Balearic Bliss, Cover Photo Cat Milton, 1st March 2016
We Are Balearic!
In celebration of Balearic Day 1st March we publish a 4 page Guiri ‘History Bluffer’s’ Guide to the Balearics.
Stark Balearic Naked—The theory that our name is derived from its naked inhabitants. No Cash, Just Wine & Women—Early Balearic bartering. Sling For Your Dinner-How Balearic kids earned their daily bread.
Anarchy 4 Esp Spanish politics in limbo land as PSOE leader Sánchez fails to form government leader Pedro Sánchez delivered his investiture address in Congress on Tuesday. In his 90 minute speech the socialist party leader talked of “a government of change and of dialogue” promising that it would save Spain from what
he termed its “current situation of impasse and rectify the consequences of the past four years of Popular Party (PP) government.” Speaking to the deputies of the lower house (think MP’s and the House of Commons) Sánchez called for the support of the other political parties that will be required if he is to form
a government and be voted in as Prime Minister. Though the incumbent PP won the election in December in as far as polling the most votes, they fell a long way short of the majority needed to govern. Sánchez has agreed coalition terms with new kids on the centre right (Continued on page 2)
The Ibizan, Thursday 3rd March 2016, Issue 818
News
“A government of change and of dialogue”
PSOE leader Pedro Sánchez addressing Spain’s deputies. Credit J.J. Guillén (Continued from page 1)
political block Ciudadanos but will still need the support of other parties if he is to fulfil King Felipe VI’s invitation to form a government. In his speech, translated by El Pais, he said ““Eighteen million Spaniards voted for the current government to not continue. Eighteen million Spaniards are expecting a different government, one that will repair the consequences of the mistakes that have been made and clear the path for different, and better, policies.” The most-repeated word during the speech was “change,” and Sánchez made it clear that he considered himself the only solution to the inconclusive December elections. He repeated previous statements precluding any possibility of a partnership with the PP, stating time and time again that his government must be formed with parties that want change, not the status quo. “Do we want a government based on agreement? Yes or no?” he asked the assembled deputies. Without mentioning them specifically, Sánchez launched an appeal to antiausterity left-wing group Podemos, mentioning proposals such as an emergency plan for 750,000 families in need, among others. All of these proposals, he explained, could be put into place the very next week should Podemos make way for his investiture by abstaining during the vote. On Wednesday morning it was the turn of the leaders of other parties to offer their
Page 2
also online at theibizan.com
responses. Acting PP Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy addressed Congress first, followed by Pablo Iglesias, leader of the anti-austerity left-wing group Podemos. Both went to great lengths to distance themselves from Sánchez. Rajoy ridiculed the PSOE leader and Iglesias called Sánchez “miserable” at one point. The PP leader described the Socialists attempts to form a government as a “farce.” Iglesias said Sánchez had “surrendered to the oligarchs and the powers that be.” The leader of Ciudadanos, Albert Rivera, took on the role of peacemaker, appealing for dialogue and accord. He accused the PP and Podemos of trying to derail “an agreement that represents nine million Spanish voters.” The debate, which continues throughout Wednesday, is likely to see Sánchez lose the first investiture vote. As it stands, he is unlikely to win a second vote on Friday, at which he needs a simple majority to be successful. Even with the support of Ciudadanos, Sánchez will only count on 130 votes from the 176 needed for an absolute majority during Wednesday night’s vote. On Friday night, when the PSOE leader only requires more votes in favour than against, it will still not be enough to be successful in his bid to lead the government. Depending on the outcome of this week’s sessions in Congress, Spain could be looking at fresh elections later in the year.
2,600 Ex-Pats Registering Per Day, In “Less Time Than It Takes To Make A Cup Of Tea”
The Electoral Commission has launched a global campaign to encourage an estimated five million Britons living overseas to check their eligibility to vote ahead of the referendum on EU membership. The British Ambassador Simon Manley, visiting Malaga on Tuesday said “Whether you think the UK should remain in or leave the EU, the 23rd of June will be your chance to have your say. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the British people to decide.” If you have been on the UK electoral roll within the last 15 years, you are eligible to vote. The electoral commission’s latest marketing promises that online registration is a simple process, quicker than making a cup of tea. For full details of how to register and eligibility see our online guide at http://theibizan.com/ communityandadvice/guiri-guides/eureferendum/
New Ibiza Office of Housing Rights Opens
to the problem of foreclosures." Sans also announced the next meeting of the Bureau of Housing, which will bring together the councillors of Social Welfare and Urban Planning of the different municipalities of the island. "Housing in Ibiza has become a problem of unacceptable, proportions and we must find solutions," said Sans. The Minister of Land, Transport and Energy of the Balearic Government, Joan Bonet, said that the opening of an IBAVI office in Ibiza is "the fulfillment of a campaign promise, and a commitment to attend to the housing problems of Ibiza’s citizens. "
The announcement of June 23rd as the date for the Referendum on the UK’s membership of the European Union has triggered a surge in the numbers of British expats wanting to register to vote. Latest figures show the average daily rate of online registrations by Britons abroad has quadrupled from an average of just over 600 per day before the announcement of the referendum date last weekend, to more than 2600 per day since then.
The Minister of Land, Transport and Energy of the Balearic Government, Joan Bonet, together with the President of Ibiza, Vicente Torres, and the Vice President and Minister of Housing insular, Viviana Sans, were in attendance to present the official opening of the 'Balearic Institute of Housing (IBAVI) to Ibiza, which will also host the Office of Housing Rights. The first vice president of the Consell, Viviana Sans, who also presides over housing matters in the Island government, explained that the office will offer a service that is "global, integral, and will promote actions to develop policies on housing issues and find solutions
The office opened to the public on March 2, and is located on the fourth floor of the Consell offices on Avenue España in Ibiza Town. Open from 9am to 2pm Mon to Fri, Tel: 971 784 994 or email
eivissa@ibavi.caib.es
The Ibizan, Thursday 3rd March 2016, Issue 818
also online at theibizan.com
Page 3
News All night supermarkets around the Egg and in the backstreets of San Antonio will not be able to sell alcohol from midnight to 8a.m.
Vericad Meets Animal Rights Groups Es Vedra Goats
Retail Booze Ban Midnight to Morning
Feb 26, 2016. San Antonio Town Council have today passed an ordinance prohibiting the sale of alcohol from Midnight to 8am throughout the municipality.
The new regulations have been driven through the council’s agenda as a matter of urgency following recent cases of minors being found drunk in the town. Though under age drinking is the cause, and there is no suggestion of any connection to San Antonio’s party tourism reputation, the move is bound to have an effect on some retail establishments noted as all night off licences in the town during the summer months. Combining the ban with the stricter regulations already in place for the closing times of bars and clubs, it will be perhaps the first time that the town will have ‘dry’ hours during which alcohol cannot be purchased from any outlet. Speaking of the initiative Councillor Juanjo Ferrer stressed that the regulations are designed to “protect the health of our children and ensure public safety is maintained.” The ordinance was passed with all party consensus and now has to wait for a one month public consultation period for any objections before being passed into law. Establishments selling alcohol will then have one month to put the regulations into place or face fines ranging from 350 to 1,500 . The possibility of placing a ban on the opening of new Bodegas was considered infeasible due to Bodegas being covered by exactly the same licence as supermarkets and other food shops. The news sparked considerable debate following our online posting. Many people seemed determined to use the story as a tool for berating San Antonio’s tourism reputation, seemingly ignoring the publicised local factors behind the Council’s decision. Local Businessman and West End Bar owner Nathan Viva responded in defence of the council’s initiative. “This is good for san antonio, not bad. shops illegally selling alcohol after midnight has been a real problem and has been an unenforceable law for years as the local government were not allowed, legally, to enforce it via the local police. This has lead to people being able to buy drinks in shops and then drink in the street rather than the bar environment that has made Ibiza a tourist destination in the first place. No one is "losing their livelihood", we, as bar owners, are merely getting what is legally ours back: the ability to sell drinks to our customers rather than have a shop open up next door and sell under the counter for a fraction of the cost paying much less in taxes and ruining it for everyone. This is a law finally being enforced to the benefit of the whole town and not anything negative at all.”
“A
Editorial Comment Gibbs
In many ways this feels like one of those classic Ibiza political issues that is not being honest with itself. In terms of the outcome, i.e. a dry zone when alcohol cannot be purchased from venues or retail in the early hours of the morning, the initiative is very much in line with the stated political objectives of the San Antonio leadership in improving the town’s image and reducing its reliance on what it perceives as lower quality tourism. As from the implementation of the regulations, tourists will no longer have the option to carry on drinking on the streets when the bars close via a trip to one of the several all night supermarkets in the town. With the ban starting at midnight, it is likely to be welcomed by the town’s bar owners who have complained with what many see as justified cause over the increasing regulations limiting their trade in recent years.
