Ibiza Party

Ibiza Party

Thursday 6th June… The reason for the 'Ibiza Party' title is that we have Wendy, Russ, Von, and Jim coming out to visit over the next week. There's two special birthday's coming up and there's some celebrating to be done. More on this subject when the visitors arrive early next week.

Today we got to do some laundry at the launderette up in one of the nearby hotels. It’s ideal really and too good an opportunity to miss. Drying the laundry on Thesee’s washing line was quite an ordeal. It was so windy we almost lost the quilt cover.  Whilst we were waiting for the laundry to do its thing we had a coffee in a nearby restaurant. We really liked the place, so much so that the 6 of us went there this evening for our dinner. It was great, the waitress was amazing, the food was amazing, the wine was amazing, the price was amazing!!! We even got a free game of crazy golf with our meal, so Caroline, Dave, Ant, and myself went into competition with each other whilst Cindy and Dean did the dog sitting. 

Ant, Dave, and Oscar the dog eyeing up the ice creams

Me tucking into my pudding

A crazy game of crazy golf

Friday 7th June… At 10am the three of us (boats) left San Miguel for San Antonio. We needed to move as the early hours of Saturday morning we are expecting some weather and are trying to dodge it as best possible. We are in Cala des Moro just outside San Antonio. We all arrived about 12.30pm and got some great anchoring spots, right on the sandy patches. The water is gorgeous and we all found ourselves having a swim this afternoon. Then later we walked up to the nearby Mercadona for some shopping. We’re really pleased with this anchorage so far, just hope the weather isn’t too bad in the morning and we’ll have to find shelter if we can. 

A view of Impavidus along the rocky north coast 

Now Éternité is arriving at the anchorage

Saturday 8th June 2019...We managed to get a reasonable nights sleep at last. We took a look outside during breakfast and saw our Swedish friends on Illusion coming into the anchorage. We went ashore with Saffy for a quick look about and a walk. Once back on board it was off to the boat shop once more to have a quick look at some more solar panels...how much?

View of the anchorage from walkies

While I was out earlier looking at solar panels I ran in to another yachtie. He asked about the boat, anchorage and then my name. He then realised that I am the person writing on the Cruising Association website about the different areas were we have stayed. I feel quite famous! hope the paparazzi are not floating round the boat in the morning!

We then spent the day cleaning and trying to relax. At about 4.30pm we invited the other three boats over for drinks (a quick drink) 3 hours later whoops!

Anyway last night we had a spectacular sunset, there were people gathered on the rocks especially to see it. I don't think tonight will be as nice as the weather today has not been as good and the sea is now quite rough and of course the swell has started to roll in again.

 Dinghy park on Thesee's stern

 Quick drink

It's like this!

Sunday 9th & Monday 10th June.... That's the trouble when you have friends around, you end up drinking until dusk and then don't have time or effort to write up the day's blog. So let me see.... Yesterday (9th) we made the effort to walk 20 minutes to Lidl. It was a bonus as they are open Sundays... the first supermarket we've come across since we left home to be open on a Sunday. The town was very busy and so was the supermarket. I think Lidl are taking over the world. Then followed a semi-relaxing afternoon as we're getting the boat ready for our VIP visitors. We were having a cider late afternoon when we were invited over to Illusion for drinks with Eva and Ingemar. Of course we accepted along with Ant & Cindy (Impavidus). The six of us are good friends having spent the winter together in Almerimar. We were a great quiz team back then... do you remember we called ourselves Swinglish (Swedish/English)? It was kind of a goodbye as Eva and Ingemar were leaving Monday morning to go back to mainland Spain. 

Monday at 9am we phoned the Club Nautico marina in San Antonio and put our name down for a berth for today. You have to go on a waiting list for a berth to become available so we made sure we were first on the list as Von & Jim are arriving later tonight, then Wendy & Russ tomorrow morning. It was a long wait and by 1pm we hadn't heard anything so Dean called the marina again. We were happy to hear that they had a berth available for us and we headed over to the marina. It was only 10 minutes round the corner from where we've been anchored since last Friday. When you check in with the Capitania they always ask what your last port of call was. Well we couldn't remember as is it was over a week ago, but finally we decided it was Andratx. Then they ask where your next port of call will be. Well you don't always know until the day, so you have to have a guess at it. Once we were paid up and fed Dean washed the boat down and i tidied up around the place. There's a lot of wind and big swell coming through tomorrow night so we are very happy to be tucked up in the marina and hopefully we will be sheltered from the worst of it. 

Seems we're not the only ones happy to be in the marina

Tuesday 11th June... So last night Aunty Von & Uncle Jim arrived around 10.30pm. A bit later than expected as their ferry was one hour late, but nevertheless they arrived safe and sound after a long day. This morning we awaited the arrival of Wendy & Russ. Seems we all had different arrival times in our heads and so Dean, Von, Jim, and I went for a coffee on the seafront whilst we awaited the arrival of Wendy & Russ. By lunchtime they had arrived at Thesee and we were still in the cafe. Oops!! 

So, all guests finally present and correct we chatted the afternoon away in the cockpit, catching up on each others news and events. It's been such a long time since we all got together, and the afternoon whizzed by. Wendy and Russ gave Dean two very thoughful presents to celebrate his early birthday. One was a 9ct Gold St Christopher (Patron Saint of Travellers) and the other was a silver antique Vesta box made in Birmingham in 1899. The Birmingham hallmark being an anchor. 

