Ibiza - Day 6

 Today we decided to head over to the salt fields.  Its a national park so i was thinking cool maybe we can learn about how they harvested or harvest salt.  We took the bus, next time i think we need to rent a car to get a little more freedom.  Anyway the bus drove by the salt fields and to the end where all the action was and all it was was another beach.  Nice beach but not what i was expecting.  

At the end of the beach out on one point was an old tower, built in the 1600’s.  It was a bit of a trek along a jagged coast line.  In this particular cove there was a neat carved rock.  Someone spent a bit of time creating that.  

Overall the trek out to the tower was relaxing.  There were not very many people compared to the over crowded beach, but there was an occasional naked male hikers.  

After the tower we had lunch on the beach and then headed to catch our Ferry.  Next stop Mallorca.

 

Formentara - Day 5

So today we decided to take a ferry over to Formentara another Balearics island near Ibiza.

The ferry ride was a very choppy hour ride because it had rained all morning and there was a bit of weather still in the area.  But other than that there were great views of the mountains of Ibiza and some light houses on the way.  Their light houses all seem to look the same and have black and white stripes.

Upon arrival we decided to take a bus ride around the island.  First stop was a beach called Illetes, guess is the most popular and it's easy to see why.  

Crystal clear water with soft sandy beaches.  I tried out our new underwater camera and it did pretty well.  

There were also a bunch of nice looking sailboats a little ways out.  There were two bars near by both in what I'd call original fishing huts, nothing fancy, and right next to them were boat garages that were stick buildings that also looked rather original.  Very charming and peaceful.

So after enjoying a dip in the water we headed off to our next stop along the tour.  This was the beach called Pujols.  It's right off a more resort area with shops and food.  The beach it self was a bit mor rocky and not as inviting, so here we just settled for lunch.

Next stop was a lighthouse on the other side of the island.  There are a lot of natural walls through out the island separating areas as well as salt fields.  There were also these funny trees, they put poles under them to hold their branches up.  Not sure what the purpose was but any that were in an area that i would not consider wild wilderness were setup this way.  

Now the lighthouse Im not sure what I was expecting but a light house on the edge of a huge cliff was not it.  Georgeous views but oh that cliff, makes me nervous I'll forget how to walk and trip over the edge.

Final stop on our mini tour was a view from the top.  There was a higher point on the island that had a great view of the one side of the island and its beaches.  Guess maybe the otherwise is more cliff than nice calm beach.

So the tour next took us back to port and since we had over 3 hours before we took the last bus back we decided to walk over to that first beach we visited.  It was a pleasant walk along other beaches and some rocky areas.  Quinn definitely got an eye full, of course in Spain and other countries they tend to not like tan lines or maybe they just forget their swim suits but there was all levels of birthday suit sun bathing going on.  Both male and female.

Finally we ended our day with a disk ferry ride back to Ibiza.  It was much calmer and less bumpy as the trip out.

Ibiza - Day 4

Made it to Ibiza.  I was happy with the night ride over.  Didn't sleep much because of the new experience but did sleep.  

First impression of Ibiza is just like any other beach town.  We walked the streets and then took the bus to our hotel.  Small streets lots of bathing suits, kinda a kick back vibe.   Luckily got a room that was available so relaxed before we went out to see the town.  Of course it helps when your room opens up to the ocean.

So Ibiza has an old fortification.  Of course like most fortifications up we went.  Starting at the beach but then steadily climbing up, then steeply heading up.  Up up and away.

Forgetful on vacation means you forgot about Spanish siesta and forgot to check the time it was, oh shit they are closed, down to the first restaurant ( half way down then dang hill). and then back up after lunch to see the inside of the cathedral. 

Anyway a nice restored church in its earlier years, you can tell when the inside is stuckoed.  Very cute with great views.  The town has a huge wall as the fortification, a few artillery bastilions up on the ridge with great little streets with a few shops on the way down.

After all that walking we went down to the port and took a water taxi back to the hotel.  This was a treat, basically the same price as the bus but much more scenic, and bumpy due to the wavy day we were having.

The water has that clear color to it that lets you see the shadows that hide the under water gems.

So our hotel happens to be between the two main beaches in Ibiza town.  In the morning we walk toward town in the afternoon we walked away.  

Apparently away is a bit more of a techno vibe.  Along with the nice walk we had music and lights.  The most impressive along the beach was bora bora.  Seemed like a club right on the beach that I could easily enjoy.

These seemed like they would be fun, they are paddle boats but they have a steering wheel and a slide.