Ibiza’s Minister of the Environment, Miquel Vericad, has held talks with three representatives of animal rights groups following protests against the culling of the goats on Es Vedra which were held in front of the Consell HQ in Ibiza Town. During the meeting, Vericad is said to have expressed “understanding and respect” for the views of the activists, stating that he understood the decision taken by the Ministry of Environment of the Balearic Government has hurt the sensitivity of many people in Ibiza. He went on to explain that the practice of culling is “commonplace in wildlife control”, and defended scientific and technical reports that support this action. Vericad warned of spreading false stories about the events that occurred in Es Vedra, saying that is was irresponsible to exacerbate the mood surrounding the affair through what he termed an “unfounded rumour mill”. Representatives of the animal rights groups were not swayed in their view that the culling is totally unjustiable, though they did condem those responsible for the death threats and insults the minister has received on social networks.
s a regulation to curb the drunkenness of underage teens, one has to question how this change will have any effect whatsoever.” Had the regulations been proposed on those two grounds it would seem likely that the voting citizens of San Antonio, and the vast majority of the business community would have supported the initiative, with only those few who earn a living from the late night retail booze trade opposed — and of course those tourists who enjoy taking some cans to the beach to watch the sunrise, but let’s face it, they are unlikely to carry much sway in the corridors of power. But as a regulation to curb drunkenness of underage teens, one has to question how this change will have any effect whatsoever. Though the memory of such teenage shenanigans may be growing dim, my recollection is that whatever cash you had available would be spent in one hit from wherever you could obtain the illicit liquid, and it would be spent long before midnight. If the true focus of the restriction were to be on curbing underage drinking, surely a more effective approach would have been in stricter policing of the sale of alcohol to minors at any time of day? Whilst accepting it is disrespectful and unhelpful to our hosts to refer to ‘things being better in the UK’, the system of proof of age identification how mainstream in Britain is one example of how that issue can be addressed. Importantly in that type of system it does also give the unwitting shop/bar keeper a degree of protection rather than having to rely on their ability to correctly assess the age of people who are at an age when they are trying every trick in the book to look a few years older than they actually are. There was nothing I read in reports of the recent cases of teens being found drunk in San Antonio that said their drinking had commenced after midnight, but there is a general view in not only San Antonio but throughout Ibiza, that alcohol is very easy to come by for teenagers, surely that is the issue, not the time they buy it. In that respect I cannot help feeling that behind the closed doors of those town hall corridors of power, the politicians could not believe their luck in being handed a reason to impose a back door restriction on drunken tourism, without having to stand up and say that is what they were doing. Ultimately teenagers will obtain alcohol. Though it may be harder to do so in the UK with the ID system in place, nobody would argue it has stopped teenage drinking. Teenagers drink for one reason only. Because they can’t wait to grow up. They see adults drinking, and marketers sell it as an attractive and glamorous adult pastime. In that we need to take a collective responsibility in educating our children about ‘responsible drinking’, but therein lies a problem. Such is the inner need to rebel in the teen DNA that any such advice can actually be counter productive and make the peril warning all the more attractive. That is something greater minds than mine could not resolve in the 16 page limitations of this newspaper any more than I think San Antonio town hall have achieved in these hastily drafted and imposed regulations. One final observation. Anybody who has been on the streets of Barcelona in the early hours of the morning will know that the standard offering of illegal street traders is overpriced cans of beer. One thing we are not short of in Ibiza is illegal street traders. Let’s see how that one works out.
Load of Bollards
The bollards recently added to Ibiza airport’s transit car lane have been upsetting pretty well everybody it seems. Now San José town hall have joined the chorus of voices asking for their removal. An online petition is active here
http://chn.ge/1Qnx0gM
The Ibizan, Thursday 3rd March 2016, Issue 818
also online at theibizan.com
Page 4
Stevie D’s, Expatacular! Nick Gibbs
Stevie D’s has, to the best of our knowledge, been the only venue in Ibiza serving the full English breakfast and Traditional Sunday Roast all winter long. For that alone they deserve a round of applause, just for being there, for fulfilling that expat need to cure the hangover, or get that special Sunday feeling, in the best ways we know how, come rain, wind or lucky as we are here normally shine. Availability alone would not however gain the pun-line Expatacular. To achieve such Stevie D’s don’t just do it, they do it very well. Breakfast. What you see is what you get, plus 2 rounds of toast that you don’t see because I forgot to add them to the photo frame in my haste to tuck in. It’s big, and it is all British. Well the bacon is probably Danish but you know what I mean. So it’s 2 rashers, 2 proper sausages, Heinz baked beans, 2 eggs cooked as you like them— and neither the 2 hash browns or mushrooms are priced add ons, they all come as standard on the full 6 breakfast. There is a smaller option for lesser appetites, great value at 3.50 and those preferring the lighter plate need not look over at their full breakfast counterparts in envy having missed out on the usual omissions of smaller breakfasts, they still get everything on the full breakfast, just 1 of each item instead of 2. Onto the roast (a different sitting I should add, it would
Crackling Roll of Honour
Awarded to those establishments that fulfil the criteria of excellence in Pork Crackling. In Date Order … Tapas Restaurant & Lounge Bar Mariposa Pool Bar Stevie D’s
be a brave man take both breakfast and dinner on the same day), and whilst waiting for my Roast Beef Jeanette delivered a sam-
pler of Roast Pork and Crackling. This presented a problem. The crackling was a real cracker leading to questions as to my existing crackling loyalties. I therefore decided that ranking was becoming impossible and a roll of crackling excellence was required, onto which Stevie D’s go without hesitation. The Sunday roast is quite simply huge. It is hard to argue with Jeanette’s outlook of preferring to see some left on a plate than have people leave still wanting, and it is hard to think any comment of ‘not enough’ would ever come up on their diner reviews. The beef was cooked superbly, full of flavour,
The Ibizan, Thursday 3rd March 2016, Issue 818
Page 5
also online at theibizan.com
Jobs
Food & Drink and everything on the plate had that home cooked quality, unsurprising as that is exactly what everything on the plate was. Criticism? Only one really, and as criticism’s go it’s as good as a compliment. I’d have liked another Yorkshire to soak up the pot of delicious gravy. It’s not that I wanted more, far from it, but I’d never say no to another home cooked Yorkshire Pud. Perhaps I’d have traded something—not the roast spuds or beef, it would have to be a lesser vegetable :-) Stevie D’s offer Sunday Lunch from 2pm until 6pm throughout the winter. Half of Roast Chicken 13 , Roast Beef 14.50 and Roast Pork 14 all served with freshly mashed potatoes, roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, a selection of seasonal vegetables and gravy. Plus of course, as if you’d have to ask, plentiful pots of mustard, horseradish and apple sauce. There is plenty going on every day and night of the week at Stevie D’s. See their advert for the day by day diary. Find Stevie D’s on facebook http://on.fb.me/21GaUd0
Sunday Roasts @ Cubar Ibiza Town Claire B
Ibiza’s very own Cuban bar ‘Cubar’ is going all British on Sundays at the moment and offering Sunday Roasts, cooked by Darren Potter (formerly of jds). 2 courses (starter and main) costs 15 or 2 courses plus a mojito or daiquiri is 20 . Reservations are recommended. Cubar is on Parque de la Paz in Ibiza Town.
The Ibizan, Thursday 3rd March 2016, Issue 818
Page 6
also online at theibizan.com
Community & Agenda Thursday 3rd Mar to Wednesday 9 Mar 2016 ARIES – The Hermit You need some alone time this week. Healing, through meditation or by other means is essential to your wellbeing, connecting you to source. Not so random thoughts inspire you to heal old wounds by acknowledging that your outer world only reflects what’s within. You’ve travelled an arduous road; thankfully now there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. TAURUS - The Emperor You're on top form and anything you need to accomplish is easily done. Your leadership qualities stand out and you’re at your creative best. If approached to organise or take charge of a new or existing project, say YES! One thing to watch make time for some rest and relaxation, but even then the Emperor will do that in style! GEMINI – Judgement You feel a sense of liberation and anything that’s held you back is now but a memory. This is especially true if, in fact, you’ve been the engineer of your own setbacks. Be determined to operate from a place of happiness and contentment be open with your thoughts and feelings and especially don’t be afraid to speak your truth. CANCER – Transformation A situation’s past it’s sell by date, so why are you reluctant to move on? Whether it’s about a relationship, career or domestic set-up, one thing is for sure time to ring in the changes. Face whatever fears are preventing you from taking a leap into the unknown. The longer you ignore it the likelihood others will dictate the pace. LEO - Queen of Pentacles A woman relative or friend will offer you sound advice, especially when it comes to relationships. Her wise counsel is valuable, so think twice before ignoring it. Business wise, she also represents a female boss or powerful colleague who it would be wise to treat with respect. She’ll willingly share her knowledge, but only if you prove to be trustworthy. VIRGO - Nine of Swords Keep your thoughts as positive as possible even if situations become problematic. You have much to deal with this week; making it difficult for you to see the wood for the trees. Sort out one issue at a time by categorising their immediate importance and impact. Most of what you fear may never happen, so don’t give in to it. LIBRA - Ten of Pentacles This card is a great indicator that your finances are on the up as you'll be attracting material rewards with insulting ease. New business ventures look to be successful so this is a great week to sign contracts and make agreements. Ambitions are about to be realised as your public love what you do. Property investments are worth looking into. SCORPIO - Five of Wands Love can only be earned. You can't force it or demand it, therefore sort out the internal workings of your own emotions this week and let others get on with theirs. Muddled thinking will tie you up in knots, so relax and bask the affection you attract. You succeed by breaking through emotional blocks and letting down your barriers. SAGITTARIUS - Four of Swords This card advises you to take a back seat and to take life easy; withdraw from a hectic lifestyle and take stock of the past few months. Enjoy being in the NOW, before making plans for the future. Meditation, yoga, tai chi, chill music etc. are all good methods for helping you to unwind. Be peaceful in all your dealings. CAPRICORN - Queen of Swords You're able to cut through the crap and get straight to the heart of important issues this week and are able to expose others lies or weaknesses with a zeal that borders on ruthlessness. It’s important however, to maintain a sense of humour which air sign women, Aquarius, Libra or Gemini have in abundance; they’re straight talking and insightful too! AQUARIUS - Ten of Swords You're at the point of an emotional breakthrough this week; however from your current perspective you might find that hard to believe. Old fears cripple your creative output if you allow them to get the better of you. Seek the expert advice or help of those you trust as you need to offload and feel supported by loving, kind friends. PISCES - The Tower Somewhere in your life, a false ideal or belief requires dismantling. This involves great courage on your part as this will have consequences in all your relationships at work and play. If you don't initiate this process, events could be taken out of your hands. The result will be the same, radical change. See this as an amazing opportunity.
