Party All Night on the Island of Ibiza
Excerpt from the book On a Tall Budget and Short Attention Span from the Teresa the Traveler Series.
When I realized how close I was to Ibiza – the world-famous party island, I decided to drop in. I first learned about the island paradise after the Vengaboys released their song “We’re Going to Ibiza”. So incredible were the words to this magical song they inspired my pilgrimage to the island.
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We’re Going to Ibiza
Hello party people! This is Captain Kim speaking Welcome aboard Venga Airways After takeoff we’ll pump up the sound system Cause we're going to Ibiza! I don't wanna be a bus driver All my life I'm gonna pack my bags And leave this town Grab a flight Fly away on Venga Airways Fly me high Ibiza sky Whoah! We’re going to Ibiza Whoah! Back to the island Whoah! We’re going to Ibiza Whoah! We’re gonna have a party Whoah! In the MediterraneanSea |
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I walked over to the ticket office to check the fares and discovered that one ferry was less than half the price of the other. I guess the other ferry was faster and nicer but I was fine with slow and cheap. After all, they both went to the same place! Around 10pm I caught a bus from the ticket office to the ferry terminal. After waiting for the vehicles to load, the foot passengers were led into the cafeteria and assigned rooms. I wasn’t really on the ball and ended up being the last woman in line which worked to my benefit as the rooms were assigned on a first come first serve basis – the first four women were assigned to the first room and so on. Because I was last, I ended up with my own room. Unfortunately I wasn’t as smart on the way back.
Ibiza is famous for its celebrity DJ’s and world-renounced dance clubs. Most beaches are clothing optional and so are some of the bars! People from all over Europe descend on Ibiza during the summer months to bake on the beach and party till they drop.
When we arrived at the port the following morning I looked for a hotel with some Canadians I had met on the ferry. One of them was sick and as we walked towards the nearest town it became apparent she was not going to make it much further. We hired a cab to drive us to the hospital where she checked in for the next few days to clear up a bladder infection. Had she not lost her medical claim form she would have stayed for free instead 3 days in the hospital cost $100. Once our friend was in good hands we took a taxi to the hotel apartment the tourist information office recommended. The Bon Sol in Platja d’en Bossa was clean, inexpensive, had a swimming pool and was only a few blocks from the beach.
Ibiza is famous for its celebrity DJ’s and world-renounced dance clubs. Most beaches are clothing optional and so are some of the bars! People from all over Europe descend on Ibiza during the summer months to bake on the beach and party till they drop.
When we arrived at the port the following morning I looked for a hotel with some Canadians I had met on the ferry. One of them was sick and as we walked towards the nearest town it became apparent she was not going to make it much further. We hired a cab to drive us to the hospital where she checked in for the next few days to clear up a bladder infection. Had she not lost her medical claim form she would have stayed for free instead 3 days in the hospital cost $100. Once our friend was in good hands we took a taxi to the hotel apartment the tourist information office recommended. The Bon Sol in Platja d’en Bossa was clean, inexpensive, had a swimming pool and was only a few blocks from the beach.
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Because it was near the end of the tourist season, the rooms were less expensive allowing me to book my own room complete with a kitchen and settle in for a week of debauchery. My new friends, who were younger than me, came to Ibiza to party every night and finish the drugs they bought in Amsterdam before catching a plane back to Canada. Going on tours and checking out the island was not high on their priority list so, needless to say, we didn’t hang out much.
Dalt Villa After settling into my room, I went for a walk around town while my friends slept the day away preparing to party all night. I picked up a tourist map and set out to learn more about this beautiful island. In 654 BC, Phoenician settlers founded a port in the Balearic Islands (a group of Mediterranean islands of which Ibiza belongs) and called it Ibossim. They dedicated Ibossim to the goddess of music and dance. How appropriate! Famous for being a party island with world class dance clubs such as Space, Pacha, Amnesia (known for its foam parties), Privilege (the largest club in the world) and Eden, the Spanish Tourist Office has been working to promote it as a family-oriented vacation destination. In an effort to curb the party atmosphere the government was trying to pass rules that required all nightclubs to close by 6am and for all new hotels to be 5-star. I spent half a day wondering through the small shops and restaurants of Dalt Villa – an ancient part of Ibiza old town that includes an old fortress, a chapel and some old houses. I followed the large stone walking path to the top of the city for a breathtaking view of the ocean. Archeological digging, throughout this UNESCO world heritage site had unearthed remains from the Roman, Punic and Vandal eras which I was able to see in the museum by the chapel. For tips on visiting Europe CLICK HERE
For general travel tips on what to pack and how to plan ahead CLICK HERE For tips on travelling on a budget CLICK HERE |
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Where I Stayed...
Bon Sol Calle Manuel de Falla, 4 Playa d’en Bossa Ibiza, Spain Tel: 00 34 971 30 04 66 Fax: 00 34 971 39 12 30 [email protected] |
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