The Most Beautiful Place in Spain

So I take back what I said about Bilbao being the most beautiful place ever, because once you go to San Sebastian, or Donostia in Euskara, nowhere else in Spain compares. On Friday morning, we took the hour bus ride to our ISA excursion in San Sebastian. The day was a little cold, but still sunny and nice enough for walking around. We dropped our bags off at the Amara Plaza, the four-star hotel we stayed at for the night, and took a little walking tour with Geno as our guide. We visited the Deusto campus there, which is the sister school to ours in Bilbao. We walked along the river, visited the first of three gorgeous beaches, and explored the Casco Viejo in San Sebastian. There are a couple things that San Sebastian is known for: the beaches, its glamour, and its food. Since food is not only important in San Sebastian, but to the whole Basque country, we stopped for pinxtos at a little bar, where everything eaten is paid for by the honors system, and the food is prepared to perfection. It is amazing how these people can turn something as simple as a slice of french bread, a piece of cheese, and a garnish, and turn it into something wonderful. After lunch, we of course had to grab some gelato before we continued our tour. We walked around the main beach called la Concha and took the funicular up the side of one of the mountains to take in the breathtaking view of the city below. At around 6:30pm, the girls and I went to the famous spa in town called La Perla. Since we are University of Deusto students, we were able to get cheap passes to this world-class spa, located directly on the beach. It was the most interesting, fun, and relaxing experience I've ever had at a spa. You walk in, change into your bathing suit and swim cap, and walk into this whole new world. There are different stations and pools, all filled with salt water and different jets that target different types of muscles in your body. There are underwater exercise machines, steam rooms, relaxation rooms, and stations that experiment with hot and cold water. We had an amazing time and the burgers and hotel time we had afterward, finished off what has easily been one of the best days I've had in Spain.

The beach

Artwork on the ocean

Aquarium

Yesterday morning, we slept in a little, ate breakfast, and went for a little walk before our bus came at two. We went to the aquarium by the sea, which was small, but well designed and fun. At two o'clock, we took the bus to Biarritz, France, which was only about an hour and a half ride. When we arrived, we walked to the Chocolate Museum, which was celebrating Carnaval. There were little masks made of chocolate that we got, and were able to paint with different colors of melted chocolate. It was so fun! The place was festive and the chocolate looked mouthwatering! After the museum, we walked along the shore, and grabbbed paninis and chocolate crepes at a little stand before we grabbed the bus back to Bilbao.

My painted mask at the Chocolate Museum

Shore in Biarritz, France

Last night it was also Carnaval in Gexto/Algorta, the town where Summer and I live, so the streets and bars were packed with kids and adults when we got back home. We had a great weekend, probably one of the best so far in Spain, and tonight we're going to try to get tickets to the championship game of the ACB King's Cup Basketball Tournament. The ACB is the Spanish equivalent to the NBA, and is the second best league (behind the NBA) in the world. Some of the NBA stars that you see now, started their careers in Spain, and this year BIlbao is hosting the big tournament. I can't wait to check it out and see some of the players I hear so much about!

written by

Laura Hanson on February 21, 2010 from Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain

from the travel blog: Un Semestre en España

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