Valencia - Day 3

Another day in Valencia before we catch our night ferry ride over to Ibiza.

First off we went into the cathedral to get a glimps of the possible Holy Grail. It had handles that looked like you would have to two fist it.  And one of the arms to do that with was in another area very well preserved I must say.  Don't recall at this point who's arm it was but it was a bit creepy.  

On a brighter note the colored arches above the alter were very nice.  The cathedral has gone thru a number of growth spurts.  They made it longer but also added on all kinds of chambers around it.  And like other churches in the crypt they have escalated and found older ruins this time from Roman times century 1 and 2, as well as other eras before the current building.

This next picture is a bit much.  There was definitely a lot of graffiti around town some sections worse than others but this art really stood out.

Next stop was the commerce exchange. At one point long ago Valencia was the largest city in all of Spain so they built a building to do their business which included things like silk.  The main trading hall, I guess think Wall Street years ago,  had these amazing spiral pillars that at the top were made to look like palm trees.  Another feature was gargoyles at every entrance to ward off bad commerce.

Next stop was off the beaten path.  Literally you see a church and have to find the wee sign marking its entrance.  This place is st Nicolas.  It has gone thru restoration recently so the paintings are superb.  It's comparable to the sisteen chapel in Italy.  Every nook and cranny had beautiful works of art.

Final stop of the day was a palace of i thing the guy was called "two waters", in Spanish of course.  The most impressive part I thought was the entrance. The palace also now houses a ceramics museum.  Guess ceramics are a big part of Spanish culture.  I must say I do like the tile work, plates and such don't really do it for me.

Right before getting our luggage to hit the docks we ran across this fancy building which is a bank.

After getting our luggage we took a bus down to the aquariem, science center and art museum.  But before we show those pictures the park leading up to the area had the most awsome playground,  it was Paul Bunion all tied up so the little people could play on him.  

Then a little farther up was put out golf course open to the public to practice their put.  But it was all concrete, we watch one sorry soles ball go bouncing over about two holes.

Anyway now back to the fancy museum and science center.  The aquarium is a purple building behind these that wasn't as impressive.  

Oh and in the water area between the buildings they had these giant plastic bubbles that people tried to walk on water with, they looked like hamsters that didn't have a chance.

Random art on our walk to the port.

Hotel for the night a ferry to Ibiza, we have a 4 bunk room with a bathroom.  We left the port at 1030p and arrive at 530 but we took the late disembarkmeant, so get to sleep in till 8.  Guess they normally have wifi but that's broke.  There is a pool but it's closed for the night, but fake grass lawn chairs, bar and some loud speaker music made for a nice deck area to kick back before bed.  It was a bit over 100 more for a cabin we will see if it's worth it.

Valencia : Day 2

Today in the morning we hit the Prado Museum in Madrid.   Sucks that you can't take pictures cause some of them wholly cow.   I kinda like landscapes and portraits or abstract the best.  I guess cause i feel landscapes and portraits are photographs of the day and abstract you can decide what you see.  So commentary on the ones that stuck out, how odd it seems but there were a lot of pictures of women shooting milk out their breast.  At kids, at demons, at men.. don't recall that last time i was there.

Then there was a special exhibit for Bosch, it was demonic in a child like way.  Looked like book characters with people flying on fish, but then if you look else where there were fish eating people and other animals or things eating people.  No blood just legs hanging out of mouths.  Then their was this drawing of two pairs of legs attached at the torso to create an animal or something with an eye on one of the thighs.  Everywhere you looked on his painting you had to take a double take to figure out what is that I'm looking at.

After Madrid we took the fast train into Valencia.  Quinn clocked it 190 mph.  It took less than 2 hours, not really much to see it was yellow fields of dried grass.

Once we arrived in Valencia we took a walk around down town for dinner.  There was the coliseum where they normally do the bull fights but tonight was a concert by someone.

Next view was the post office which says mail and telegrams on the arch.  

And across from it was city hall.  They were both in a nice big plaza.

For dinner we stopped at one of the many bars.  They had a counter of tapas and you just picked what you wanted.  the cost was defined by the size of the toothpick so they ask you not to throw away your toothpicks because they would charge you based on what you ate.

This is a shot of the cathedral, but the better part of this view was the rays of sun as the sun was going down.  It was around 9pm which always gets hard to get use to.  Supposedly the possible holy grail is in this thing so we will see tomorrow if we can go sneak a peak.

So is this guys taking a bird bath.  Really stinks that pigeons make such a mess.

 At the far end of town right next to the river is the old entrance, or at least i think its the entrance to the city.