Early morning is clean up time in San Sebastián. A few people are on their way to work at 7:30 while men and machine sweep up and hose down the Old Town. So quiet after a busy evening of socializing over drinks and pinxtos.
My breakfast bar was one of the earlier openers in Old Town. Jon served up an excellent cup of cafe con leche, freshly squeezed orange juice, and my choice of a flaky chocolate croissant. Even a humble bar serves up a croissant that meets the highest standards.
Breakfast on both of my days was quick because of the hikes ahead of me. I was off by 8:30 rounding the beach before starting up the hills surrounding Donestia.
I love looking back at where I had walked. The highest point in the far right background of the photo below was where I communed with the telecommunication towers the day before.
Back to the present while walking just out of Donestia, Antonio from Malaga called out and l asked where I was headed. To Santander, said I. He was cycling there too and beyond to Santiago. He will get to his destinations faster than I. But his experience will be different than mine. I wonder whether he stopped at the cemetery on the downslope while entering Orio? Probably not given the speed that I observed bikers speeding down the hill.
It was 1:30 when I arrived at Orio’s plaza major. Tables at all but one restaurant were taken. Lucky for me. An 18 euro lunch menu was offered: bean soup (a tureen that yielded three bowls), grilled anchovies, flan and a glass of vino. All that I could ask for —- and for the price! Sitting under an umbrella by the river was heavenly.
I was now revived for the final four miles to Zarautz which of course had a 500 foot climb up a hill. The view on the other side was the beach at Zarautz. The wind was stiff with clear skies above. What a magnificent site. Note — the three light dots in the foreground were bunkers surrounding a green on the local golf course.
Although today’s walk was easier than yesterday, my legs were pretty sore at the end because of the ups and downs of the past two days. Three more challenging stages await. In the meantime, I relaxed through a three course dinner that included a bottle of wine. I shared the last quarter of the bottle with a diner a few tables away. It was a light white wine at 10% but it paired well with the choices I had made — 18 Euros.
With a full belly, I was ready for bed. Not quite because this entry was yet to be written.
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