Looming lovely

On August 3, 2014December 4, 2014 By Conversations with StrangersIn LifeLeave a comment

“Ooooooh!’ I exclaimed as I checked out Gabriel’s wrist. “I’ve got one of those – Jacob made it for me.” He looked down at his arm festooned at least half way by ten loom band bracelets – the latest craze which yours truly is on top of.

“In fact” I went on, “He just ordered 1,000 of the bands from Amazon.” “That’s nothing” said Gabe, “We’ve got 2,000 at home. Would you like me to make you one?” “I’d love that!” I replied. “Could I have a ring though?” “Oh, not sure how to make a ring yet, S” his Mum interjected. “We’ll have to ‘YouTube’ that one.”

“Just a bracelet would be great please” I said. “But wouldn’t you like a necklace? You don’t have one of those – you’re not wearing any.” Gabe offered. “That may take some time, Gabe, and I’m only here for the day. A bracelet would be lovely please!” “What style would you like? You can choose between ‘fishtail’ and ‘chain’ – the ‘chain’ is the easiest one. “Definitely a ‘fishtail’ I said, noticing the very flamboyant neon green and black one he was sporting.

Green summer countryside whizzed past. “How many bracelets does Jacob have?” Gabe asked. “I don’t know, I’ll text his Mum now and we’ll find out.”

Our six year old back seat passenger continued to give us a run-down on all things loom band related and by the time we got to his house I was totally au fait.

“Mum, let’s make a new style” he said once we’d reached the kitchen table. “Okay, I’m just going to show S how to make one and then we’ll look it up on the ‘net.”

I started ‘looming’ and got the hang of it, finding it 100% absorbing.

The dulcet American tones of Tracey on YouTube interrupted my thoughts: ‘Okay everyone today we’re going to learn how to make a Starburst bracelet!’ “Hmmm, this looks a bit more complicated, Gabe” I said. We started attaching the bands to the loom as his Mum stopped and started the video.

My phone buzzed. “Ah, a text from Jacob’s Mum.” Gabe put down the tools: “What does it say?” I read it out to him: ‘He says too many to count! Recently bought 10k bands on Amazon. I’m currently wearing a day glo orange and purple ring : ) x’

We looked at each other in silence. “C’mon” said his Mum, “We’re going out now for a walk.”

Hjordis

On August 1, 2014March 30, 2015 By Conversations with StrangersIn Ibiza, Parties2 Comments

I bought a pen. In fact, I bought two – one for me and one for Hjordis, the lady I was about to meet. It turns out the Bic multicoloured pen of the 70’s has made a comeback in Ibiza and I could hardly contain my excitement on spotting one with Apple green, purple, turquoise and pink ink.

The newsagent in Vara de Rey has to be my favourite in the whole world. I turned in off the leafy Paseo, past the local guide books, newspaper stands, maps and various other paraphernalia. I spied the monthly women’s magazines; only in Spain do you find the best ever freebie gifts included with a copy of ‘Vogue’ or ‘Glamour’.

Switching my focus to the main event – a new notebook – I asked where they were. “Abajo, al final” the lady at the cash desk said pointing to the farthest corner of the store.

Fluorescent lime green, orange, cobalt blue soft covers, square ruled and just the right size, I claimed my booty and paid up.

The Blue Cactus offices were calm and quiet. Hjordis and I greeted each other and headed down to the square again.

Coffee was relaxed.

“Before I forget, let me give you a copy of the Sunday Times Style magazine.” I said, procuring a rather dog-eared one from my bag.

“There’s been a great response to the interview they did with me on my new guide book” she said. “A couple wrote to me from the UK saying they wanted to return to the island for the first time in 30 years after reading it. But, I didn’t want to come across as ‘I know everything about Ibiza’, you know? I wanted it to be from the heart.” “Well, you don’t need to worry about that” I said.

I asked her how the book was doing. “Really well, I think they have it in that newsagents – at the entrance” she said, pointing to my previous date. She told me she’d done all the illustrations and that working on it over the winter had been a labour of love.

“I’ll go and get one after this” I said. “No. Why don’t you come to the car with me – I’ll give you a copy and sign it – that’s a much nicer way to do it.”

Modesty is an underrated human quality; how refreshing to meet a genuinely talented lady who has it in spades.

For a copy of My Ibiza & Formentera 2014-15, buy it on the island, or contact hjordis@myibiza-guide.com

Atzaro, you know how to do it

On July 25, 2014December 4, 2014 By Conversations with StrangersIn Fashion, Food and drinks, Ibiza, Parties, Travel/vacationsLeave a comment

‘Twas between shows at the Atzaro Fashion Festival 10th Anniversary and I was taking a quick pit stop at Nick’s bar. Well, not ‘Nick’s bar’ exactly, but he’d promised me a Caipiroska earlier in the evening and having worked as a bartender for four years here, I figured he knew his stuff.

We started to talk sayings. “If a frog had a glass ass he would break it every time he jumped” Nick said. “That was one my grandfather used to tell me.” I thought about it for a second as I looked at him mixing my drink. “That looks like a strong one, Nick, I’m not sure it’s going to make it easy for me to have this conversation with you.” “Don’t worry you’ll be fine, dude – I got you.”

He did indeed, and I made my way back into fashion land revived. The music got louder. Time to get a place down by the ‘runway’….but what was this? I spotted a ubiquitous hat and had to investigate further. “Excuse me – but is that a Pharrell hat?” I asked. “Um, that’s the wrong thing to say – he’ll tell you he had it first” the gentleman’s lady friend said. “Exactly, I wore this hat in the ’80’s – it’s a Vivienne Westwood.” “Wow – now that’s significant Vintage” I said, snapping a shot.

