If you had told me I’d stay up for nearly 28 hours straight, hike a mountain before breakfast, cross into France for gelato, and somehow manage to do most of it all again the next day, I might’ve laughed. But that’s exactly what happened during one unforgettable weekend in San Sebastián, Spain—an experience that felt more like a dream than real life.
It all began on a Friday that didn’t quite go to plan. After a long Thursday night, I accidentally passed out around 6:00 AM and didn’t wake up until 8:00 PM. Waking up and wasting the entire day wasn’t exactly my plan, but with a full night’s rest behind me, I figured, why not stay up until sunrise? San Sebastián is famous for its coastal beauty, and what better way to experience it than from the top of a mountain?
Around 1:00 AM, I grabbed my bike and cruised along the serene, moonlit path by the beach. The usually bustling street was quiet and peaceful, lit only by streetlamps and the glimmer of hotel lights. I rode past the historic buildings of Old Town in search of a grocery store that was still open—and somehow lucked out. My “meal” for the night? A classic baguette and two orange Fantas. Not exactly gourmet, but it would do the job.
At 5:45 AM, with a sky just beginning to turn from deep navy to soft purple, I started the hike up Mount Igueldo. The climb was tough going up steep train tracks but exhilarating in the quiet pre-dawn air. When I reached the top, I found a perfect spot facing northeast, the direction where the sun would rise—around 66 degrees, to be exact. What followed was one of the most stunning sunrises I’ve ever witnessed. The way the sun lit up the coastline, casting golden hues across the sea and the city below, was absolutely unforgettable.
After descending the mountain and grabbing some breakfast, I met up with my classmates Ryan, Kate, Adam, and Lexi. We had planned a quick day trip to Biarritz, France, just a 30 minute bus ride across the border. The drive was scenic, and after an hour-long walk from the station through charming French streets, we reached the coast.
In Biarritz, we started our day with food (as one should), then wandered into a few souvenir shops. The weather was perfect, and I ended up relaxing on the beach, soaking up the sun for about an hour. Eventually, we walked across a picturesque bridge that led to a statue perched on a rocky outcrop in the sea. The view was striking—the kind that makes you just stand still for a moment and take it all in.
Of course, no day in a French beach town is complete without gelato… or in my case, 8 scoops of it, apparently. By the end of the day, we were buzzing from sugar and sunshine, and spent our final hour in Biarritz browsing the elegant shops in the city’s shopping district while waiting for a rooftop restaurant to open.
Dinner was as delicious as it was scenic. The rooftop terrace gave us panoramic views of the town as the sun began to set. Yes, it was a bit pricier than our usual spots, but every bite and every moment felt worth it. Afterward, we caught the 10:00 PM bus back to San Sebastián, and I finally crashed after being awake for 28 hours straight.
But the weekend wasn’t over.
After a solid rest, I met up with Bastiaan, a Dutch friend I had gotten close to in my Lacunza Spanish class. We decided to spend the day with a couple Polish students from the same program. The plan? Keep it spontaneous and go where the day took us. We ended up playing games on the beach, laughing the entire time, and riding roller coasters at the Mount Igueldo amusement park—yes, the same mountain I had watched the sunrise from the morning before.
As night fell, the idea came up to catch another sunrise—this time from a different mountain. I didn’t even hesitate. Despite the sleep deprivation, I stayed up again until 7:00 AM, chasing that golden light with new friends and a full heart. The view from this second vantage point was just as breathtaking, but what made it even more special was the feeling of spontaneity and shared joy.
Looking back, this weekend feels like a blur of movement, laughter, and awe. It’s hard to believe how much happened in such a short time—how many places I saw, how many memories I made, and how deeply I felt connected to this place and the people around me. San Sebastián isn’t just a beautiful city on the coast of Spain; for me, it’s where ordinary weekends turn into lifelong stories and where I can really say yes to getting out of my comfort zone, because I’m only ever here, and this young once, might as well make the most of it.
And if you think that sounded fun, this was just three days out of twenty-seven.