Our next travel adventure happened in San Sebastian, Spain. One would think after driving for nearly a week in a foreign land, on the other side of the road and using the GPS that we might be over our GPS and driving adventures.
One would be wrong!
We had programmed in our hotel and nearest parking. The Fashion Mister mentioned it was on a round-a-bout…maybe that is what freaked me out as I had already had a round-a-bout adventure at the start of trip! Actually the drive was simple and I was starting to feel like the lady voice on the GPS and I had come to some kind of understanding.
View from our Hotel – San Sebastian – October 2012
We could see by the GPS we were getting close and just down a small hill was a LARGE round-a-bout. Probably a good four lanes around, but at that moment it may as well have been 12. As we entered the round about, the GPS announced we had reached our destination! WHAT?! In the middle of the round-a-bout?! Now I knew she was crazy!
What made things worse was that there were a lot of large trees and it was raining, so it was actually difficult to see the front of the buildings. I wasn’t in a lane that would allow me to just drive around and around until we figured it out and next thing I knew we were heading out of the city on one of the highways.
So we tried again.
And again, we went around the round-a-bout without finding where to park, or even our hotel for that matter.
But this time we left the round about from a different lane and headed into a residential area thinking we might find a place to pull over. After going a couple of kilometers with no luck, I just pulled into a driveway and hoped no one came to chase us out.
On our third attempt at the round about, I spotted the entrance to the underground parking and managed to get into the proper lane. While pulling into the car park we spotted our hotel just across the street. This was looking promising. The signs in the car park (parking lot for my American friends) indicated that guests at our hotel should park on levels 2 and 3. We had done it!
As we checked in all I could think was how glad I was going to be not to drive for the next couple of days!
San Sebastian, Spain – October 2012
One of Four Statues at the bridge San Sebastian – October 2012
San Sebastian: We were about a 2 kilometer walk into the old part of town. However, it was all flat and actually quite pleasant as the walk was along the river. Even though it was raining the temperature was about 19 C (68 F) which was well warmer than when we left home, but it did mean we needed to buy an umbrella, and I opted for a hooded cardigan and some ankle boots – which I will tell you more about tomorrow. After I was dressed appropriately we spent the next two days wandering up and down every street in the old town.
San Sebastian, Spain – October 2012
Streets of Old Town – San Sebastian – October 2012
Old Town San Sebastian: I loved it! It didn’t matter that it was raining. The city was beautiful and filled with amazing buildings, fantastic fresh sea food in every restaurant, great wine and lovely little shops. I started our gift shopping while here. I just couldn’t resist when I found a couple of really nice leather handbags for my step-daughters.
San Sebastian – next to the sea – October 2012
The beach at San Sebastian – October 2012
The Sea Front: This last photo of the promenade along the beach always had people walking along and enjoying the sea air, even in the rain. I loved San Sebastian in the autumn with the rain coming down. I may not have left had the weather been sunny because along the sea front it was just magnificent even in the rain. In fact on our last day there, I pointed out a building and announced to the Fashion Mister that was going to be where we bought our home in San Sebastian. I think he’s all for it. Just need to win the lottery and we’ll be set!
Next time I have a travel adventure in San Sebastian Spain, I will plan for it to be in the warmer weather. But then I may not ever be heard from again!
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November 24th, 2012 at 00:40
Reblogged this on Artistrict Journal.
November 24th, 2012 at 00:55
wow, it’s a beautiful place!! I love spain
my cousin lives there for years, its such a beautiful country!
Love,
Ingrid
http://www.thefashionsecret.com
November 24th, 2012 at 08:21
I agree Ingrid, it is a beautiful place!
We loved it, even though the weather was a little wet.
Our last morning in San Sebastian was sunny and it was easy to imagine how amazing it would be in the summer.
Cheers,
Laura
November 24th, 2012 at 01:46
I loved San Sebastian. Even in the rain, it was so pretty. Love your roundabout story. I was only on foot and never saw the big one you were talking about, but I know how crazy they can get! Well done for getting in and out of it!
November 24th, 2012 at 08:25
Thank you Anita!
San Sebastian was so amazing. I really would love to get back there when the weather is nicer.
