Figuring out San Sebastian

San Sebastian first got on my radar from my Spanish lessons. I have got the feeling that its popularity has skyrocketed in recent years. It took me a while to work out the reason why.

We happened to be in town over a weekend. Friday night it rained around sunset. Saturday evening everyone was out in the streets. Many of the bars in the old town were standing room only in the street. The clients were not all young people. Many were mature adults. We are used to such "scenes."

Several places we noticed "Tourist go home" graffiti were left undisturbed, but the tourist office was particularly friendly and competent, except their internet was down due to the ongoing ransomware attack, which had not affected our travels otherwise.

Eventually, we concluded that San Sebastian is popular because it has everything, though it does not necessarily excel at any one thing.

* beach, different bays for surfing and family fun.
* historic center: this, many beach towns lack. Most beach towns used to be villages.
* lively restaurant/bar scene (all of Spain seem to be good at).
* location, as in proximity to France: Spain is cheaper than France and the French like good values.
* not to mention running, standup paddleboarding, open water swimming, sculling, and walking.
* regional public transportation

Walking to our hotel from the train station. Checkout SL and her backpack.


Around the Old Town. The Ale-Hop cow (right).


Private Men's Club.


Plaza and Bull Ring.


View towards the Cathedral.


Friday night sunset rainout.






Our one full day we rode the Metro train to San Pedro and walked back to San Sebastian on The Camino along the Bay of Biscay.














Many surfers in the water at Gros Beach.


And walkers on the promenade.


View from one of several monumental bridges that cross the Rio Urumea.




San Sebastian always feels lively.




Sunset pics.










Evening in city center.






Before taking the train to Biarritz, we have a morning stroll on the promenade; and there's a 10K run in progress.









While walking we see open water swimmers and standup paddleboarders.

Finally Bilbao

We had contemplated visiting Bilbao during our first trip to Spain circa 2000. Back then the Frank Gehry designed Guggenheim was new and all the rage. Finally in 2017, we are here. While we enjoyed walking around the inside and outside of the building, the same could not be said of the exhibit, neither their permanent collection, nor their temporary show on abstract expressionism. There is so much subjectivity, I found it disturbing....

Otherwise, Bilbao seems rather prosperous. For only ~350, 000 population, their extensive public transportation system, metro, train, bus, tram, made us green with envy.

Over the years, especially in South America, we had carried out countless transactions via the bank BBVA. It finally occurred us walking around in Bilbao that BBVA must be from Bilbao. We shocked ourselves by own ignorance and lack of curiosity, something we work hard to eschew. Apparently we are not vigilant enough. FYI it's Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria.

We ride the tram from the bus station into Centro.




We get off the tram just across the river from the marvelous art Nouveau Santander Train Station.


First: We walk along the river to the Bilbao Guggenheim.


Approaching the Guggenheim.






Technically, the only photos allowed in the Guggenheim are of the building (inside and out); no photos of the art.








My head popping out of a balcony. ;-)


Here are shots of two "installations".




The exterior, made of titanium and limestone, is quite famous.










In Bilbao we head our first taste of Basque hard cider - tasty!


Main square in the Old Town.


Theater exits.


The 2nd day, before our train, we headed to the very cool Cultural Center, which features a swimming pool with a glass bottom on the top floor.


And we see the BBVA building on the way. A palace, no?


And the modernista Teatro Campos Elíseos.


The Cultural Center.










We leave Bilbao from Atxuri Station.