Beach etiquette in San Sebastian

The beach in San Sebastian is beautiful. It spans for miles, crowded with bodies sprawled across the sand. Much like Barcelona, the beach etiquette is to go topless whilst sun-baking, swimming, talking to friends, walking along the beach (the list goes on). Unfortunately San Sebastian seemed to consist of an older generation of topless women, many blessed with saggys! Even though there was some ghastly, leathery skin walking around, there was also some tanned and gorgeous bodies to look at. I wished to have the confidence to rip my bikini top off and walk around like Mediterranean local but kept telling myself that I would definitely do it the next day. Tomorrow never came as heavy rain decided to hit San Sebastian, so my top will have to stay on until my next tropical holiday. 

Our topless neighbour

This was the beach club - members only. A row of people lying back in sun chairs over looking the water with cocktails in their hand.

We were so infatuated with the beach we decided to go back for an evening stroll along the water. The sea was splashing against the shore as the sun slowly set at around 9pm. 

Lovely Little San Sebastian

We arrived in San Sebastian by late evening after a long train ride from Barcelona. Our hostel was in the heart of Old Town, said to have more bars than any other neighbourhood in the world. Around every corner is a bounty of bars serving a host of the basque regions famous pintxos, gourmet bar snacks served on toothpicks. After a day exploring San Sebastian it was clear it is charming and relaxed by day and cool and flirtatious by night. At 2pm the streets become deserted and nearly every shop closes for a 3 hour siesta, either forcing you to a bar for a drink or to bed for a nap. 

View from our Hostel 

Bakery Window

Coffee and Croissant for Breaky

A little park on the walk home

A Protest in the Main Street 

Barcelona's Beautiful Beach

"Vamos a la playa"

Barcelona's beach was a prime position for people watching. Shady men walk up and down the beach whispering "water", "beer" under their breath for any beach goers wanting a refreshing drink. Chinese ladies make circles around you saying "massage five pounds, very good massage" trying to coax you into a massage on the beach. Every time we were approached I shook my head, but after seeing someone else relishing in what looked like an amazing massage I wished I had tried one out. We also spotted some girls posing like swimwear models but were really just taking "facebook" photos. Then there was "Adonis" a tanned Spanish looking guy wearing white speedos who refused to turn around for me to check out his goods. 

"Adonis" back view

The beach was lined with bars that allowed you to take your drinks down the beach and sit in the sun on the sand. They may have been overpriced frozen margaritas and jugs of sangria but they were luscious to sip watching the sun go down after a day at the beach.

Jug of Sangria

Drinks and Potatas Bravas on the Beach 

A Spanish Picnic

After jam packed days seeing all the sights Barcelona has to offer, we needed a relaxing picnic to get back into holiday mode. We rode through Parc de la ciutadella on our bike tour and were completely wowed by the cascading waterfall, deciding it was a prime picnic spot. We selected the finest goods from a market we found on the way and attempted to ask butchers for 100g of sliced chorizo in Spanish hoping we didn't end up with pigs ears.

Sliced Chorizo, Jarlsberg Cheese, Stuffed Peppers, Olives and Watermelon.

The park is expansive filled with tangled pathways that lead to the pinnacle point of the cascading waterfall. At the top of the "tower" there is a beautiful view of the park. 

Gawking at Gaudi's works

Gaudi was an architect in the 1800's who created buildings that no one has since been able to replicate. His buildings have intricate detail, colour and shapes that were never used during this time. Most of his works like he was on an acid trip whilst designing them, they are whack, but all that whack seems to have led to an array of stunning architectural works throughout Barcelona. 

Casa Batllo is one of the ridiculously amazing buildings along the Passig de Gracia, a main street in Barcelona. It sits there framed by the sun and the sidewalk trees amongst the monotonous classic, brown, brick buildings that have become shop fronts. The facade is made up of pastel colours that dazzle in the light and odd balconies that look like bones. Gaudi designed this apartment building for a rich aristocrat but it is now empty and on show for the public.  

This is the building next door which was designed by a rival architect. 

We also made the trek up to Park Guell. It is like another world as you follow a pathway not knowing where it is taking you, as it leads you further and further through the park. The instant impact of the tiled mosaic sculptures that greet you and the possibilities of where to begin your adventure make the 20 minute walk up hill to reach the park well worth it. It was orignally designed by Gaudi to be an estate for the city's richest people to live in. As they did not like his finished work, it was turned into a park by the council. 

There are only two buildings in this park, the rest of the area is made up of twisting, sandy pathways and mosaic staircases that all lead to the highest point, leading to the amazing view of the city. This is the view over the park, the 'gingerbread' house that Gaudi designed at the entrance of the park ensures visitors enter into an adventure of the imagination. 

There is a constant possibility of further discovery that sustains your enjoyment of Gaudi's fantasy world.

Bartering for a few trinket bracelets. 

Breathtaking views of panoramic views of Barcelona complete the journey