Tag: Blog

Parador de Ibiza – Only Took 17 Years, No Big Deal

Break out the cava! Ibiza is about to have its very own fully functioning Parador – which if you didn’t know is a government owned hotel of historical and cultural value. Yes, after 17 years (basically 5 World Cups, a global recession, a pandemic, and enough municipal meetings to age several governments) the Parador de Ibiza is finally ready to open. Honestly, I’m just happy it’s here in my lifetime.

But I digress – it’s beautiful. It really is.

66 rooms of which 41 are for guests and the rest are for staff – thanks to the Ibiza housing crisis and which feels like the only sane way to solve the problem. There’s a wellness area, outdoor pool, terraces, solarium, and all the cultural trimmings you need to justify 17 years of work. They even built a courtyard with a canopy and a mini auditorium, presumably for events, presentations, and future complaints about pigeons (but I shall come to that later).

Most importantly it sits atop Ibiza’s iconic old town in the most photogenic pocket of D’alt Vila, next to the beautiful cathedral with sea views and just waiting for that thoughtful cultural Instagram pose.

At FITUR in Madrid this week, officials explained the delay of recovering Punic walls, Roman ruins, medieval arches, underground parking, and heritage restorations that made this a really complex project and all joking aside it probably was but it also feels like the construction version of ‘my dog ate my homework’ except the dog is UNESCO.

There’s also a “museumisation” phase (yes that really is a word) still underway (because why finish everything before opening?), but they promise it’ll be done by the end of the year. I believe them… kind of…in the same way you believe airlines when they say your delayed flight will depart ‘soon’.

In the most Ibiza twist imaginable, the Parador now needs a falconer to scare away pigeons. Yes, a literal falconer, as in trained birds of prey patrolling the bastions of D’alt Vila like it’s a medieval Netflix series. They’ll also be trapping invasive snakes and wild cats, because apparently nature didn’t get the memo that tourism is king of the island and just in case you were were wondering the salary for the falconer is €30,000 a year, because of course it is.

Wheels turn slowly in these parts and it’s been a long process (understatement of the year) but everybody’s proud and rightfully so. Ibiza’s Mayor, Rafa Triguero, called the opening a “historic milestone,” which it is – mostly because it survived 17 years of bureaucratic, logistical, and archaeological purgatory to exist at all.

Ibiza also finally joins the Paradores club, becoming number 99 in the national portfolio, the first in the Balearics and another big step towards ‘deseasonalisation’ (another long word) which has been the island’s version of ‘New Year’s resolutions’ for decades.

Am I excited? Yes. It’s gorgeous, cultural, heritage-rich, job-creating and genuinely good for the island. Am I annoyed? Hell yes because it’s been well over a decade of seeing that bloody great big crane which is thankfully no longer there.

But hey it’s here and it’s happening. Reservations start next week and guests arrive late February (hopefully). Better late than never, though if they decide to renovate anything else in D’alt Vila may I humbly suggest we start now for a 2043 grand opening.

INFO: www.paradores.es/en

Ibiza Bounces Back but Serious Questions Remain

Ibiza bounces back after severe flooding but serious questions need to be answered.

In the early hours of Tuesday morning (01 Oct 2025) Ibiza was hit by the remnants of hurricane Gabrielle. While other towns on the island were relatively unscathed, Ibiza Town bore the extreme brunt of Mother Nature.

Word soon spread across the globe as photos and videos were uploaded on to social media laying bare in horrific detail the devastation, it soon became clear that this was one of the most damaging storms in living memory.

Saturated streets, mudslides, rockfalls, collapsed roofs, DC10 under water, UNVRS without power, flights missed, cars submerged, tunnels full of water, the port of Ibiza cascading with water as passengers disembarked up to their knees and the 2 most important hubs of the island – the airport and hospital – both leaking like a sieve. This was a generational event that would be spoken about for years to come.

The following day the water had subsided and the big clean up had started, wellington boots and plastic bags with rubber bands became the required ‘fashion accessory’. Many businesses had been badly affected with water damage, a thick layer of brown mud remained and residents in complete shock.

Amazingly Ibiza once again showed its ability to bounce back. Government agencies did an incredible job to clean up the mess, a special mention must go to ferry operator Balearia which moved quickly to transport 70 vehicles and 140 members of the Military Emergency Unit (UME) from the mainland to reinforce the operations.

Less than 24 hours later and the island was more or less back to full operation which was unthinkable a few hours before but with the calm after the storm some serious questions need to be asked.

The main one is why did the mobile phone alert come through just after midday on Tuesday, hours after the Island had been inundated?

Many had gone to work as usual on Tuesday morning unaware of the chaos they were about to face. Surely the alert should have been sent the previous night, it would have been a shock especially with the harsh ring tone it came with but isn’t that the point, warning the population that Tuesday would be a very different day.

When the alert came through it was all but over and many had driven into the danger areas oblivious of the hazards they were about to face.

Witnesses also say there wasn’t any police presence on major roads warning people or diverting traffic away from the flooded areas which included Can Misses hospital where people were heading for their appointments unaware to what they were about to find.

Also the islands infrastructure needs a serious upgrade, specifically the tunnel on the airport road under the Las Salinas turnoff which inconceivably drains into the normal municipal system and was still closed 3 days after the event. The government have been aware of this since 2007 yet nothing has been done.

The Local Police in Ibiza received over 120 call outs and 1200 homes were left without electricity but thankfully there were no reports of death or serious injury due to the storm.

So many people deserve plaudits for their hard work, in 72 hours they achieved what would normally take 6 weeks but it’s the modus operandi before the event and improvement to existing infrastructure that now needs an urgent and detailed review. 

June 2015 – My New Blog 

I’m a great lover & believer in social media however I have recently become frustrated in trying to get over my opinions & feelings in only 140 characters or in between kids photos & food images.

With the recent seismic shift in San Antonio politics I intend to do a weekly blog to keep the English speaking population updated plus giving my own opinions on what’s happening with regards to local news and how it effects us all. My aim is to cut through the hearsay & conjecture so we can debate the real issues.

Politics to some is the most boring thing in the world however it also one of the most important things in the world and that’s why we all need to know what’s going on as only then can we have an informed opinion and start questioning local government in the correct way through the proper channels.

Thanks for reading and don’t hesitate to comment on any post as only through debate will be get to the nitty gritty and try & change things for the better.

VIVA San Antonio!