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.
Love it!!!! Urban House rules and so does San Seb!
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