San Sebastian, Spain

San Sebastian is absolutely beautiful!!! As you can see from the pictures, we experienced one of the most amazing sunsets we have ever seen.

Friday night when we got there, we just had enough time to go to our respective hotels (we stayed at Pension Loinaz in Parte Vieja--old part) and get ready. Unfortunately nobody in the other hotel had a cell phone (GRRR!) so we didn't end up meeting for dinner. Me, Alex, Whitney and Grant first drank some champagne in the hotel room for Alex's bday (might not have been the greatest idea) and then went searching for food. We stopped at a little tapas restaurant and grabbed some food and beers there. Then we went to meet the other group (Ashley, Amber, Anel and Colton) at our meeting point at 11:30. We had some more drinks there and started walking around the old part of the city to look for bars. There are tons of small bars there that were loud and a little cramped, but we found a few that were lots of fun!

The next day Alex wasn't feeling so hot (most likely due to the champagne on an empty stomach) but we rallied the troops and set out for the beach anyways. it wasn't very warm, but it was sunny and a little breezy and we set up shop on the beach. We all took short naps on the beach which was really nice since we were all tired. Whitney and Grant headed back earlier because it was a wee bit chilly, but me and Alex stayed out for quite a while. Although it wasn't extremely sunny, we both got A LOT of sun through the clouds (maybe even a little burnski).

After the beach we got some gelato (yogurt flavor=UNREAL) and headed back to the hotel to shower and get ready for another night! We also picked up some cheap Spanish beer (San Miguel) and drank a beer at the hotel while we got ready.

Then we sat in the hotel with the windows open, drinking Spanish beer and listening to the loud Spanish people in the streets outside. We decided to walk to a restaurant about 10 minutes away that was on the beach so we could watch the sunset. It was maybe the best idea we've ever had, because it was simply amazing. The beach and the town there are unbelievably beautiful as it is, and the sunset that we saw sitting at that little restaurant on the beach was breathtaking. The pinks and purples and all sorts of colors lit up the sky as the sun set between the mountains across the bay.

I didn't think I ever wanted to leave. After dinner, we sat and had drinks at another tapas bar until after midnight. Then, me and Alex went out again after Whitney and Grant went back. We found another little tapas bar and drank some sangria with some crazy Australians. Then, just when we were ready to head home for the night, we ran into the other half of the group!!! So, instead of going home we all headed out to another bar for another awesome night. Just a bunch of crazy Americans in a tiny bar singing loud American songs. Classic.

Well, as I said, I didn't think I ever wanted to leave. But then on Sunday the weather was terrible! It was just dreary and rainy and not very fun. We wanted to do a hike but we had to carry around our bags so that was out of the question! We also tried to shop but it was Sunday so all the good stores were closed!!! Instead we got a few souvenirs, walked around a little more, sat on a bench for a while, and wasted time drinking large pops in McDonalds. A little sad, yes. Then we finally made the trek to the train station and made our way back to Arcachon.

This past weekend was amazing, and I'm really looking forward to our trip this weekend--- next stop, Bologna and Florence, Italy! I can't wait.