22.6.11
Summer has begun!
The high season here in San Sebastián has kicked into full gear. This week we have led two pub crawls, both of which drew a lot of guests! Basically each guest pays 10€ for sangria at Gip Nº1 (one of Urban House's hostel buildings) and then we take them to five different bars, the night culminating at a dance club. The first one was this last Sunday and I have to say it might have been my favorite night out in San Sebastián all summer!
19.6.11
Recently
"Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." -Psalm 90:12
So much has happened recently here in San Sebastián in the last week or two. We had sushi night at Atari courtesy of Asier...such a fun time! It was my first experience with true sushi, not just California or salmon rolls from Teriyaki Park in Waco. What I remember the most, however, was meeting a Spanish doctor! Turns out he is a good friend of Asier and is in orthopedics in San Sebastián. I tried opening up and asking questions but he didn't seem too keen on conversation.
I also finally got to climb Monte Urgull, aka the "Jesus mountain." Katrina, Tim, Leah, and I took our cameras up there and barely made the sunset. What a gorgeous night. Sitting on a bench up there looking out onto the lights of San Sebastián, I felt a contentment and a focus on the present that I haven't felt in a long time.
After pondering atop the mountain, we headed back down to the city for some "dessert steak" at Atari...a 20€ solomillo that was the best steak I have ever eaten by far.
Another eating adventure included a visit to the local cider house (sidrería) called Petritegi. You order a four-course set menu that includes all-you-can-drink sidre either from the bottle or you can go into the cellar and get it straight from the barrel.
Last night we helped with a spur of the moment gastronomic society dinner at a different location other than above Atari. This place is behind the church in the Old Town, and it had an amazing cellar with old wine, cava, and cider. Topdeck, the bus tour company, had dinner there and we got to eat the leftovers as well as sample quite a bit of the vino inventory. It was rainy and a perfect night to spend with the Urban House crew.
So much has happened recently here in San Sebastián in the last week or two. We had sushi night at Atari courtesy of Asier...such a fun time! It was my first experience with true sushi, not just California or salmon rolls from Teriyaki Park in Waco. What I remember the most, however, was meeting a Spanish doctor! Turns out he is a good friend of Asier and is in orthopedics in San Sebastián. I tried opening up and asking questions but he didn't seem too keen on conversation.
I also finally got to climb Monte Urgull, aka the "Jesus mountain." Katrina, Tim, Leah, and I took our cameras up there and barely made the sunset. What a gorgeous night. Sitting on a bench up there looking out onto the lights of San Sebastián, I felt a contentment and a focus on the present that I haven't felt in a long time.
After pondering atop the mountain, we headed back down to the city for some "dessert steak" at Atari...a 20€ solomillo that was the best steak I have ever eaten by far.
Another eating adventure included a visit to the local cider house (sidrería) called Petritegi. You order a four-course set menu that includes all-you-can-drink sidre either from the bottle or you can go into the cellar and get it straight from the barrel.
Last night we helped with a spur of the moment gastronomic society dinner at a different location other than above Atari. This place is behind the church in the Old Town, and it had an amazing cellar with old wine, cava, and cider. Topdeck, the bus tour company, had dinner there and we got to eat the leftovers as well as sample quite a bit of the vino inventory. It was rainy and a perfect night to spend with the Urban House crew.
9.6.11
Reunion
Hana was in San Sebastián! We met last summer in Barcelona at Kabul Hostel and had an amazing time there with other great people. Both of us knew we wanted to come back to Spain! Things didn't work out for her to stay in San Sebastián working, but we had a few days to cause a little ruckous.
8.6.11
Pintxos de País Vasco
Risotto de hongos (mushroom risotto) from Borda Berri
Queso de cabra (goat cheese) from Borda Berri
Paloma (dove) from Fuego Negro
MacKobe burgers from Fuego Negro
Solomillo a la plancha from Astelena
Queso de cabra (goat cheese) from Borda Berri
Paloma (dove) from Fuego Negro
MacKobe burgers from Fuego Negro
Solomillo a la plancha from Astelena
7.6.11
San Sebastián
"Each of us may be sure that if God sends us on stony paths He will provide us with strong shoes." -Alexander Maclaren
I have been in San Sebastián for two weeks now and I can't help but wonder why I don't live here! It's a classy, beautiful city. Compared to Madrid, it's clean, tranquil, and relaxed. I have to walk everywhere as there is no Metro system (although San Sebastián probably doesn't need one). Urban House has incredible locations in Parte Viaje and El Centro. My first week or so I was in a building called Gipuzkoa and my balcony (to a huge room I had to myself) overlooked a small park and when you looked to your right, you could see the ocean.
