Everyone hears about the exotic hedonism, the night life, and the beautiful indulgence that exists on the Balearic Islands. It’s typical to be stepping out for dinner at 2 a.m., beginning your clubbing at 3 a.m., or indulging in a little retail therapy in the gorgeous shops (offering the best in designs and textiles from throughout the area) in the wee hours of the morning. The shops keep their hours from about 8 p.m. until about 4 a.m.– they are well rested after a nice afternoon siesta! Enjoying the island until early in the morning is an amazing way to experience this rugged part of Spain. However, there is so much more to this magical place that lured Odysseus from his ship in Homer’s Odyssey. Similar to Odysseus, I took this journey through the Balearic Islands via boat as well.
On their way to the disco 😉
Our journey began in Ibiza Town, on the main island of Ibiza, where I met up with my good friend Captain Luca Lianza (fellow gypsetter and adventure travel companion) at his boat Miaplacidus a 67 ft Kanter Ketch. This sun soaked trip is available this summer for charter via Intersail Club through the Aeolian Islands in Southern Italy, Sardinia, Corsica and the Balearic Islands.
Miaplacidus my favorite second home 🙂
If you haven’t done so I highly recommend traveling by boat. It gives you an entirely different perspective than merely doing a hotel stay or a house rental. Even more so in a place like the Balearic Island’s where you get to see the raw natural beauty of the island from the water. It captures the amazing variety of colors created from the dance between the sun, water and rocks that decorate the landscape. As well as having the capacity to easily hop from island to island to absorb every aspect of them including all of those gorgeous little coves hidden from the typical tourists that are only whispered from ear to ear by the locals and people in the know.
There are 4 main islands in the Balearic chain, Majorca, Minorca, Ibiza and Formentera. Each has its own flavor. While Ibiza, the most typically visited and populated is the most famous for its high energy club scene like at the legendary Space, along with its beautiful beaches. Formentera is the perfect island to chill on and take in the culture, exquisite beaches and unrivaled food it boosts.
The shopping is also fantastic on Formentera as well as Majorca, Minorca and Ibiza. I found some of the most desirable pieces in the shops there from beautiful beads on leather strings to dress up my boots, to leather embroidered bags, shoes, harem pants, gorgeous original beach cover-ups and stunning jewelry. Trust me when I say you can go there with an empty suitcase and come home with some of the most amazing additions to your wardrobe you will never find here in the United States.
Tunic from Jen’s Pirate Booty and available at Tipi Mallorca on the island of Majorica ( in English)
Luca and I
Gastronomy in the Balearic Islands traditionally gives pride of place to seafood, with specialties including the famous lobster stew, as well as with different combinations of fish and shellfish with rice. Another favorite with tourists and locals alike is a sweet pastry, the ensaimada, filled with crystallized melon, custard or sometimes even sobrasada, a savory pork and pimentón paté.
A amazing dinner on the boat!
It should be no surprise that as in other parts of Spain, in the Balearic Islands nudity is excepted as the norm. It is typical to see topless women and completely nude men and women lazily enjoying the days on the countless unmatched beaches throughout the islands here. So feel free to un tie those bikini strings and live and let live! After all the Balearic Islands is one of those places where you are invited to free your mind and your senses to explore everything this exceptional part of the world has to give you.
Feelin’ the love
If you have the opportunity this summer or in the future, take a journey sailing through the Balearic Islands and expect to be tempted in many different ways. 🙂
Vincente Ganesha wonderful clothes on the island of Ibiza
A rad ride for getting to the hot spots
Baby gypsetters feeling the vibe at 1:00 am 🙂
