Spain
Pasai Donibane

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    • Day 2

      Jour 2 - Pasaia

      August 24 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

      Après les aventures précédentes, un peu secoué, je poursuis jusqu'à Passaia, un joli petit port.

      Je traverse le bras de mer en bateau. On suit ensuite le port, puis ça grimpe ! Des marches comme sur le GR 34 ! Le temps se couvre en fin de journée avant l'arrivée à San Sebastian.Read more

    • Day 11

      El Purgatorio - Hondarribia to Pasaia

      May 21, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 57 °F

      I was hoping for clear weather today because I planned to walk the route called El Purgatorio, which follows a high ridge with great views. When I did the Camino del Norte in 2018 I was very jet lagged and it was raining so it didn't make sense to attempt this climb.

      They weren't kidding when they named it El Purgatorio, and I questioned my judgement almost immediately when I started the climb. I have a fear of falling backwards - I hate long steep escalators and stairs, and this was no different. The feeling was worse carrying a full backpack because my center of gravity was off. While others walked by at a seemingly normal pace I was practically crawling up the side of this hill. My poles weren't much help because the rubber tips that are great for most of the Camino didn't grab into the ground, and they were on so tightly that I couldn't remove them. After what seemed like an eternity while I considered every step I took I finally made it up this very steep part.

      Of course that wasn't the end of the uphill walking, but at least I was only often out of breath for the rest of the walk and not terrified of falling.

      The day had started out sunny and warm, but somewhere near the top of the mountain a cold wind carrying mist from the ocean came up. To my right on the ocean side it was foggy and cold, but to my left I could look down to see the city of Irun in the sun.

      Around this time I needed to stop to layer up and met an older French man who speaks fluent Spanish because his father was from Spain. So we could communicate, though I couldn't understand everything that he said. He waited for me to don my warmer clothing. Later I discovered that he's diabetic so I waited while he tested his blood sugar.

      We teamed up and helped each other the rest of the way, arriving together at the albergue around 2:30. It was supposed to open at 4:00 and I was prepared to wait, but the volunteer hospitalero was sitting on a bench outside and offered to let us in early. There are only 14 beds here, and reservations are not accepted, so I was happy to be able to get a bed, as the only other option was an expensive hotel room, as this is a really cute, but very touristic town.
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    • Day 10

      St-Jean-de-Luz to Hondarribia

      May 20, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 55 °F

      While I was still walking next to the ocean today it wasn't on the pedestrian seaside walkways of yesterday. Most of the walk was along a fairly busy road, but the ocean views were still good.

      When I got to Hendaye I had to wait about 45 minutes for the ferry crossing to Hondarribia where I had reserved a hotel room. I had heard that this was a more interesting city than next door Irun where most pilgrims start the Camino del Norte. I was very pleased with my choice. Hondarribia (founded in 1203) is an old walled city with a maze of narrow streets, and I kept getting completely turned around while looking for a place to eat. I finally settled on a cozy bar and some pintxos (tapas) for dinner. Then a quick trip to a grocery store for supplies for tomorrow's walk.Read more

    • Day 47–48

      Day 47 - Errenteria to San Sebastián

      June 7 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

      After a reasonable night we got up to a buffet breakfast to give us strength to navigate the way out of town and back to the trail.
      This went a whole lot better than the way in 😂
      Today was overcast with the odd sunny interval. We walked through to Pasaia following the coast past a huge cargo tanker, boat building factories and a breakers yard that held an enormous mountain of old boat chains.
      Pasaia was a quaint little place full of passages that you could imagine pirates and smugglers scuttling down. We had to get a little ferry across the estuary to then walk around to Donastia and Saint Sebastian.
      Leaving the other side was a matter of climbing 1.3 km of stairs - no mean feat carrying our rucksacks!
      The path then was along the coast and reminded us of many an Isle of Man walk, with rocky headlands, the sea crashing below, seagulls swooping about and much up and downhills.
      We eventually spotted the city ahead - which was quite imposing.
      After a steep descent we came to a long beach full of surfers, volleyball players and sun worshipers, despite the lack of sun!
      We sat on a bench and pondered the scene, very tempted to go running down the beach to dip our feet in, but too much with rucksacks and our gear - plus the Plodicus was starving!
      San Sebastián is a big, thriving Mecca for tourists, especially food lovers , from around the globe. It has big wide streets and piazzas full of bars and eateries.
      Great architecture and a wide and varied history. Another assault on the senses as you wander in after a days walking.
      Staying in a groovy modern room, right in the heart of the action. Hoping for a good sleep 💤 The map only covers part of the journey!! At least 16km walked today 👣👣👣
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    • Day 3

      Tag 3 -Pasaia

      July 28 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C

      Pünktlich um 6 wurde in der Herberge das Licht angeschalten und das Ganze von dramatischer Segelmusik begleitet.
      War okay für mich, ich wollte sowieso früh aufstehen und die anderen sicherlich auch.

