Ibiza, Spain
Mission Title: Land of the Lotus Eaters – The Changing Ibiza
Mission Date: 04-06-2008
SCRIPT
- You will be visiting three sites on the island of Ibiza: a night at the Pacha, a low
- key beach party, and at the Eco
- Café.
- Talk to Daniel Spiegal, 30 year owner and operator of the Ibiza hippie holdout the Eco
- Café. Ask him about the early days of Ibiza and how things have evolved over time.
- Go to Pacha night club and talk to the promoter of the opening event about shifting trends in Ibiza club life, and his own history with clubs on the island.
- Go to a low
- key beach party, try to discover if Ibiza is chilling out and becoming more human, or is still stuck in superparties with 50 euro covers and 10 euro drinks.
TRAVEL BAG
Why does in Ibiza "snow" during the spring?
Ibiza might be having a bit of an identity crisis. The last couple of years, the world has started to lose interest in the monotonous thump of house music's endless bass drum. It appears that visitor numbers have fallen and islanders have been casting around for a way to save their bread and butter now that the 1990s regulars have grown up and moved on.
Though the big hotels have been trying to shift the identity of the island towards family friendly fare, their tactics have been largely unsuccessful, notably because numerous Spanish resorts already have better facilities for traveling families. Almost accidentally, some critics note that Ibiza might be gradually returning to its roots in laid-back 60s hedonism. Small open-air parties on beaches, low-key cabaret nights in hotel bars and one-off performance evenings by experimental theatre troupes are diversifying the night life. The island of Ibiza has its roots in hippie holidays and as the birthplace of ecstasy dance culture, but it currently has the reputation as being completely despoiled by roving gangs of English lads on holiday. Go to various sites and speak with people about the changing face of Ibiza and try to discover where (if anywhere) the island might be going next.
ON GOOGLE MAPS
