Home Travel Articles La Isla Ibiza | La Isla Ibiza |
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| Written by Andrea Gilbey | |
| Thursday, 28 May 2009 | |
 Andrea Gilbey takes us to the party isle.I first visited Spain’s party isle to attend a gay wedding, and this year I will return to celebrate my very own nuptials. Ibiza! What is it that makes this Mediterranean resort a mecca for queer tourists and incurable romantics alike? Could it be the 12th century white churches, the beautiful Balearic beaches, the fabulous food and fashion, and the chance to hear some of the world’s best DJs? Ibiza’s fascinating history is closely linked to the fertility goddess Tanit and ‘Bes’ the God of Dance. But my love affair with the island centres around its charismatic capital, Ibiza Town, with its world heritage medieval quarter complete with castle and cathedral, tiny bars and restaurants hiding up cobbled streets and stylish boutiques. Salinas is one of the sexiest beaches in the world, where the bold and the beautiful converge to recover from the night before and watch the sun set whilst saxophonists serenade the sun-kissed revelers over gentle dance beats at one of the many beach bars. The best time to visit is from early June until late September, when the weather is almost guaranteed to be a perfect, sunny 30 degrees and the surrounding Mediterranean’s turquoise sea is invitingly warm. Located off the southern coast of Spain, you can reach Ibiza by ferry from Valencia or Barcelona. A direct flight from London will cost $220. To discover the island’s four corners you can hire a car or a motorbike, although nothing’s more than an hour’s drive away. With the current exchange rate, nothing is cheap in this town. If you are going in a group, your cheapest option is to share one of the many villas on the island, rent a ‘pension’ in town or a room in an Agroturismo – farmhouse hotel. Notwithstanding the fact that I went with a party of NYC gay boys, the whole island felt very queer friendly and indeed has been known as such since the 1960s. Head to the gay quarter in Ibiza Town, to the grande dame of the bar scene, Dome. Drinks are expensive, but the passing entertainment from wannabees and drag queens is free. If you hang around just after midnight you can also pick up free tickets to clubs. The women’s scene is small, but, rather like the Spanish women, perfectly formed. One of the relative newcomers is ‘Sunrise’, an intimate bar offering the best mojitos. The gay beach is Es Cavallet, one of the finest stretches of sand on the south coast of the island and when you’ve tired of the sunbathing there’s always the friendly ‘Chiringay’ beach bistro for some Spanish home cooking. Despite a new reputation as one of Spain’s most tranquil corners, you can’t truly experience Ibiza without visiting one of the many 24 hour mega clubs on the island. The well-known ‘Space’, despite the hype and hearsay, does not disappoint. Ibiza is a fantasy island that you’ll find hard to leave. And you have to agree – paradise is very nice. For more information visit: www.gayibiza.net www.ibiza-spotlight.com www.ibiza-voice.com www.internationalvillas.net |
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