Ha ha. Love the American bashing in this thread.
But overall... **yawn**
I've been going to Ibiza every year since 2001 and every year there's the "oh, it's not how it used to be" thread on here.
And I still love it.
Ha ha. Spoken like a true pessimist!Spoken like a true PR man. And that is part of the problem. There needs to be an HONEST debate about where things are going wrong and not ostrich heads in the sand pretending it's still 1999
^^ I take it you're referring to mr_why's post on the previous page ??
It's the way people act that's the real issue and nowt to do with genuinely having fun whatever music is playing. Can't stand self-obsessed tosswits and people with no manners whether they happen to be at Ushuaia, Ocean Beach, Sankeys, Underground or anywhere else. Decent down-to-earth politeness and humility is what's so often lacking nowadays. Think I'm chronologically entitled to be a grumpy old git VERY soon ... but have been a grumpy young git when it comes to repulsive egos being strutted about for many a year. Used to hack me off in London around business stuff so much I worked very hard to be free of the need to go anywhere near it at all in person. Ever. Last thing I want is to be surrounded by it when I'm on holiday !!!
Everyone has the right to be hacked off with other people whose behaviour aggravates them. When those (aggravating) people start dominating a place or venue it's a huge turn-off for others. The point is that people DID used to behave much more openly towards each other and the notion of separation & division referred above is confirmation of loss of the very thing which made the soul of the island in years gone by. Just about everywhere. Now it's like faction -fighting amongst the visitors (and clubbers) sometimes. Alongside my cheque book is bigger than your cheque book and my table's better than yours. Yawn .... whether it's Paris Hilton or Loco Dice behind the decks this sort of thing is equally vomit-inducing !
I love how this debate always brings out the musical snobs and dullards who like nothing better than looking down their nose at other people having a good time in places they feel are beneath them and listening to music they can't stand.
There is a simple solution to this people.... don't go to those places! If Ocean Beach or Avicii at Ushuaia isn't your thing then stay away from them and let the ones who enjoy it get on with it while you go to the parties you like and congratulate yourself on how cool you are.
I love how this debate always brings out the musical snobs and dullards who like nothing better than looking down their nose at other people having a good time in places they feel are beneath them and listening to music they can't stand.
There is a simple solution to this people.... don't go to those places! If Ocean Beach or Avicii at Ushuaia isn't your thing then stay away from them and let the ones who enjoy it get on with it while you go to the parties you like and congratulate yourself on how cool you are.
Well, speaking personally (obviously) I think I'm pretty open-minded and had no problem at all fitting in to and thoroughly enjoying a decent outdoor island party in Zakynthos. Complete with a Cuff crew (promptly ducks) and a young clientele. The odd shuffles welcome. So there's no snobbishness or arbitrary looking down of noses on my part, it's all about what you see with your own eyes and experience for yourself.
I'd say that venue there beat Destino hands down for me atmosphere-wise and that's probably one of the best rated places in Ibiza now for daytime parties. I hate Ushuaia so goes without saying I preferred it to that too ! Also found a fantastic club open till way gone 9am with a brilliant (mainly Greek) crowd and great music which topped any of the smaller indoor venues in Ibiza, imho. What differentiated both from Ibiza clubs was an absence of discrimination, friendly and inclusive people, no VIP and 5-6Euro drinks (which is perfectly fair).
As to venues, you either like fancy venues or you don't. I spent all my formative years in and out of them from LA to Cap Ferrat, and it all just seems like much of a muchness to me. Dubai-esque glitz and glam. Which you can find all over the world nowadays. Nothing really special about it, then or now, and that's where it falls down - for me anyway.
So yes, I voted with my feet on my last trip away this year, and found absolutely cracking parties going on in the unlikliest of places. Hunting them out was fun too. If I'm honest, the island was also more spectacular - at less than half the price. Thought I'd go there and remind myself why I still go to Ibiza but found the opposite .. the sort of people and vibe I used to experience in Ibiza and now find crowded out there in July/August.
In the end, when people exploit a place, they look around and move on to somewhere new pretty soon. Because after they've played with the toy for a while they want somewhere new again. That's because, like pop music, it's quick to please and quick to bore. Just hope the Matutes "get rich quick" scheme has a short payback period in its investment calculations, or else that the curiosity train of people taking one-off trips to say they've "been and seen" keeps rolling to keep the entrance gates creaking. I've been happy going to Ibiza for 20 years, through all the changes, so for me it's hardly a "toy" I've personally grown tired of.
But having a genuine meaningful conversation with someone from the cast of 'Ex on the Beach' is about as likely as a green moon. So one might be forgiven for taking a look around and deciding it isn't worth the effort of trying too hard. If I do go back, I think I'll likely wind up in St Joan de Labritja sleeping out with the horses .