Present opening time for Dean

We are also celebrating Russ's 60th Birthday this week, and so the Birthday Boys got to wear 60th Birthday badges all night long.

There was a storm forecast for this evening with high winds and gusts so we decided it would be prudent to stay onboard and boat sit Thesee, keeping an eye on him and making sure nothing was amiss. So we cooked a Spaghetti Bolognese and had a wonderful evening together with Wendy staging a 'This is your Life' speech for Dean. It was so amusing we were in fits of laughter all evening right up until almost midnight.

A big grey sky over San Antonio

High winds coming but we are well protected in the marina

 

What a jolly evening on Thesee

Wednesday 12th June... This morning the sky was still mainly covered with dark grey clouds. We all took a walk along the promenade about 10.30am towards and past the anchorage (where we were last week). It was a good walk and the weather still felt warm even though the sun wasn't out. We stopped for a coffee at a lovely place called The Golden Buddha. Whilst we were there we decided on a plan for the day. 

 What shall we do today?

 Outside the quirky Wi-Ki-Woo's pink and green hotel

At 12.30pm we all went to the Water Taxi on the promenade and bought return tickets to Puerto des Torrent. Dean and I anchored here about 4 weeks ago, but today the sea was still pretty rough so thought the best idea was to take the water taxi instead.  A 1pm departure followed. The reason for going to Puerto des Torrent was that there is a wonderful Steak restaurant called 'El Viejo Gallo' (The Old Cock) and it was established in 1959..... the year Dean & Russ were born, so it was the perfect place to celebrate!!  We found this place when we were here in May and although we hadn't been in we had since read excellent reviews. 

We're on our way to Port des Torrent

Von & Jim walk the plank on arrival

The water taxi crossing was rather bumpy bumpy but it was only about a 20 minute trip so we were soon there. Reaching the restaurant we were eager to point out the 1959 connection, and Dean & Russ had their 1959 Tshirts on too. It's such a unique place with tanks of huge live lobster and crayfish. One of the waiters even got the crayfish out of the water to show us. The menu was quite pricey but it was a special occasion after all. Three of us had Steaks, and the other three had mixed grill. The food was totally delicious, the steaks the best i've ever tasted. We were all so pleased with our meals and the cost kind of started to fade from our memory as we drank wine and celebrated. We were so pleased that our plans had come to fruition. After a few hours wining and dining we walked back to catch the last water taxi back to San Antonio at 5.30pm. 

 Birthday Boys... Est 1959

Inside the restaurant showing off their Tshirts

Getting into the mood

Mixed grill for 3

Fillet steak for me...yum yum yum

Von's Bon Bon dessert

Jim with one of the waiters at the fish tank

One of the outside eating areas 

What a great place!

Thank you so much for a fabulous afternoon

Jim getting into the swing of things on the way home

Back onboard Thesee we played guessing games and chatted away merrily. It's been a brilliant day.... we all want to do it again. 

Found this Pez machine too

Watching the birds as we wait for the ferry

Saffy loving her posh doggy bag

Thursday 13th June... Sadly it was the day we had to start saying goodbye to our VIP visitors. But first, to start the day, we strolled to one of the restaurants along the seafront where we all ordered 'English Breakfasts'. The food was so delicious and there was loads of sausages to take back for Saffy Perro. Once we had stuffed our tummies we went back to Thesee to chat and chill until it was time for Wendy & Russ to take a taxi back to the airport. Before we said our goodbyes we all sat and ate ice creams. The weather has not been good this week but it was still warm today, and this evening Von, Jim, Dean, and myself took a little walk along the breakwater to watch the sunset.

Found a Church here in the back streets

Wendy & Russ ready to depart

Ice creams first

Watching the cloudy sunset

Friday 14th June.... Second session of goodbyes today with Von & Jim heading home this time. No ice creams today as it was only 10am 😞. Dean & I want to thank all our guests for making this week so much fun, and for entertaining us endlessly with laughs, smiles, games, and stories. You are all amazing. 

By noon, Dean had quickly washed the decks and we were ready to leave the marina. Out on the water as we left the harbour we immediately noticed a fair sized motor boat that had been washed up on the breakwater rocks. Oh my God, we were only there last night watching the boats at sunset. It was such a sad sight to see, its owner must be truly heartbroken. 

Bye Bye Von & Jim, i know you're in there

The washed up motor boat on the rocks

Salvage teams trying to pull the motor boat off the rocks tonight

They didn't manage it.

Out of the harbour the wind and waves were (as usual) strong and bumpy. We headed for two anchorages then changed our mind again, before we chose Cala des Moro (where we've been before). It was less than an hour before the waves started crashing up the rocks and there were white horses on the sea. There was no way we could stay, we would never have got ashore. Raising the anchor was quite tricky in the strong wind, but we made it without any hiccups and went over to the anchorage at the side of the harbour where there was some degree of shelter. Although it was very busy we did find a spot at the second attempt. 

Late afternoon our friends Phil & Cris on Bora La arrived in San Antonio having crossed from the mainland. We haven't seen them since last December so it was quite exciting. This evening they invited us for a drink and a catch up on Bora La in the marina. There's not really any dinghy landing places so we had to scarily step up from the dinghy to the high pontoon where they were berthed. What an exciting week it's been.

Here comes Bora La

This will be the last blog post entitled 'Ibiza Party'

The next post will be entitled 'Last week in the Balearics'