Wednesday, 25 October Day 7 of our Trip San Sebastian Spain Travel day to Baztan Valley to stay in (the Posada Elbete)

 

We sat in the huge bay window of the Hotel Niza and we watched the morning walkers along along the brick pavement above La Concha beach and the San Sebastian harbor. There were gentle clouds, partly sunny and a light breeze and but already it is already 67F.

Our luggage is packed ready for the journey to -3 level parking to load up for the short drive to Elizondo. Getting up and out of the garage is a lot easier than entering and finding a parking slot with very tight turns necessary between each level. A smaller car would have been much easier on the nerves. But daylight was eventually found, and we began our journey that we did many times when we were in our 20s.

The traffic patterns in the SanSeb have changed dramatically!! We had to go deep into the city in order to exit. Jane thought she had left something back at the hotel and so Paul had to find a pull over slot so we could double check the suitcases. Issue solved, nothing left back the hotel -- continue ON!! The drive to Elizondo is a little different now than then. They have taken out a lot of tight turns and put tunnels through some of the hills. There is a lot of truck traffic so I guess it is better, It is still very beautiful, green and mountainous. Sigh… I love it!

We arranged to meet the Murrays at the Pamplona turn off restaurant we knew from years past, at two for lunch.

Menu of the day was great as usual. Afterwards we drove to the Elizondo cemetery to leave flowers at Miguel Mendi’s grave….hard to believe he died nearly 10 years ago (1933-2004 on January 6th.) We always stop by to have a chat with him! We talked to a chap there who was interested to know that Los Americanos had come back! Turns out his Mother had worked at the Gorramendi base as a server but it must have been on the Spanish side as the guys had no women serving them!

We checked in at the Posada and Belen hauled my suitcases up two sets of steps to access our room! The rooms are basic but comfortable. Siesta time and time to work on the blog before we join the Murrays at supper 8:30PM in the Posada. Ensalada Mixta, croquettes, serrano ham/cheese, bread, and drinkies. Something nice and light for the evening intake. This constant eating is really getting to me!

Off to sleep at 1000. Cannot believe it. Still recovering from the journey over I guess!

 

Tuesday, 24 October Day 6 of our Trip San Sebastian Spain(Pias Vasco)

 

Woke up to another lovely day at Hotel Niza on the beach of La Concha we had a late breakfast of juice, coffee and toast with ham & cheese. Dave and Joyce are coming here to meet us.

After hugs and kisses galore we sat and chatted. While chatting with the Murray’s along comes this handsome man speaking English and asking if we could him directions to the hotel’s restrooms. Without cracking a smile it was Fernado (Nekane’s husband) pulling off a grand surprise that they come to San Seb just to surprise us on our trip!! What a surprise! They are all laughing their fool heads off!

Nekane had the newborn with her. He is such a cutie but so so tiny, Iñigo. Both parents are still on Spanish authorized maternity leave and so they have booked lunch at the Basque chef’s school and to surprise everyone in San Sebastian at the same time.

 After they left we decided to go to the old town for lunch! We walked along the beach front and finally stopped for refreshment on the Boulevard. Next, we donned jackets as the sun went into hiding and winds picked up noticeably.

We went in search of a place in the old town for lunch. After two spots were closed on Tuesday’s we found the old standby at the Lomo Bar as we used to call it! It was regular spot when we used to take newly arrived GIs when we would introduce them to Spanish wine and pintxos! They invited us in immediately and gave us the last available table. The place was packed!

Food was fabulous, little lamb chops, pork chops and all that goes with. After our two hour lunch it was time to retrace our steps back to the Hotel Niza and the Murrays to their car park for the drive back to Elizondo for the night. Jane & Paul will join them in Elizondo tomorrow night.

At the hotel, Paul asked for a tortilla Francesca with cheese which is not on the menu but the waitress asked the cook/chef…..sure why not,  however the cheese was just lying on the plate and not inside the tortilla!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Early to bed tonight for a change.

 

We really have let this blog get away from us!. Trying desperately to catch up! We seem to be dashing all over meeting people, eating etc. It has not been as relaxing as we anticipated!

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Oct 21 Saturday Travel Day leaving Soria and on to the coast to Bilbao (Pais Vasco)

Backstreets of Orio

After the Parador breakfast buffet it was time to check out, get directions for the best route down into town and on our way towards Logroño.

Very difficult making our way not on the paid motorway (toll road).Taking the toll road would be easy but Paul thinks the old roads are more interesting! There are so many numbered roads and you have to be careful! So we stopped for a late lunch outside of Haro before continuing on to Bilbao.

As we entered Bilbao the city was getting ready for the annual midnight marathon run beginning at 1900 hrs. Our Sercotel Hotel was just across the river in the old town. As it was 615 PM we crossed the bridge and made our way to drop off the luggage and to get instructions for the public parking garage back across that bridge and on the other side of the marathon runners course. OMG the marathon was going right in front of our hotel so most roads were closed! All Parking garages were COMPLETO because many of the runners had parked their cars already for the night.

San Sebastian beach

Then once the runners started the bridges were closed to ALL cars until well past midnight. We drove around for 3.5+ hours until we could find the second Sercotel hotel to inquire about parking the car.

OK, having driven all around in the center of Bilbao, in crawling traffic looking for a parking garage which was NOT Completo, Jane was very concerned about our luggage and not being checked in, so, Paul pulled into a cop space with flashing lights and unloaded Jane to walk back across the river. It was a long walk but the receptionist Iker was most helpful. We were on the 6^th floor but the elevator only went to the 5^th! Iker took pity on me, checked us in and carried the bags up to the room. Then I had to walk back to find Paul ! Couldn’t remember exactly where he was so called him again and there he was!

San Sebastian beach

We set off again to find the Sercotel Coliseo. Found it! Our very best guide was Google maps on my phone! They were most helpful and thus 4+ hrs after arrival we were finally rid of the car!

The hotel called us a cab and in a flash we were back at our  hotel at 1245 tired, hungry, exhausted! A cold beer and bag of potato chips and we were ready for bed….to crash no less! It was 2am before we got to bed.

Our trip has not started out well!

Dave & Joyce having a rest

Sunday am after showers we went downstairs for breakfast with great zeal. A coolish day we decided to have a walk about in the old town’s plaza where crowds were milling around in warm sunshine.

Bars lined the four sides of the plaza. Crowds of families with small children were enjoying the warm sunshine playing on tricycles and scooters. We wandered around, did some people watching and finally sat in the full sunshine to have a cold beer and wine.

Later on we found the Bar Victor for pintoxs. Lunch in the plaza where Jane had lamb chops and Paul an entrocote with fries and a red pepper. Then it was time for siesta and a little blog time.

Later that evening we ventured across the street where there were at least 10 stalls all selling books, some were different languages, some were college text books, and others just plain easy reading novels for sale, most were paperbacks. Opposite this circle was a fancy building, the theater.

Mount Igeldo Hotel above the beach