Weather Thursday 16o
Friday 18º
Saturday 15o
Sunday 14º
Monday 12º
Tuesday 14º
Wednesday 14o
Safe Passage
Demonstration in Ibiza Carly S
Last September, the humanitarian crisis of refugees fleeing war-torn Syria and neighbouring countries was brought starkly and harrowingly to the attention of the world by the publication of a tragic image of a tiny boy named Aylan drowned on a beach. It was every parents worst nightmare and a sense of helpless anger swept the world as we asked each other and ourselves how this could ever have happened in a modern world (the answers to which are far too complex, deep and politically charged to even attempt to address in this newspaper article) However, despite the initial outrage, nothing has really changed in order to prevent it from happening again. In fact, the situation has worsened with over 3000 more refugee men, women and children since dying at sea and on land in attempt to gain refuge. It's the biggest humanitarian crisis since World War Two and a group of ordinary citizens decided that it was time to take a stand. The SafePassageNow citizens movement was formed this year to motivate and support
the ordinary people of Europe as they broadcast a message to the Governments of Europe: “We are demanding that European authorities and governments take action now to open safe passage routes for all those who seek protection. - #safepassage means legal and safe routes: no more deaths at our borders - #safepassage means protection for refugees on their travel through Europe - #safepassage means adequate standards of reception and asylum in all European countries, no longer diminishing the rights of asylum seekers and refugees, allowing refugees to keep their belongings, allowing them to be reunited with their families and providing stability as far as their right of residence is concerned. These people are running away from death. We cannot allow them to die in front of our eyes! We cannot allow them to be held in inhumane camps when they came looking for freedom and safety! We cannot fail as human beings!” (taken from the manifesto on SafePassageNow's facebook page, a manifesto which was read aloud and added to in various languages and across the world on Saturday).
The response to this plea was fantastic and by February 27th, over 150 cities worldwide, not just within Europe, had answered the call to stand up for their fellow man and organised a wide range of peaceful events, demonstrations, marches, festivals, readings, dramatisations and benefits in an attempt to highlight the plight of the refugees. Spain was the most supportive country involved with events in over 50 of its cities. As one of the admins of the Love From Ibiza charitable group, set up by Marie Duchar Clark last year in order to send aid to charities helping refugees across Europe, I was part of the group planning the Ibiza event, which was carried out in the name of the Plataforma Sociosanotario de Ibiza (and here I must thank Enric Casanova for all his hard work in soliciting and securing the permission for the demonstration). The only permission we were able to get at short notice was for a peaceful gathering with a reading of the safe passage manifesto, so what we really needed was press support to publicise and cover the event, and feet on the street to make our message clear. We were very lucky on the first count with all of the local newspapers running articles
The Ibizan, Thursday 3rd March 2016, Issue 818
also online at theibizan.com
Page 7 Oscar winning ‘The Danish Girl’, on at the flicks
to publicise it. Unfortunately; perhaps due to the dismal weather, perhaps due to people having ambivalent feelings towards the cause, perhaps due to people being too busy or unable to attend for other reasons and despite the Love From Ibiza group having 1000 members; there were only around 60 of us in Vara De Rey on Saturday. I'd be lying if I said we weren't a little disappointed with the turnout, however some very influential locals were there to make their stand, including the president and vice president of the Consell; Vicent Torres and Marta Diaz, director of tourism Vicent Torres Ferrer Benet and counsellor for the environment Miquel Vericad (and of course, The Ibizan's favourite local DJ David 'Chip' 'Squirrel' Ward). Across the floor were scattered life jackets to represent just a few of the lives lost at sea. Each person carried a placard with the safe passage message and we also placed them around the monument in the centre which we used as our meeting point. Readings of the manifesto, which had been developed and added to by various members of the organising group, were done atop the monument in Spanish and very eloquently and passionately in English, by a local Greenpeace member and Karen Killeen respectively. They highlighted the injustices carried out against the refugees, the racism and fear with which their plight is being received, the prosperity and relative security of Syria prior to civil war breaking out, the pleas from Syrians and middle Eastern refugees, particularly children, to end the wars and the fact that we are all human and all deserve our basic human rights. You can watch a video of the full speech on the Love From Ibiza facebook page. I hope that our contribution to this hundreds of thousands strong global citizens movement has had an impact, we await the result. For now, Love From Ibiza will continue in its fundraising and consciousness raising efforts in support of our less fortunate fellows. We continue to sell brand new and second hand products online through our Facebook group and at local markets, and Karen Killeen will be running 'SOS Yoga' classes led by various instructors at locations around the island. Participation in yoga classes is by donation and every penny will go to ProActiva Open Arms, a lifeboat charity focused on rescuing refugees. The first class is on Sunday 13th March from 11.30 – 13.00 on Playa D'En Bossa beach in front of Nassau beach club. For more information, go to http://on.fb.me/1oYdVHZ We are also in the early stages of planning a big fundraising family day in April, for which we'd really appreciate support from local people, businesses and services in the contribution of raffle and auction prizes, help on the day and attendance at the event. Please get in touch via Love From Ibiza if you'd like to help or to stay updated on our fundraising efforts. https://www.facebook.com/ groups/lovefromibiza
Bites & Beats Playa d’en Bossa Claire B
The 1st of the Bites & Beats pop up food parties takes place on Friday March 4 at Forty Fives on the beach in Playa d’en Bossa (formerly jds). Hosted by chef Jila Walker and DJ Buckley Boland, the event will combine a sumptuous mix of food and music. Each event will have a different theme on the menu - Jila will be cooking up a 3course menu of organic veggie and vegan food whilst Buckley sets the mood and provides music for the soul. The first event will be an eastern journey, with a menu of 3 dishes to choose from for each course. To start: Gado gado salad with a punchy peanut sauce; Mezze platter with babaganoush, hummus, tzatziki, olives and almonds with hot pita triangles; Thai spiced butternut squash coconut and carrot soup. Mains: Shitake mushroom, red pepper and green bean Rendang curry served with fragrant rice; Thai red vegetable curry served with fragrant rice; Pumpkin, red onion and cranberry tagine served with Moroccan couscous. To finish: Vegan gooey chocolate brownie served with walnuts and a coconut cream; Baklava; Greek yoghurt, pistachios and rose water infused honey. Whilst Jila is busy in the kitchen, Buckley will be spinning the tunes while dinner is being served and getting the party started afterwards. He’s been djing for 26 years including a residency at the Hacienda back in the early 90’s, an 11year residency at Back to Basics in the UK and a resident for We Love Sundays @ space here in Ibiza. There are 2 sittings for dinner – 7.00-8.30pm and 8.3010.00pm - with music and hopefully some dancing continuing until late. The price is 21€ for 3 courses.
