Margarita is and represents the Ibiza we love. She represents tradition to a T, with her skill for handicrafts and her breadth of vision, conveying the sort of modernity that so characterizes the island. We could not have chosen a better protagonist for this multi-cover issue we’re using to launch Nativ, a magazine about Ibiza for Ibiza. We caught up with Margarita while gulping down some bullit de peix in her village, Sant Miquel de Balansat…
Massimo: Margarita, tell me about when you were a little girl…
Margarita: We were very happy. We had nothing but chickpeas and mongetes (beans) to eat, but it was all from the farm and we cooked it over a wood-burning stove. I remember my parents used to work in the fields and we left all the doors open. The place was a lot quieter then, we weren’t afraid of anyone.
Massimo: Is there anything that’s better now?
Margarita: Well, yes. We’re not as miserable as we were before, and we have more opportunities to study. I didn’t have a chance to study, and it wasn’t for lack of intelligence! From a very young age, I looked after the sheep and helped my father in the fields. I used to pray to God that I wouldn’t end up marrying a pagès (farmer), I wanted someone with no land, I was so sick of it…
Massimo: And did God listen?
Margarita: God listened. I married Fermín, a very handsome young man from León, the father of my two kids and the first teacher in Ibiza who allowed a left-handed girl to write with her left hand. I’m a lefty, you know. But when Franco was around we weren’t allowed to be. I eat and drink with my right hand because they forced me to; but sewing and cutting and all that, of course not, dear, I do that with my left hand!
Massimo: Ask me something, Margarita.
Margarita: Of course! Why do you want to make this magazine, Massimo?
Massimo: Because I feel that there are a lot of interesting things to say about Ibiza aside from talking about the night life. My last two magazines had brands associated with discotheques, and after 20 years here I am very grateful to this island because it has made feel welcome and has been very generous with me…
Margarita: That’s how we Ibizans are, we’re very generous. There’s a local saying that says: Outsiders will come and kick you out of the house…
Massimo: Well, I want to talk about the day and night on Ibiza, the beautiful things the island offers us…
Margarita: Talk about the price of rent, it’s very expensive!
Massimo: All right! In short, we want to respect the island, so that it lasts many more years, we want to promote it properly, the way it deserves.
Margarita: Well put. Hey, Massimo, and why did you pick me for your cover?
Massimo: Because you are the mother of Ibiza, the nucleus of life on the island. I chose you because of your laughter, your personality, and your modern spirit I want you to represent the message we want to convey through Nativ, from all of us who are natives and feel like natives. That’s why we are going to talk about food, culture, health, ecology…
(a waiter approaches them)
Margarita: Oh, my! Our fish is here! Take a photo! This is the bullit de peix Massimo, doesn’t it look delicious? Serve yourself some fish, dear, that’s a rotja…
