Spontaneous adventure and travel fuels my soul, and l believe I inherited this trait from my father.
When I spread the news to him that I would have several free weekends, he had already booked his flight. We have traveled together various places, but never in a foreign country. It didn’t take long for us to realize Spain was going to be the perfect place to explore together—and his rental car was the key.
He arrived on Thursday, and before he went to bed early, we walked to Parte de Vieja from his hotel along La Concha beach. We bumped into Julian around this time, who was able to give more suggestions as to what we should do during our time together! We wandered to the San Telmo Museum, and ended up hiking the mountain nestled above it. This was one of my father’s first big views of the city, and with first glance, it was obvious to me he would come to deeply appreciate and adore the city I have been living in.
Friday: Pasaia and Hondarribia
With session 1 and 2, we had hiked from San Sebastián to Pasaia, where we then toured the Albeola museum. I told my father about this, and he wanted to check it out, so we drove to Pasaia to see the San Juan being built. I enjoyed this museum more the second time, as I was able to fully appreciate the process, without being exhausted from a long hike. I also enjoyed sharing the information with my father from the guided tour we had previously. It is still hard to wrap my head around the fact that they have been building a replica of a boat that sunk hundreds of years ago for over 10 years!
We drove to Hondarribia next, which is known as a big fishing neighborhood, and came across a music festival. We both believed it was a big planned event that we had walked into, but this was not the case. Big Get togethers throughout the entire town were not rare; friends and family gathered together on a weekly basis to enjoy food, drinks, and music.
From here, we made our way to one of my favorite places in Spain: The old quarter in Hondarribia. The entire old town is contained by a 15th century wall, and to enter through the Santa Maria gate, you have to walk across a drawbridge. It felt as if we were entering a medieval town, and the cobblestone streets and high masonry walls enforced this. We were very hungry around this time, and found a small restaurant hidden along the gothic streets. I tried Iberian ham for the first time here, and my father experimented with pig jowls (pig cheek).
Saturday: Pamplona and Gorriti
Around midday on Saturday, we started our journey to Pamplona. Before our hour long drive, we stopped at one of my favorite cafes for breakfast: BB Kafé. We got an açaí bowl, breakfast sandwich, and the best cappuccinos we have ever had. The drive went by fast, due to how scenic it was as we passed through the Arelar Mountain ranges. Our first stop in Pamplona was a must— Plaza de toros, also known as the bull fighting stadium. They were open for tours, so we made our way through the different parts of the stadium until finally ending in the center, where the bulls fight.
We then thought it was necessary to walk the same path of the running of the bulls, so we walked to the beginning of the historic street—Calle de Santo Domingo. We noticed quickly how the town prepared for the yearly event, with slots in the ground for where fences would be placed.
On the way back to San Sebastián, we were drawn to a small town that had the greenest of fields and so many animals. We decided to drive in, and realized fast we had entered a human settlement called Gorriti. It looked small, yet extremely self sufficient, and after some research, I found that it had a population of only 84 people! This was a shock to both of us, but it was also intriguing to see other ways of living outside the borders of San Sebastián.
Sunday: Getaria and Zarautz
On our last today together, we started off by visiting Getaria, which is a town over from Zarautz. On a whim, we decided it might be exciting to visit the Balenciaga museum. After all, we were in the birthplace of Cristóbal Balenciaga, who is recognized worldwide as a fashion designer. The museum had several exhibits open, each displaying different collections of his important creations. My favorite exhibit displayed sketchbooks, magazines, and tools used and created by Cristóbal himself.
We drove to Zarautz after this, and I was immediately in awe at the sight of the beach. The waves were big, and the beach spanned the entire coast. It was obvious why surfers love this beach, and why this beach specifically is a must go-to for ocean lovers. We didn’t end up swimming due to the cold breeze, but ate gelato while watching the talented surfers.
It was still early in the day by the time we left Zarautz, so we decided to head back to San Sebastián and see what the aquarium had to offer. It was different than all other aquariums I had been to, as it was very focused on the historical past of fishing, whaling, and sailing in San Sebastián. We slowly made our way through the exhibits, and I was so excited when we reached the main attraction—the ocean tank. It had two tiger sharks, eels, large fish, and a variety of other animals. My favorite part was the clear walkway built into the tank, so it felt as if we were right next to the animals.
My father brought me to my hotel, and it was time to say goodbye, as he would be flying home the next morning. Although I was sad he was leaving, I was so lucky to be able to spend time with him in a place that has become so special to me.
I will never forget the moments he shared with me here, as well as the moments I experienced alone. San Sebastián has become a place that feels homely, while also containing so much unexplored culture and beauty.