Live music Ibiza Town Claire B
More live concerts are being put on under the banner of ‘Xiringuito a Groenlàndia’. The concerts have been organised by a group of local musicians who want to bring alternative live music to Ibiza and have received a Balearic grant, managed by the Institut d’Estudis Balearics, called ‘TALENT-IB’ to promote performances by music and theatre groups from the Balearic Islands. Most are held in Bar Can Pou in Ibiza Town and the one April 16 is outdoors in the Cloister of the City of Ibiza (Claustre de l’Ajuntament d’Eivissa), which is a fantastic venue. Mar 5: Los Bélmez (pop, Jaén), Can Pou, 22.30h
Mar 19: F/E/A (Andorra), Ora i Sonora (postrock), Bar Can Pou, 23.30h Apr 2: Rinxolets d’Or (children’s puppet show), Bar Can Pou, 12.30h Apr 2: Los Peligroses Gentlemen (blues R&B, Mallorca), Can Pou, 22.30h Apr 9: Aucell Cantaire (folk), Can Pou, 12.30h Apr 16: GAF y la Estrella de la Muerte (post-rock, Tenerife), and Satellites i Mikrophone (rock, Mallorca), Claustre de l’Ajuntament d’Eivissa May 1: Leonmanso (folk, Menorca), Bar Can Pou 12.30h
Live in Gerts Santa Gertrudis Claire B
Sluiz continues to put on free live music on Sunday afternoons during March from 16.30-20.00. March 6: Mal Brittain, Jodie Kean & Volker Schmitz (unplugged) March 13: Jazzybiza (jazz) March 20: Edu Egito (from Brazil) March 27: Rebecca Gamboa (playing new work) Sluiz is on the Carretera IbizaSan Miguel, Km 4, just outside Santa Gertrudis. Look out for the blue and white cows outside.
Cinema. Teatroespana Sta Eulalia
Wed 2nd Fri 4th Sat 5th & Sun 6th; 18-00hrs. The Danish Girl. (2015 Cert 15 1hr 59 mins) A fictitious love story loosely inspired by the lives of Danish artists Lili Elbe and Gerda Wegener. Lili and Gerda's marriage and work evolve as they navigate Lili's ground-breaking journey as a transgender pioneer. Stars: Eddie Redmayne, Alicia Vikander, Amber Heard. Why not check out the web site for future films and events
coloured sweets complete with foil pop out dispensing system. They make sweet cigarettes look like a nutritious health bar in comparison. At least that 70's faux pas hadn't gone to such lengths to create such a perfect facsimile of their parent's vice to which tots could aspire. It boggles the mind what company would manufacture them, what retailer would stock them, and what parent would buy them. Though I guess none of that supply chain would acknowledge their resounding resemblance to prescription drugs, it was clear talking to Blue that he and his friends saw them as exactly that - play pills. You can imagine the playground chat, "I'm having the same yellow ones as Mummy every day, as she said it was because of them I was born", "I'm taking blue ones like daddy's that make mummy happy Saturdays", I mean seriously, we warn of medicine's danger, we lock tablets away high out of reach, we devise kidproof bottles, then some gits come along with the message "tablets are fun, so don't just have one". As it turned out my concerns as to the corruption of universal childhood were cut short with Blue's comment that the "red ones were best". As many parents will know, and many more should know, 'red' in confectionery terms means only one thing, trouble ahead. I don't know what E number it is they put in it, but I know it can have as much effect on a child's personality as its grown up
brother E can on a 18 year old double dropper on their first holiday in the Mediterranean sun. Within 20 minutes our son had gone from mild mannered janitor to whirling dervish. The dog was hiding under the bed, mum was hiding under the dog, and i was just about keeping control with use of an upturned dining chair and whip in the style of circus lion tamer. OK it wasn't that bad, but the usual hugely hyperactive that follows ingestion of that special kids E. The problem is even commercially acknowledged. Having noticed this change some time ago, i read the ingredients on the packet of sweets he had eaten, what we used to refer to as red liquorish, to find the tiny small print warning "not recommended for children under 12 years of age" - I kid you not, and this on a packet clearly marketed at children alongside fizzy coke bottles, and mallow bananas. I can only assume that it is not recognised as a 'drug' by more parents as it has no real effect on us. But as ever parent knows kid's medicines have a huge and immediate effect on them, though they won't even take the edge of your bout of flu. Since days of running kindergartens in the UK I have been an advocate of the outlook that a huge amount of behavioural problems in children are to do with the E numbers they eat, and especially the E they use for ‘red’. ADHD? Perhaps, but then again perhaps the child is just a playground pill popping junkie hooked on E.
Easter Fairs.
This year's Easter Fair at Bar Cruce in San Raphael is taking place on Saturday 26th March 9am to 3pm. The fair is to raise money that will be divided between Age Concern Ibiza & Formentera and The Homeless. I am asking for donations of items that can be raffled, used on the tombola, plant, toy, book, homemade cakes/jams and nearly new clothing stalls. If you have anything that you wish to donate then this can be dropped off at Thomas Greens in San Antonio, or if you're on the eastern side of the island then call me and I'll arrange to meet you. I hope that the generosity shown in the past can once again help to make the fair a huge success and I look forward to seeing you there. For more information or if you would like to help out on the day then call me on 971 196394. Margaret Nawaz.
Age Concern
Dear Friends. At the recent AGM of Age Concern Ibiza and Formentera it was agreed that in future enquiries concerning the hire and return of equipment would be in the hands of Jayne Bamber. Please note contact should be made during office ours (except in emergency) to 971 343232 or mobile 690691587. Kind regards, Dee FaceyThorne.
View From The Pew; George Herbert
teatroespana@santeulalia.com
Red Peril
Playground Pill Popping, Infants on E. Gibbs
Blue (age 6) "Dad if i get a headache later it will be OK because I can take some of my tablets." Dad (distracted) "Let's hope you don't get a headache then." Dad (penny dropping several minutes later) "What do you mean 'your tablets', what tablets?" Blue "The ones in (name withheld for avoidance of parental shame)'s party bag." Blue then shows me what has to go down as the most outrageously inappropriate kids candy ever: a blister pack of pill sized, pill shaped, brightly
Postbag
Rev. Dr Peter Pimentel
As I write this, the Anglican Church commemorates the life of the English poet and priest George Herbert (d.1633).I think of some phrases from his masterpieces: “Love bade me welcome; yet my soul drew back”. “Heaven in ordinary”. “Church bells beyond the stars heard”. I think of his wonderful hymn:
Let all the world in every corner sing, my God and King! The heavens are not too high, his praise may thither fly, The earth is not too low, his praises there may grow. Let all the world in every corner sing, my God and King! Let all the world in every corner sing, my God and King! The church with psalms must shout, no door can keep them out; But, above all, the heart must bear the longest part. Let all the world in every corner sing, my God and King! It’s quite remarkable that a Church of England poet and priest of the 1600’s could write: “the church with psalms must shout”. That’s so enthusiastic – so un-Church of England! It more Pentecostal or charismatic hundreds of years before Pentecostals or charismatics existed! I do like best of all, his phrase: “Heaven in ordinary”. It seems to me that we do get glimpses of heaven in the ordinary things of life if we treasure each moment as a precious gift of love. Services: Mothering Sunday 6th March 9.30am traditional holy communion & 10.30 worship with holy communion both at San Rafael The English-Speaking Church on Ibiza & Formentera. See website for locations & information. Tel 971 343383 chaplainibiza11@gmail.com
The Ibizan, Thursday 3rd March 2016, Issue 818
Page 8
also online at theibizan.com
The Balearics The Statute of Autonomy of the Balearic Islands, ap- According to the Lycophron's Alexandra μ / proved by the Organic Law 2/1983 on February 25, verses, the islands were called μ /gymnos, meaning naked in established the Balearic Islands as an autonomous com- Gymnesiae ( munity of Spain. Since its initial approval, the statute Greek) because its inhabitants were often nude, probably has undergone many changes and reforms, the most re- because of the year-round benevolent climate. cent of which came into effect on March 1, 2007, coincid- The Greek and Roman writers generally derive the name of the people from their skill as slingers ing with the Day of Balearic Islands. Balearic Islands. The Balearic Islands Catalan: Illes tark Balearic Naked. One theory as to Balears Spanish: the origin of the Islands’ name is that of Islas Baleares are an its inhabitants often being nude.” archipelago of Spain. The four largest is/baleareis, from /ballo: lands are Majorca, Minorca, Ibiza and Formentera. ( There are many minor islands and islets in close proximi- ancient Greek meaning "to launch"), although Strabo ty to the larger islands, including Cabrera, Dragonera regards the name as of Phoenician origin. He observed it was the Phoenician equivalent for lightly armoured soland S'Espalmador. μ / The archipelago forms an autonomous community and a diers the Greeks would have called province of Spain, with Palma de Mallorca as the capital. gymnetas. The root bal does point to a Phoenician The co-official languages in the Balearic Islands are Cat- origin perhaps the islands were sacred to the god Baal (in alan and Spanish. The current Statute of Autonomy de- and the resemblance to the Greek root /ballo) is accidental. Indeed, it was usual clares the Balearic Islands as one nationality of Spain. ing James I of Though currently a part of Spain, throughout history the Greek practice to assimilate local names into their own Aragon (furthest right) Balearic Islands have been under the rule of number of language. But the common Greek name of the islands is not /Baleareis, but different kingdoms and countries. during his conquest of μ /Gymnesiai. The former was the Mallorca in 1229. By Georg-hessen name used by the natives, as well as by the CarthaginiPintures murals de la conquesta de ans and Romans, while the latter probably derives from Mallorca” Both Catalan and Spanish are official languages in the the light equipment of the Balearic troops μ /gymnetae. islands. Catalan is designated as a "llengua pròpia", literIslands (Illes Pitiüses officially in Catalan), also referred ally "own language" in its statute of autonomy. Practicalto as the Pityuses (or sometimes informally in English as ly all residents of the Balearic Islands speak Spanish the Pine Islands). There are many minor islands or islets fluently. In 2003 74.6% of the Islands' residents also close to the biggest islands, such as Es Conills, Es Vedrà, know how to speak Catalan and 93.1% can understand The main isSa Conillera, Dragonera, it. lands of the reek and Roman writers generally deS'Espalmador, autonomous rive the name of the people from their S'Espardell, Ses Bledes, community are skill as slingers, from the ancient Greek Santa Eulària, Plana, Majorca Foradada, Tagomago, word ’ballo’, meaning ‘to launch’.” The official name of the Balearic Islands in Catalan is (Mallorca), Na Redona, Colom, Minorca Illes Balears, while in Spanish they are known as the L'Aire, etc. Islas Baleares. The term "Balearic" derives from Greek (Menorca), Ibiza (Eivissa/Ibiza) and Formentera. Among ( μ /Gymnesiae and the minor islands is Cabrera, the location of the Cabrera The Balearic Front is a sea density regime north of the Balearic Islands on the shelf slope of the Balearic IsArchipelago Maritime-Terrestrial National Park. /Balliareis). In Latin (Baleares). Of the various theories on the origins of the two ancient The islands can be further grouped, with Majorca, Mi- lands, which is responsible for some of the surface flow Greek and Latin names for the islands—Gymnasiae and norca, and Cabrera as the Gymnesian Islands (Illes characteristics of the Balearic Sea. Gimnèsies), and Ibiza and Formentera as the Pityusic Baleares—classical sources provide two.
