Drive Yourself Wild This Summer
Doesn’t it make you just a little jealous to learn that average temperatures in Barcelona are already in the mid-twenties and they’ll only keep rising? I know I’m itching to make a break for some guaranteed Catalan sunshine….
I’m not really a lie down a beach type of holiday-maker. A holiday abroad for me is all about big days, long nights and adventures. This summer, I’m dreaming about hitting the Catalonian coast – starting with Barcelona and then getting the ferry over to Ibiza for some clubbing, celeb-spotting and a few secret beaches.
Scenic Driving
First things first; there’s some incredible landscape to discover around the Barcelona area. An hour’s drive from Barcelona will take you to the Montserrat mountain range just south of the City. The mountain name translates as ‘jagged mounts’ and the arid red rock will be incredible to clamber all over. This will be combined with a visit to Santa Maria de Montserrat, the magnificent Benedictine monastery.
After a few days exploring the Barcelona beaches like Mar Bella and the Gothic quarter, I’m going to hop on a ferry and really rev up. I’ve been sorting out my car hire Ibiza and it looks like I’m going to hit the ground running as soon as I set foot on the best of the Balearic party islands. First, a drive to the north of the island, which is quieter and far less touristy. I’m looking for a boutique place to lay my head for a few days – preferably somewhere eco-friendly and off the beaten track.
Then, as well as sampling beaches like Cala Bassa and Cala Tarida, I’ll drive into the islands capital San Antonio, which mixes up club culture with artisan markets and some beautiful architecture – sparkling white villas and all! A few friends have birthdays this summer and a few shawls and home made knick-knacks will be just the ticket as presents.
Then, finish with a big weekend, probably at Pacha – but I’ll hopefully try to catch some of the festivals and showcases which land at the island over the summer. A friend of mine went last year for the live club days with a major radio statio and loved it and I’m aiming to do the same this year – cannot wait for the summer to begin!
