These days are moving at such a pace that my emails are suffering and then I have to go into massive mode! And I have to remember where I was up to. Tricky for an ageing brain.
We were just going off to Pierre’s place for drinks. That was really lovely. He was so welcoming. He had a wide selection of pate, terrine, sausage made of offal (but it was absolutely delicious), sea snails, saussicon etc and a selection of wines to try from the Chateau he works for. His two beautiful little children were there and really, French children have to be the cutest (Angus hasn’t stopped saying ‘il tu plait, Papa’ (Please Papa) since…he sees himself as a French Papa!). So we had a lovely night. They were very generous and welcoming.
Home to bed and then get organised to head out to Kok’s place the next morning. We did a bit of shopping for cheeses along the way then set off. We diverted to Chateau de Malle on the way where Angus worked in 2009. Of course that was a longer diversion than we thought because Angus had to chat to people he knew (Michel), we tasted the 2009 Sauterne that Angus helped make, bought some bottles and eventually went on our way. We arrived at Kok’s place around 12. It is so lovely, just heavenly actually, a beautiful rustic, very french cottage with a swimming pool that is divine…dream come true. We were once again made to feel very welcome despite the very late night they had had with their neighbours the night before. The first thing was Negroni’s that Kok poured which packed a punch in a very delicious way. So much so that one Negroni lead to another!! A good start to a good night. We sat about catching up, drinking and going in and out of the pool. To cut a long story short (which I have been finding challenging lately) we had a delightful evening, had Tarjine’s from a local restaurant for dinner and stayed up until well into the morning eating and drinking happily. A night to remember.
Next morning, maybe a little less exuberantly, we started slowly with coffee, had a farewell swim, said our farewells and set off towards San Sebastian. All went to plan. We dropped the car off at Hendaye and hopped on the local train (weighed down with multiple bottles of wine acquired in Bordeaux) and got ourselves to San Sebastian. We walked to our Pension which was very nice (job well done choosing the accommodation if I do say so myself). Then it was on for young and old as we hit the town on the prowl for Tapas/ wine bars. I think we hit 6 or 7. Kirst retired at about no. 5 when Angus and I returned to our favourite (San Telmo). The slowly roasted beef cheek, the octopus, the pork, the anchovies were just some of the favourites. It was a late night but a happy night…what more could you want after all??
The next morning we were up, had to organise our luggage with the multiple additional wine bottles and leave it at the Pension for the day. Our flight was at 7pm so we had the day to enjoy San Sebastian. We started by finding a nice place for breakfast, then walking around the ‘rock’ at the end of town, Mount Urgell, that gave us beautiful views of SS from all angles. Very beautiful. We then walked through the old town some more and when it was time for lunch we started once again finding nice Tapas bars. The first one specialised in Anchovies like you have never tasted. Then we found lovely places for delicious dishes that defy description. Fantastic really. We wandered some more, went back for more anchovies, walked along the seafront, sat by the sea and had a lovely time filling in the day until it was time to get in the taxi and go to the dinky little airport of SS.
Then it was a bit frustrating as our plane was delayed 2 hours. Could have been worse of course and the Airbnb people where we were staying were fantastic and waited for our 11pm arrival without complaint. By that time we were exhausted and had no energy to go out and eat so just went straight to bed. It’s a great apartment by the way…even has a washing machine!!
We had a booking for Sagrada Familia for 9.45 so no dilly dallying this morning. We got ourselves up and organised and into a taxi to take us there. Any and I have been there before but never inside. I was completely blown away…it is wonderful, magnificent, amazing. Gaudi is a total genius. I loved it completely. We had a tour which was very informative and then we had a booking to go up to the Nativity Tower. Lift up…too easy, only 30 or so steps at the top. But you had to walk down and that really is a LONG way down. My legs were like jelly when we landed…but great.
After finishing there we got in a taxi (cheaper that the Metro for 3 people) and came down to the Gothic Area. We found a lovely place and rested over lunch with more delicious Tapas to keep us happy. We had booked for the Picasso Museum for 15.30, so we wandered about the Le Born area, enjoyed the Le Born Cultural Centre, wandered the narrow, windy streets until our time to go to the Museum.
I loved the Museum it had great examples of Picasso’s work from the time he was 14yrs, showing how his work had developed over the years. Great. Then, I hate to say it, but it was my idea to walk back to the apartment….by the time I got back I was sorry about that suggestion but it was a great walk all along La Ramblas to Placa Catalanya and then more, much more. After the Placa it is a blur for me!!! Poor Kirst has taken to the bed to recover and I am considering the prospect of how to gather myself to go off again to find food…only 3 blocks this way and then 3 blocks that way…not far!!!….Oh yeah!!! Angus and I spent most of the day pulling in opposite directions, each of us convinced we were right (I was right actually!!!). Hilarious!!!
We now gather our strength to tackle another night of wine and Tapas…So you’re in Barcelona, what else can you possibly do????