Santalina del Mar to San Sebastien (Donostia) ….and day trip to Biaritz, France

France and Spain 2015........a roadtrip with a boat cruise

September 27th

Woke up to a crisp sunny morning, packed and left sans breakfast…..as we wanted to get to Bilbao asap….

A nice and fast drive as we were on the autopiste, so arrived close to the Guggenheim by 10AM and had coffee and some morning tapas. A pleasant downtown area with of course the Guggenheim and the river as center pieces…..

The Guggenheim:

and a sweet young thing on a photo shoot:

then time for an early lunch at a lovely tapas bar (so many of these bar/eateries have so much character) …

It was still a few hours to San Sebastian, (or Donostia per the Basques). We got off the autopiste about 30 kilometers before Donostia and drove the quite pleasant coastline.

Eventually, arrived at our destination and had the inevitable parking runaround…as once again our lodgings were inside the old town walls. This time we were in a Pension, which turned out to be quite ok. Checked into Pension Endortes around 3:30 PM, got our bearings and went out on the town …..well actually had to work our way through a throng outside our door:

It certainly was not the quiet town we entered but a full-on football event > major league excitement as it was two Basque teams facing off: Bilbao (red&white) versus Donostia (blue&white)…this was the equivalent of a North American tailgate party except that it occupied the entire old town…..every bar was open with each one seemingly trying outdo the other with the tapas spreads on display and there were throngs in full team regalia children, teens, mothers/fathers et al.

…with even a dog in on the fun….

…and all of a sudden everyone was gone (apparently there are fleets of buses which take the fans to the stadium) with only the detrius remaining…

September 28th

Next morning dawned cool but beautiful and we got the car …one has to be diligent about this because the parking gestapo are merciless handing out tickets like candy. In any event, another no breakfast departure. Today, we are doing a day trip to France visiting Biarritz, Bidart and St. Jean de Luz…

Arrived in Biarritz and had coffee and a baguette with marmalade (shared) at a bar beside the casino….11Euros.

Then walked the promenade in the morning sun watching walkers, gawkers and surfers….

Another great location and you can understand why this became a stomping ground for the rich and famous.

……the Blessed Virgin Shrine (blessing fishermen as they go out):

Basilica in Biarritz:

Then stopped at a boulangerie and bought some nice sandwiches, a Coka (got it right this time) and it was time to move on. Drove the slow route back to Donostia via Bidart and St. Jean de Luz both very pretty towns overlooking the sea without the glamour of Biarritz, but would make quite decent bases for a longer stay to visit both the seacoast and the Pyrenees as they are a short drive away.

Smooth drive, we are back in Donostia by 3PM, car parked and paid for (6 Euros) until next morning, short recharge of selves in the Pension and off to visit Donostia’s beaches, promenade…..really a very pleasant feel, with both the very old and the very young being strolled by the parents, young couples etc.

……..lots of shops with some very high-end ones:

…..with the gorgeous cathedral in the background:

Then back to the Pension for some rest before the last supper in Spain…..decided to do another tapas run, which ultimately became the “Night of the Tapas”…

at the second bar, after a few tapas we decided to step up our game and had two raciones (generally hot entrees …sort of super sized tapas that you share with your partners)….

Annie had a nice risotto and I had the calamares…darn good….

When the waitress came around she asked if we wanted some dessert or coffee, and, I being in a jocular mood, said that wine and beer would suffice. A few minutes later we were served another round, and when I queried the order, she said “senor your ordered another round”….serves me right to be “funny”….anyways not so painful!!

When we went to our next bar which had been recommended by the chef writer we met the other day….it was of course CLOSED…bummer, so off to another recommended joint,the Dakkar Taverna. We ordered some hot tapas:

fried foiegras on baguette with porto sauce…..WOW what a choice,

……..then we doubled down and ordered the foiegras on steak on baguette with porto sauce….just BELLISSIMO !!! I told the waiter, who dragged out the chef from the “kitchen” (really a closet no bigger than 10×6 feet) and exchanged high fives with the chef, whom the waiter called El Magician. What a way to end our stay in Espana…..this really is a culinary experimental mecca, as advertised.