We again had another lovely drive through some again very picturesque areas. One minute we were at sea level the next ( not literally) we were up high looking down. We got to Donostia San Sebastián about 2pm found a park near the Pensión Aldamar,and walked there to find out if the had a drop off park for luggage and parking. No drop off and parking for 3 days is €45 in underground carpark across the road and easy to get to which was fine. Ok headed back to the car to get luggage and on 2nd trip when Simon was going to move the car found a piece of paper under the windscreen wiper. Yes, a parking ticket only for €42 (NZ$71) if paid by a June 6th otherwise €90. Issued at 16:11 and Simin reckons he got to the car at 16:20! Luckily the nice man at reception helped us pay it on-line.If we had parked in one of small streets without a residents permit that would been a lot more Euro. Our selection of where to stay in San Sebastian was dictated to by 3 things Location, Location and Location. We did not to spend half a day to get to the area of a San Sebastián where it all happens. The central part we stayed has a huge concentration of bars and restaurants. It also has a few laundromats!
Both the Basque form Donostia and the Spanish form San Sebastián have the same meaning of Saint Sebastian. Which is why some refer to it as Donostia and some as San Sebastián and some as Donostia-San Sebastián. We will refer to as San Sebastián.
For dinner Thursday we felt like some real food with fresh vegetables hence we went Vietnamese and found one ( the only 1 ) a 5 minute walk from the Pensión.
Cafe Saigon was actually a restaurant in the elegant and classic Hotel Maria Cristina. It was just what we wanted after a few days of mixed choices and knowing we had 2 more days in San Sebastián we will have plenty of time to try enough Tapas and Pinchos (pintxos, food on bread with a toothpick holding it together)
Friday morning, as the Pension did not supply breakfast except for having a Nespresso machine so Simon was happy, it was time to find some breakfast. Walking back from dinner, the previous night, we had passed lots of small fruit shops selling freshly squeezed orange juice, so Simon went out to get some plus some croissants for breakfast. We then did the Hop on Hop off bus which during May run once an hour on the hour as we discovered at quarter past the hour. Good reason to have a morning snack before getting the next bus which gave us a good view of the city. San Sebastián is small with a permanent population of about 190 000 yes small. Hamilton (NZ) has 225 000! https://countrydigest.org/new-zealand-population
It gave us a good look, as Hop Off Hop On Buses do of San Sebastián.
We thought the aquarium would be worth a look and it was. Walking through the tunnels surrounded by fish swimming all around you. We ended up in the Old Port so where could there be a better place to have some seafood - sardines. We luckily sat down at 3.45 as they shut shop at 4pm for siestas. We never got our heads around the Spanish day. It’s a small world our waitress had been to Christchurch just before the 2011 earthquakes.
San Sebastián was looted and burnt to the ground in August 1813 by Napoleon. The only surviving street was apparently 31 August Street. 31 August is quite big day in San Sebastián. The city was rebuilt and all the buildings are the same height about 7 floors, so the city looks rather neat and compact with its inner city living. Just what Christchrch is trying to achieve.
Back at the Pension we had a wee rest before heading off in search of some of ‘the best’ Tapas bars the nice man at the hotel told us about. The side streets were full of people and we struck gold at Zeruko. We got a seat at a table and then tried some of the Tapas with a lot of pointing and nodding.
The smoked cod was a winner. The theory of Tapas is that’s ‘it a snack n go’ hence a lot of people stand at bar in front of the Tapas and proceed to Chat, snack, drink and not go, so the bars are always very crowded looking in from the street and being polite Kiwis we did not want to push in. If the bar area is not crowded it can’t be good.
We had another great sleep as even though we were amongst all the activity, the double glazed window blocked the majority of noise. Simon headed for a run and Susans siesta started early as The Wedding was on TV. More tapas for lunch and then it was time for a swim in The Atlantic - it was a short swim.
Our final dinner in Spain was a lovely proper dinner., Simon Steak and Susan Lamb. The restaurant had a Tapas bar at street level and in the basement was a formal restaurant. We made a lucky choice as they had a spare table.
Tomorrow, Sunday we drive to France.
2025-02-16