Our resident wordsmith for the White Isle, Rose Hancock, fills us in on all the latest news, adventures and rampages from Ibiza.
They say you should learn something new every day, but do people actually follow this ethos? I am feeling slightly guilty about my lack of brain cell nourishment the past few weeks… I haven't even learned any new Spanish words this July. I hope I haven't turned into one of those English sorts who just talks louder in English if a Spanish person doesn't understand what I am saying. Surely if you talk louder they'll understand your English more?! But I can safely and proudly say I've learned something new today: I will not be hosting any more house parties here in Ibiza...
My housemates kindly threw me a moving in party this week. It was to be a civilised, Mexican-themed BBQ affair. It started off refined, a pool party kitted out with decks outside, playing chilled out Summer tunes. We've even managed to get our landlord on our side who bought a colossal paella for everyone. It's quite an achievement to get your traditional Ibicencan farmer landlord on your side here in Ibiza when it comes to villa parties.
I had some important tasks to do the next day for a concierge company I work for (I research luxury villas and locations worldwide for their business expansion, not a bad job I must say!). So I was determined to have an early night after our BBQ banquet. However, at midnight I walked into my house to discover the decks and huge sound system had been strategically placed right outside my bedroom door, our dining room kitted out into a monstrous dance floor. The techno was so loud it felt like I was in the Sankeys Ibiza toilets: even my bed was vibrating. So I attempted to sleep on the floor in the storage room, as far away from the bass as possible. To set the scene on the storage room’s unwelcoming cold floor, the week before someone had slept there and woken up with a gecko in his mouth!
In the morning I had my muesli surrounded by the continuing party goers and headed straight to work. On return from my day in the office I was looking forwards to a much needed siesta, but was welcomed to even louder dirty techno which continued for 48 hours…. I forgot that parties, after parties, and after after parties rarely stop in Ibiza. Ambitious work plans the day after your own party is not a wise move.
I'd like to say things remained more civilised after the BBQ, but my friends and I could not face FOMO ('Fear of Missing Out') on a Saturday night. Earlier that day we had explored and got lost in Saturday's Sant Jordi market. This place is a gem for finding cheap vintage clothes and a much needed festival wardrobe. With my newly bought feather head piece and gold sparkling kimono, there was only one place we could possibly head to on a Saturday night: Glitterbox.
This party has become a place where we can really lose ourselves in the music, surrounded by glitzy disco balls and good tunes, with Barbara Tucker's vocals providing some seriously entertaining energy. This extraordinary artist is the definitive diva of house music and seeing her perform live reminded me how refreshing and exciting it is to step back into the grooves of soulful house and disco here in Ibiza.
Our 'feel good' vibes were enhanced when my friend found not one, not two, but three 500 euro notes on the floor shortly before heading to the club. Only in Ibiza would you find 1500 euros on the floor! I didn't even know 500 euros notes existed. My friend has promised to buy us all some drinks at next Tuesday's Defected party, where we'll be dancing to Dennis Ferrer, Osunlade. Oliver $ and Andre Hommen.
If you haven't been to Pikes hotel (now called Ibiza Rocks House), it's certainly one to prioritise when you’re over on the White Isle. This place hosts some infamous Ibiza Rocks after parties. It's an Ibiza institution, a rural hotel where locals and eccentric characters come to experience a guaranteed abstract adventure where pretty much 'anything goes'. Umbrellas hang from trees, a cat peers through its monocle, and I must not forget there's the karaoke ball pit bathtub. If Pikes is good enough for the likes of Boy George and Jade Jagger than it's good enough for me!
This week Pikes' raucous parties were kept at bay for me, I've been coming for their fantastic JoGa Beats weekly yoga. This is music-led Vinyasa flow yoga; a fusion of dance, music and yoga. Sweating out this week's toxins on my yoga matt at this beautiful luxury hide out is an experience I truly appreciate. If you're looking for the spirit of Ibiza (whether that's in yoga or jaegerbomb form…), be sure to head to Pikes. Every nook and cranny of architecture here creates a patchwork of mischievous behaviour (I'll save some embarrassing Pikes stories here for another blog…)
Defected In The House is at Booom Ibiza every Tuesday throughout the season – click for full event listings
Glitterbox is at Booom Ibiza every Saturday throughout the season - click for full event listings
Defected presents Most Rated Ibiza 2014 is out 27 July (2CD and digital) on Defected Records - order from iTunes and Amazon
