San Sebastian - Spain, June/July 1985

Saturday 29th June
Got a taxi to the station at 6.15am and caught the high speed train to London at 7.00am. Weather cloudy but bright. Arrived King's Cross at 9.40am. Took a taxi across London to Victoria coach station, passing Whitehall, Trafalgar Square, Big Ben and Horsegaurds Parade (saw a black Lamborghini Countach).

We left our luggage at the coach station and took a taxi to Harrods in Knightsbridge. Went o the food setion and bought a cake. We went up to the fourth floor for a coffe and scone, then back through the computer section. Took a taxi back to the coach station where we ate our sandwiches in the waiting room. Retreived our luggage and got on the coach at 1.30pm. We drove over Lambeth bridge and down Old Kent Road and Blackheath. Got to Dover about 3.30pm where we were informed our planned 4.30pm hovercraft would be late, but we could get on the 4.00pm crossing. We got our boarding passes and had a quick cup of tea, but then had to wait until almost 4.20pm to get on the hovercraft. Quite a rough crossing, seemed to last longer than 35 mins.

We collected our luggage and got onto the coach which was already waiting (48 people altogether). Set off from Calais about 6.00pm and got to Bully-Les-Mines at about 8.00pm for an overnight stop at the Hotel Moderne. We were given our room numbers then got off and carried the luggage inside. The room just had a double bed. Had a wash, changed then went down for our 50Fr meal at 8.30pm. Had soup then pork slices with peas, carrots, runner beans (tinned) and boiled potatoes. Then tinned strawberries and custard and a cup of tea. Afterwards bought some aftershave at the hotel shop for a discount price. Went for a walk with Stephen around the town. Did not sleep well, but had to be up at 6.45am for breakfast and suitcases packed at 7.30pm.

Sunday 30th June
Had coffee, sliced rolls with butter and jam for breakfast. Set off at 8.00am went through the outskirts of Paris. Stopped during the morning, then again for lunch at a motorway service station. Had 35Fr ham in mushroom sauce with boiled potatoes. Weather hot but not too sunny. In the afternoon we stopped at Amboise on the Loire, which had a castle.

https://travelguide.michelin.com/europe/france/centre/indre-et-loire/amboise/amboise-castle

Set off again, v hot on the coach. Stopped again for an orange drink then reached Mansle at about 6.50pm for an overnight stop. Had a shower, then down for dinner at 8.00pm. Had tomato soup and spaghetti, then a cheese pastry, then beef burgignon and croquet potatoes and icecream for dessert (55Fr). Afterwards had a walk around the town, and sat on the hotel balcony and had a beer 8Fr.

Monday 1st July
For breakfast had sliced rolls with butter and jam with coffee. Set off at 8.00pm. The sun did not get out until 9.50am. Stopped just outside Bordeaux (4th largest city in France after Marseilles, Lyon & Paris) at a Hypermarket and bought a bottle of water. Had a coffee there. Drove through Bordeaux then stopped at 11.50am for lunch at a motorway service station. During lunch our luggage was swapped to a new coach for the last part of the journey. Had chicken and chips for 26.50Fr. V hot. Got onto the new coach with a Spanish driver about 1pm.

The countryside got more wooded and hilly. Stopped in the afternoon for a drink of lemonade 5Fr. Went through the French/Spanish border and arrived San Sebastian about 5.00pm at the Hotel Cordina.

https://www.tripadvisor.co.za/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g187457-d237018-i145956376-Sercotel_Hotel_Codina-San_Sebastian_Donostia_Province_of_Guipuzcoa_Basque.html

Unpacked and had a shower. At 7.30pm went down to the TV room where the courier described the excursions on offer. Went for dinner at 8.30pm. Had a thin chicken and egg soup, then fish and boiled potatoes, then an orange. Had some wine. Afterwards walked down to the front and along the bay into town. As we could not find a bus back, we got a taxi which just cost £1.

