A Summer Holiday: Playa d'en Bossa, Ibiza

At the beginning of August, the other half and I jetted off to Playa d'en Bossa in Ibiza for a week of fun, sun and relaxation. Yes, it is indeed nearly October, but having been struck down with suspected glandular fever  straight after coming back, I've been out of action for some time. Better late than never, eh?

We had decided to go all-inclusive for a change, as we usually find  keeping tabs on our funds to be such a burden when trying to get away from it all and have some chill-out time, Money is, without a doubt, one of our biggest stressors in day to day life, so to be able to leave our wallets behind each day and eat and drink whatever we pleased without the worry of running out of funds half-way through, or coming home with a big bill to pay, was bliss.

The hotel we stayed in was beautiful. A newly refurbished four star, it turned out to be a great deal more impressive than it had appeared in the photos - a huge plus, as often it can be the other way round. There was a huge pool with chilled house music playing throughout the day, and we were more than happy to laze around soaking up the rays and making the occasional trip to the cocktail bar to grab ourselves a couple of Mojitos or Coco Locos. Lunch was served in the main restaurant, with plenty of delicious dishes such as traditional Spanish Paellas and salads on offer - not to mention the to-die-for desserts.

Afternoons were spent reading, then taking a dip in the sea, as we were fortunate enough to have direct access to the beach through a gate at the back of the hotel property. The water was crystal clear and the temperature literally couldn't have been more perfect, so it was the perfect time to cool off a bit before heading along the beach for a drink and a dance at the iconic beach club Bora Bora, or Jet Apartments, which was just next door.

Speaking of beach clubs, our hotel was located just a couple of minutes walk from Ushuaia.- if you've ever been to Ibiza before, or even thought about it, then you'll know all about this place, which puts on some of the biggest and best nights on the island - think David Guetta, Armin Van Burren and Avicii, We popped along ourselves to see Guetta and suffice to say he put on a pretty darn good performance. It was by far the best night out we had while we were away, but drinks prices were beyond ridiculous - worth considering if you're ever thinking of going!

Anyone who heads to Ibiza would be silly not to pay the beautiful Eivissa, or Ibiza Old Town, a visit. There is plenty to see and do, with pretty little streets lined with flower-adorned restaurants and shops and beautiful sea views - not to mention the lovely Spanish architecture.

Most people I know who have been to the island before seem to have stayed in San Antonio, but I'm so glad we chose Playa d'en Bossa. From what I hear, San Antonio is cheaper, but also a lot rougher, whereas where we were had just the right balance - we were close enough to a strip of bars along with famous nightclubs such as Space and Sankeys, but were also able to get some peace and quiet when we wanted it. In fact, writing this is making me ridiculously nostalgic, and I'm really tempted to go ahead and book us in again for next year! Let's skip these dull days and wintery mornings and head straight for next Summer, shall we!?

Have you been to Ibiza? Where did you go on your Summer holiday this year?

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The Summer Sunday Round-Up

Just looking back at these photos reminds me what a fantastic summer I've had so far. The month of June was packed full of great days out, delicious food and the best company, and fingers crossed there's plenty more of that to come over the next couple of months! The weather does seem to have taken an awkward turn this week, but in all honesty, a dreary weekend was fine by me, purely because it has meant I've got stuff done that I've recently been ditching in favour of enjoying the sunshine. Ok, so I'm not talking about the most thrilling tasks in the world, but they had to be done - plus, it's meant that I've had more time available for blogging.

Last week, we took a few days off work and made the most of the sunny weather, and we couldn't have timed it better if we'd tried. Each day was more of a scorcher than the last with azure skies and not a cloud in sight. We headed down to Padstow in Cornwall and did the infamous Camel Trail, a bike trail which starts in Weymouth and continues on to Padstow. It's about a 45 minute cycle, and it's a coastal path all the way, meaning we had stunning views across Cornwall as we made our way along it. As you can see from the photos, the sea was an absolutely amazing colour, and it serves as a reminder of just how beautiful the UK can be in the summer months. It was quite a nostalgic trip, too, as I hadn't done the trail for about fifteen years!

On arrival on Padstow, we chowed down on some of Rick Stein's posh (and overpriced!) fish and chips, which were delicious but cost us a small fortune! We wandered along the seafront before getting the ferry across to the beach, and being able to get my bikini on and lie in the sun to relax was utter bliss. Unfortunately though, we had to skip ice creams, as having overestimated the time for which we had parked back in Weymouth, we suddenly realised we were running late, and the cycle back was fraught to say the least! We made it back in the nick of time, and by then we had definitely earned our 99s!

We spent the rest of our break brunching at our favourite haunts and visiting local parks, castles and other pretty sights with picnics. We definitely had our share of cream teas and pink lemonade, too.

The same week, we were lucky enough to go and see Kasabian live, and it's safe to say they did not diappoint. Unlike some, they really pull it out of the bag when performing live, so it was great to have a dance and sip on a few ciders while we watched. I've seen them in the past at various festivals, but this time was definitely the best.

There are plenty of things coming up over the next few weeks, with more live music, friends visiting and holidays to look forward to, so after these dull couple of days have passed, long may the sunshine continue! I'll be sure to keep snapping away with the camera so that I've got some pretty pictures to share with you as we go along.

How have you been enjoying the summer so far?

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