For a change, we didn't have breakfast in the apartment. We walked two blocks to the beautiful Onadarreta beach, and found a table to have a beer and wine (an unusual breakfast).
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| "Breakfast" on Onderreta Beach |
It was delightful weather, no humidity, low 70's. People were sunbathing, swimming, skating, bicycling, and enjoying themselves. What a Paradise to live in. Being a Saturday, people were out in droves.
From there we walked to the taxi stop, and asked to go as close as possible to Borra Berri, a pintxos bar I had seen many good reviews about . It is in the old city (Parte Vieja) and we knew taxis could not drive in, as it is a total pedestrian zone. He dropped us at a very convenient spot, and we walked and walked. I had been nervous about walking in the Old City because of my aches and pains, but so glad we did it. We just took it slow, and sat when needed. The Borra Berri wasn't open yet (12:30), but there is no lack of bars and restaurants. You could do it the way the Spanish do - one tapas and a drink in each bar, and make your way from place to place. But when we came upon the Beti Jai, we ordered too many.
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| Cold tapas at Beti Jai |
The cold tapas are always displayed on the bar, and you either point or help yourself. This would never "fly" in the US with health and sanitation regulations. But, it's been this way here forever, and no one ever seems to die from eating a cold tapas.
Ron was on a seafood binge and had a plate of sardines, another of octopus, and some olives and peppers. I had serrano ham, egg frittata, and shrimp with some other seafood.
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| Ron with sardine |
Walked to the Basilica Santa Maria, which has the most incredible façade with two towers and sculpture of Saint Sebastian. We went inside and sat for awhile, absorbing the beauty.
Walked several more blocks, and sat on a bench to rest. I went into a Parfumeria opposite the bench, and bought a swim cap, as they were displayed on a sign and looked really cute. I commented that was a strange souvenir!
More meandering in the streets. You couldn't try every tapas bar and restaurant in a lifetime. If I'd have been confident about walking the distance, we would have taken a guided "tapas tour", as they take you to six or seven of the "best" and order the particular specialty of that establishment. Maybe next time!
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| Beautiful Flowers |
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| Hand-made chocolates |
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| A whole store of salted cod |
Walked to the Plaza Alameda. Sat, again, for another wine and read our "NY Times". It was just too pleasant to think about going back to the apartment.
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| Plaza Alameda |
Ron walked to a pharmacy we had spotted in a side street to try to find "Rock Tape" for my legs. They did have something called "Therapeutic Tape" and hope it is good, as it cost about $30 for one roll.
Unfortunately, we had walked the wrong direction for the taxi stand, and had to re-trace our steps. We came back to the apartment, and Ron walked around the corner to the small grocery store and got "fixings" for dinner and the next morning's breakfast. This time he was extra careful to get heavy cream instead of sheep milk!
We had a bowl of Knorrs chicken noodle soup for a late afternoon lunch.
Later, Ron prepared gorgonzola sauce with penne pasta. He was quite delighted that his grocery purchases of about $12 had made us three meals. This is one of the benefits of having an apartment and living the "local life" - that is if you can resist the temptation of all the adorable bars and restaurants!
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| Yummy penne gorgonzola (cooked by Ron) |
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