Day two in San Sebastian

We are spending our second day here, as we uncharacteristically booked for two days thinking everything will be booked out.  Our expectations were right in that it is an extremely busy place but we over-estimated the number of attractions for us.  Apart from eating, which on reflection is rather good, seeing the sights in town does not take long.

This panoramic view was taken from Mont Urgull where we walked up this morning.  There is a medieval castle up top and young people were gathering to watch the boat race taking place later in the morning.  From about 9:30am there was a charge to go up because of the race.

Santa Klara Island again.

Last night we were recommended this restaurant by the receptionist at the hostel.

We were not disappointed.  We had a magnificent paella for two people.  Washed down with a glass of very decent red, it was a great meal.  I can see after all how this town is famous for its eating.  I think the food is good wherever you go.  Certainly every joint is heavily patronized.

The plaza at night.  The town was absolutely buzzing with people.  I don't think I have seen crowded streets like that with people eating inside and outside everywhere.  It was Saturday night and we don't know if it is like that every night here.  And it is no longer the height of the tourist season.  But again, Spanish is virtually the only language you hear from the revelers.

 Andrew tells me the street cleaners in their noisy machine appeared at 5:30am and swept the streets clean (I slept through).  There was rubbish scattered everywhere from the night before.  By the time we set off on our walk the streets were sparkling clean and washed down too.

This photo is of our street at 3:00 pm today (Sunday).  We have just found out that the reason for this insane crowd is the boat race on today.

Pintxos bars line our street and these people presumably from the rowing crews are all eating and drinking until they drop.  Hopefully, they will go off to their siesta soon.  No such luck - they stayed all day.

We have just had our own pintxos a little while ago.  The morcella (Black pudding below is the cooked version of the left hand corner of the raw things above.

These tasty morsels were delicious - at another of the SMH recommendations - a bar right in our own street - and much more reasonably priced than the bar the day before. 

What we missed here in San Sebastian, and elsewhere, is the practice that we later came across with tapas, is that the shape of the toothpick on top of the variety of tapas indicates the price.  We first experienced this in Barcelona and thought what a good idea it was.  Another triumph for the Catalonians!

A lovely colonnade which reminded me very much of Bologna which is a city full of these.

A church.

Another magnificent building.  They are of course everywhere is Europe and I can't resist photographing them.

Another thing that amuses me is the difference in the Leidl stocks in the different countries.  Spanish jamon is common place here.

And the rabbits displayed at the butcher have their heads on as the Spanish cooks may well use them as well as the bodies not like us squemish Aussie cooks.