      Es gab ein Frühstück bestehend aus Toast, Magdalenas, Kaffee und Marmelade. Danach war ich gestärkt für den Weg auf den Jaizkibel (550m) -der Hausberg Iruns.

      Es gibt zwei Routen bis zum Ort Pasaia, den ich erreichen wollte. Einmal am Hang des Berges entlang, und einmal auf dem Kamm. Ich dachte, ich bin fit und ready für den Kammweg. War ich an sich auch, aber anstrengend war es trotzdem. Und wie. Bin da irgendwie hochgekraxelt und habe meine Lebensentscheidungen überdacht. Aber oben hat es sich echt gelohnt!
      Ich habe mit mehreren Leuten Kontakt geschlossen, aber laufen, das will ich nach wie vor alleine.

      Angekommen in Pasaia, war ich absolut am Ende. Es ging während dieser 18 Kilometer prinzipiell IMMER bergauf.
      Bis zum Ende, da ging es ganz ganz steil bergab. Meinen Knien hat das alles gar nicht gefallen und in Pasaia angekommen, haben mir die Füße gezittert. Aber gut. Ich habe kurz ein Rührei zu Mittag gegessen und habe eine Weile nur existiert und Pasaias wunderschöne Lage und Straßen bewundert. Dann bin ich zur Albergue gegangen (wieder viele viele Treppen) und fand dort Leute wieder, die ich jetzt schon mehrfach getroffen habe.

      Wir warteten gemeinsam im Schatten (es war zu dem Anstieg und Abstieg ja noch heiß) und erzählten uns von unseren Leben. Hier läuft jede Nationalität den Camino. Meinen Nachmittag verbrachte ich mit einer Finnin, einer Deutschen und einem Engländer. Wir sind zu einem Steinstrand gelaufen und sind geschwommen und abends waren wir sogar schon wieder essen. Leider ist in der Herberge keine Küche und es wird auch kein Essen angeboten, und da Supermärkte zu haben, bleibt einem praktisch nichts anderes übrig.

      Morgen gibt's dafür zweimal Pesto mit Nudeln, um den heute dekadenten Tag auszugleichen.

      In Pasaia gab es heute eine Art Fest -dabei füllte sich der Markplatz gut und es wurde getanzt und gesungen.

      Ich bin echt müde, deshalb gibt's heute nur eine abgespeckte Version von dem, was ich eigentlich erlebt habe.

      Es war ein perfekter erster Tag. So kann es gern weitergehen!
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    • Day 3

      First taste of the Camino

      September 7, 2019 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

      Just a short 6km walk today to break us into the Camino - Pasaia back to San Sebastián. Beautiful views of the coast with lots of lovely locals and their dogs. So relaxing just following our trusty yellow arrows which mark the Camino.

      Last night we stayed at our first dorm. We had to stay in separate rooms which was lucky in the end as Simon had 4 snorers in his room. He was right at home there. I just had heavy Darth Vader breathing to fall asleep to. Considering we got in last night at almost midnight I would have slept through anything!
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    • Day 4–7

      Entering San Sebastian

      April 20 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 7 °C

      A pleasant walk up from the port of Pasias if you ignore the 360 steps up out of the harbour. Pasias has a historical whaling history and the locals still race a type of rowing boats that were used for whaling. ARead more

    • Day 5

      Auslaufen

      April 23, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

      Gegen 17 Uhr verlässt das Schiff den Hafen von Pasaia. Unser Weg wird von vielen winkenden Schaulustigen mit bunten Regenschirmen gesäumt. Wir scheinen eine Attraktion zu sein . Es soll wohl auch etwas in der lokalen Presse gestanden haben. Wir winken natürlich zurück und verabschieden uns quasi damit auch von Spanien. 1,5 Stunden später heisst es nämlich vive la france.Read more

    • Day 4

      La randonnée de la muerte 1/2

      July 18 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

      3h de rando entre San Seb et Passaia avec pas mal de grimpette mais des paysages magnifiques. Les filles n'ont râlé que 87 fois! On est bien,..

    • Day 13

      A coastal walk in Espanol

      June 9, 2019 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

      A walk from Pasaia to San Sebastian takes us along a section of the Northern Camino.
      We start with a ferry shuttle to a cute area of Pasaia and a lunch of gigantic sardines.
      Less than 3 hours round the coast we pop out onto the main beach front of San Sebastian city. Big, old city with impressive colonial buildings, pedestrian alleyways and numerouse tapas and pinxos bars.Read more

    You might also know this place by the following names:

    Pasai Donibane, Pasajes de San Juan, Pasajes, Passatjes, 20110

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