My unforgettable holiday in Ibiza

If crisp air and panoramic sunset, crystal clear water with secluded beaches, miles of pine forests and mouth-watering sea foods what make for a perfect holiday destination, then the lovely Ibiza and the rest of Balearic islands situated in Spain can race to the top purely on these merits only. But when we are talking about Ibiza holidays, there is something more! These breathtakingly beautiful Mediterranean islands are also known for world’s best night clubs. Together, these make Balearic islands one the most happening places on the planet to be for night-time revelers, Hippies, free spirits and nature lovers.

We checked into a fine hotel in Ibiza town. As there are various categories of standard hotels in and around Ibiza, finding a suitable accommodation shouldn't be a problem. Those who prefer lively atmosphere may like to stay in San Antanio or perhaps Playa d’en Bossa areas that are close to bars and clubs. Others looking for solitude may head off to resorts of Santa Eulalia, San Rafael or San Jose. Beside these, Ibiza has some stunning boutique hotels that come with personalized services with gourmet cuisine, gazebo and likewise. So, if you are planning to live life king-size, even if it is only for a few days, there may not be a better place than Ibiza.

Since Ibiza is famous for sea foods, we decided to taste some of their local delicacies like Paella (sea food with rice and saffron), Parrillada de Pescado and even Dorada – a typical white meat fish that tasted like lobster, washed down with ‘Sangria’. While gorging on the delicious spread, our local guide regaled us with interesting anecdotes about life in Ibiza. For deserts, our guide-turned-friend took us to a place called Calle Del Mar located in Ibiza town. The shop is called Ibirosa where we had the most interesting time eating some stunning ice creams we have ever had in our life. My ice cream looked like a rose and I had the most difficult time deciding whether to eat it or just marvel at the amazing piece of art!

After having such a heavy meal, it was time for some action, and action it was! Since the entire stretch of coastline in Ibiza is dotted with beaches and coves, we spend some wonderful time exploring new beach everyday. We indulged in our favorite water sports and cooled off in beach bars, restaurants and cafes with aromatic Frigola or Sangria. For a gorgeous view of the setting sun, we went to the cove of San Antanio. We also went to the Salinas beach, considered among the best European beaches. But if diving or walking hand in hand is what you have in mind, I would suggest you to take a twenty minutes bus journey from San Antonio to secluded Cala Tarida.

Nightlife in Ibiza
I heard someone saying – “What Vegas is for gamblers, Ibiza is for party lovers!” Rightly so; we saw Hippies and revelers making merry all through the night full of rum and beer. The atmosphere is electrifying with cool music, DJs, crowd and interesting locations. You never even realize when you are sucked into it, and such is the magic of the place!

Conclusion: Lastly, what makes my Ibiza holiday in Spain stands out? It is the scintillating mix of luxury and culture, stunning beaches and landscapes, brilliant weather and mouth-watering sea food and, of course, vibrant nightlife. The place just doesn’t let you forget in a hurry; it grows on you.

-    Nina Ghosh Konar

IMF Chief Lagarde cautions against Greek exit fallout

Following Greek President Carolos Papoulias's decision to nominate a judge as the head of the interim government, the chief of International Monetary Fund (IMF) until the upcoming election, Christine Lagarde, called on prominent Greek leaders to show their commitment to stay with the euro zone on Wednesday. She stressed on the importance of sticking to the bailout agreement – not just for Greece’s own financial and political security but also for the entire euro zone. She also pointed out the possible consequences of such exit – which would be “hard and expensive, and not just for Greece”. Greece is set for a repeat general election on June 17.

What is adding to the fear and speculation in Europe is the rising popularity of political parties in Greece who are against European Union-IMF bailout deal. In the event that an anti-bailout party comes to power following the election, there is a chance that the bail-out deal might come apart and Greece would exit from euro zone.  There is also a fear of its cascading effect on other bigger but vulnerable economies in Europe, especially Spain and Italy.

Top EU officials have already warned Greece that complying with the terms of the bailout package is mandatory in order to receive international monetary aid.