San Sebastian: The City of Pinxtos and Glorious Beaches

The water in La Concha Bay looked as if it were poured from a billion bottles of Aquafina. The sand was like satin and extended for miles into the abyss. I had been waiting to see a beach like this all my life! I waded in the water and daydreamed on the shore. While exploring the marina, I almost slid in the fishermen's drool as they attempted to swoon schools of fish meandering through the translucent water. I was in paradise visiting this small and cozy city, San Sebastian.

The dialect and pronunciation stunned me a little. The vocabulary and grammar looked more Hungarian than Spanish. There were many X's, K's, and Z's. To be honest, I felt like I was in another country entirely. This region does not serve tapas like the rest of Spain, but pintxos. The pintxos run from 2-4 euro a piece and are littered from one end of the bar to the other. Cold ones are on displayed on the bar, the hot ones you order from the barman. They take only a few minutes. When you are done eating your pintxos and drinking a couple cervesas, you have to ask the barman for the bill, but tell him what you have eaten. Stay honest! This is a local tradition. An easy trick to help you remember your tally is to keep the toothpicks from each pintxos.

While I did not visit any major sites specifically, I had the best time just wandering through the small neighborhood streets, strolling the two mile promenade, and grazing the old town. San Sebastian is the type of place I can picture myself retiring. It was once a small fishing village that hunted whale and cod. At another time, it was even a bustling port, importing oil and wines for France and England. Once Queen Isabel began frequenting San Sebastian in the summer the little village turned into a small thriving city.

If I could return to San Sebastian every summer for some glorious sun, crystal-clear water, and tasty pintxos, I would be as royally happy as Isabel once was.