pm and we headed off for something to eat, had dinner at a nice little cafe on the front which capped of a perfect evening.
Tue 28/09/04
Lazy day
Nice bright start to the day again, 31 degrees so its another pool day. We head of to San Antonio town to pick up a few bits before heading back to the hotel to spend the entire day soaking up the spanish rays. Got a bit more sleep on the sunbed and enjoyed every minute of it. In the evening we just had a few drinks in the bay, Funky Lizard bar had the Manchester United game on so I bought Allison loads of drinks so hopefully she wouldn't mind the footy, seeing Shrek score an hatrick on his debut was good to see. Popped in Trevors bar for a couple more before relaxing on a bench in front of the sea. Also took a picture of this cool dragon with fire a guy had made on the beach.
Wed 29/09/04
Hippy and Eden Day
Its getting hotter, 33 degrees today. We get to the hippy market and its amazing. Only had one problem with one stall holder, Allison sees a nice outfit and we enquire how much it is, she says 18 Euro's. We go to purchase it and she says its 80 Euro's. She was pleasant about the mis-understanding however. We took a break from the sun under a marquee with a bar. A group of people were playing some hippy music in the corner, it was different but cool. After purchasing a few items, we really enjoyed this day and will look forward to visiting Es cana hippy market again.
In the evening, we head of for our fav bar, Bar M. Mrs Nando cooks me up another smashing chicken dish and we get given free tickets for Eden. Its getting late and we feel like we don't want the night to end. We decide its time to visit an Ibiza nightclub. We get in Eden around 1am and there is only a handful of people in. I was very suprised on how small it is inside, I had it in my mind it was a massive club. Anyhow, even though it wasn't busy we had a great time in there and left around 5am. We've done it, we are no longer night club virgins!
MORE SOON (got to clean up b4 kids come home)