This morning we docked in Ibiza, Spain. I was last here on my 70th birthday with Al. That seems like forever ago now.
Ibiza is the third largest of the Balearic Islands and lies about 90 miles off the coast of Spain and the city of Valencia. It has a well-earned reputation of being a party island and it's known for its electronic dance club music scene. We who arrive on cruise ships which are only here during daylight hours will never experience the real Ibiza. The last time I came, Al and I took the shuttle into town, walked around a little and then found a place to have a pizza and a drink. While we were sitting at the little café, a glass of water was spilled on the very expensive camera Al brought with him and that was the end of the camera. We tried drying it with the blow dryer when we got back to the ship and thoroughly cleaning it, but it still wouldn't work. In some ways maybe that was good because he stopped lugging all that heavy stuff around with him.
Anyway, back to Ibiza. The name of the island is probably a variation of a Phoenician word meaning "fragrant island." The previous occupiers of this place are the same who controlled most things in the Mediterranean in the last several millennia. For a few hundred years it was under Moorish rule until the Moors were expelled from the Iberian peninsula. It, along with the other Ballearic Islands, is now the Ballearic Autonomous Community, a region of Spain.
Because of its climate, beaches, and clubs it has become a major tourist destination in the summer months, mainly from June to September. Although Ibiza only has a population of roughly 160,000 more than 7,000,000 tourists arrive through its airport each year. That has put a strain on the water supply and for that reason among others the government has imposed tourism taxes and moratoriums on new construction.
So, I didn't go ashore today. Yes, I'm lazy, but that's not the total cause. The last time I was here Al and I realized that the place is absolutely dead during the day, and even more so when it's off-season. Instead I stayed on board and chatted with friends and took care of some business things I hadn't done since I'd been on the ship. I'll include a couple of photos I took from my veranda so you can at least see what it looks like.
In the evening a gay couple from the St. Louis area invited me to dine with them. They are two charming guys whose company I have enjoyed while at one of the bars before dinner. They arranged for a special dinner in the main restaurant and we had a good time. After I went down to the Club to listen to the music and perhaps dance a little. Instead of a band, last night there was a DJ and an electronic dance party (maybe a tribute to Ibiza?). In any event, the music was so loud I could barely hear myself think and I couldn't take it for very long. I moved up into the far corner of the bar area and talked with some new Australian friends until we all decided our heads were going to explode so we called it a night. It was still a lovely day.
Oh, one more thing. I can't remember if I've written about my new afternoon routine - my quest for the World's Best Adult Milkshake. I think I have but just to recap, in the afternoon I go to the pool bar, pick out a gelato flavor and ask the bartender to create a milkshake for me using whatever spirits he thinks complement the gelato. I have had some absolutely yummy ones! Today's was a concoction of raspberry gelato, white rum, and chambord. Here's a photo of Isram, the latest contender for first place.
More tomorrow so for now Buenas Noches!
No comments:
Post a Comment