San Sebastián - By the Sea

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With no pack to pack and no particular place to go, the day began with a coffee and the most magnificent vanilla slice I have had in my life!
Served with a smile, I ate outside and watched the people and the traffic and planned my moves for the day- with map at the ready 


First stop was the Basque museum to get a better sense of the culture. The people have a rich history from prehistoric cave settlements and artwork, through Roman occupation to the medieval feudalism and later to playing a key part in global exploration through expertise in navigation and ship building. 

Their connection with the sea along with their strategic location and topography (my legs are a bit sore from yesterday’s encounter) are keys to  their identity 

Stepping back into the sunshine I was struck by the vibrancy of the city and how regular workdays blend with time for friends, family and  colleagues to get together in the streets and in the bars. 

All that people watching made me feel a bit peckish - so just around the (every) corner was …



After lunch I headed to the beach. The scene was perfect.



After some late afternoon relaxing back at the albergue, I headed out once more.
Pintxos time! 
The old town of San Sebastián is coming back to night life once more - children families grandparents mix with beautiful people and backpackers 
Pilgrims aren’t tourists and vice versa -but that doesn’t mean  you can’t be one without being the other. I know I’m both - probably more tourist right now. 
So I was brought back to the centre last night . Tomas who walked with me yesterday described how he takes young men on probation - on the Camino, and how it gives the ex prisoners and those who walk with them fresh outlooks,
Besides being challenging physically (did you notice Tomas’ bare feet on that photo yesterday - the guys is nuts  but he did wear sandals when it really mattered) the emotional and social hurdles  and the big questions about meaning and purpose all become evident. In other words there’s a responsibility of everyone who walks to give forward or give back however  that may happen. Otherwise it’s just a selfish quest.undertaken not by peregrinos but by touregrinos. I hope I am the former…

Anyway back to San Sebastián night life. The old town was humming - 




It was a wonderful day and evening- the angel would be happy- like me!







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