A drone whirred above me and I headed to the action as fast as my wooden clogs would take me. With shows from Podenco, World Family, Kurru Kurru and Felt by Natalie to name but a few, this was one Ibizan event that stimulated the fashion palate and created desire afresh for some of the delectable creations on show.

From sunset to dusk to a full golden spotlight on it’s glorious ‘runway’ Atzaro met the challenge head on over two evenings and produced one after the other sight for sore eyes. The audience was just as colourful as the collections and I got chatting to another couple: Francisco de Barcelona and Maria informed me they’d been together for ’10 years’ but that they weren’t ‘jealous’. I was still trying to work it out when he called after me “I need your telephone number! When I go to Dublin then I’ll give you a call!” Past the ethereal Podenco dogs and sundry other interesting sights and I was finally back in the quiet of the restaurant at this classy hotel. “How’s it going, Nick?” I asked. “Busy. Busy” he said. “Tell me about it” I said, “But, as the saying goes ‘Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration'”. Thanks to Rachel and the Atzaro team for a splendid time. Soundtrack tune ; ) : http://bit.ly/1nwKdFn

The earth mother ship

On July 21, 2014December 4, 2014 By Conversations with StrangersIn Food and drinks, Ibiza, People you may have heard ofLeave a comment

I’ve wanted to go to Casita Verde for 19 years now but somehow it never happened – until yesterday.

‘Register at reception’ we were told, ‘Pay €10 and then eat some good food!’

Satiated by a homemade aloe vera juice boosted with lemon and a plate of about as organic as you can get food, we gazed at the valley in front leading on to the sea in the distance and I wondered if it could get any better.

“Would anyone like a tour?” came the call from the founder of this most magical place. Would anyone like a tour! I turned to T, “I always love the guided part of these trips – it’s my favourite bit.” “YES” we replied from our table with a view as we made our way towards Chris. I’d noticed him giving a friend a hug earlier, and it wasn’t lost on me. “He looks like a pretty good hugger, T, but I reckon I could challenge him on that one.”

We looked at a yurt, the ecological loos, the compost from the ecological loos, the media centre made of aluminium cans and various other recycled components – or was that the outdoor shower? I can’t remember, it was all so fantastic, so utterly inventive that my beached-up brain struggled to take it all in.

Chris told us the main project for the Autumn was a rocket stove fuelled sauna – the very name stimulated my imagination.

We took a break in a bolt hole up the mountain. It was quite a pad – a view that would make it hard to get out of bed in the morning it was so stupendous, as Chris continued to fill us in.

“This is like a ship on earth basically. No cables come into Casita Verde – we just use radio, that gets us the internet and any other kind of telecommunications we need. Our electricity comes from solar panels, and of course that’s how we heat the water. Unfortunately we’re 60% down on rainfall this year in Ibiza so we have to buy in thousands of litres – but every drop of it gets recycled on this site.”

On passing yet another house on the hill I spotted a kitchen at one end. “People always love to congregate in the kitchen at parties, so we built one with a dance floor made out of wooden pallets. It was originally supposed to be for yoga – but more people like dancing – so we put a DJ down at one end, make pizzas and dance!”

A carob coffee later and a boogie with Mike the master mixer on one of the the most magnificent dance floors I’ve ever had the honour to tread and it was time for home.

As we said our goodbyes I turned to face Chris. “I just wanted to say – how would you feel about a ‘hug-off’?” We held on to each other in a 10 out of 10 hug that had me almost relinquishing my crown.

Another day in Paradise

On July 18, 2014December 4, 2014 By Conversations with StrangersIn Parties, Travel/vacationsLeave a comment

Jose swished through the beaded fly screen: “Doing anything for lunch today?” he asked as I lounged outside post breakfast watching the approaching storm clouds. “Well, actually no.” “Awesome! I just need to finish my abs – then we’ll go” he said.

One downpour later we headed off to the south of the island where the water is translucent turquoise and the residences truly sumptuous. We lunched from the heights overlooking a fisheye lens view of Mediterranean sea and then hopped back in the car again to see what we could see.

We came to a road block. “There’s no way they can stop us going down the road here, that’s outrageous” said Jose. “It’s against the law in Spain – it’s just not allowed.” He went up to the sentry box and spoke to the lady. Sure enough within a few moments the barrier was raised and we nipped through. “You see, I know my rights, S – that’s important.”

A winding cliff clinging road produced more breathtaking views and the spectacle of some super abodes. “Look at that one!” Jose cried. “These are the big hitters right here. That pool is virtually overhanging the ocean. Now that’s what I call inspirational real estate. Awesome! Thing is – wouldn’t you be kicking yourself if you spent €30 million on a villa, like this one, and then that guy came and built one in front of you!”

We stopped off for a swim in a cove that was hard to find and rewardingly devoid of the crowds we’d experienced elsewhere on a mid June day. Trees surrounded the small bay and turned the water a crystal emerald green.

A short power nap later and we were on the road again – back to party central at one of the most chic venues on this island. “Sunday evening was always the time to come here” I said. “It still is” Jose replied. “So my friends in London tell me.”

Beautiful people abounded, the VIP areas were many and the bottles of vodka the largest I’d ever seen.

I spoke to a Dutch lady as transfixed as anyone was by the sights of everyone checking everyone else out; it was the only thing to do really. “There are lots of gorgeous looking men here” she said to me. “Exactly” interjected Jose. If I had a beach club like this I’d have a strict policy – two girls to every guy, it’s way too unbalanced otherwise.” She and I looked at each other, took in the surrounding view and smiled.