Adventures with Dad.
Trip Start
Oct 27, 2008
1
11
17
Trip End
Jan 22, 2009
Lasarte,
Basque,
Spain
Friday, December 12, 2008
Friday: I woke up at
5:00am in Barcelona and took the train to meet my dad. His flight was over an
hour early so he had arrived at the airport before I did. I could tell he was starting
to get nervous that I wouldn't show, but I made it and we explored Barcelona
for the rest of the morning. We bought sandwich stuff at the market and then
walk around the old part of town. Around 3:30pm we boarded the bus for San
Sebastian and didn't get to the apartment until just before midnight. He was
ready for a little rest after his long journey (Winnemucca-Elko-Salt Lake-New
York-Barcelona-San Sebastian-Lasarte).
Saturday: We had
breakfast at home before tracking down an internet place to call and tell
everyone he had made it. It was holiday but luckily the car rental place was
open so we got a car for two days. Thought it would be nice to drive to Baztan
and visit the family without having to worry about the bus schedule and
catching a ride. On our way we stopped in the fishing town of Hondarribia for
lunch. It is a beautiful coastal town but it was pouring rain and hard to
explore too much without getting soaked. After having the 'menu del dia' we
went on to Arizcun to check into our room. This is a small town in the Baztan
Valley, just a few minutes away from the family's house. Later that night we
visited with the hotel owners over a drink at one of the two bar/restaurants in
town. It turns out that one of our relatives, Maribelle, used to be the local
nurse. She has since retired and lives just minutes away from Arizcun. What a
small world we thought, as we walked to our room to turn in for the night.
Sunday: At breakfast
the owners informed us that they had called Maribelle and she was coming.
Nothing like having coffee with a long-lost relative. J She sat with
us a while and we showed her some pictures that Dad had brought of the family
and the ranch back in Nevada. From here Dad and I left to meet up with the
other family members at the house in Erratzu. By the time we got there I had
realized we left the pictures back at the restaurant. But being the small world
this is, the owners had already called to the house and said they had the
pictures. Ainhoa had to drive to town and get bread so she picked them up for
us. The sun was shining and we had a great day with the family. The three kids
took us around to see the farm, the old house my great-grandfather lived in,
and the nearby waterfalls. We returned to the house in time for a late lunch and
a picture showing. Around 6:00pm we had to start for San Sebastian to return
the rental car. The weather was nice and we sat on the bench near La Concha
beach and used the internet to call home. It was getting late for the 'ol guy
but we stopped in and had a pintxo and a drink at one of the bars in parte
vieja before returning to the apartment.
Monday: After
breakfast at home we waited at the bus stop for Nere to take us for a farm
tour. We went to a small town outside of Ordizia and talked with a couple
cattle farmers. It was interesting to see the agricultural differences between
here and the ranch back home. We were shown the barn and then went for a guided
tour of the town. Just outside the town, in a more rural area, we had lunch and
visited until it was time for Nere to return to work. She drove us to Hernani
and from there we went for a 3 mile hike back to Lasarte. It was only raining a
little but I thought it would be nice to see some countryside and walk off part
of our dinner. Dad started to watch Goenkale with me but quickly called b.s.
and went to sleep. J
Tuesday: I took Dad on
another tour of the parte vieja (old part) in San Sebastain before we hopped
the train to Gernika. Most all stores and museums are closed from 2:00-4:00pm
so we walked around town until they opened. We toured the Assembly House with
its' massive stain-glass windows and historical meeting room. Just outside is
the petrified oak tree of Gernika where the lords used to meet and make the
governing laws. At the Peace Musuem we sat in on a narrated account of the
bombing of Gernika in 1937. The displays were a sobering account of much the
Basques had suffered under Franco's reign. Dad received his quota of museums
for the day and we took the train back home.
Wednesday: The 'wall
street' of markets is on Wednesdays in Ordizia. We took the bus to Tolosa and
switched to the train for the rest of the way. Our luck had run out on the
weather and it was raining hard. We checked out prices before purchasing some
cheese and chestnuts for him to take home. There wasn't much for exploring in
Ordizia because it had begun to rain/snow and we returned to Lasarte. For a
little lunch snack we had bought some olives and peppers and had them once we
got back to the apartment. Dad took a siesta and I went to practice in
Astigarraga
Thursday/Friday:
Without going into detail, we mostly toured around Lasarte and San Sebastain.
One afternoon provided a brief period of no rain and we walked along the beach.
We also visited many of the small shops in the parte vieja as well as the
shopping center here in Lasarte. On a quest for maple syrup we ended up
unsuccessful and it is nowhere to be found here. Dad has vowed to send some as
soon as he gets home. We had planned on making pancakes for our friends in
Hernani, but pancakes without syrup is just not right.
Please be patient... my
blogging will continue. I have been spending more time with my Dad and much
less around the computer. It has been great to share my trip with him and good to see a familiar face. Hope all is well back home.
Txintxo ibili!
