Soaking up the Sun in the Balearic Islands

I love summer. The sun on my face, sand on my toes, and wind in my hair. Quite surprising coming from someone who actually hates* the ocean.

*I hated the ocean until I met the Mediterranean. I don’t mind swimming where I can see my feet.

Anyway, my first adventure in the Balearic Islands came from a trip to Ibiza in early July. I went on the trip with my good friend Amanda and we kicked it off by…leaving Ibiza. We sailed over to neighboring Formentera, which is essentially one big ongoing Hamptons white party set in the Mediterranean. We popped in for lunch and the famed Juan y Andrea and stayed way longer than anticipated. The fresh seafood paired perfectly with their white sangria, we made friends with our neighbors, and the views were just to die for. After lunch we strolled down to the beach and enjoyed a lazy afternoon sun bathing by the sea.

We sailed back to Ibiza in the early evening, just in time to get to our dinner spot. That night we watched the sunset at Experimental Beach. The food and ambience at night was meh but the views were fantastic.

The next day we explored Ibiza town. The good hippie vibes are omnipresent and we bounced around from shop to shop for a bit before heading to the beach. In search of the stereotypical day-time beach party, we headed for Salinas beach. We set ourselves up for an afternoon of fun.

That evening we had one of the best dining experiences at La Granja. If you ever find yourself in Ibiza on a Friday night, you must experience the Ritual feast. Set on the outdoor patio of the boutique hotel this farm-to-table meal was one of the best dining experiences of my life. The set three-course menu kicks off with bountiful salads and was followed by a mouth-watering steak served with earth-roasted vegetables and paired with a full-bodied Spanish red wine. To top it off, a delicious chocolate flourless cake. We enjoyed the ambience so much we stayed all night, enjoying drinks by the moonlight pool and meeting new friends from around the world. If you go to Ibiza and go to this restaurant, which you should, book way in advance. It books up really fast, especially in the summer!

On the next, and final, day, Amanda left earlier on to get back to the UK and I enjoyed a lazy morning. I wandered over to Talamanca to enjoy the architecture and calming views of the sea. I grabbed brunch and then wandered over to the yacht club, curled up with a book and soaked up the sun while watching yachts from all over Southern Europe roll in and out of the harbor. 

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My first taste of the Balearic Islands was great, and I just couldn’t wait for more. The second trip came just a few weeks later when my childhood friend Rach and I went to Menorca. The smallest of the three (Ibiza, Mallorca, Menorca), Menorca is home to the most beautiful, untouched beaches, more local than touristy (one of the very few places I’ve been in Europe in the last 3 years where I heard no English), and shoes. Yes, shoes. More on that later.

Our earlier-than-should-be-allowed flight got us in bright and early, allowing us to hit the beach right away. 

After checking into our hotel, we went straight to Cala Galdana Beach. I recommend this beach to anyone who wants to relax, yet not be on a deserted island. The crystal clear waters are surrounded by lots of activity – restaurants, bars, shops. You can really spend a full day there. Some of the area hotels and resorts are also beautiful.

That night we went for dinner in Ciutadella, the city in which we were staying. We tried the new Mon. Highly recommend! The menu is absolutely delicious – fresh, local traditional fish dishes served in a modern, upscale environment. A steal in price for the quality.

The next day we wanted to take a boat ride to experience the untouched beaches. It was the next best way to get on a boat if you didn’t want to rent one yourself – or, of course, you don’t have your own :) 

This ride was beyond incredible. If I thought the water at Cala Galdana Beach was stunning, then I literally have no words for what we saw. We sailed up to a few – only accessible via boat or by walking, which is why they are extremely private and pristine. Beautiful pics courtesy of the talented Rachel Mann:

The next morning we set out to explore the famed sandal culture of Menorca. Which, admittedly, I had no idea existed. I have been in the Pretty Ballerina store on Lexington Avenue in NYC. I never imagined it was from Menorca! So we set off to find the Pretty Ballerina store in Ferreries, and in doing so, also visited the Ria factory to learn more about the famed Avarca sandals that are omnipresent on the island.

The stereotypes of women and shoes are real. And usually not a problem to indulge in…except when your next destination is back to the beach. We found a nice beach chair under an umbrella in the shade to keep our shoes safe as we caught some late-afternoon rays.

That evening we enjoyed charming Ciutadella at night. The city centre is ablaze with light highlighting the centuries-old buildings and nautical-themed statues.

On our last day we wanted to get back on a boat, so this time we opted for a catamaran. It was a fun afternoon that took us back to some of the beautiful private beaches, and even non-existent beaches but places where we could pull up, jump off and swim.

The day ended with a tour de Ciutadella during the day. We wandered around the winding city centre streets, popping into shops and admiring the beauty of the city. 

And soon it was time to pack up and head back to Amsterdam. My island summer fun had reluctantly come to an end, but there were still a few more adventures in store before the big move across the pond.