Ibiza (Pronounced e-beeth-a)

First let me start out by saying that when Cat and I were planning this little get-a-way we made a list of the places that we had to go. On this list... Rome, the Eiffel Tower, the home where Anne Frank hid etc. Cat added Ibiza. It has been a dream of hers to come here for um, her entire adult life. So, I hoped that this jaunt onto some random island in the Mediterranean would fulfill her very high expectations. Believe me, it did!

I am writing to you from the home of a Spanish woman named Angela on the island of Ibiza. It´s a tiny island off of the eastern coast of Spain. We had to pull an all nighter Thursday in order to catch our 7am flight out of Madrid (ouch!). We made our first flight fine as well as our second but on the second flight Cat & I were sperated, window seats on either side of a row. In between us sat 2 men, a woman and a child. I had the luck of sitting, pinned to the wall, next to the men. Im not sure what nationality they were but they smelled so strongly of exotic spices and body odor that it was all that I could do at 9am to keep myself from vomiting. Just the thought of it makes me dry heave.

We arrived in Ibiza and rode the bus to Ibiza town where we met our host at a statue by the port. She had to return to work so we hoofed it to her apartment just a few blocks away. She is a single woman that lives in a 4th story apartment. Cat and I are sharing a room that only has a fouton in it but we have our own bathroom which is so nice. We took it easy the first night because we had stayed up ALL night Thursday and were f*ing exhausted.

Saturday we woke up early and started to walk. We went to find a nacropolis that dates back to 500bc but took a wrong turn and ended up by the ocean. This little coastal town is known for the large fortress that is located by it´s port. It´s called Dalt Villa. We hiked up god knows how many cobblestone stairs in this ancient stairwell to the top of the wall that protects the city still. There was no one there. I am sure that once we get to some of the more popular places on the European mainland that we´ll be met with lines and crowds but the only people that we saw was a group of 4 Italians. The whole place is so well maintained and people actually still live within the fortress walls. I try to explain it but there are just no words. As a side note... my butt is burning. I am going to be in the best shape when I get home from all of this walking and CLIMBING SO MANY STAIRS!!!

After Dalt Villa we walked across the main port-harbor-marina and found a beach. There were very few people there but the sand was white and the water was turquoise, teal blue. It was so untouched compared to the over run beaches of Hawaii. We just sat there and enjoyed lunch which by the way consisted of pechuga de pavo (turkey) mozerella cheese and crackers. This has become a staple for us. We eat it for at least 2 meals a day. I read a book, Cat wrote in her journal. It was nice. Then it was SIESTA time!!!! I love the whole concept of Siesta! Cat usually spends some time on the computer but I always take advantage of country mandated rest time during the middle of the day. It´s a narcolepts paradise! That evening we made dinner at our hosts´ home then got ready to experience Ibiza´s legendary night life.

Our couchsurfing host directed us to an area where there were a few ¨early¨ bars. We found one named La Cava. It was beautiful. Lots of white with red and blue lights. I said ¨thank you¨when we were seated and automatically the man who escorted us to our table began speaking understandable English (thank god). His name was Javier. He was Venezuelan and extremely good looking!!!!! He asked us where we were from and actually knew Utah, Karl Malone and the Utah Jazz. We had amazing mojitos and tapas as well as some tasty shots (gold rum and honey try it!). After La Cava we took a cab to a club called Pacha. It was about 1:30am and were still part of the early bird crowd. We did however get to meet Zach Hansen´s future husband, a dancer for the club that was clad in a large sexy tattoo, leather pants, a fedora and washboard abs. I warned Cat that I was a terrible dancer before we came to Ibiza but, thanks to Javier´s rum honey shots I found the beat and we ended up dancing like crazy people till 5:30am.

Just when we thought that Ibiza had given us all that it had to offer, we saw the most amazing person at lunch today. We have walked all over Ibiza and somehow this little gem was sitting in the cafe right below the apartment that we are staying at. A combination of daisy duke shorts, pantyhose, colorful cowboy boots, white wife beater tank bearing a not-so-attractive midsection, bad make up and a red g-string rising out of the front and back of the shorts made me seize. Did I mention that this was a man??? I apologize if you just threw up in your mouth a little bit but I had to share.

Anyway... tonight it´s off to Barcelona where we´re spending our first night at a hostel in the Gothic distric (historic goth, not whips and chains. Get your mind out of the gutter) then we are hoping to find someone to couchsurf with. After this great couchsurfing experience we figure that it´s an amazing way to save money.

Te Mando Mucho Besos
(Im sending you many kisses)
Love Love
Audrey