The first few days with Urban House were relatively easy. I got the first night and full day to explore the city. My first pintxos experience was at Astelena, a little pintxos bar just off the Plaza de la Constitución. Sara, my boss, recommended I get the pistachio croquettes and the solomillo a la plancha (little steak with grilled vegetables). Since then, I've been back three or four times and I always get the same thing.
Tim led hostel guests on a pintxos tour on my second night, and we went to Borda Berri, where they had amazing mushroom risotto and cow's cheek. Another day, I went to Bar Narrika, which has delicious patatas bravas and Juantxos, that serves serious bocadillos, these huge sandwiches with anything you could think of. Atari Gastroteka is a restaurant owned by the same man who owns Urban House, Asier. We have been taken there for bottles of sidre and txocoli, local bubblies. San Sebastián is really a gastronomic center of the world, with 13 restaurants with Michelin stars, matched only by Paris.
As staff, we have gotten together a lot to cook at our respective buildings, as well as above Atari, which is a gastronomic society meeting place with several dining rooms and industrial kitchen. So many fun times and David, Katrina, and Tim are wonderful cooks. Bryna, Louise, Ylva, and Renee have become great girl friends too. I love these people!
I now live in a different building called Pensión Goiko...and I live in the kitchen. It's not as bad as it sounds! I have a nice double bed, a desk, cabinets, a television/DVD player, a washing machine, and kitchen facilities all to myself! It's not open to guests like the other kitchens are. I am happy :) Gipuzkoa had fabulous rooms but the bathrooms and kitchens were unlivable for awhile because the students that occupied the floor during the school year lived in filth! After a few days of stressful cleaning after they moved out, it looks better now. But...I lucked out with Goiko! More pictures and memories to come.
I have been in San Sebastián for two weeks now and I can't help but wonder why I don't live here! It's a classy, beautiful city. Compared to Madrid, it's clean, tranquil, and relaxed. I have to walk everywhere as there is no Metro system (although San Sebastián probably doesn't need one). Urban House has incredible locations in Parte Viaje and El Centro. My first week or so I was in a building called Gipuzkoa and my balcony (to a huge room I had to myself) overlooked a small park and when you looked to your right, you could see the ocean.
The first few days with Urban House were relatively easy. I got the first night and full day to explore the city. My first pintxos experience was at Astelena, a little pintxos bar just off the Plaza de la Constitución. Sara, my boss, recommended I get the pistachio croquettes and the solomillo a la plancha (little steak with grilled vegetables). Since then, I've been back three or four times and I always get the same thing.
Tim led hostel guests on a pintxos tour on my second night, and we went to Borda Berri, where they had amazing mushroom risotto and cow's cheek. Another day, I went to Bar Narrika, which has delicious patatas bravas and Juantxos, that serves serious bocadillos, these huge sandwiches with anything you could think of. Atari Gastroteka is a restaurant owned by the same man who owns Urban House, Asier. We have been taken there for bottles of sidre and txocoli, local bubblies. San Sebastián is really a gastronomic center of the world, with 13 restaurants with Michelin stars, matched only by Paris.
As staff, we have gotten together a lot to cook at our respective buildings, as well as above Atari, which is a gastronomic society meeting place with several dining rooms and industrial kitchen. So many fun times and David, Katrina, and Tim are wonderful cooks. Bryna, Louise, Ylva, and Renee have become great girl friends too. I love these people!
I now live in a different building called Pensión Goiko...and I live in the kitchen. It's not as bad as it sounds! I have a nice double bed, a desk, cabinets, a television/DVD player, a washing machine, and kitchen facilities all to myself! It's not open to guests like the other kitchens are. I am happy :) Gipuzkoa had fabulous rooms but the bathrooms and kitchens were unlivable for awhile because the students that occupied the floor during the school year lived in filth! After a few days of stressful cleaning after they moved out, it looks better now. But...I lucked out with Goiko! More pictures and memories to come.
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