“S
“K
Languages
Geography
Etymology
“G
The Ibizan, Thursday 3rd March 2016, Issue 818
History
“I
Page 9
t is said that the mothers allowed their children to eat bread only when they had struck it off a post with the sling.”
Ancient history Little is recorded on the earliest inhabitants of the islands, though many legends exist. The story, preserved by Lycophron, that certain shipwrecked Greek Boeotians were cast nude on the islands, was evidently invented to account for the name Gymnesiae. There is also a tradition that the islands were colonized by Rhodes after the Trojan War. The islands had a very mixed population, of whose habits several strange stories are told. In some stories, it is said that the people went naked or were clad only in sheepskins—whence the name of the islands—until the Phoenicians clothed them with broad-bordered tunics. In other stories, they were naked only in the heat of summer. Other legends hold that the inhabitants lived in hollow rocks and artificial caves, that they were remarkable for their love of women and would give three or four men as the ransom for one woman, that they had no gold or silver coin, and forbade the importation of the precious metals, so that those of them who served as mercenaries took their pay in wine and women instead of money. In ancient times, the islanders of the Gymnesian Islands (Illes Gimnèsies) constructed talayots, and were famous
“C
also online at theibizan.com
atalan Atlas, drawn by the sefardi Cresques Abraham”
for their skill with the sling. As slingers, they served as mercenaries, first under the Carthaginians, and afterwards under the Romans. They went into battle ungirt, with only a small buckler, and a javelin burnt at the end, and in some cases tipped with a small iron point but their effective weapons were their slings, of which each man carried three, wound round his head, or, as seen in other sources, one round the head, one round the body, and one in the hand. The three slings were of different lengths, for stones of different sizes the largest they hurled with as much force as if it were flung from a catapult and they seldom missed their mark. To this exercise they were trained from infancy, in order to earn their livelihood as mercenary soldiers. It is said that the mothers allowed their children to eat bread only when they had
struck it off a post with the sling. The Phoenicians took possession of the islands in very early times a remarkable trace of their colonization is preserved in the town of Mago (Maó in Minorca). After the fall of Carthage, the islands seem to have been virtually independent. Notwithstanding their celebrity in war,
The Ibizan, Thursday 3rd March 2016, Issue 818
“T
also online at theibizan.com
Page 10
he island of Minorca was a British dependency for most of the 18th century as a result of the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht. “
the people were generally very quiet and inoffensive. The Romans, however, easily found a pretext for charging them with complicity with the Mediterranean pirates, and they were conquered by Q. Caecilius Metellus, thence surnamed Balearicus, in 123 BC. Metellus settled 3,000 Roman and Spanish colonists on the larger island, and founded the cities of Palma and Pollentia. The islands belonged, under the Roman Empire, to the conventus of Carthago Nova (modern Cartagena), in the province of Hispania Tarraconensis, of which province they formed the fourth district, under the government of a praefectus pro legato. An inscription of the time of Nero mentions the PRAEF. PRAE LEGATO INSULAR. BALIARUM. They were afterwards made a separate province, called Hispania Balearica, probably in the division of the empire under Constantine. The two largest islands (the Balearic Islands, in their historical sense) had numerous excellent harbours, though rocky at their mouth, and requiring care in entering them. Both were extremely fertile in all produce, except wine and olive oil. They were celebrated for their cattle, especially for the mules of the lesser island they had an immense number of rabbits, and were free from all venomous reptiles. Among the snails valued by the Romans as a diet, was a species from the Balearic isles, called cavaticae, from their being bred in caves. Their chief mineral product was the red earth, called sinope, which was used by painters. Their resin and pitch are mentioned by Dioscorides. The population of the two islands is stated by Diodorus at 30,000.
Late Roman/Early Islamic Era The Vandals under Genseric conquered the Islands sometime between 461 and 468 during their war on the Roman Empire. However, in late 533 or early 534, following the Battle of Ad Decimum, the troops of Belisarius re-established control of the islands to the Byzantine Empire. Imperial power receded precipitously in the western Mediterranean after the fall of Carthage and the Exarchate of Africa to the Umayyad Caliphate in 698 and in 707 the islands submitted to the generous terms of an Umayyad fleet, which allowed the residents to maintain their traditions and religion as well as a high
“O
ne Legend holds that the people forbade the importation of the precious metals, so that those of them who served as mercenaries took their pay in wine and women instead of money. “
degree of autonomy. Now nominally both Byzantine and Umayyad, the de facto independent islands occupied a strategic and profitable grey area between the competing religions and kingdoms of the western Mediterranean. The prosperous islands were thoroughly sacked by the Swedish Viking King Björn Ironside and his brother Hastein during their Mediterranean raid of 859–862. In 902, the heavy use of the islands as a pirate base provoked the Emirate of Córdoba, nominally the island's overlords, to invade and incorporate the islands into their state. However, the Cordoban emirate disintegrated in civil war and partition in the early eleventh century, breaking into smaller states called taifa. Mujahid alSiqlabi, the ruler of the Taifa of Dénia sent a fleet and seized control of the islands in 1015, using it as the base for subsequent expeditions to Sardinia and Pisa. In 1050, the island's governor Abd Allah ibn Aglab rebelled and established the independent Taifa of Mallorca.
Crusade against the Balearics For centuries, the Balearic sailors and pirates had been masters of the western Mediterranean. But the expanding influence of the Italian maritime republics and the shift of power on the Iberian peninsula from the Muslim states to the Christian states left the islands vulnerable. A crusade was launched in 1113. Led by Ugo da Parlascio Ebriaco and Archbishop Pietro Moriconi of the Republic of Pisa, the expedition included 420 ships, a large army and a personal envoy from Pope Paschal II. In addition to the Pisan (who had been promised suzerainty over the islands by the Pope), the expedition included forces from the Italian cities of Florence, Lucca, Pistoia, Rome, Siena, and Volterra, from Sardinia and Corsica, Catalan forces under Ramon Berenguer, Hug II of Empúries, and Ramon Folc II of Cardona came from Spain and occitanian forces under William V of Montpellier, Aimery II of Narbonne, and Raymond I of Baux came from France. The expedition also received strong support from Constantine I of Logudoro and his base of Porto Torres. The combined Crusader fleet raided Ibiza in June, and
destroyed its defences, since Ibiza lay between Majorca and the mainland and would have posed a continued threat during a siege. The Liber maiolichinusalso records the taking of captives, who were trying to hide in careae (probably caves), on Formentera. Ibiza was under Crusader control by August. The Crusaders invested Palma de Majorca in August 1114. As the siege dragged on the counts of Barcelona and Empúries entered into peace negotiations with the Muslim ruler of Majorca, but the cardinal and Pietro Moriconi, the Archbishop of Pisa, interfered to put an end to the discussions. Probably the Catalan rulers, whose lands lay nearest the Balearics, expected an annual payment of parias (tribute) from the Muslims and the cessation of pirate raids in return for lifting the siege. Muslim reinforcements, Almoravids from the Iberian port of Denia, surprised a Pisan flotilla of six in the waters off Ibiza, with only two of the Pisan vessels making it to safety, which consisted of the remains of a fortress burned by the king of Norway a decade earlier. In April 1115 the city capitulated and its entire population was enslaved. This victory was followed by the capture of most of the Balearics' major settlements and the freeing of most captive Christians on the islands. The independent Muslim taifa ruler was taken back to Pisa a captive. The crusade then withdrew. Within a year, the now shattered islands were conquered by the Berber Almoravid dynasty, whose aggressive, militant approach to religion mirrored that of the crusaders and departed from the island's history as a tolerant haven under Cordoba and the taifa. The Almoravid were conquered and deposed in North Africa and on the Iberian Peninsula by the rival Almohad Dynasty of Marrakech in 1147. Muhammad ibn Ganiya, the Almoravid claimant, fled to Palma and established his capital there. His dynasty, the Banu Ghaniya, sought allies in their effort to recover their kingdom from the Almohad, leading them to grant Genoa and Pisa their first commercial concessions on the
The Ibizan, Thursday 3rd March 2016, Issue 818
Balearics By Numbers
Each of the main islands is administered, along with its surrounding minor islands and islets, by an insular council (consell insular in Catalan) of the same name. These four insular councils are the first level of subdivision in the autonomous community (and province) of the Baleares. Before the administrative reform of 1977, the two insular councils of Ibiza and Formentera were forming in a single one (covering the whole group of the Pitiusic Islands). This level is further subdivided into six comarques only in the insular council of Mallorca; the three other insular councils are not subdivided into separate comarques, but are themselves assimilated each one to a comarca covering the same territory as the insular council. These nine comarques are then subdivided into municipalities (municipis), with the exception of Formentera, which is at the same time an insular council, a comarca, and a municipality. Note that the maritime and terrestrial natural reserves in the Balearic Islands are not owned by the municipalities, even if they fall within their territory, but are owned and managed by the respective insular councils from which they depend.
