domingo, 16 de outubro de 2011

Shazam!

Ok I've got a lot to recap, and plenty of photos to add, so here we goooooo!

Funicular sign. Tower peaking over is Torreón  de Monte Igeldo
Yesterday my friend Janelle and I rode the little funicular up to Mt Igeldo, which has the most beautiful view of the city. Seriously, it was amazing. There is also a kiddie park up there, but we weren't really interested in that. Also at the very top there is the Torreón de Monte Igeldo where you can get an even more expansive view.

After that little outing, I came home for lunch: steak! I don't know if I've mentioned it, but they barely cook meat here. It's because they're vampires. ;) After lunch I felt the need to act Andaluza and take a siesta. But not just a siesta in bed. Oh no--because this is Spain, and although it is the middle of October, I took a nap at the beach! It was such a beautiful day I had to go to the beach. So I guess I can cross of sunbathing in October off my list of accomplishments.

My city, not like it's gorgeous or anything



Friday/Viernes
Basque pony grazing!
That was our excursion to the Pyrenees, and it was really cool! (Literally as well, jojo!). First we went into France (hooray!) and road Le Petit Train up La Rhune, 905 meters. The mountainside was nice and meadowy, there were even some wild ponies grazing. Once at the top we could see the general area of San Sebastián, as well as Biarritz, and other nearby cities. Yeaaah! On the otherside of the view was just mountains with clouds. Las nubes! It looked as if the clouds were a waterfall spilling out of two of the mountains.





In Spain and France a la vez. But it's all Basque Country to me!

Inside the witch museum
 After descending La Rhune in the little train, we went on a hike, going through France and Spain. We stopped at the border for a photo opp. Haven't been hiking in a while, reminded me of my days as a camp counselor hehe. After lunch in a little Basque restaurant, we went to the Museo de Brujas--witch museum. That was interesting, as you could imagine. Basically during the Inquisition, a lot of people were called witches for the benefit of others. The Basques were especially victimized because they speak a completely different language (and at that time most Basques didn't speak Spanish too), and their culture includes a lot of relation to nature, which was seen as witchcraft. We also learned about their cave parties called Akelarres. That also was assumed to be based in witchcraft, but it was really just a good time, like the botellones that kids do nowadays. They claimed kids as young as 9 were witches. What the dickens! After the museum we walked in the caves. And that concludes our excursion.