Basque Spain A food Lovers Paradise
Okay here it is my first ever blog on my favourite place on earth … I have travelled the world many times and seen and done some amazing things in these magical places but nothing compares to that of Basque Spain and the amazing food, culture, people and their whole lifestyle. It’s a thing of beauty passion and a real creation of mind blowing buzz and feeling like no other place on earth.
My first visit was actually by accident we had a cancelled family holiday to Crete due to factors out with our control and we went to Basque Spain as we had heard so much about the rich food and culture to be honest not expecting much as by the point we had to leave the only flights left from sunny (???) Scotland were to a place in Spain called Santander? so having never experienced this part of Spain before I decided to craft an Itinerary so crazy and out there I felt exposed to letting everyone down, Boy was I so wrong.
Santander was the first stop off point in the journey a flight from Edinburgh and we landed in Spain full of raw emotion and excitement as to what this trip had in store for us next. A short taxi ride to Bilbao and we felt we were no longer in Spain but somewhere else, strange but true it was Spanish to look at but was more cultural and the food types and places to eat were different gone were the full pans of paellas and move over to the little Bites on sticks aka gastronomy at its highest form, they are called Pintxos (pronounced pinchos !!) So an array on a bar of food all on sticks or on small bits of baguettes with tasty bites like crab and prawns was like an ornate jewel on top of a beautiful crown. Here the pace of life is very laid back and nothing is too much trouble for those super friendly locals who call themselves Basque not Spanish. The few nights in Bilbao were an amazing starting point to a unique trip and an unforgettable few days main points *** visit the world famous Guggenheim museum it’s a great day out for everyone *** don’t be afraid to try new things foodwise everything tastes amazing I can assure you even when you think you are unsure !! *** spend some time walking around the old town of Bilbao you wont regret it, the buildings and architecture are neo classical in style and everything looks amazing.
After this whirlwind stop of Bilbao we all got an hour or so bus journey to San Sebastian into the heart of Basque country not knowing what to expect but if Bilbao was anything to go by then it will be an unreal experience. Arriving into San Sebastian or Donostia as the locals call it…. I was overwhelmed with excitement at a beach that looked like it belonged in a glossy magazine, one person told us as we got off the bus it’s the surf beach only the paddling calmer beach is further along hang on wait a minute another beach !!! Well this part of the trip was only 7 nights but I could quite honestly stay much longer in fact I did agree with My husband John and my Children that we could all quite happily live happy ever after in Sunny San Sebastian no quibble it has everything you will need and much much more…… A climate like no other warm and sunny but also wet and rainy sometimes and also cooler some days as well this is what makes it have the world class food as the rain helps the crops to grow. You must visit San Sebastian now… I truly must admit I did fall head over heels In Love with this city and its beautiful mesmerising people. There are very little tourists and it feels very untouched by mass tourism a spell it puts over you as I have now been back every year since this trip. A must to try while holidays there. ***A walk along the promenade of San Sebastián’s La Concha beach you will be able to feel the spirit of this place soak up some rays and enjoy some pintxos in the old town unmissable. *** Visit the old fun fair on a funicular to the summit of Monte Igueldo like an old cart on a rail track that goes up a very steep mountain with a very old world style funfair at the top. The views are worth every minute spent trying to get to the top!! *** In the evening head straight to the Dry bar at the Maria Cristina hotel and order a fabulous cocktail then for dinner I recommend the restaurant Ikaitz a wonderful Basque restaurant with food that gives you goosebumps its that unreal. Enjoy!!!