As for the round-about, I couldn’t let it win! We had to find our hotel.
Cheers,
Laura
November 24th, 2012 at 02:19
Woww its beautiful architecture… Million love*-*
November 24th, 2012 at 08:26
It’s such a beautiful city.
I kept thinking about how lovely it would be if the sun were out.
Cheers,
Laura
November 24th, 2012 at 04:26
I’m so glad you liked San Sebastian, my beloved hometown.
It’s a small town, comfortable, lovely, sea, river, mountains, with lovely shops, a rich gastronomy. If you visit Santiago de Compostela, I love you visited my shop and have the chance to say hello in person.
November 24th, 2012 at 08:29
It was such a beautiful town!
How lucky you are to come from there and know you can go back “home” whenever suits.
I did check out your address to see if we might have been able to stop while we were there but it was a little too far from the way we were heading.
However, when I get back to Spain I will make a point of coming to your shop!
Cheers,
Laura
November 24th, 2012 at 06:34
Oh Laura I really want to visit here so much!
Amy
November 24th, 2012 at 08:31
Amy you NEED to visist San Sebastian!
It is such a lovely place and you are so close.
Just try to go when the sun is shining so you can stroll along the beach.
Cheers,
Laura
November 24th, 2012 at 09:44
I will be sure to do so!!! We plan to explore Spain more next year so this will go on the list!
November 24th, 2012 at 11:55
Excellent!
You really will love it Amy, because it is such a nice spot.
Cheers,
Laura
November 24th, 2012 at 08:35
Yup, just the way I left it ;-P
Thank you for all the photos! Driving in Europe is challenging at best, so don’t be too hard on yourself.
November 24th, 2012 at 08:56
The driving got easier and we had such a great time that in the end the dramas with driving are now only amusing stories.
Cheers,
Laura
November 24th, 2012 at 09:17
Oh those round-abouts!!! What adventure! But it looks like San Sebastian is beautiful and worth it. Actually most of Europe is worth the crazy driving experience! Lovely pictures, too. I especially love the ‘old town streets’ shot. Thanks for sharing your adventures, Laura!
November 24th, 2012 at 09:29
Thanks Olga!
Enough time has passed since the drama of the round-abouts that it has all just become a funny travel story and not the traumatic experience it was at the time.
It was such a fantastic trip. I love history and great architecture and Spain has both in abundance! There are still a few other place in Europe I would like to get to but Spain is on the return when possible list with Ireland.
Cheers,
Laura
November 24th, 2012 at 09:31
Ooh… Ireland! Guess where I’m off to next!
Seems like we have the same travel bug inside of us!
November 24th, 2012 at 11:52
I loved Ireland!
The moment we got off the plane it felt like I was home.
Sounds corny but it just felt right to be there.
Hope you have a fantastic time there Olga!
Have a Guinness for me, they really do taste better in Ireland.
Cheers,
Laura
November 24th, 2012 at 09:41
That beach looks quite inviting!
Hope you enjoyed the tapas as well as taking a break from the driving!
November 24th, 2012 at 11:53
I most certainly did enjoy the tapas, although up north they call it pinxtos (or something similar).
We ate like crazy while there, thank goodness we did so much walking or I would have gotten huge!
Cheers,
Laura
November 24th, 2012 at 12:05
Great shots of a beautiful place. I hope to see most of Spain on my next travels to Europe.
-Natasha
November 24th, 2012 at 19:55
Thanks Natasha!
You will love Spain!
It was such a great place. Fantastic food and drink, great shopping and just a laid back lifestyle.
I’m already trying to figure out how soon we can get back.
Cheers,
Laura
November 24th, 2012 at 17:29
Wow the architecture looks amazing there!
November 24th, 2012 at 20:03
Spain is such an architectural treasure chest!
Amazing buildings in every city.
I highly recommend getting there if you can.
Cheers,
Laura
November 24th, 2012 at 23:24
It looks amazing there! I hope to visit Spain one day too!
November 25th, 2012 at 08:57
Eileen, I hope you have the chance to get there.
It truly is an amazing place!
Great food, wine and shopping!!
What more does a girl need?
Cheers,
Laura