I check the map and realise that the campsite is west of San Sebastian. If I drive into the city, I will then come back on myself when I leave. I have read that parking is generally a problem in San Sebastian. I decide to take the bus, as it stops just outside the campsite and only costs €1. Obviously I have just missed one, so wait for the next.
The chaps at the bus stop are very rural looking, as is the campsite area. It is weird to see such a rural area so close to a city like San Sebastian. The bus takes 30 minutes to wind down the mountainside and into the city. The views are spectacular. The sun is out and the water looks very inviting. From the mountain top views it is possible to see to the horizon of the Atlantic, around the Bay of Biscay and the whole of the city. The bus stops at the Youth Hostel which looks good. I notice there are some non-paying car parking spaces. But I am still worried about leaving the vehicle unattended. If there are lots of things for me to do in the city maybe I will stay there for a night.
The bus stops in the city centre. I get my bearings and find the sheltered beach, with the island. The views are just beautiful today. The city has so much charm and character. I walk into the old quarter with its narrow streets. I find the churches, and walk around. There are many bars here. I walk across to the newer area of town and see the Cathedral, one of the few older buildings that are left. San Sebastian is lovely, but there is not much for me to do. There are several beaches for surfing, but vehicle access is a real problem. I decided to go back to the campsite and head on.
I have already read that a nearby town, Orio, has a sheltered beach, which could be perfect for the big swells that are coming. I set a course. The Sat nav takes me down another suspicious lane. It starts to get worse, and I nearly stop, but then it opens to tarmac and a picnic area with magnificent views. I stop and take some photos. Some Spanish guys are actually camping there. The road is better, and winds down the other side of the mountainside. At the bottom it starts to turn back and up the mountainside and I hope I don’t have to drive back to the top. The turning appears and I find myself in the town before I know it. I eventually find the beach, right where I came off the mountainside, before I spent 10 minutes bouncing around the bad roads. The beach is lovely, but a little small. A wall has ‘only locals’ written on it.
I decided to try the campsite as it is so close to the sea here. It only costs €10 and has WiFi access. I walk on the beach, but my neck hurts more in the sunshine so I don’t stay long. Some guys are surfing with longboards in the small swell. Hopefully there is a chance of surfing tomorrow.
