DAY 9, 03 November Saturday San Sebastian area

DAY 9, 03 November Saturday San Sebastian area

The breakfast room at the Hotel San Sebastian was NOT in any sort of rush with just two of 20 tables occupied. Similar good buffet spread as usual with a full selection of diabetic, glutin free and healthy choices for everyone.

Sunny skies and a forecast to reach 62F today. I thought we would go to Hondarribia and its fishing port. The problem turned out to be a lack of parking spaced anywhere in town on a lovely Saturday AM. We did stop and walk along the sea wall. Even saw a chap in full athletic gear jump his BMX small bicycle from rock to rock waters’ edge all the way up to the sidewalk above then back down to the waters edge. He bounced from rock to rock without putting his feet down. Very impressive! Two ladies informed us that he is quite the athlete and has many trophies. Very famous locally. He obviously is in training for some type of competition. 

It began to get warm in the sun and so we decided to search into the hills above San Sebastian for a Sidreria House and the basque famous chops and apple cider. The target was Petritegi in the village of Astigarraga well Carmen Garmin got to her usual tricks. She found the village OK but she thought that the sidreria was in the Industrial complex. We stopped a bar, Jane ventured in and found a very helpful chap who came out to the car to repeat his directions that we needed to take the highway in front of us through 3 circles and at the 4^th see the signs to Petritegi sidreria house. Guess- - what. We had been to this place with John & Gill, Ron & Sandy on our Pyrenees trip to Spain some 4-5 years ago. This time we will have more than just the cider and Paul is hell bent to have that famous large Basque Chuleta and all the fixings even though NO reservation for today.  We talked to the head waiter who smiled and said Not to worry about a reservation follow his mate to the end table second row. The long bench tables were all set with napkins, silverware, bread sufficient to serve some 250 people. We joined two Spanish couples at our table, one from near Barcelona and their dear friends

were from Majorca. In fact the Majorcan lady said she had seen us in Orio for lunch the preceding day. How about those apples folks!! We soon became Ole friends. The first serving was an omelet with bacallo fish, Next was merluza grilled and smothered with caramelized onions and green peppers, next was 700g of chuletia for 2 people. Dessert was cheese, quince, walnuts, and a sweet cookie. Of course throughout the meal you could visit the huge barrels to refill your cider glass or simply use the bottles placed on the table. All in all the place kept allowing newcomers to join at one of the long tables. By 3:30 when we left the place was just then at capacity. As we limped back to our car we found the building next door all set up to hold the incoming overflow crowd at least another 250 people for lunch.

Our Spanish fiends from Majorca and Barcelona.

As with our lunch yesterday I was struck by how many people were out eating very expensive meals. They say the economy is very bad and the unemployment rate very high so how do they do it? I suspect they prioritize. Fiestas are important family occasions, so you do without in other areas. Interestingly enough Petritegi, is the only sidreria open at the moment. They are doing a roaring business, smart move on their part.

Two guys from Seville in San Seb for their football match on Sunday

700 gram chuleta

Saturday night did Not require a repeat trip into the old town as both travelers were still full from lunch, hence we tried the barrio in Ondarreta, seems like everyone this side of San Seb has the same idea. We returned to the cafeteria at the hotel and had snacks before turning in. Then we took a stroll down to the beach just to have a look. San Seb is a beautiful city built on a bay with a small island in the center and steep hills overlooking all. It is stunning during the day and equally so at night all lit up. This is hard core Basque country especially in the mountains surrounding the city. During the Franco regime these people did not succumb but you had to be very careful especially when protesters were out! Now it is more peaceful but they are very politically active and peaceful protests are frequent.

We are off to Elizondo tomorrow I hope the weather stays fine.