Basque Country

People walk by -- with their dogs, strollers, kids, significant other -- in full cold weather attire of coats, hats, and scarves. Most of the shops are closed for the Easter holiday, but there is a massive herd of people out and about, window shopping in dark windows, cigarettes lit, each person in their own world on their own path. This is the natural order of things here.

I am starving. Apparently people here don´t eat, rather they survive on their smokes, cafes, wine, and tiny snacks consisting of a piece of bread and a slice of cheese. First thing is first, coffee. Upon finally finding a cafe, I order a cup and a croissant. I am the guy in the t-shirt. It is a warm 16C, especially in the sun. The smell is a relaxing combination of those from a bakery, coffee, and the mist from the sea. The view: in the foreground, the walking herd including old men with berrets, mopeds and cars behind them, buldings and the misty hills and sea in the background. The Basque people are friendly.

We are in a pickle. When you travel on the fly, this is bound to happen sooner or later. The holiday left us stuck in north Spain a week longer than we had wanted, but what can you do? We were just happy to have aquired a place to crash during the night. We have now stayed three nights in Bilbao, three more in San Sebastian, and one more in Barcelona before we can travel out of Spain. Tonight we take the train to Milan in an effort to make it to Switzerland, but lets rewind back to that cafe.

I really like the fact that many European cities are pedestrian friendly; people here walk a lot. I especially like this because I am a man counting on my feet to take me where I am going. Did you know Americans will only walk, on average, 300 yards a day? (thanks for that fact Bill Bryson). Did I mention that people here are really thin? (lots of walking+no real food). We have probably been covering between 4 and 10 miles a day on foot. My legs are now getting a rest and my mind enjoys the caffine. I am now taking in my newest prized possession: the March issue of National Geographic magazine -- in english. It is pretty much worth its weight in gold. I take it all in, devouring the pictures and text, watch people on the crowded sidewalk, sip coffee and eat the croissant which takes the edge off the hunger. Things will work out, I am going to enjoy the moment.

Here are some pictures from the last few days of adventure, maybe not worth a 1,000 words, but still more interesting than text.

Me, fully loaded

Maundy Thursday in Bilbao

Dan in Bilbao with a little guy very interested in whats going on

Bilbao river reflection

Bilbao Basilica

Out of the mist, the Gugenheim!

San Sebastian City Hall and Statue of Jesus on Easter... trust me that is Jesus

San Sebastian hilltop Church

Basilica in San Sebastian

Horsemen statue

Flying a kite in front of the Palace in San Sebastian, this guy was getting dragged around on the sand

North Spain Coastline, the conditions are just never perfect for good pictures it seems

Dan photographing the north coast... this is pretty much what we do

San Sebastian Sunset, yep I will take that picture