To the Land of Pinchos and Playas

For our last weekend trip of the program, six chicas and I booked an Airbnb in San Sebastián, boarded a train, and off to the city of fine dining and finer beaches we went. First thing that came to mind when the train entered the station: food (of course). As we got our menus from a restaurant close by, we soon realized the San Sebastián language was one from a completely different planet. Their dialect is called Euskera, yet has no resemblance to any branch of the Spanish language. Laughing at the ridiculous spelling of the words on the menus before us, we ordered our sandwiches or “ogitartekos” (see what I mean) and called it a night.

The next day we made our way down to the beach, and as half of our crew took on the feat of surfing, the other half went on a mission to find the one Starbucks buried within the city. A theme that has followed us on each excursion has been our “treasure hunts” to find the gold in the form of a grande iced latte.  No matter how large the location we visit, or the number of coffee franchises scattered around, we always seem to make the Starbucks our home away from home, somewhat becoming our Carrier library in the middle of Spain.

After grabbing our lattes, it was off to the ocean.  Now this beach isn’t your regular Ocean City style or Outerbanks layout; the Playa of La Concha surpasses all wonders of the states, and is one of the most famous beaches in the country and one of the 12 treasures of Spain. The crisp white railing set the tone for the playa, with delicate iron detailing that gives the atmosphere a rustic twist to the classic beach town vibe.  The water of the ocean contains clear cut shades of green, turquoise, and royal blue, progressively getting darker as your eyes drift out.  When your eyes hit the royal blue, you see splotches of white boats that lay in front of the breathtaking mountains, giving the perfect painting its final finishing touches.

At night we ventured the streets el Parte Vieja, and pincho (“pintxo”) bar after pincho bar filled the air.  The number of tapas on display became almost overwhelming, as if the entire 20-page Cheesecake Factory menu was laid out on a long marble slab anticipating your selection.  At every bar I passed, little sandwich sized hors d’oeuvres would be the center of attention, and the skewers I dealt my hand at put my accustomed crackers and cheese appetizer lifestyle to shame.

All in all, San Sebastián mixed rich heritage with modern lifestyle; playing off of classic touches in its old town streets and architectural details, yet keeping things contemporary within the caliber offered in its downtown sphere.  With both food and beach checked off the list, my trip to the land of pinchos and playas was complete.