Tuesday 2nd July
Went down for breakfast at 8.30am, bread rolls, a croissant and coffee. Weather was quite misty. Walked around the bay to the old town. There were a few shops in the narrow streets. Bought some postcards. There were police with guns everywhere.

https://thisbristolbrood.com/camping-san-sebastian-spain-review-camping-bungalows-igueldo/

Went in a church but v dark and gloomy; needed cleaning. Went back into the main square for a coffee. Caught a bus back to the hotel for lunch. Fried egg and bacon then chicken pieces and vegetables, then pink ice cream. In the afternoon we went swimming, then caught a bus into town and had a look around. Had a coffee in a cafe, then caught the bus back. For dinner we had thick vegetable (spinach) soup, then veal with peas and carrots and a piece of cake. afterwards we walked around the other half of the bay, but it was too misty to take photographs even when the bay island lights came on. Came back to the hotel and had a beer in the bar then went to bed.

Wednesday 3rd July
Still misty. Went for breakfast at 8.30am. Caught Benta Berri bus into town and had a long walk to a square near the river where we caught another bus to Biarritz (France) a 1 1/2hr journey, Both Spanish and French officers came on the bus to check our passports at the border.

The bus stopped at the top of the town, so we walked down to the front, stopping at a cafe on the way. We already had eaten our packed lunch from the hotel (meat & cheese sandwiches) on the bus. We walked along the front to one end of the bay, past the little harbour and up a steep path at the far side.

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g187080-d6880761-r370213145-Port_des_Pecheurs-Biarritz_Basque_Country_Pyrenees_Atlantiques_Nouvelle_Aquitain.html#photos;aggregationId=101&albumid=101&filter=7&ff=153552947

On the wall there we saw a lizard and took a photograph. At the top we had a good view of the bay. We went down and then onto some rocks. Back on the mainland wefound some better streets and shops. Stopped for coffee and cake at a v good restaurant (£2 for each cake). Straight after we had to get a taxi (Mercedes) to the station to get back in time for the 3.56pm train. Nice train equivalent to a HST. Got off at the border. Passports checked on the French side then hurried through the station to find the San Sebastian train. Got on OK and got off at the central station on the far side of the river. Began to rain, walked around the shops before heading to the square to catch the bus back to the hotel. Rain became heavier and there was thunder & lightning. Got on the bus and stayed on as it was a circular route which took us to the front of the hotel where we dashed in. For dinner we had thick asparagus soup, then fish and oniony potatoes, then fruit cocktail with a glass of wine. Afterwards had a beer in the bar.

Thursday 4th July
After breakfast we went down to the beach. I swam in the sea though the water was cold. It was not very sunny so we came back. For lunch we had salad, then spaghetti (too much and also cold), then coffee ice cream. In the afternoon we set off to the bascillica and house of St. Ignatius of Loiola. We went up into the foothills of the Pyranees past the regions longest valley.

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g844613-d2032846-r517227451-Santuario_de_Loyola-Azpeitia_Province_of_Guipuzcoa_Basque_Country.html

When we got there we had a coffee and a cake before going into the bascillica - a huge dome. In the house was a copy of the black madonna from Monserrat. On the way back we stopped on the coast at Zaguza?. Before that we saw the famous rock formation 'the mouse' jutting out into the sea. Had a look around the shops then walked along the front. Back on the coach the sea was coming over the wall on the coast road. For dinner we had ?, then steak and mashed potato followed by two plums. Caught the bus into town and had a coffee at a cafe on the main street then took a photo of the bay lit up and got the bus back to the hotel. Had a beer in the bar then went to bed.

Friday 5th July
The sun was shining so I put on mu shorts and went down to the beach after breakfast. Had a swim then sun-bathed. Came back to the hotel for lunch - lentils in thick brown sauce with meat and potatoes, then some meat and salad, then coffee ice cream. In the afternoon we got the bus into town and walked around the old town. There were cages of budgies and canaries hung on balconies overlooking the narrow streets. We walked around the harbour to the aquarium.

https://viewfromtheback.com/2010/08/02/postcard-from-pays-basque-iii/san-sebastian-harbour/

Had a look around, saw lobster, spider crabs, moray and conger eels, turtles, sting rays and a scorpion fish. Caught the bus back to the hotel where we joined the group to go up Mount Igueldo on the funicular railway. At the top the sun came out again so we had a super view across the whole bay and could even see the hotel.

https://www.sistersandthecity.com/wine-bistrot-bar-belle-epoque-en-el-hotel-monte-igueldo/

https://travelguide.michelin.com/europe/spain/basque-country/guipuzcoa/san-sebastian/panorama-mount-igueldo

Took some photographs and had a coffee in the cafe. For dinner we had omlette, then chicken and chips, then tutti fruiti ice cream. Afterwards  we went to the bar and listened to a guitarist.

