Day 1
Everyone arrived as planned at 2pm at the Eurostar departure area to catch the 15:31 train to Paris. Everything so far had gone well, until we used the Metro to reach our final destination in Montparnasse. We aren't sure when it happened but Ed had his wallet stolen; it could have been on the platform or on the train itself. The train was seriously overcrowded. After depositing our cases in the Timhotel we crossed the road to a bar/restaurant where we all agreed that the food was excellent. We also partook of more than adequate amouts of alcohol.
Day 2
Bought food from a local boulangerie for breakfast followed by tea / coffee in our hotel rooms. We arrived in good time to catch the 12:52 TGV train to Hendaye in the south of France. We were joined on the journey by a lovely young lady from Stuttgart by the name of Maja who was travelling back from a family Christmas holiday to join her partner in Salamanca. From Hendaye we caught a Local train service to Amara station in San Sebastian. After locating our apartment and sorting out our cases we headed out to eat. We found a Chinese restaurant and had a very nice 2-course meal. Three of us headed for a nearby bar for a 'nightcap' before returning to the apartment.After depositing our cases in the Timhotel we crossed the road to a bar/restaurant where we all agreed that the food was excellent. We also partook of more than adequate amouts of alcohol.
Day 3
Arose reasonably early and three of us went out for a walk and found a bakers where we bought bagettes and croissants. Having devoured breakfast we set out to discover San Sebastian. We walked miles before returning to the apartment for a cup of tea. Although, we did have a short coffee / beer break. Thursday evening in San Sebastian is when some bars sell pintxo-pote, which is a pintxo plus a drink for an inclusive price of 2.50€. We had five of these in diffent bars over the evening. Ken and Kevin finished up in a local bar, the rest of us returned to the apartment.
Day 4
Spent the day in Biarritz. After a coffee / tea in the casino cafe did a tour of the city. We had an evening meal in an Italian wine bar where we had a selection of bruschette - cheese on toast. We caught a bus direct from Biarritz to San Sebastian which took considerably less time than it took to get there by train and bus. Arriving back in San Sebastian, Richard went back to the apartment, the rest of us went to a local bar where we had a couple of pintxo-pote followed by copious amounts of beer, gin and tonics, whiskey and brandy.
Day 5
On the beach this morning were youngsters playing football - 12 pitches in total. Kevin stayed at ground level today, the rest of us climbed the hill to Mota Castle. It is a beautiful sunny day, but cool out of the sun. Returning to the city we had a couple of pintxos and a drink in a bar. After an afternoon rest we headed out into the city for our evening meal. We eventually finished up having a meal in the same bar as the afternoon. It was very nice, but they did try to over-charge us; Peter negotiated a more acceptable price. As usual, we finished the evening in what has become our local bar - Bar Ondartza, served by Tamara. While there we ordered some food for tomorrow.
Day 6
After a light breakfast today, most of the group meandered around San Sebastion. Peter and myself visited the maritime museum and the Museo San Telmo. Both of these were very interesting and informative. What a good night! We went to Bar Ostarte and Tamara was working there. Kevin was able to practice his 'italiano' with an Italian couple. The rest of us conversed with a young man from Finland, who concerned that his spanish wasn't good, was relieved when he heard us speeking english and he joined us.
Day 7
Caught the Eutotren to Pasaia and walked down to the picturesque part by the harbour. After a stroll around the harbour area we had lunch of Fish and Chips in a restaurant and very nice it was. To get here we caught a small ferry to the otherside of the bay. Returning by the same means we then caught the bus back to San Sebastian. For our evening meal we bought some chutso (old cow) steaks which Peter cooked to perfection. The evening was finished up in what has become our 'local' bar. We were each given a complimentaty pintxo and a bag of croissants to take back to the apartment.
Day 8
Caught a bus at 09:00 to Bilbao after breakfast. Some of our group who have a strange affinity to football went into Atletico Bilbao football stadium. We next had a drink and a sandwich in a cafe. We then spent the most of the day in the Guggenheim Art Gallery. Leaving the gallery we had a ride on the tram before having a drink in a local and later, a drink and a snack at the bus station before catching the bus back to San Sebastion. After a quick change we went to Bar Pello for our evening meal. This bar is owned by the same person as the other local bars that we have frequented. We then went to Bar Ondartza which has become our 'local' to conclude the evening, being served drinks by the lovely Daniela.
Day 9
Didn't do a lot today. Went to an Internet Cafe and printed out boarding passes for tomorrows flights. I purchased a bus ticket for tomorrow to get to Bilbao airport. In the afternoon, Peter and myself walked to the west of the city and had a cold drink and cake in the cafe by the Comb of the Wind sculptures. We returned by walking through the grounds of Miramar Palace. In the evening we had a meal at Bar Pello again followed by drinks at our 'local'. It was supposed to be an early night based on an early start, but for some of us it didn't happen.
Day 10
It was an early start. All the others were boarding an airplane from San Sebastian airport to Madrid. Kevin flew on from there to Edinburgh, the others to Manchester. I had long delays; the apartment had to be vacated by 11am so I had a ticket booked to catch a bus from San Sebastian to Bilbao airport. I still had a long wait until my flight to Gatwick at 18:25hrs.