Sep 28, 2011

The Donostia title is the Basque name for San Sebastian. This is an ancient language native to the area and there is no memory or record of where it came from or how it developed. This northern area of Spain is part of the Basque region.

We have had a very slow paced day today which was welcome starting off with a sleep in and breakfast at 9.30am. It felt thoroughly scandalous after our disciplined beginnings thus far! We set out walking in the lovely leafy streets heading for a stop for the ‘Hop on hop off bus tour’ which we ultimately rode for the tour of the city.



Looking over Puerto de Santa Catalina (Bridge) then to Puerto de Zurriola (Bridge) on the Rio Urumea (River) to the ocean

The city covers around 70 square kilometres and has a population of approximately 180,000 (similar to Monash City in Melbourne) and yet the density of population is spread very differently here. There are massive areas of parkland which are beautiful and the population is housed in well laid out apartment blocks between 5 – 7 storeys high set around courtyards with lots of greenery and playground areas. The ground floors are taken up with commercial space and many small grocery and fresh food outlets, chemists and what reminds me of the old general stores we used to have in Australia i.e. some hardware, whitegoods and even clothing. There are many cafes and bars as well with tables spilling out into the streets and there is a lovely community feel to the place.

The streets are wide, well paved and leafy apart from the oldest parts of town which by European standards are not all that old as the town was all but razed to the ground in 1813 when the occupying French forces were expelled in disarray with the help of Portuguese and English troops. At that time of the original 646 houses, only 35 remained intact! Then in 1833 there was a massive fire when all Municipal records were lost. Mmmm. Makes one wonder that. Anyway it means that planning for comfortable living has been possible and the buildings are in very good shape in the majority of cases.



The Cathedral….Norm was relieved he was spared another ABC tour as it was all locked up

The beaches look good. The one on the actual shoreline was man made some years ago with a massive sea wall and imported sand and now there are world famous surfing competitions held here according to the tour guide. There were many people here lying about on the beach and some in the water whereas in the Bahia de La Concha (named after the shape of it as the shape of the Conch shell) had a wide sandy beach with what looked like hundreds of people walking one way or the other along the shoreline on the firm sand up to their ankles at most. Looked good and about as enthusiastic as I get at the beach these days. This bay was made popular by Queen Isabella when she built a palace and holidayed here making it a playground of the rich and famous and diplomatic corps of the time as such moves always do.



Bahia de La Concha

Once we got off the tour we opted for chilling for the afternoon so wandered through a couple of shops and had a cold drink and some tapas which were delicious before heading back to the hotel for a nap. Told you we were having a kick back day!

Bits and Bobs:

Millau Viaduct: The roadway level is higher than the Rialto Building in Melbourne!

Recovering: Yesterday was the first full day I have been able to hear everything since our ride into Gap! It sounded funny to all of a sudden be aware of the air noise in my helmet and to hear my bike properly again. The throat is also much more comfortable but I have developed a cough which sounds like I have been smoking for 100 years which as a non-smoker I resent. Thankfully it seems to be settling.



How freaky are these letter boxes at the main Post Office?