I´m beginning to see a trend in my favourite places these days... San Francisco last September, now San Sebastian...
Yup, twelve years after I first visited this northern Spanish gem, I´ve returned to San Sebastian for a week of Spanish lessons and pintxos.
The results?
Well, my Spanish sucks, at least compared to what it used to be like - I do, after all have a degree in the language (a BA in French, Spanish and Comparative Politics from what was then Newcastle Poly). At least I have an idea of my level (able to get by and be understood, but not yet able to chat easily with Gabriel García Márquez...) and am inspired to continue studying when I get back to Blighty.
Oh and pintxos are just as delicious as I remember, so I will return tomorrow a little rounder than when I arrived.
Oh and Filippa, if you´re reading, I found the first bar where we had pintxos. The barman (same guy) is called Angel Bodas Frederico and he gave me an anchovy pintxo for being such a clever boy and remembering him! For the record, it was his birthday yesterday and I was there when the cake came in at midnight.
I really, really like San Sebastian. Mind you, it´s full of Swedes...