Saturday 6th July
Weather was pretty dull and after breakfast it started to rain. Later on me, mum and Stephen went into town. We bought a plate for nanny and looked around. Had a coffee and piece of chocolate cake in the square. For lunch we had an assortment of salad and mixture of coleslaw. Then chunks of beef with potatoes and vegetables, then coffee ice cream. In the afternoon Stephen went for a swim. We went into town while mum and dad went to Fontarabia. Stephen bought a Lacoste tee-shirt. We stopped for a coffee before heading back to the hotel. For dinner we had salad then fish with boiled potatoes, followed by half a tinned peach (not a lot). Went to the bar later on.

Sunday 7th July
The sun was shining so we went down to the beach after breakfast. Went in for a swim, then put on suntan cream and sun-bathed. By the time we left to go to lunch, the beach had filled up consistently and the roads were jammed with cars. The weather had got hotter through the morning. For lunch we had fried eggs and ham, then chicken and chips followed by coffee ice cream. Walked around the bay to the harbour where mum, Stephen and I got the boat to Santa Clara island in the middle of the bay.

https://www.civitatis.com/en/san-sebastian/santa-clara-island-boat-cruise/

The sun seemed even hotter here. We climbed to the top and saw lots of people in camps preparing meals, washing dishes etc. They appeared to have come for a day out on the island. We came back down to the quayside and had a glass of Sangria which was good and cool. Then we got the boat back to the mainland. Stephen and I went to a cafe in the square and I had a coke in the shade. Went back to the hotel and got swimming things and went to the beach again. Had a swim around. The water was warmer in some places but the beach was v crowded. Came back at 6.00pm with the beach still full. Packed suitcase. After dinner, came down to the bar for a while.

Monday 8th July
Got an early call at 6.45am. Had breakfast at 7.30am. Heavy thunder and lightning as we set off at 8.00am. Half an hour to the border; got through OK. Stopped during the morning for coffee. For lunch we had chicken and chips at the same place where we had stopped near Bordeaux on the way down. Changed coach and driver. Had a stop for coffee in the afternoon, now sunny. Got to Blois around 7.00pm at the hotel Grand. We were high up on the 4th floor. got changed and wwent for the evening meal at the hotel de France et de Guise.

https://www.tripadvisor.in/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g187119-d758309-i233207011-Hotel_de_France_et_de_Guise-Blois_Loir_et_Cher_Centre_Val_de_Loire.html

We had soup then pork and sauteed potatoes with mixed vegetables followed by ice cream. Afterwards Stephen and I went to the castle to see the Son et Lumiere in the courtyard. This was a light show with a recording of music and a tale from the past.

https://www.bloischambord.co.uk/explore/the-chateaux/the-royal-chateau-de-blois

https://www.lightzoomlumiere.fr/photos/ainsi-blois-vous-est-comte-son-et-lumiere-du-chateau-royal-de-blois/

Got to bed around 11.30pm.

Tuesday 9th July
Got up at 6.45am and after breakfast we set off at 8.00am. Sunny day. After a coffee stop, we got to Paris and picked up a guide for a sight-seeing tour. Went in Notre-Dame, saw the Arc de Triumphe. At the town hall there were lots of Spanish flags everywhere as the Spanish King was expected - later in the tour we saw his entorage. We were able to have a quick stop at the Eiffel Tower. We stopped on the other side of the city for lunch. I had ham & spinach with chips as on the way down. Got to Calais about 5.30pm, had a cup of tea and got onto the hovercraft about 6.30pm. V good crossing 25-30 mins (at 70mph). Got to London about 7.50pm. Got a taxi to Regent Palace Hotel, but when we got there we were told we were not booked in so we had to get another taxi across London to the London West Hotel at Earls Court.

Got changed then went down to one of four eating places. Had gammon & pineapple with chips and cauliflower followed by strwberry gateau and fresh cream.

Wednesday 10th July
Had a continental breakfast, then packed up and got a taxi to Kings Cross but found the left luggage was closed so we could not move with the suitcases. After a coffee in the buffet we decided to get the 12.35pm HST back. Had lunch on the train - chicken soup then ham and tongue salad with boiled and saute potatoes followed by fruit cocktail with fresh cream. Changed trains and got back home at 3.45pm.