Words: Anna Galbraith
Friday has arrived (not a moment too soon) and the prospect of two shiny days away from the office stretch out before you like a dream. Whilst most of us might feel content at the prospect of a Saturday night pub trip and a Sunday in bed surrounded by the weekend supplements — for a select few individuals in the luxury sector, plans can look a little more inspiring.
This week, we asked the founder of No. 1 Rosemary Water and serial entrepreneur, David Spencer-Percival, to give us a play by play account of what a perfect weekend looks like for him on the world’s favourite Balearic island.
Take to the skies on a Friday...
“My perfect weekend would start touching down in Ibiza from city airport at around midday Friday.”
“From there, I’ll pick up the open Jeep and drive to San Josep to the great little organic food shop for supplies and enjoy a quick bite to eat at Can Costa. Then, it’s time for a sublime drive through the old Ibizan country lanes to our farm in the middle of Benimussa Valley, soaking up the peace, beauty of the wild, nature and tranquility.”
“Once home, I’ll put some music on and fire up the outside kitchen oven with wood from our forest and start slow cooking the local lamb or fish and picking some fresh vegetables, salad and herbs from the gardens. There is nothing like farm to table cooking. It’s simply amazing — made all the better by a lazy supper outside with some great Rioja.”
Take a spin in a vintage café racer on a Saturday morning...
“Saturday morning, I wake up early and take a brisk walk around the farm, checking the old stone walls (they always collapse after heavy rain!) and the trees for pruning. In the gardens, I pick oranges and pomegranates for juicing.”
“Next, I’ll take one of the old 1950s cafe racers I’ve bought from the guys at Code Ibiza for a quick spin around the camino tracks, feeling free as a bird.”
“It will then be time for a drive into Ibiza town for a late breakfast at Cappuccino Cafe in the Marina – watching all the boats coming in and out, fantasising about which super yachts and sailing boats I might invest in…”
Time for a sunsoaked lunch...
“Then, I might hire a cheeky little Von Dutch Vanquish boat to go to Formentera for a late lunch at Beso on the beach, stopping at the wonderful paradise cove off S’Espalmador for a quick swim and a glass of something chilled.”
“After that, it’s time to head back to the farm for a long, late afternoon snooze with feet up under the carob tree for shade, listening to the birds and feeling the heat of the day decline into a cool dusk.”
Ready to dance the night away...
“Cocktails are served outside on the terrace as the sun sets over the mountains of Benimussa, then it’s time to get ready for the evening, always with tunes playing in the background.”
Then, it’s back into town for late dinner around 11pm (Ibiza is always so late!) with friends and a table at Lio the Cabaret Club for a good old disco dance and plenty of laughs and jolly japes. Pasha anyone? Guetta is playing…”
And now for a day of rest...
“Sundays are a lazy lie-in and downloading the papers then heading off for a long, sunny and lazy Sunday lunch at Restaurante La Escollera or El Chiringuito in Salinas.”
“On the menu is a big whole white fish with potatoes, peppers and onions all eaten direct from the ‘skillet a la peasant’. Happily full, we then move to the loungers for a snooze and eventually drag ourselves to the car. Drop the top down and drive 3 mins to Experimental Beach Bar to watch the last of the sunset and listen to a bit of music.”
“Early evening to bed with a good book. Satisfied and Balearic-ally rejuvenated!”
And that, my friends, is the perfect Ibizan weekend.
Looking to earn enough to enjoy weekends like this? Here’s how you can retire at 30…
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