Travel Escapades: San Sebastián to Carcasonne

Wednesday 4th June

Heaviest rain we have had all holiday when we look out hotel window. Beach is just a haze, so no walk along it this morning! It's like being in a different country. No historic stone buildings - very Spanish style and lots of apartment blocks. I'm sure this place would be buzzing in the height of summer. We decide to pack up and drive to San Sebastián in Spain for brunch. It is only a 40 minute drive.

Traffic backed up on motorway with road works - never seen so many trucks!

After finding a parking spot we wander into city centre. A lovely man, 81, spots us talking and recognises us as New Zealanders. He says "NZers and Aussies walk, but those Americans always taxi - even from one block to another!" Turns out to be a big time All Black fan. The tourism business he worked for hosted them in the 70's. He grabs a map from a hotel for us and points us to the old quarter and tapas bars.

Wow!

The bar is lined up with at least 30 different choices. You load your plate up, and away you go. Most are around 2 euro each. Wine is offered - it's only 11am! We go for coffee as we have a few hours driving ahead of us still.

What a gorgeous spot! Lovely little lanes, cobblestoned. Beautiful buildings in this area.

We walk down and around the beachfront area. Would be lovely on a sunny day - but at least the rain as stopped.

Government Buildings

Surf side of beach

Watered and fed we head on our way to Pau. This is often a stop on the Tour de France so decide to check it out. It's a lovely drive through the Mid Pyrenees. Heaps of quaint little villages on the way.

Pau a busy centre with a lovely cathedral at its' centre of course. Always tricky navigating around town centres as the sat nav doesn't always pick up one way streets. Certainly have to have wits about you, but we are getting pretty good at it now.