also online at theibizan.com
Those municipalities are further subdivided into civil parishes (parròquies), that are slightly larger than the traditional religious parishes, themselves subdivided (only in Ibiza and Formentera) into administrative villages (named véndes in Catalan); each vénda is grouping several nearby hamlets (casaments) and their immediate surrounding lands—these casaments are traditionally formed by grouping together several cubic houses to form a defensive parallelepiped with windows open to the East (against heat), sharing their collected precious water resources, whose residents are deciding and planning some common collective works. However, these last levels of subdivisions of municipalities do not have their own local administration: they are mostly as the natural economical units for agricultural exploitation (and consequently referenced in local norms for constructions and urbanisation as well) and are the reference space for families (so they may be appended to the names of peoples
Page 11
Fact File
Municipalities
Pop (2013)
Island
Capital
Palma de Mallorca
Palma
398,162
Majorca
Website
www.caib.es
Majorca
Government Devolved government in a constitutional monarchy
• Type • Body
Govern de les Illes Balears
• President
Francina Armengol (PSOE)
Parliament
59 deputies
Congress
8 deputies (out of 350)
Senate
6 senators (out of 264)
Area
Calvià
52,272
Eivissa Vila (Ibiza Town)
50,401
Ibiza
Manacor
41,049
Majorca
Llucmajor
37,257
Majorca
Santa Eulària del Riu
36,464
Ibiza
Marratxí
35,258
Majorca
Inca
31,032
Majorca
Ciutadella
29,629
Minorca
Maó
28,765
Minorca
Sant Josep de sa Talaia
24,498
Ibiza
Sant Antoni de Portmany
23,314
Ibiza
Alcúdia
20,163
Majorca
• Total
4,992 km2 (1,927 sq mi)
Felanitx
17,359
Majorca
Area rank
17th (1.0% of Spain)
Pollença
16,200
Majorca
Population • Total
1,106,049
• Density
220/km2 (570/sq mi)
• Pop. rank
14th (2.3% of Spain)
and their land/housing properties) and are still used in statistics.
Right: Municipalities by population size
Sóller
14,229
Majorca
Sa Pobla
12,901
Majorca
Santa Margalida
12,243
Majorca
Santanyí
11,784
Majorca
Formentera
11,374
Formentera
Capdepera
11,247
Majorca
Son Servera
11,146
Majorca
Andratx
10,748
Majorca
Campos
10,144
Majorca
Island
Population
% of Balearics
Density (people/km²)
Majorca
777,821
79.12%
214.84
Alaior
9,769
Minorca
7,956
Minorca
Ibiza
111,107
11.30%
193.22
Es Castell
Minorca
86,697
8.82%
124.85
Sant Llorenç des Cardassar
7,857
Majorca
Binissalem
7,792
Majorca
Sant Lluís
7,509
Minorca
Artà
7,415
Majorca
Muro
6,977
Majorca
Bunyola
6,619
Majorca
Santa Maria del Camí
6,500
Majorca
Lloseta
5,680
Majorca
Sant Joan de Labritja
5,677
Ibiza
Formentera
islands. In 1184, an expedition was sent to recapture Ifriqiya (the coastal areas of what is today Tunisia, eastern Algeria, and western Libya) but ended in defeat. Fearing reprisals, the inhabitants of the Balearics rebelled against the Almoravid and accepted Almohad suzerainty in 1187.
Reconquista On the last day of 1229, King James I of Aragon (see image previous page) captured Palma after three months of siege. The rest of Mallorca quickly followed. Minorca fell in the year 1232 and Ibiza in 1235. In 1236, James traded most of the islands to Peter I, Count of Urgell for Urgell, which he incorporated into his kingdom. Peter ruled from Palma, but after his death without issue in 1258, the islands reverted by the terms of the deal to the Crown of Aragon. James died in 1276, partitioning his domains between his sons in his will. The will created a new Kingdom of Mallorca from the Balearic islands and the mainland counties of Roussillon or Montpellier, which was left to his son James II. However, the terms of the will specified that the new kingdom be a vassal state to the Kingdom of Aragon, which was left to his older brother Peter. Chafing under the vassalage, James joined forces with the Pope Martin IV and Philip III of France against his brother in the Aragonese Crusade, leading to a 10-year Aragonese occupation before the islands were restored in the 1295 Treaty of Anagni. The tension between the kingdoms continued through the generations until James' grandson James III was killed by the invading army of Peter's grandson Peter IV at the 1349 Battle of Llucmajor. The Balearic Islands were then incorporated directly into the kingdom of Aragon.
Modern period In 1469, Ferdinand II of Aragon (king of Aragon) and Isabella I of Castile (queen of Castile) were married. After their deaths, their respective territories (until then governed separately) were governed jointly, in the person of their grandson, the Emperor Charles V. This can
7,506
0.76%
90.17
be considered the foundation of the modern Spanish state, albeit a decentralized one wherein the various component territories within the united crowns retained their particular historic laws and privileges. The Balearic Islands were frequently attacked by Barbary pirates from North Africa Formentera was even temporarily abandoned by its population. In 1514, 1515 and 1521 the coasts of the Balearic Islands and the Spanish mainland were raided by Turkish privateers under the command of the Ottoman admiral, Hayreddin Barbarossa. The island of Minorca was a British dependency for most of the 18th century as a result of the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht. This treaty—signed by the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Portugal as well as the Kingdom of Spain, to end the conflict caused by the War of the Spanish Succession—gave Gibraltar and Minorca to the Kingdom of Great Britain, Sardinia to Austria (both territories had been part of the Crown of Aragon for more than four centuries), and Sicily to the House of Savoy. In addition, Flanders and other European territories of the Spanish Crown were given to Austria. The island fell to French forces, under Armand de Vignerot du Plessis in June 1756 and was occupied by them for the duration of the Seven Years' War. The British reoccupied the island after the war but, with their military forces diverted away by the American War of Independence, it fell to a Franco-Spanish force after a sevenmonth siege (1781–82). Spain retained it under the Treaty of Paris in 1783. However, during the French Revolutionary Wars, when Spain became an ally of France, it came under French rule. Minorca was finally returned to Spain by the Treaty of Amiens during the French Revolutionary Wars, following the last British occupation, which lasted from 1798 to 1802. The continued presence of British naval forces, however, meant that the Balearic Islands were never occupied by the French during the Napoleonic Wars. Compiled with the help of good old Wikipedia and the Balearic Government Websites.
Porreres
5,496
Majorca
Es Mercadal
5,425
Minorca
Algaida
5,382
Majorca
Ses Salines
5,273
Majorca
Alaró
5,217
Majorca
Esporles
4,991
Majorca
Ferreries
4,610
Minorca
Selva
3,869
Majorca
Consell
3,834
Majorca
Sineu
3,715
Majorca
Sencelles
3,234
Majorca
Vilafranca de Bonany
2,922
Majorca
Montuïri
2,838
Majorca
Petra
2,806
Majorca
Campanet
2,581
Majorca
Llubí
2,324
Majorca
Maria de la Salut
2,140
Majorca
Valldemossa
2,042
Majorca
Puigpunyent
2,010
Majorca
Sant Joan
1,973
Majorca
Santa Eugènia
1,723
Majorca
Es Migjorn Gran
1,520
Minorca
Mancor de la Vall
1,321
Majorca
Lloret de Vistalegre
1,251
Majorca
Costitx
1,192
Majorca
Búger
1,029
Majorca
Ariany
914
Majorca
Deià
755
Majorca
Fornalutx
692
Majorca
Banyalbufar
583
Majorca
Estellencs
369
Majorca
Escorca
252
Majorca
The Ibizan, Thursday 3rd March 2016, Issue 818
Page 12
also online at theibizan.com
Shebizan Hello everyone, and welcome to another instalment of Amanda Zips It Up. Yay, it’s March and springtime is just around the corner. I hate winter - in fact, the only good thing about these winter months is the Awards season: the Brits, Baftas, Oscars and the recent Grammys. Fashion-wise, it’s entertaining to see all the A Listers on the Red Carpet dress up to within an inch of their lives, especially those who get it severely wrong. One thing that has intrigued me this awards season is how female celebs manage to produce the most amazing cleavages within their red carpet frocks. How do they defy gravity in something that has barely any support whatsoever? Well, Kim Kardashian answered that for us at the recent Grammys. She revealed beforehand via Twitter (like you do) how she achieves that incredible rack. Duct tape. She had zero shame in revealing this secret, even posting pictures of her enhanced bosom with very painful looking tape holding them up and out. I’m not really blessed in this department so I can only look on in admiration, but if you can bear the agony and uncomfortable feeling of being taped up all night, it actually creates and amazing effect. High five to Kim for revealing all.
