Wednesday May 25

 

Best birthday EVER!!!  It began with breakfast in bed... great surprise!  After a leisurely morning, we decided to have a "metro" adventure.  Apart from the language difficulty, it wasn't as hard as I expected to negotiate the subway. Funnily enough, after having been on French, London, Russian and Japanese subways, NY's MTA is still more of a mystery.  I believe the difference to be one of age. European cities’ systems are newer and colored coded - basic red yellow blue and green. Our New York lines, I believe to be are much older and were not unified since their inception.  There were many different lines of ownership that joined later, if I understand correctly...anyhow, back to Spain.

 

With so many diverse attractions, Barcelona beckoned each of us on a different path.  Antoinette and Bob ventured to the Picasso museum, Daryl and Jane were on a Gaudi house exploration, Conrad and Karen were off to explore the market (LaBaqueria) and some take home samplings, while the beach was calling my name.

 

After a false start, we got on the correct metro line and trained to the Olympic Village, being at the shorefront.  I should mention that at one end of the beaches, there is a tram that connects that side to Montjuic, which we had seen on our earlier tour.  It looked very inviting.  So when Karen let us know they were at that ticket line, we walked the beach promenade to meet them.  The view of the city and sea was spectacular.  We decided to have lunch at the overlook restaurant – the menu showed two prices for each item.  I thought it was a sizing issue – turns out, the difference in pricing was if you had a “city side” or “seaside” view!  We had a city side (shady) view, so the price was less!!!  Didn’t matter – it was still a fantastic overview of the city – with the Sagreda clearly rising out of the city.

 

 

 

Lenny and I then cabbed to the airport to pick up the van we’d drive to San Sebastian (Donostia).  Negotiating the streets of the city - not so bad - as long as google map is your companion! 

 

Dinner tonight was a walking “tapas” tour with a fabulous guide, Catherine.  We ventured into a section of the city we had not yet been in- Poble Sec.  We were told this area is new and up and coming – young people – new chefs – very exciting.  It had been an industrial area.

 

We met Catherine at El Molino (a smaller rendition of the Moulin Rouge in Paris) and visited 3 restaurants:  La Tieta, La Platilleria (Catherine’s favorite, and owned by a friend) and Café Manila.  The food was incredible – as was the wine AND vermouth of the house – a sweet drink served with an olive and orange slice.

Many birthday toasts, friendship toasts, travel toasts, laughs and new gastronomic experiences later (pigs’ ears) – it’s safe to say, fun was had by all!!

 

 

BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!!!

 

Thursday, May 26^th

 

Happy Birthday, Bob!!   

Today is a travel day. 

 

 

 

Six hours planned to San Sebastian.  Again, google map to the rescue, with me as navigator.  Have to say, it was uneventful, except for the many changes in landscape.  Upon entering the Pyrenees, we began to see signage for the “Camino”.   As we approached the town, we traversed up and down mountains, and hairpin turns until the final turn that opened onto a beautiful seaside town hugging the Bay of Biscay.  All that fourth grade geography came leaping back at me!!  San Sebastian is not unlike, Nice, Positano or any Amalfi town. 

The city is arched around one of the finest urban beaches in the world, La Concha (the Shell), so named for its resemblance to the shape of a scallop shell.

Another walking tapas tour is planned for tomorrow.  I can’t wait to explore the city and walk the hilltop and just maybe, catch some rays at the beach – of which is right outside our hotel, Hotel Niza (a 100-year-old building!).