We first heard the rain at 6am and it was too late to rescue our beach towels and bathing suits that were drying on the large balcony of our apartment. I’ve also attempted laundry in San Sebastián but cannot figure out how to dry our clothes, so there is laundry and towels hanging everywhere.

We got a slow start to the day and shopped at a four story Zara, before a yummy lunch at Cochon. Our waiter was an English major who helped us with our Spanish pronunciations while ordering.

D’s lunch: jamon, French fries, eggs and roasted red peppers

Chorizo, Patatas bravas, a stuffed pepper, lightly battered mushrooms

Foie gras and a fried prawn

This afternoon we walked the length of Playa del Concho, the large stretch of beach in San Sebastián. There’s a covered walkway the length of the beach, umbrellas and tents for rent, a small above ground swimming pool on the sand which looks like it could be part of a kids camp, and more. No tacky boardwalk with fast food and rides….just a wide boardwalk with ornate light posts and people strolling.

At the end of the beach we took a funicular up Monte Igueldo to enjoy the tiny amusement park and beautiful views. It rained and was overcast all afternoon, but we still had a good time. The kids especially liked the coaster built in the 1920s on the edge of the mountain with the ocean 200+ meters below.

At the bottom of the mountain is an art installation called Combs of the Wind (Peine del Viento) by Eduardo Chillida. There’s also portals in the sidewalk where a force of sea mist and air gets pushed up as waves crash against the rocks.

For dinner we explored multiple restaurants again for pintxos. D was exhausted while our night owl Miss M comes alive with the chaos of the scene.
At La Vina we enjoyed a cone of cream with an anchovy filet, multiple orders of the best ham croquettes, multiple chorizo sausages cooked in cider, and four slices of cheesecake. Everything was delicious but the cheesecake was exceptional. You can see the multiple pans of cheesecake cooling. They can’t make it fast enough to accommodate demand.

Guindillas peppers

Cheesecakes cooling

Typical scene lining up for pintxos at the bar 

We then moved on to Bar Martinez for another plate of pintxos.

Jamon on bread, a Gilda (olives, peppers and anchovies), octopus salad, omelette on bread

After some wandering around the old town, we went back to La Vina for more ham croquettes but they were sold out for the night, so, more cheesecake!

San Sebastian is a feast for the senses!