Last night in San Sebastian.....

So we went to five bars, because Leah had to have the last perfect pintxo experience. (Somewhere in between, we also managed another "must do" - a walk on the wonderful hill climb above the fishing boat harbor.)

As always the food was spectacular, and making choices became the only problem. Our next problem is that tomorrow we're going to France, where people will expect us to sit down to eat a meal all at once - how can we do this after (mostly) standing up to eat small, frequent helpings of tortilla de patatas, bocadillos and a huge variety of pintxos for a week now? It will be a serious adjustment! (And all Spanish coffee is better than French - sad but true.)

Yesterday the weather came on clear, hot and sunny, and we walked all the way around the lovely Playa de la Concha, to the rocky headland where Chillida's 1977 sculptures "comb the wind."

Today it rained, but we took the bus to Hondarribia, about 30 minutes away on the expressway, and thoroughly enjoyed exploring its lower and upper towns. Lower town is contemporary, built mostly in the Swiss-chalet like style so popular around here - upper town is medieval or a bit later, all stone buildings, narrow streets, cobbled plazas, and expansive views. Food is good here, too - while waiting out a rain shower before the San Sebastian bus came, we stopped in to a local cafe, and had a drink. With it came a plate of four freshly-cooked sardines, and a couple of small pieces of bread - simple and delicious and so typical of cafe food hereabouts.

We will think pleasant thoughts about our "hospedaje" ("pension") - it's right in the middle of old town San Sebastian, and we've been most comfortable. Although we started out in a very small two-bed chamber, we were eventually moved up to a much larger front room with a view, for the same price...such a deal. Building is old but the owners have put money into modern baths and comfortable beds. And they are very nice people.