Post Script.... Eva drove us to the San Sebastian Airport which took us to Madrid.  Made our connection and were in flight for 8 hours.  Kelly Grasso and boys picked us up and we all headed for another wonderful dinner!  Home at 10.00 which was 4 a.m. for us from our San Sebastian reference point.  A nice 21 hour day! 

Special Thanks to:

1. Audra Lessard who dropped us off and took in our mail all week.
2. Matt Masingill for taking care of Cooper all week!
3. Megan for being our guide and translator all week.
4. Eva and her family
5. Kelly Grasso for picking us up on a busy Friday
6. To all our Blog friends who kept up with our exploits. 
1. Special recognition to the Gainsburgers for all of their rude and funny comments.

Last Day.... France

In what would be our last non-travel day in Spain, we aimed to take advantage of the entire 24 hour cycle.  Eva had agreed to drive us into France so woke up early, garbed up in our now customary Spainish uniform that included, rain gear, umbrella, camera and sunglasses for the brief periods of sun that would occasionally push through the veil of cloud cover.  Out the door and umbrellas up, we walked over and to meet Eva.  Jumped in the car and drove to France and directly to Biarritz.  Eva, doesn't speak French so she was in the same boat as we were in finding the center of town and parking.  Biarritz is a commanding presence sitting up on cliffs overlooking the great pond.  Arched rock formations, houses and buildings sitting on the precipice of the ocean.  The town is elegant and oozing of money.  We walked around to take in the views and Megan and Ryan climbed the rock formations.  Europe, in general, is not like like America where there are officials or fences that prevent you from doing stupid things.  Here, you could walk right up to the edges and take fate into your own hands.  If you get hurt, my guess is that you couldn't sue the town for not putting up enough warning signs.  It is very invigorating and/or nerve racking if you look at it from Staci's perspective. 

We walked around the downtown and the girls shopped in several stores.  Ryan and I hung outside and played w/ his GoPro video.  I sensed a few French noses up in the air!  It is also remarkable the amount of smoking that still goes on in Spain and France.  They still have things called smoking sections which, it seems to me, is like have a peeing section in a swimming pool.  Really!  We walked around for a restaurant but couldn't read any of the menus.  The girls stopped in at another store and I said screw it.  I saw a restaurant with a patio and heater so who cares about the menu.  Sign me up.  One of the waiters came over to me as I was perusing the menu that I couldn't read anyway. Bonjour Monsieur!  Parlez-vous anglais?  His response....sometimes!  Not sure if now was sometimes but not a bad start.  I held up 6 fingers to indicate the number in our party and he nodded.  Shouted at another man who started moving tables.  The girls and Ryan came back out and the table was set.  I felt like the hunter who dragged dinner in from the field for my family.  They actually gave us English menus and we had to explain to Eva what some of the items were...nice!  We had a great meal and some very good wine.  Staci was thirsty so she chugged her beer and order up a wine.  The waiter, behind her back, looked at me with an animated look that said wow is she really ready for another one!  I gave gave my nod of approval!  You have to love a little bit of chauvinism!  We finished around 3 and started to get up the hill heading for a bakery that we had seen on our way over.  More rain!  Umbrellas up!  March up the hill!  Bakery closed!  Never can figure out the store hours over here.  We jumped back in the car and drove down the coast.  It really is beautiful and we passed through several towns each distinct in their own ways.  I would love to be in St. Jean de Cruz during the summer.  The beaches and restaurants looked unbelievable.  Still raining, we headed back to San Sebastian!

Up From Garage!  Success!

 Bonjour!

 Maybe will Rent this Place Next year!

Weewee!  Do you mean oui?  Whatever!

Fast Friends

One More Day.  Just One More Day!

Where is my Ipod?



Patriots On Top Of The World.  Perhaps prophetic!

I Know!  I Know!  Another Door!

Feet Don't Fail Me now!

Had To Go to France To Find Paella!  What's Up With That?

