Donostia/San Sebastián

Today’s activities may not have been the most exciting of our trip, but they were still an important part of the journey.

Ursula and I spent much of the morning working through the process of opening an account with Banco Santander. As foreigners, we found the procedure more complicated than expected, but eventually everything was completed successfully. I then initiated a wire transfer from Wells Fargo to the new account. To my surprise, the estimated arrival date for the funds is June 8. The banking world still seems to move at its own pace.

Later, we headed into San Sebastián’s historic district and spent some time exploring the Mercado de La Bretxa. Amid the lively atmosphere, we enjoyed a selection of Pintxos and a glass of wine. One of the highlights was sampling some excellent olives purchased from a friendly vendor named Manu.

While Ursula and Renata explored a number of fashion boutiques, Kurt and I visited a nearby church and spent some time planning the next stage of our trip. We carefully mapped out tomorrow’s route westward along the coast and finalized our accommodations in Santander.

As evening approached, we took a leisurely walk along the waterfront. The late afternoon sun cast a warm light across the bay, and we stopped several times to admire the intricate sand sculptures and designs created by local artists. It was a pleasant way to spend a few quiet hours and enjoy the atmosphere of the city.

The day concluded with dinner at Pizzeria La Mina, a place we enjoyed so much that we decided to return for a second visit. It was a fitting end to another enjoyable day in San Sebastián.Read more