CALA AUBARCA

CALA AUBARCA IN SANT MATEU

Located on the cliffs of "Es Amunts" in the village of Sant Mateu d'Aubarca get the nickname of this spectacular bay, this bay (no beach) is an ideal place to pass the rigorous summer heat and down to the morning to enjoy the calm sea and its deafening silence.

The water here is just spectacularly clear and transparent, diving or snorkeling is ideal in these waters, and a spectacular background of rocks and stones in the form of spectacular cliffs that drop dramatically to the Mediterranean.

The area is not too difficult but not easy to access, not at all suitable for people who do not like to walk a big distance and are looking for a beach full of bars, music or shower services. There's nothing here of that.

This was my very first visit to this place, thanks to Jordi Gavalda he is a Catalonian blogger but with Ibicencan heart. I hope to repeat often the visit to this place so it is a place to forget the outside world. Now I only awaiting for the splash and when I'm about to throw myself into the sea...oh no!!!...

Not everything can be perfect, and this year so there was a proliferation of jellyfish few of them were waiting us.... but no matter, we must not get frightened, so jump into the water is a matter of not thinking a lot...

For Jordi (who knows what pain bites of these bugs) are another reason to be photographed. In the picture above we see him taking pictures underwater. Soon exclusive photos of these will be forthcoming in his blog "imatges d´Eivissa".

As he left me his underwater camera, I went swimming in that area, so I was also temptated to enjoy the water inside these transparent waters and I borrowed the camera. A truly amazing seascape.

Cala Aubarca has great ecological and marine value. Infinities of Pines surround the place and sometimes they appear in some strange places.

Some caves are visible from the water, and transparency of these waters are acquiring something unreal colors.

This cove is a symphony of stone rocks, which make this place unique.

Of course I can not stop talking about the terrible fire that was declared at Ibiza Benirrás Area, as also belonging to the area Cala Aubarca "Es Amunts. Many acres have been razed and changed the green forests of the northern island of twisted black wood trees.
For now we hope to continue enjoying the green pines give this place a long time.

PLAÇA DE VILA

VILA´S SQUARE AT LATE AFTERNOON

Located within the walls, once passed the Portal de ses Taules and the main square, we get to what was the undisputed center point in the walled city now known as Dalt Vila and in 1999 was declared by UNESCO "World Heritage Site".

Sunset is a good time to get to the Plaza de Vila, where the hues of the walls take on a strange ocher color and contrasts of sun and shade are obvious.
In this gate called Portal de ses taules starts the "Dalt Vila" area and from here one can take several alleys that lead us to different areas of the upper area of Ibiza old town.

When sunlight goes down, the restaurants in this historic area, are decorated and in a few hours you will be able to dining by candlelight. With calm, the place will fill up with people from so many different countries as culinary offers exists in this area.

Despite the many restaurants in this area should be better to book a table in some of them, since there is large demand. Besides the restaurants are also plenty of trendy shops, art galleries and antiques. A place with character that could be defined as the "center" of Dalt Vila.

BALL PAGÉS, COUNTRYSIDE DANCES OF IBIZA.

IBIZA´S TYPICAL DANCES

It is Fiesta in Ibiza, and therefore give the opportunity to witness the folklore of this island, we are lucky to have preserved and is not even similar to any other within the Balearic Islands. The folklore of Ibiza and Formentera is something unique and the origins are lost in time, probably keeping Punic and Arab periods or even more primitive.

It consists especially of three major dances. Sa Curta (The short one) slow moving and dancing people over age, then ends with Sa Llarga (the long one) and is the main dance.

Sa Llarga is a vigorous and joyful dance and rapid leaps by men about women. Perhaps she represents the moon, so the woman turns around the man, trying not to turn away.

The bridal dance was called "the thirteen turns" 13, is a number that refers to the moon. Over time was changed to 12 and in some versions is called "the nine turns", number nine which also has links with the satellite of the moon. Going from 13 to 12, was due to superstition and the bad reputation of number 13, for the twelve (apostles number and a very appreciated in the old Ibiza). Necklaces closer to the "emprendada" (set of necklaces, and religious images, buttons and rings of gold) will pass nine or twelve times (once thirteen).

On the dance the nine or twelve turns come with the main characters at a wedding, elbows touched first and then her hands with rings and castanets him, and while they play spinning. After ses nou rodades dance the music makes a crescendo and change to sa llarga frantically playing and all those attending the wedding were incorporated back into the dancing and dance making great leaps around the couple.


The way to call the girl by the male should not surprise or roughing the assumptions to do so by ringing the castanets with a bang. There is contempt by either the man or submission by women. Worse was to long ago where tradition marked the best compliment for the girls in Ibiza was the flash of gunpowder that the boy threw to the foot of the girl with his blunderbuss, leaving the mass, once outside the church shaking the foundations of the church and place but that was a great honor for the girl.
Throughout the dance, the woman has no expression in her face, not surprising, it may even appear submissive, going round and round the man, looking downcast and meditative as if oblivious to everything that happens. Ignore the man jumps and had only made a small bow to the man, when at the end of the dance the man kneels with a gesture of respect towards her, ending the dance for the couple.

HOLIDAYS BELLS

CATHEDRAL BELL TOWER

It is the tallest tower in the city, thanks to a friend, one morning I could make reallity a wish that I had a long time ago.To go up for the second time in my life to this place. The first was loooooooots years ago when I was a child.

This time I was accompanied by the attractive blonde girl. Keep in mind that the potentially dangerous blondes (and this was). While she climbed difficulty the road by car with I had the nonsense idea to tell her how to do it and suddenly I was in the driver place, driving up the car to through the narrow roads of Dalt Vila. Anyway I did it OK.

It must be said that the girl of this story never got to this place before, but I must recognize that it did in excellent company (mine), with the typical complaints of a modern girl in heels and handbag, and a little frightened by the pigeons.But I must admit she enjoyed the "adventure." One of the things we see is the status of works in the hostel in future in Dalt Vila, the "parador" the very first "Parador" in the Balearic Islands.

There are five bells. The smallest of them is called dels "quarts Xica" and dates from 1680, one of them is called Sant Sagrat even older, dating from 1565, one third is called the Santa Creu and 1,583, another is called the Santa Barbara and dates from 1630 and the last is the Sanctus Major from 1680.

The next August 5th, these bells will touch as it is the feast day of the Patron Saint of Ibiza, Our Lady of the Snows, a curious name that evokes the cold but in a very hot month.
Undoubtedly the view is more impressive than the steeple of the Cathedral. Practically is visible most of the island.

Especially beautiful is the view of Talamanca, the port and other areas of Dalt Vila, including the former Dominican convent of Ibiza town, today´s Town Hall of the City.

It is always nice to see the roughness of the roofs of the main temple of the island, with its pigeons around.

Down we can see a image of the tower clock from inside. Not a very usual point of view.