Donostia-San-Sebastián.

Saturday, 12th April

Up early to go and explore the City!!

Kathy's ready! :)

Bit of info: the City of Donostia-San Sebastián (first name Basque, and the second, Castilian) lies in the Basque Country in the north of Spain (and, indeed, is the Capital of Gipuzkoa Province), and it has been fashionable as a summer resort ever since the Spanish Royal Family made it their summer residence in the 19th Century. It's famous above all for its four beaches, and indeed is a paradise!! :)

Wandered through the old streets to nearby Plaza de la Constitución (which wasn't that impressive!) until we came to the Basilica, which had a beautiful façade, but which was strangely empty inside...

Strike a Pose! :p


On Plaza de la Constitución


The Baroque Basílica de Santa María, dating from the 18th Century.




Interior of Basilica

Wandered to the harbour (in the sunshine!!! :D), seeing a few kayakers in the water...

And then we found a carrousel near to the impressive Ayuntamiento!!! :D On we got!!! :p

On the carrousel!!! :p

We then headed along the front (some beautiful views!) to the Palacio de Miramar, former summer residence of the Royal Family, where we had a seat, and came across a freezer filled with books in the garden!!! Innovative...!!! :p

Looking back to the Ayuntamiento

Looking back to the Parte Vieja (Old Part) of the City

Beach volleyball! (The one to the left in the pink hoodie had nice legs! :p)

Palacio de Miramar


Kathy goes to retrieve her lost map! :p


Me and the hairy tree!!! :p


Looking out to sea!




Hmmm...Where to go next?! :p


The book freezer!!! :p


Engrossed!!! :p

After that, we headed for some lunch--bocata de tortilla and a Cola Cao for me!!! :p

Mmmmmmm!!! :p

Treated ourselves to ice-cream afterwards (mmmm!!! Strawberry!!! :p), and we headed to Monte Igeldo, getting a funicular up to the top...and sharing it with a bridal couple lol!! Congratulations!!! :p

Yummy!!! :p




In the funicular! :)


Going up! :p


Awwwwwwwww!!! :p

Views from the top were STUNNING, and absolutely worth seeing!! They had a little fair too, but nearly all the rides were shut!! :( I wanted a go on the big chute!!! :(

View from the top! :)

And from the other side! :)

Ride was shut! :(


Going down!!! :p

So after staying up there for a bit, we went down again, heading back along the front (little bit of rain, but it came to nothing), had a seat in the sun, and then UP Monte Urgull we went! :) An all right walk, and WHAT a view from the top!! :O BEAUTIFUL!!! Took a seat underneath the figure of Cristo, and relaxes...and had some weird Polish guy take pictures of Helen, as well as a Colombian guy telling me how 'cute' my friends were!!! :p

Random...!!!


Basilica again...


On the way up Monte Urgull


Peek-a-boo!!! :p


Under siege!!! :p

The three of us! :)

We were told to leave at around 5:30 (some wee man shouting 'One minute! One minute!' Till what?!), so off we went to a bakery for some treats, and then back to hostel--too hot!! :p

Fluffiness! :)

Had a much-needed siesta, and then we headed out for dinner. Had wanted to sample the local tapas that the City's famous for, but everywhere was packed, and so we just settled on a pleasant little restaurant called Caserío, where I tried 'Basque Beans' (no idea what they were, but they were nice! :p), good old steak and chips, and ice-cream! :p Ye cannae beat it! :p We then went around a few bars (including Dioni's--the local gay bar--which was quite classy, and had good music, but it was soooo packed!!) before heading back to our hostel, suitably impressed with Donostia-San Sebastián! :)

Mmmmmmmm...Basque Beans!!! :p

Out and about! :)