Kaixo irakurleok!!! (Hey there, readers!!!- Basque). Today was a pleasant leisure day. We started by going to the flower and flea market. For me, it was the Allergy and flea market, but that’s not necessarily their fault. Once we were done shopping, Sophie convinced us to try Frigo Pie, which is like Ice Cream but in the shape of feet. I have never enjoyed ice cream while feeling so uncomfortable about eating the toes. Then we met up with Saioa and Nora to try an octopus delicacy from Spain. Think calamari, but thinner. 

From there, we hopped on a bus and took a scenic hour-and-a-half ride to San Sebastián. Upon arrival, we wandered through the charming streets and admired the stunning beaches—truly postcard-worthy. Fun fact: the city used to be surrounded by a tall wall because of its risky proximity to France (not ideal during wartime). But everything changed when Queen Isabel developed a skin condition. Naturally, the solution was to turn San Sebastián’s beach into a royal spa. As one does. Suddenly, the town went from fortified fortress to luxury hotspot, complete with high-end shops, restaurants, casinos, and hotels.

My favorite part of the day? Our hike—aka my proudest “dad energy” moment. I dragged our friend group up 18 flights of stairs and climbed nearly 400 feet in elevation. Not because I’m insane, but because I’m highly motivated (and slightly competitive). After 20 minutes, several achy knees, and enough sweat to drown a small animal, we made it to a jaw-dropping view of La Concha, the main beach of San Sebastián.

But why stop there? Fueled by questionable logic and blind determination, we continued our trek—off the beaten path, literally—up the side of a hill that was definitely not a real trail. To reach Urgull Mendia Castle, I led my trusting (and possibly too trusting) friends up an unmarked, overgrown staircase carved into a wall with no visible exit. This blog post is your proof that we miraculously survived.

At the top, we were rewarded with a whole new view of the city and a towering statue of Jesus. Fun fact: this Jesus has cables and a ladder attached to his back. Nothing says religion quite as much as a radio antenna on top of a statue of a religious figure…

Then came the descent—armed with zero navigation and no cell service (because apparently random hills in Spain are where signals go to die). I reassured the group with my flawless logic: “As long as we’re going downhill, that’s at least half the correct direction. We’ll worry about the other half when we get there.” Leadership is about confidence, not accuracy.

Next, we grabbed a quick pintxo snack and made our way to the beach. There’s something surreal about dipping your toes into the Atlantic—just, you know, from the other side. It was magical… until a rogue wave sneak-attacked my calves while I awkwardly held up my skirt like I was in a Jane Austen novel. Some of you may be wondering how I transitioned from frolicking in the ocean to sporting my nice green Nikes. The answer? Pure chaos. Picture me hopping on one leg, sand sticking to everything, nearly taking my friend down with me as I tried to avoid a full wipeout. Putting wet, sandy feet into socks and then into sneakers is truly a cringe-worthy experience—and a modern acrobatic performance I’m both ashamed of and proud of. The Nikes were non-negotiable for the hike. It was either that or flip-flops on a mountain trail. And no, don’t mention that I could have put the flip-flops in the bag I was carrying. Let me live in the illusion that I planned this out.

I absolutely loved the beach. The sand was unbelievably soft, and both the beach and the water were pristine—it felt like stepping into a postcard. Taking pictures was a bit of a challenge, though, as Spaniards are, let’s just say, far more relaxed about beach attire… or the lack thereof. Strategic camera angles were a must. But despite the sea of sunbathers and my ongoing battle to keep every photo G-rated, this was hands down one of the best beaches I’ve ever visited.

Today was an amazing day! I will update you about tomorrow, which will be back to some academic information. Ordura Arte!!! (Until Then!!!- Basque)