Ibiza - Part 1

Usual last minute rush! I will never change unfortunately. Got the Bus Link to East Midlands Airport.
Arrived in plenty of time for the flight and no baggage to check in. Flying Light, so to speak. In the queue for customs got chatting to a guy, as you do when you are waiting. It turned out he worked for Talk Sport and he was a DJ, banter ensued. A lovely chap indeed, Geoff Peters, it felt like a good omen for the trip ahead. Time for a quick ceremonial pint in the Departure's Bar and then the crazy queue to get on the plane. Ryanair, it is what it is - #cheap #cheerful #cattleClass #doesTheJob and then £5 for a can of lager!
The flight however, was only £50 return! I was going to go to Brighton but that would have cost me £70 just to get there and back #NoBrainer!!

The flight was only two hours and fifteen minutes and mainly uneventful bar for a wobbly landing before the trumpets announced our safe arrival on time.I was longing to feel the warmth on leaving the air conditioned atmosphere of the plane. It has been so cold this year in the UK. Beautiful sunshine and warmth if a tad breezy but heaven indeed!

A quick queue through customs and then to sit outside and wait for the bus to Eivissa (Ibiza Town). For the first time in a long while the 45 minute wait for a bus didn't matter so much as I was sat in the sun....My God I have missed you Mr Sun!!!! I had a wait for the bus to San Antonio so just sat in a square with fountains by the bus stop. It was about 6pm and full of people enjoying the evening sun. Relaxing after work, reading, friends chatting and children running around the open space.

The short bus ride to San Antonio took about 20 minutes, now to find Hostal Marinio. From experience, I should have just got a taxi but memories are short. After an hour of walking/asking people who could barely understand my northern attempt at Spanish/going the wrong way/ I finally found my destination. I was greeted by the proprietor of the establishment and made to feel extremely welcome. The Hostal is a family run concern - Hostal Marino - Hostelworld link
I was given my room key's and told to put my stuff in the room and come down and have a beer and tapas and watch the football with the locals. A quick freshen up and down I went.

Barcelona v PSG was the game on TV and Ibiza is a Barcelona stronghold (they speak a form of Catalan on the island). The atmosphere was cracking as the game was a close 2-2 draw! The beer was ridiculously cheap at 2 euro 50 a pint and free tapas provided. I decided on the spot that I could live here.I got chatting to a guy called Dan at the bar. He was a fluent Spanish speaker (mucho jealous) he had been born in Spain but now lived in the UK so I didn't feel to bad. We talked about the usual stuff, football, travelling, music and the general news. The game finished and I went to my room to chill and reflect on what had been a fantastic day. :-))