30^th April   SANTA EULALIA

38 58.9 N   01 32.3 E

Early start for a long day, we left at 7, Chris and Bev opposite slipping their lines a minute or two before us. They were heading for Puerto de Antonio, we for Santa Eulalia.

The wind was pretty much behind us, and we were going across a fairly large swell, so corkscrewing a bit, but used motor and genoa and had a reasonably comfortable if long ride, though a lot of concentration when in the larger swells. We could see Ibiza clearly after about 90 mins, but it felt endless getting there. Our paths diverged, and last saw C and B about 1 pm.

Once we past through the channel between Ibiza and Formentera wind and sea dropped, we had a really easy ride to Santa Eulalia – pine woods you could smell. We berthed at 18.10. Hardly ate all day, seemed a bit much to expect S to go below and make sandwiches with everything banging around, and by late afternoon we thought we’d wait to eat out ashore.

 There was a boat show going on in the marina, loads of restaurants and bars. The marina wifi, which I’d paid for was complete crap (really frustrating, you want to upload blog, internet bank, check emails etc, and just can’t do it. O2 helpfully texted me today to tell me I’d spent £62 more than my monthly charge this month – and I turned off 3G 3 weeks ago. Outrageous. They’re prepared to sacrifice a generation of Spanish – and Greek – youth on the altar of the Euro, yet allow predatory pricing by telcos across the so called Common Market)

We ate at an Italian place which did allow us wifi (most restaurants do in Spain. Doesn’t do anything for intelligent conversation over dinner….)

Today did 72 NM, longest single day of trip.

1^st May    SANTA EULALIA

A day recovering from yesterday’s long stint. A beautiful walk along the coast NE of the town, through pine groves, past fishermen, a girl throwing a stick into the sea for her dog (an hour later, on the way back she was still doing it!)

The houses by the sea are very well designed, low, white, angular, cool – I imagine they cost a fortune. The sea’s tones, the sky, the red cliffs, the pines all seem to be protected from development. What there is is tasteful and high quality, impressive.

We had lunch at a beach café near the town, expensive but it got me to thinking I could just go to the marina office, give them a shedload of cash (most expensive marina yet, 50 euros per night), leave Psyche here for 3 months and just chill out. No more deadlines, no more “up early tomorrow, got to drop A, pick up B and go to C or we’ll miss D….” On the other hand, I can do that in Greece….! I am very impressed with Ibiza, I can see what all the fuss is about.

In town today a market with loads of cooked food, drink, live bands, dancers – it will go on this evening. And today was clear calm, sunny – just beautiful!