Despite all mine and Tom's numerous trips to Ibiza we had only ever been once before for New Year and that was for the Millennium so we felt a New Year trip was way overdue and being the organised missy I am
we ended up getting some cheap flights with Iberia with great flight times and a quick changeover in Barcelona. Plus since we booked the holiday we had got engaged and getting married in Ibiza so it was the perfect opportunity to finalise some wedding stuff while we were out there. We got the 6am flight on 29th December from Heathrow, landed in Barcelona and had a couple of hours to kill so played Heat quizes
and drank beer, then the final 40 minute flight to Ibiza. We landed in Ibiza in gorgeous sunshine - it's so different going out of season, we were literally the only plane in the airport, there were no staff working, not even any security checks (welcome to manana country
). Quickly got luggage and picked up car and drove to Ibiza Town - the roads were so quiet, I even said I would be able to drive on them which didn't go down well with Tom
We were staying in the El Puerto apartments in Ibiza Town which are perfect for an out of season break, we were literally 5 mins walk from the Old Town and 10 mins walk from Pacha. After quickly unpacking we took a walk round to the beach in Talamanca and sat in the sunshine eating paella, drinking wine and playing with Spanish doggies
At night we went for a wander round Dalt Vila, again the contrast between summer and winter is amazing, the streets were so quiet and it was so peaceful and chilled. We went for dinner at La Brasa which is as good as ever and then finished the night off with a few wines in a little cafe bar overlooking the square.
After a huge Gollum sleep we got up late morning and went for breakfast at the Croissant Show where the double of DJ Oliver was serving us (I swear if I hadn't known he was playing Ministry that night I'd have thought this was his winter job
). Then we drove to where we are having our wedding and reception - Cap des Falco on Es Codolar. Oh wow, if I was an excited bride-to-be before then my excitment levels have gone thru the roof now
The beach is so peaceful and deserted and the only thing around for miles is the restaurant. We explored the beach and climbed up the cliffs and didn't see another person. We had wanted to eat in the restaurant but being manana land they were taking an extended Christmas break so by 2.30pm we realised that they weren't opening and drove down to Salines. Again the beach was so deserted, just an odd dog walker (how much did we wish we'd had our doggies with us
). We walked all the way down Salines right round to Es Cavallet by which time we'd worked up quite an appetite
so we went and ate at the amazing La Escollera restaurant and had 3 yummy courses and a couple of bottles of wine in gorgeous sunshine
That evening we just went and had a few wines and tapas in a bar overlooking the square.
After another Gollum sleep we had breakfast again at the Croissant Show (I would be such a bloater if I lived in Ibiza permanently
) and then got the Sunday papers and drove up to Benniras. We spent New Years Eve afternoon sat on the beach at Benniras reading papers in the sunshine - this is definitely the life
There were only about 5 other people on the beach (and a horse
).
We drove around some of the little villages in the north of the island and then went back to Ibiza Town and had a couple of wines at a bar in the Marina Botofoch and watched the last sunset of the year over Dalt Vila. After 3 days of being civilised it was time to resume 'normal' service
We had booked a table in the Pacha restaurant and they had a 7 course set New Years Eve dinner. I like the Pacha restaurant at the best of the times and they'd really gone to town with the decor etc and I felt just like a little princess
All your wine, champagne and water was included with the meal so by the time they did the countdown for New Year everyone was in the New Year spirit and at midnight everyone was dancing on the tables, chairs, with their waiters
It was just a really fun atmosphere. The music was far from groundbreaking - Love is in the Air, Billy Jean etc but perfect to see in the New Year. At 1am we went into the club, I didn't have any particular high epectations for Pacha but the music was superb all night and a really good crowd - one of the best nights I'd had in Pacha in ages
We left at the end and walked back to the hotel and minxed about a bit, then went to DC10 about midday. I much preferred DC10 to my recent summer visits, it was more like it was years ago - it was a predominantly Spanish crowd and the music was a lot diirrrtieer than recent years. You can't fault dancing in the sunshine with a Vodka Limon on New Years Day in the sunshine
We left at 7 and did 'our walk'
back to Playa den Bossa - PDB is a complete ghost town in winter, we walked all the way thru PDB to Figuretes and didn't see a single person or any signs of life. We then ended up walking all the way back to Ibiza Town (nothing like a brisk hike post-DC10
) and finished the night off with a few Baileys in a bar in the Old Town.
Tuesday was our last day
and we had a meeting with the man who is marrying us so we drove up to San Joan and met him. He's this chilled out hippy who lives up in the hills and was a lovely man and he went thru the ceremony with him. Then we drove back to Ibiza Town and then met our lovely wedding planner in Cafe Sidney and went over all the wedding details with her. We finished the afternoon off with a few wines and tapas in Bliss and then drove back to the airport at least with the knowledge that it is only 6 months til our next visit.
The flights were all on time and we arrived back to a cold Heathrow at 10pm last night. I cannot begin to describe how amazing Ibiza is out of a season - a completely different experience to summer but if you are after a chilled break (with a bit of clubbing thrown in for good measure
) then it can't be beaten - now roll on June
