Sweet Ibiza Yurt Life

Ibiza July 27-Aug 3

My flight to Ibiza is entertaining, bordering on utterly obnoxious. Irish stag and hen groups line the plane with their stereos bumping yelling sloppy drunken cheers. I am thankful that Ellen and I choose to immerse ourselves in the other kind of Ibiza.  Rustic, hippie, and natural. We stumble into our campground at midnight to yurt number 9. Furnished with beds, lamp and a mini fridge. For the next 7 days, we live the glamping dream. 

We find a rental car, and spend the next few days basking at Chirincana beach bar with our hippie neighbors and the contrasting elegance of the beachside bars' plush white beds with cocktails in hand. Each beach offers more breathtaking views than the last. I enjoy the feel of the plush warm sand carved into a perfect crescent from the rocky cliffs that surround. The water is clear with ever-shifting shades of blue offering an impossibly picturesque view from my horizontal towel post.  A truly relaxing week at these special spots...

Sunday.

Cala benniras.

8pm, We park and doddle down the pathway to Cala Benniras arriving to a packed beach. Here, locals are famous for their Sunday sunset beachside Drum circle. The island's Hippies accumulate to drum out their emotions and sell goods out of their pop-up booths. My favorite, by far, is a shop that sells only jean shorts, for all those never nudes out there.. 

Monday.

Cala Nova.

We have a gorgeous sandy afternoon in the sun at Cala Nova beach. Swimming in the clear ocean waves, sunbathing and reading.  Atzaro beach club sits above shore where we enjoy Sangria, cava, and bites as we watch the sun disappear towards the west island.

Tuesday.

Experimental Beach Club.

We arrive and promptly reject Les Salines beach as European tourists leech themselves to the shore leaving little actual beach to enjoy. For an alternative, we drive through the eery Ibizan salt mines to discover Experimental beach club on the edge of the world. Dropped on the edge of a sandy hill, a drastic drop leads down to a rocky beach with crystal clear waters. We post up on the ivory lounge chairs, drink rose sangria, eat the best gaspacho, and refresh with a swim just off shore. Floating too far out risks a sting from the eager jellyfish, something I find out only after one brushes against my leg. I have just one strict rule during my  travels: when anything seems difficult, frustrating, or i get stung by a jellyfish; stop, drop, and drink. Recovering  from my sting merits a piña colada type cocktail pooled inside a pineapple. Any drink tastes best in a fancy, fruity, girlie container. We slurp from the long straws as the sun sets into the camel back shaped rock in the distance. My stings resolves as the alcohol numbs.

Bambuddah Grove.

After a quick campside primp we are off to Bambuddah Grove for dinner where we experience a tantalizing asian dinner with curry, sushi and creative cocktails. We are offered a shot of  liqueur Herbial, a local spirit infused with the island grown herbs like anise seed and rosemary which combine to create a smooth floral flavor burst. A liqueur we will encounter again on our island wanderings...

Wednesday.

Cala Salada.

Cala Salada beach, found in a small cove off the west coast, offers a trail leading to its younger brother beach, Cala Salita. It is here we find sea water comparable to a bath water and a day on the hot sand crouched under our small beach umbrella. We become a frequent customer of the jovial Brazilian famous for his beachside kiwi and raspberry mojitos singing Bob Marley songs with lyrical interjections of "Mojitos, yeah!" I attempt my first slack line balance with our towel neighbors. More practice needed.

Thursday.

Giri Cafe & Aguas Blancas.

Northern Ibiza is home to more beaches and quaint towns. We make a stop in San Juan for the well known Giri cafe. We enjoy the organic cuisine picked from the garden we sit in. 

Next up, aguas blancas. The walking path to the beach is a  long descent from the car park along a winding hillside, we refuse to fathom the walk back up as we let gravity push us down and more down towards the water. We nap on and off under the sun and learn to appreciate some very interesting people watching as our naked towel neighbors amaze us with the types of activities they get  into. Proving athleticism sans pants, we quickly learn, is not a pretty sight.

Friday.

Cala Dort & Es Vedrá.

Es Vedrá is a magical rock blanketed by salt water off the western coast of Ibiza. It's rumored to have a magical significance as smoke plumes out the top housing sirens and sea nymphs, attracting UFOs, and evoking mystical visions.The trip Cala d'Hort is meant to appreciate this rock and bask in all its power. Although we did not hallucinate or find profound moments of clarity, it was a spectaular view worth a look.

Saturday.

PuraVida.

Our last day in Ibiza is mellow one. We shop for some bobbles and lazy our way into late day at Puravida beach club. Catching the rural bus to the airport I depart from this amazing Island. Great Britain awaits for a relaxing stay in the Kent countryside and a seaside Bournemouth getaway in a country that proves its greatness which each new adventure.