Another day down, this trip is flying by so fast. Today started with a visit to the flea market just across the river in Old Town. It was full of books, jewelry, pins, and so much more. I even spotted some childhood books I used to love in Spanish. Right next to the flea market was a little flower market filled with gorgeous bouquets. I wish they were easier to travel with, because I definitely would’ve picked some up. Afterward, we went into Old Town and tried a couple of local Sunday customs, rabes and mosto. Rabes is kind of like calamari, and mosto is a sweet, non-alcoholic grape juice. I’m not usually a fan of seafood, so I skipped the rabes, but I did try the mosto and really liked it!
Then we were off to San Sebastián. We started off with a tour to learn more about the town’s history. One detail I thought was especially cool is that they have ceramic tiles embedded in the ground marking where the old city walls used to stand. We learned that in the 1800s, during the, San Sebastián was nearly destroyed when a massive fire broke out during the fighting and burned most of the town to the ground. Only a handful of buildings in the Old Town survived. Afterward, the city had to be almost completely rebuilt. The reconstruction led to a bit more modern look that is there today.
After the tour, we had a few hours to explore on our own. My group decided to do a short hike up one of the hills for an overlook of the water. It was a steep climb with lots of stairs and switchbacks, but the view at the top made it all worth it. I really enjoyed taking photos and just soaking in the scenery. Once we made our way back down, it was time for pintxos! I’ve heard so much about how amazing the pintxos are in San Sebastián, so I was excited to try a couple. I went for a croquette one (my favorite in Bilbao) and another with fries and sausage, both were delicious. We ended the day by walking along the beach and dipping our feet in the water. It felt so refreshing. I wish we had more time to swim, but I guess that just means I’ll have to bring my family back here someday! Before leaving, we grabbed some ice cream, then hit the road again.
-Paige Colson