Here’s how she does it. Covering the nipples is very brave. Do you think she peels it off slowly or rips the tape off like a band aid? Rymans and WH Smiths have never been so edgy or X Rated. Onto this week’s edition, and we check out the red carpet at the Oscars. Who nailed it and failed it? Here’s a sneak peak at my favourite, Gwen Stafani. So, feet up, take five and enjoy this weeks Zips It Up
London Fashion Week
As well as our Capital hosting the BRITS last week, it has of course been London Fashion Week A/W16. I didn’t go, no prizes for guessing why. It’s always a spectacular few days showcasing all the best in British Fashion. LFW is known for its weird and wonderful trends, but one new season style is giving us the creeps. British designer Gareth Pugh held his autumn/winter 2016 show at the Freemasons' Hall in Covent Garden - which alone would be eerie enough, if it wasn't for the fact he sent models wearing Hannibal Lecter masks down the catwalk. Yes, the cannibalistic serial killer Hannibal Lecter from 'Silence Of The Lambs', who was forced to wear the same-style restraint mask in case he tried to eat someone. London Fashion Week is always a top place for celeb spotting, but we didn't expect this many to turn up to the Topshop Unique show. A whole host of style stars took their seats in the FROW to watch the brand's autumn/winter 2016 collection debut, including a very sharply dressed Anna Wintour - but it was the supermodels we just
couldn't take our eyes off. Now onto the clothes - Topshop described their A/W 16 woman as "a rebel in a rush", wearing exciting mannish cuts with racy femininity. The models strutted down the catwalk, donning babybeehives and heavy feline eyeliner, to an orchestra playing 'Sympathy For The Devil' by The Rolling Stones. For day - oversized trousers and cropped knits were mixed with seductive lace mini dresses and décolletagebaring bra-tops. But the eveningwear truly had the wow factor - featuring embellished star-print velvet, glamorous dresses and plunging necklines. You all know Toppers is my favourite High Street brand so i’ve already started my wish list.
www.topshop.com
The Ibizan, Thursday 3rd March 2016, Issue 818
Page 13
also online at theibizan.com
Health & Fitness Beach Body Challenge The Workout Club equipment for now. And all it takes is10 minutes a day, passion, determination and persistence.
Preparation.
Summer is peeking around the corner, are you beach body ready?
At TWC Ibiza we help many people reach their fitness goals, and now itis time to help you! The Workout Club Ibiza Beach Body Challenge. Especially for you, our loyal Ibizan readers, we have developed a program that will get you back into training. No worries, you don’t needany
In all the years of helping people in Ibiza and all over the world with our online training programs, we have learnt that people who prepare well are most likely to succeed in reaching their fitness goals. So this is what you do first: 1 Write down your fitness goals. 2 Choose the best time to train 3 Find a fitness buddy 4 Cut out all processed sugars Writing down your goals is very important. If you don’t know where you're headed, you are going nowhere. Training is about you. So plan your YOU -time and aim to be consistent. You will form a habit just like brushing your teeth (you do run the risk of becoming addicted to training after the 30 days). Training together is so much more fun.
And the good thing is that you can keep one another accountable.
The TWC Program
Ibiza
Beach
Body
Before you start, make sure that you have a doctor's clearing for exercise. Every day you will do only two simple exercises. The squat and the jumping jack. Is this all you need todoin order to become the new super you..? In the future you will need to add more exercises and resistance to keep on progressing. But for now these two exercises will make a great start. To motivate you even more, we will give away a prize to one person who completes the 30-day Challenge. All you need todois train daily and for 30 days post a picture of you working out on Facebook with the tag @theworkoutclubibiza. We will select one winner who will receive 3 months of free training at The Workout Club Ibiza, as well as eternal glory.
Are you ready to rumble?
So now it’s your turn to become the best you can be. Follow our programme top left and if you have any questions, feel free to ask us anything on Facebook or Twitter. We will rush to your aid at the speed of light. For now we’ll sign off with the words: ‘It’s never the right time, so you had best start now’ https://www.facebook.com/TWCIbiza
Pop Up Yoga @ Hostal La Torre Carly S
This week I had the pleasure of taking part in a Vinyasa flow yoga class courtesy of YogaOnIbiza Pop Up Yoga. YogaOnIbiza is the brainchild of The Workout Club Ibiza cofounder Marisa Van Welsen and respected island yoga teachers Anna McColl and Leanna Buchanan and classes have been popping up all over our gorgeous white island for several months now. Their aim is to provide a form of yoga accessible to all levels, in beautiful locations and they have struck gold in the beauty stakes by teaming up with Hostal La Torre in Cap Negret for weekly sessions every Wednesday at 17.30 – perfect timing to take in that legendary San Antonio sunset through the huge arched windows of the upper terrace. I am not an experienced yogi, far from it having only done a handful of sessions, but was very keen to go along. I've been doing some pretty intense kettlebell fitness training, so thought a nice relaxing yoga session would be a good way to ease off and stretch out my aching muscles and wind down from the daily mission of keeping an ever increasingly energetic toddler entertained and safe! It exceeded my expectations. The space itself was light and airy but warm, with the sounds of the sea, wind and tranquil music creating a calm and peaceful atmosphere which was felt as soon as you entered. Leanna's gentle voice and big smile added to the sense of warmth and calm and the slow, strong, breathing-led yoga that followed was sublime. A series of breathing and stretching exercises, downward dogs, planks, forward and back bends and various other poses, whose names have since escaped me, flowed together smoothly and lulled me into a kind of trance like state as I moved to the sounds of Leanna's voice guiding us through, of the wind and music in the room and of my breath. At times Leanna moved around and gently corrected our postures or eased our hunched, stressed shoulders down and I could hear the peaceful breathing as everyone in the room slowly let go of their tensions and worries in the fading sunlight. It was pure, indulgent 'me time' when I didn't worry about what Ela was up to (and here I must thank my darling husband for watching her so I could attend the class), wasn't counting how many reps or sets I'd done or planning what to cook for dinner, in fact, I thought about nothing at all other than the breathing and movement of the moment. Absolute bliss. I floated out of there full of serenity and totally relaxed. The only downside was that the overcast sky prevented us from seeing the glorious colours of the setting sun – I'll just have to go back another time. And I highly recommend that you do too. Pop Up Yoga classes run every Wednesday at Hostal La Torre from 17:30 – 18:30 and cost just 10€. To book a place at this class, or any of the other locations – they pop up on various beaches and other locations around the island too – join the Facebook group YogaonIbiza.com Pop Up Yoga.T he website YogaonIbiza.com, where you can stay updated on future Pop Up classes, is due to launch soon.
The Ibizan, Thursday 3rd March 2016, Issue 818
Sport
Jezza’s Sports Report ... City take their first cup, but what odds the 3? Rugby Union
and after 3 matches of 5 for each team in the 6 Nations Championship, it's beginning to look like a straight England/Wales head to head for the title on March 12, after the former beat Ireland 21-10 at Twickenham and the latter put France away in Cardiff last Friday. With England now being the only team able to win the Grand Slam by dint of Wales' earlier draw in Dublin, should be a cracker as the Red Rose want revenge for their defeat by the Dragons in last year's WCup and the Dragons, well, just because 'tis England! As for the actual game itself, Ireland just ran out of steam in the second half although they did have a lead, albeit a slender one, at half-time, but give the home team their due, they came out and put the Irish under so much pressure that something had to give but, hey, that's 3 wins from 3 for Jones' team and you can't ask much more than that! In the other w/end match, Scotland won a 6 Nations match at last, winning 36-20 in Italy to go above Ireland in to 4th in the table and at least the wooden spoon is not to be theirs this year! On the domestic front, Premiership leaders Saracens, shorn of 8 England players, accredited themselves well at Sale as they shared 72 points but now only lead the table by 3 points from Exeter who won 26-17 at home to Bath whilst 3rd placed Wasps won 42-10 at home to Harlequins. Leicester in 4th were the week's biggest winners as they thumped bottom side London Irish 47-20 and good to see England's heavyweight centre, Manu Tuilagi, clear of injury and desperate to get back in to the nation's XV altho' maybe not so good news for incumbent Owen Farrell.
