It’s hard to believe that this time last year weekends were spent soaking up the never-ending sunshine in Ibiza. Sitting in the cold, dark winter weather back in Exeter makes life on the island feel like a million miles away. Thankfully I have photos to prove that I did actually spend a year in such a dreamy place. Looking through them brings back a lot of memories and emotions but above all the pictures make me feel so lucky that I had the opportunity to do what I did. After a nostalgic few hours of going through all my photos from start to finish, I’ve decided to sum up my top moments of the year…..(this blog has not come to an end yet!)
Highlights:
- Fiesta de vin Payes
This was a memorable evening of being served endless tasters of homemade Ibizan wine on a football pitch in a remote village right up in the hills of the island. Getting progressively more drunk while attempting to mingle with the locals, as well as eating the classic Ibizan sobresada sausage cooked over open fires in old bath tubs, the evening was topped off with a groups performance of the traditional Ibizan dance Baile Payés in full costume. A definite highlight.
2. A winter stroll in Dalt Vila
One sunny January afternoon I decided to go and have a mosey around the old town Dalt Vila. This magnificent place looked breathtaking in the sharp winter light and wandering around without spotting a single tourist made it all the more special. The views from the top were also better than any other time of the year. Serenity in a nutshell.
3. Picnic in Cala Salada
Another winter highlight; driving to the deserted cove of Cala Salada for a freshly made lunch of warm marinated chicken kindly cooked up by an Argentinian chef! Soaking up the warm sun which glimmered on the blue water, the picnic was followed by drinking the typical Argentinian tea mate on Cala Saladeta, a hidden adjacent beach.
3. A short trip to Andalucía
I was lucky enough to spend a few days visiting my flatmates family in the wonderfully Andalusian town of La Puebla de Cazalla. As well as being shown around La Puebla, including a trip to the family’s orange trees and the endless olive groves the trip also featured a tour around Malaga by night and an unforgettable day in the magical city of Sevilla, all in the company of warmhearted Spaniards.
4. Two Spaniards in Holland
During Spain’s Semana Santa holiday, my two Andaluisan flatmates came to visit my home in Holland. Although people say you should make the most of your time abroad, showing these very Spanish girls the Dutch sights was something I’ll never forget. Taking two fiery dark-headed Spaniards out of their natural environment and on to the streets of Amsterdam was truly something, although having to speak a mix of Dutch, Spanish and English did get confusing at times!
5. Easter Bunny
Running an Easter Egg hunt for an entire primary school dressed as the Easter Bunny has to be the highlight of my time as a language assistant at Can Raspalls. After weeks of preparation, including a few tears, I spent three eventful days watching children of all ages whizzing around the school’s corridors in search of coloured eggs in order to receive a chocolate prize from their first ever Easter bunny. The desperately competitive looks on their faces throughout the hunt made it all worth it.
6. Drumming at Bennirás
In June I finally went to see the infamous congregation of drummers that gather every sunday afternoon at Bennirás and play until the sun goes down. The idea is you listen to the group while watching the sunset on the beach, however when joining a crowd of people for a closer look, I managed to catch the eye of one of the men who called me over to have a go. I finally managed to persuade my flatmates to join me and soon we were all tapping away on African drums attempting to keep up with the frantic rhythm of the group. Although we didn’t do so well, there was something special about listening to the sound of drums at such a wild beach.
So there you have it, a selection of my top moments during my time living on the eclectic island of Ibiza. Reminiscing has made me realise what a special year I had and I feel so grateful to have experienced all I did, especially now that I’m back in the English student bubble. If you get a chance to spend time abroad, take it. I promise it will be unforgettable.
La Buena Vida 