Day Seven - San Sebastian

Day Seven

Date:     April  2013

Place:    San Sebastian

Weather:   Appalling – whatever the weather gods could throw at us.  2.5 degrees (felt like zero!).

Accommodation:             Arrizul Hostal

Our first venture was to negotiate the traffic to the railway station to remedy the GPS problem.  The hotel receptionist gave excellent instructions and we were there in no time.  As there was no power to the socket the Europcar rep gave us a new car.  Problem solved!

We decided to wander over to the old part of town for breakfast and weather permitting we would walk along the promenade skirting the bay of San Sebastian.  Finding a place for coffee and something to eat was a bit difficult so we strolled the streets passing many of the sights – St Vincent, Santa Maria and Constitution Square.

Saint Maria in the Old Town of San Sebastian.....down an alley way.

 

Yum!

Eventually, we settled on a beautiful little shop with the most wonderful sweet delicacies.   Sitting atop stools we sipped our hot drinks and ate our choices.  Desley had a taste of mine and couldn’t resist ordering one.

We wandered down to the marina where many small fishing boats are moored.  The clouds looked ominous over the city and we ducked down a lovely alley before heading up to Mont e Urgelle.  As we walked along the wind became stronger and colder and we decided to postpone our walk to the top.  We were in a quandary as to what to do in the weather which was becoming progressively worse by the minute!

We decided after a lot of to-ing and froing to head to Bilbao to the Guggenheim Museum.  As we headed back to the car I noticed a ‘ping ping ping’on my umbrella……yes, hail!  Unbelievable!

Bilbao is a bit more than an hour’s drive from San Sebastian and we had bleak weather all the way.  Fortunately, the GPS was very efficient and we found a park only one hundred metres from the Guggenheim. 

Outside the Guggenheim in Bilao.....you can see the size comparison with David!

 

On the verandah on floor one is this wonderful installation....so colourful on a dreary day!

 

It was freezing walking to the museum and it was such reprieve to be inside.  The exterior of the museum is very impressive – vast metal sheeting made into wave like structures.  It is predominantly glass and steel and houses over twenty galleries.   

We spent about three hours exploring the Guggenheim.  An impressive exhibition on the second floor was called Artists in the War and included artists who had been sent to concentration camps, artists who protested through their work during the war (including Picasso) and the sobering story of the many who didn’t survive.

Poor David had the task of feeding the metre after an hour however it coincided with another downpour and sleet.  He returned soaking from the knees down as there was no way in avoiding the weather.

The third floor included many installations which were very thought provoking.  One work included electrified kitchen ware and another a whole gallery taken up with kitchen cabinets.

We left through the main entrance and loved seeing Jeff Koons’ “Puppy” which was used for the opening of the Guggenheim in 1997.  As it was so popular the people of Bilboa insisted it be retained…with fresh flowers of course!

 

As we sat installing our destination into the GPS more hail came down and for the rest of the way it rained quite intensely. 

We headed out for dinner but as the weather was so bad we decided to stay near our hotel and eat at the wonderful place we had dined the previous night.  It was bliss to be out of the cold and rain.  While we were eating there was a huge clap of thunder and down came more hail.  Today has certainly tested us but we managed to accomplish a lot.

Before we headed back to the hotel in San Sebastian we went to the lookout for a view over the town and beaches.  It was freezing and I raced back to the car having taken this photo!

Let’s hope the weather improves – particularly with our walk coming up in a couple of days.