Rugby League
How the mighty have fallen eh, as last year's Champions Leeds are floundering at the bottom of the Super League with nil points, beaten for the 3rd time from 3 matches this season, whilst Widnes, who ended up in the lower echelons of last year's table, sit proudly at the top after their 36-18 away win over Huddersfield. Warrington and Wigan in 2nd and 3rd respectively, remain the only two 100%'ers left after both won at the w/end.
Boxing
Never been a great aficionado of the sport, apart from the big heavy-
weights and one of my all-time heroes Ali ( the others being Beefy, Seve, Borg, the Fed and JT/Lamps) but a small matter of 2 unbeaten Brit world title holders fighting for each other's super bantamweight belts in Manchester on Saturday night grabbed my attention. Thankfully though, I didn't pay for the privilege, as, to all accounts, the fight turned out to be a bit of a damp squib, led by Mancunian Scott Quigg not really laying a decent punch to Belfast's Carl Frampton for the first 6 rounds. I wouldn't normally comment but I've had more of a slap from “'er indoors” than Quigg gave out in those early rounds, but maybe it had something to do with his jaw being broken by a Frampton uppercut in the 4th round! Suffice to say, Frampton won it on a split decision altho' to most eyes, it should have been a lot more.
Football
now, and the first of the season's silverware, the (Capitol One) League Cup, was up for grabs at Wembley on Sunday and what a match that turned out to be as favourites Manchester City were 11 with Herr Klopp's Liverpool after extra-time. City should have been
Page 14
also online at theibizan.com
Manchester City's goalkeeper Willy Caballero is lifted by his team-mates after wining the penalty shoot out in the Capital One Cup Final.
out of sight after 90 minutes with much-heralded strikers Aguero and Sterling missing a host of chances but cometh the hour, cometh the goalie as much-derided Willie (won't he!) Caballero saved 3 penalties in a row to give City the Cup, this after his recent howlers at the Bridge as Chelsea put 5 past him. Anyway, good on you mate, as us goalie's must stick together! So the first Cup of City's hoped for treble, but methinks could be the only one as in the Premier League, Leicester took another bold step towards the title, winning ugly at home to Naaarwich with an 89th minute winner to remain 2 points clear of the North London challenge from Tottenham after they beat Swansea 2-1 at the Lane. Up until last w/end it was a double North London challenge as Arsenal were only separated from Spurs by goal diff, but Here We Go Again must be the feeling of you Gunners fans, as your team faltered, surprise, surprise, when the going got tough viz-a-viz a 3-2 loss at OT to a Manchester Utd side under pressure and with 13 injured players, having to field 4/5 youngsters from their Academy, and, yes, you blew it, yet again, a result that had noted Sky TV pundit Graham Souness calling the team, and I quote, “weak and insipid pussyfoots!” However, well done to United and LvG as they had confidence in their “kids” and are beginning to get back in to some good form, and remain in 5th, only 3 points behind noisy neighbours City in that last CL spot. Elsewhere, West Ham scored the only goal in a win at home over Sunder-
land to stay in 6th, Southampton's run of 6 unbeaten came to an end on the South coast as Hiddink's Chelsea, unbeaten in the League and Cup in 2015, are making up for their woeful first half of the seaso and came from behind to win 2-1, Stoke just beat bottom club Aston Villa 2-1 in the Potteries in what Sky TV's pundit and Anfield legend Phil Thompson described as the “worst match this season”, Watford dropped 2 points at home to Bournemouth in a stalemate, and finally West Bromwich almost gave up a 3-0 half-time lead at home to Crystal Palace but scraped through 3-2. Important week as 'tis a double header this week with both midweek and w/end games in the Premier with Leicester playing West Brom and Watford, and Tottenham at West Ham and then home to Arsenal so by next week we could be much closer to knowing where the title's going, or not, as the case may be!
In to Europe now, and to bring you smack up-to-date with both Cups, in the CL knock-out round, Chelsea hope to turn around a 2-1 deficit at the Bridge next week after losing the first leg to PSG but have that all -important away goal which could be vital, Manchester City are almost in to the Quarters after their 3-1 win at Dinamo Kiev but it looks dire for Arsenal, having lost 2-0 at home to Barcelona, although to be fair Arsenal were certainly not embarassed and could have been 2-0 up at the break, but, as we all know, missed chances don't win matches and to make it worse, they were caught by two sucker punches in counter-attacks. Brilliant though for the English sides in the Europa as all 3 went through to the last 16, Man Utd with a 6-3 aggregate score over Mittjyland, Tottenham 3-1 over Fiorentina and Liverpool 1-0 over Augsburg. Shame then, that the draw threw up a Man U/ Liverpool tie, which, considering both club's illustrious European history, is the first time the two have met in Europe. Finally, in La Liga, looks as if Real Madrid's challenge to Barca for the title is all over as they lost 1-0, at home to boot, to arch-rivals Atletico while Barca opened up an 8 point lead over Atletico and 12 over Real after their 2-1 home win against Sevilla. And absolutely finally, can't quite get my head around the fact that Gianni Infantino has been voted in as President of FIFA, this the same man who was General Secretary to the infamous Blatter for the best part of 12 years and who must have known what was occurring when Blatter was supposedly taking and giving out bribes! Oh, footie politics, eh, don't you just love 'em! On that note, cheers for now Jezza
The Ibizan, Thursday 3rd March 2016, Issue 818
also online at theibizan.com
Page 15
The Guide ...
Trades
Transport & Storage
TRANSPORT
UK—Ibiza—UK. From 25€ per cubic metre. Call Sandy, from Spain, 603 52 00 59, from UK 0758 400 2658 or ibizaukibiza@gmail.com
STORAGE CONTAINER
Dry & secure 40ft storage container for rent. Easy access. Transport available. Call Rob on Tel: 634350825 or 0044 7851752242
Classifieds
Insurance
Whirlpool Ultimate Care II American Large Capacity Tumble Dryer Takes a 10.5kg load. Much larger than a standard tumble dryer. 250€ View in Cala de Bou. Tel 609 850 765
Tel 971 348 271 Mob (Eng) 638 923 119 www.theibizan.com editor@theibizan.com Editor: Nicholas Gibbs Bes Media Holdings 1999 S.L., c/ Jaén, 2, Cala De Bou, 07829, Ibiza Booking Deadline: Mon 5pm (ask for later), Copy Deadline: Tues 5pm, Print: Weds, Distribution: Thurs, Online: From Thurs. Dep. Legal DL 1-303-1999
The Ibizan, Thursday 3rd March 2016, Issue 818
Page 16
also online at theibizan.com
Property The construction sector in Spain contributed a total of 80,055 million euro to Spain’s GDP during the last quarter of 2015, which, according to the National Statistics Institute, is the highest figure in the last three years. The last time that the sector generated a figure over 80,000 million euro was at the end of the third quarter of 2012. The last quarter of 2015 was the seventh consecutive quarter in which revenue generated from the construction sector increased each quarter. Nevertheless, while it is great news that the construction sector is back on track, the 80,000 million euro from the last quarter of 2015 is nothing in comparison to figures reached during the boom years. In fact, September – December’s
total is just 57% of the 140,000 million euro reached during the second quarter of 2007, the best figure in the history of the sector. So, despite the fact that the construction sector is generating more money than it has done for a while, it is still almost half of what it was almost ten years ago. The last time apart from in 2012 that figures of 80,000 million euro were registered was actually in 1998. However, let’s not forget that the construction sector is in a positive phase once more. And this is also demonstrated in the fact that the number of new constructions is continuously growing. According to data from the Department of Public Works, during the first 11 months of last year, a total of 19,529 new buildings were start-
ed. This means that construction began on more than 20,000 new buildings for the whole year, which is the highest figure since 2011, when 28,000 were reached. Between the years of 2003 and 2006, however, this figure was 200,000, ten times more. And another figure that demon-
strates the recovery of the construction sector is one related to mortgages. Last year, a total of 244,827 mortgages were granted – almost 20% more than in 2014. As expected, this is a long way off the number awarded between the years of 2005 and 2007, when the norm was around the 1 million
Ref: 491 435,000€, 2 beds 110m2 Cala Tarida
Ref: 517 250,000€, 2 beds 70m2 San Jose
Ref: 530 480,000€ 3 beds 90m2 Cala Gracio
Ref: 381 1,500,000€ 6 beds 450m2 built on m2 18500 plot San Rafael
Ref: 102 1,800,000€ 5 beds 355m2 built on m2 5085 plot Roca Llisa
Ref: 272 1,900,000€ 6 beds 302m2 n built on 2653+m2 Cala Carbo
Ibiza
mark.
Information supplied with kind assistance of On The Pulse Of Spain—a great resource for legal , administrative and property matters.
http://www.onthepulse.es/
Ref: 553 1,300,000€ 3 beds 195m2
Ref: 359 2,100,000€ 7 beds 140m2 built on m2 7000 plot San Jose