The Castle!

When we got back to San Sebastian, Eva dropped us off at the door.  All of us packed and prepared for our departure the next day which we all knew would be a long one.  At 7:00, we went to Eva's flat to say our goodbyes and pick up some of Megan's clothes that she no longer needed and that we could fit in our bags.  With our goodbye's complete, we hit the town for bar hopping and to revisit some of our favorite Pintxos. 

First Bar!

Hmmmm!  Pork Legs Hanging!

We Must Complete Our Mission!
Vacation Warriers

Tarta de Queso!

Second Bar!  The Best Fioe Gra & Suckling Pig

Last Place

Cervesa  y White Castle!

Back at our Villa Daria!

 

Our Spanish Adventure Has Come To The End Of The Road!

Muchas Gracias!

Surfs Up

Bus to Zarautz

Divide and Conquer

"ccchhhotch"

Yesterday - Monday.....As has been our custom during this vacation, the family slept into about 10:00.  I am usually up around 9:00 to 9:30 making the coffee and constructing the days post.  Today, we will travel to a few small towns nearby, possibly surf later in the afternoon and then Staci and I have our dinner at Azark!  But I am getting ahead of myself.  Back to yesterday.... Staci and I ran our routes in the morning along the beach. The girls had a spa appointment on the Playa de Concha @ 2:00 so they left around noon to walk and shop along the way to the spa.  Ryan and I headed out around 2:00 to go complete one of his homework assignments.  It was our mission to visit two cathedrals each representing a style of architecture.  The first cathedral was that of the Cathedral of Buen Pastor and it, we learned, is neo-gothic.  Built in 1897, it represents the new of San Sebastian.  It was built to face the old which is represented by the Boroque church of Santa Maria del Coro.  This church is built in the roman style.  It's Ryan's project so I'll let him fill you in on the details.  The new faces the old is the sub-plot here and I took it to represent the old quote...that those who forget history are doomed to repeat it!  Assignment completed, Ryan and I made our way back to the apartment.  Along the way, we stopped for a much deserved cervesa and Pintxos.  We also stopped, for a time, and watched some men fishing off the 1st bridge. Something is extremely relaxing and comforting in the tempo of their lives.  The girls got back around 6:30 and by the number of bags and the new boots Megan was wearing, it must have been a very successful day! 

For dinner, we had plans at a famous cider house or sagardotegias.  They make their cider wine in large barrels and there is a bartender, of sorts, that opens the spigot while you hold your cup 4 to 5 feet away.  Apparently the drop into the cup allows the flavors to explode or, perhaps, it just more fun that way!  Our dinner, was a typical menu for basque cider house with servings of chorizo cooked in cider, salt-cod omelette, fresh cod fried with peppers, char-grilled T-bone steaks, walnuts and Idiazábal sheep's cheese.  All served family style.  We are going to have to try this at home as it cuts down on the dishes.  I learned that the cry that one makes during the pouring of the cider is  "ccchhhotch".  No idea how to pronounce it but you get the idea.  Staci does not prefer the practice of drinking cider wine so she had her regular vino tinto!  Back in the cab and back to the old part of town where we found the dessert crepe place closed so we opted for a bar, cervesa and a soccer match.  The crepe guy, also Megan's acquaintance, was in the bar so we spent sometime talking to him and watching the game.  Back home sometime around 12:30.  Another day in the books! 

Side note.... we spoke w/ Sebastian who was already planning for the Superbowl.  I made the mistake of handing the phone to Staci and 25 minutes later she is still on the phone chatting like its a damn local call.  42 dollars later! 

Church is not crooked.  Camera Man was!

Old Church at foot of Mountain!

Too bad it's not full of Red Bull!

I Keep On Thinking But Nothing Happens!  What's In That Cider?

Dessert!

I need one of these in my basement!

Another Picture?

You Know I Like Doors!

Hola!

How Many More Days?