Fashion, Travel

Follow Me to Formentera

September 3, 2014

Once the quieter antidote to Ibiza’s hedonism, the neighbouring island of Formentera is now a destination in itself. And rightly so…. Turquoise seas, powdery sand, barefoot beach restaurants and the lack of an airport mean this place has come to be seen as a throwback to what Ibiza was in the pre-Pacha years, and unsurprisingly it now seems to top everyone’s ‘must-do’ list when it comes to the Balearics. Don’t be fooled into thinking it’s deserted though; Formentera is no secret so don’t be surprised if you’re met with a busy beach and fully-booked restuarants… Still, there’s definitely something wonderful about this relaxed, bohemian hideaway, and I’d plan to stay for at least a couple of days next time to explore more of its southern shores and castaway-style corners.

So even with just 4 days to play with, we knew we had to make the pilgrimage to Formentera. And the 30 minute ferry trip isn’t exactly a hardship when you can sunbathe on the way there, and soak up the sunset on your way home. It was really nice getting out onto the water briefly and ogling the pretty immense boats moored up in Ibiza’s harbour.

Once in Formentera we headed staright to the long, sandy beach of Ses Illetes, basing ourselves close to Beso Beach where we’d booked to go for lunch. We loved the sand-covered floors and laidback vibe of Beso, and in the grand scheme of Ibiza prices, the seriously deliciously paella for two wasn’t scarily expensive and came with a side order of great service. And I’m talking really, really good paella… Like most places in high season it was super busy so you definitely need to call ahead and book, but it made for a really fun, bustling atmosphere with a mixture of couples, big groups of friends and gaggles of ladies who lunch. Towards the late afternoon and evening, it started to feel a bit more ‘sceney’ with lots of preening in the bathroom mirrors and more than a few wine-flushed faces and sequinned kaftans but would still be lots of fun in a group of friends. Around 7 p.m they set up a Mojito Bar close to the entrance so you can pick-up a sundowner to take back down to the beach.

When we’d sufficiently stuffed ourselves, we spent the rest of the day lolling around on towels on the beach, reading (Wild Swans for those interested) and taking full advantage of the clear, turquoise water. At about seven, we finally dragged our sandy, salty selves back to the port to get the boat back to Ibiza, unknowingly timing it perfectly to catch one of Ibiza’s fiery sunsets in action.

On a sartorial note, can you tell I love an off-the-shoulder number?! Scroll down to the bottom for outfit credits and links.