Blogs from San Sebastián, Basque Country, Spain, Europe - page 5

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Europe » Spain » Basque Country » San Sebastián January 15th 2017

From my first impression of San Sebastián (Donostia in Basque)—my walk from the Amara train station to my hostel—I was in awe. The streets nearby felt like a “Hapsburg” style, a similar design to my memories of Vienna, the Czech Republic, and Trieste. This isn’t normally a style that I love outright, and it was surprising to see it in Spain, because I don’t remember seeing it anywhere else here. Streets are lined with regal 4-ish story stone buildings that share walls. Many have tiny window ‘balconies’. However, in contrast to other places I’ve been with this style, the streets were wide enough that I didn’t feel claustrophic among them. The city being so close to the sea and the river also made it feel more open, less like the buildings imposed on the street. As ... read more
San Sebastián, Center
San Sebastián, Center
San Sebastián, Center

Europe » Spain » Basque Country » San Sebastián January 1st 2017

Have you ever felt you would love a travel destination even before arriving? It may seem strange and I admit I've visited Spain before, but as soon as I landed in the Basque country this destination fit me like a glove. Friends and colleagues have given the region rave reviews, and I was excited to board a Qatar Airways flight to Paris to commence five wonderful weeks in Europe. I spent Christmas Eve relaxing at my favourite hostel in Paris near Gare du Nord. St Christopher's Inn is a big and impressively run hostel, and features a great bar where I commenced the traditional process of letting my cares from home slowly slip away. The beauty of travel ensures the things that matter at home become less important as each day goes by on the road. ... read more
Old Town
San Sebastian beach
La Sagrada Familia

Europe » Spain » Basque Country » San Sebastián July 14th 2016

Today is a guided tour of the city and its culinary features. Into the old town by bus. This is an easy place to get around. To the information bureau to book the tickets. People everywhere. They have an automated ticket machine which asks language, is it for information or to book tours. Get booking ticket, and fast tracked, much to some other people's dismay. The dude at the counter tells them to back off and we get our tickets. €20 each, includes a guided tour of the food dries, 3 Pintxos and 3 different drinks. We hadn't had anything to eat so thought it wise to line our tummies with something. Walked around the corner and saw the fresh fruit and veggie market, looked, but not a lot of fruit, then around the next corner ... read more

Europe » Spain » Basque Country » San Sebastián July 13th 2016

Quiet start to the day. Feet and legs feeling the walking from yesterday arvo. Look at options for the rest of the trip, how, when and how long. A few options that we are following up so watch this space...... Eventually out I tot he sun, after another good dump of rain this morning. Yes, we did see morning...... Out to the street and find a bar where they had Pintxos. Lots of little snacks like ham and cheese rolls (but fancier names that's that), bread with interesting stuff in it and other stuff. All went well with a sneaky little Rose. Off to the furnicular which goes up,to the hill beside our place and overlooks the cove and San Sebastián. Find that and up we travel. Pretty steep and the views agent better as we ... read more

Europe » Spain » Basque Country » San Sebastián July 12th 2016

Hola.... See how good my Spanish is already. NOT... Up early for our 0800 check out. Man arrives at 0815 apologising for early start and then tells us how the apartment is his daughters who is studying medicine at bordeaux uni. Expalis the pink sheets and pretty pics around the walls.... Anyhoo, all good and security deposit back in our hands. Wander the town which is just waking up. Find a place and get pastries and fresh squeezed OJ. Sit on the steps of the opera house and watch the crowds go by. Interesting way to start the day. Off tour tram and to the station. Lucky we have ourselves plenty of time. The automated ticket printing bit failed miserably. Noticed our booking and tickets but when I had to enter the card it just spat ... read more

Europe » Spain » Basque Country » San Sebastián July 10th 2016

Today we had just a short 1-hour drive to the Atlantic Ocean and the city of San Sebastian but this time we had to get through a random breath test check point, we were OK with a reading of 0.00. The only difference to Australian and NZ check points are they have a policeman with the automatic gun at the ready (finger on the trigger) for people who try to do a runner, I guess its shoot first and ask questions later. The plan was to spend some time on the beach but the clouds rolled in, so it was a walk to the beach and port area with a late lunch at one of the wonderful seafood restaurants at the fishing port. After this we took an hour’s boat trip around the local bays then ... read more
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Europe » Spain » Basque Country » San Sebastián June 16th 2016

. . . Es ist mal wieder soweit - die Kastners sind wieder on tour, machen das, was ihnen am meisten Spaß macht - wenn auch dieses Mal eine etwas andere Art der Reise . . . denn, wir pilgern - ein großes Wort - aber nach ein paar Tagen versteht man, warum es so heißt. . . Paolo Coehlo sagte: Wenn man auf ein Ziel zugeht, ist es äußerst wichtig, auf den Weg zu achten. Denn der Weg lehrt uns am besten, ans Ziel zu gelangen, und er bereichert uns, während wir ihn zurücklegen. („Auf dem Jakobsweg“) Am 04.06. sind wir in San Sebastian angekommen. Eine wunderschöne, idyllische Kleinstadt- mit fast schon familiärem Flair, gelegen in einer fast kreisrunden Bucht im Golf von Biskaya, unweit von der französischen Grenze. Wir genießen diese gemütliche Atmosphäre, flanieren ... read more
Cathedrale Buen Pastor SAN SEBASTIAN
San Sebastian Playa de la Concha
First Step Sven

Europe » Spain » Basque Country » San Sebastián September 21st 2015

Hello, As you can see we are now back at home in NZ. Freezing with a cold southerly bringing wind rain and snow to some areas. A bit of a shock to us after being in the northern summer. Still clad to be home and to be able to unpack the suitcase for the last time for a while. Had a great trip and created a lot of new memories. So what more can you ask for. I did say that I would do a blog about our day in San Sebastian in Spain. It was one of those days when you seem to see so much and San Sebastian is such a lovely place, that you really feel very lucky. When we arrived we strolled down though the old town, came across a Cider tasting, ... read more
The French Boss.
Drumming Loudly.
You May Get Shot.

Europe » Spain » Basque Country » San Sebastián July 30th 2015

After the earliest nights sleep last night (out for the count by half eight) you'd have thought we would have been up and at em by dawn. We weren't. Our journey to Spain began at a very civilised nine forty five and based on the fact that he has been rubbish, we put Simon to one side and relied on Gert the Google maps girl instead ( we later realised that the reason Simon wasn't working so well was that he needed an update so he may have a genuine reason for hating us!!!!!) The journey to San Sebastian was varied, traffic on the motorway meant that Gert told us we could have a sixteen minute faster journey through towns, villages and the actual back of beyond. We followed her advice through sunflower fields, pine forests ... read more

Europe » Spain » Basque Country » San Sebastián April 3rd 2015

The drive down from Bordeaux was much quicker than expected, thanks to the fabulous highways and 130km/h speed limits. Well worth the tolls. First experience driving on the left - glad for the quiet Easter weekend roads. Donostia San Sebastian is a fun city. We’ve hit the Pintxos bars in the old town straight up and found everyone to be relaxed and helpful and very patient with the fact that we don’t speak Spanish, let alone Basque. We are staying in the Londres Hotel, a fabulous beachfront hotel with views on to La Concha Bay, it takes a leaf out of English holiday making style, fantastic friendly service with a great conservatory style bar well stocked with gin and GH Mumm on ice, perfect for elevenses and every hour there after... This town has become a ... read more
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