FUN-travel: Northern Spain – San Sebastian, Spain

July 20, 2012 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Northern Spain – San Sebastian, Spain

Day 9 – Wednesday, July 18 – San Sebastian, Spain

Fish Market

What I LIKE

Basilica of Santa María

waking up to clear blue skies and warmer temps – low 70’s
direct bus only takes 25 minutes
no parking or driving hassles
another nice town for walking
lots to see – both old & new
have another “Tapas Crawl” – called “Pintxos” (peen-chohs)
eating new things – beef cheeks in red wine sauce (melt in your mouth)
food costs 2 to 3 Euros
small beers cost 1
red wine 1.3 & it’s pretty good!
dinner at Pescadores Hondarribia – lots of local families
guessing correctly on fish order – Meso is Grouper, grilled with light sauce & potatoes – large fresh salad of onion, homegrown tomatoes, olives, egg, & tuna – nice wine only 12 Euro – total cost = 50 Euro
no bugs – you can leave your windows open

What I DON’T LIKE

FF (FUN-fact) – A church is a single oval shape. A cathedral is two ovals in a cross shape.

FUN-travel: Northern Spain – Pamplona to Hondarribia, Spain

July 18, 2012 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Northern Spain – Pamplona to Hondarribia, Spain

Day 7 – Monday, July 16 – Pamplona to Hondarribia, (near San Sebastian) Spain

View from Parador

What I LIKE

Old Quarter

good cappuccino @ hotel only 1.5 Euro (same price as house wine)
driving to Hondarribia only takes 1 hour
GPS & road atlas to takes us
nice, helpful woman in dress shop writes down directions to Parador
beautiful old 12th century castle sits high on the hill overlooking the bay and town
takes 30 minutes to walk around the old quarter
nice lunch recommended by front desk @ Danontzat – 35 Euros – fresh salad & rice w/vegetables – wonderful wine Novellum de Toro
nice nap before going to San Sebastian
direct bus only takes 25 minutes and costs 2.25 pp
meet up Mariana – travel agent from GSincoming we booked the Balcony & Bull Fight with in Pamplona & new friends we met in Pamplona – Susan & Jay live in Bay Area
go on “Tapas & Wine Crawl” – 6 different entree tapas & one dessert – really, really good!
having FUN walking around & eating little bits & good red wine

What I DON’T LIKE

GPS can’t find our Parador because our reservation name & the name of Parador are different
GPS can’t find it even with the address programmed – has us going in circles 2 blocks away
TI closed from 1:30 – 3:30
no bus after 9 pm
taxi costs 30 Euro & he can’t find parador either – only been a taxi driver for 2 weeks

Tapas & Wine Crawl

FF (FUN-fact) – The Basque Region of Spain is the “Paris of Spain.” Lots of balconies and very cute, well maintained buildings.