By Eric
Feb. 17
Graffiti.
The first town we stopped in Spain had Graffiti everywhere - on the road
signs, on the buildings, on traffic barriers and even across the doors
of a very old church. I don't know what much of it said except at a couple
places where I could clearly read, "Freedom for Basque Country." San Sebastian
was usually marked on road signs by both its Spanish name and its Basque
name, "Donostia." On most of these signs the "San Sebastian" was painted
over.
High rise apartment buildings, often ugly. Clothes drying on every balcony.
American-like
truck stops on the freeway. McDonald's signs on tall towers.
Cafes we could sit down in and have a cheap meal. (It seemed impossible to sit down and eat a cheap meal in France. Cheap food was always to go.) Plates full of sandwiches sitting on bars. A buck for a big coffee with milk instead of $2 - $4.
San Sebastian had almost no graffiti. It was clean and gorgeous. Lively too. People talked loudly.
Napkins and papers clutter the floors of the otherwise spotless cafes. (You're supposed to throw your wrappers on the floor. We never did get used to that).
Women push huge baby carriages, the very fanciest kind that refuses to fold and makes itself smaller. They were so big, they were practically rolling bedrooms for babies. (The way Joan likes to make her end of a canoe).
Many, many bank machines in San Sebastian, each displaying about 25 different networks they connect to.
Wonderful, beautiful bike stores with everything imaginable!!
Lines
for pay phones.
Instead of gargoyles, the cathedrals have happy, dancing figures. A hip here, a torso there. Often colorfully painted.
Great town squares. Big, clean, lots of benches and trees. Dozens of benches. And not too much dog crap on the sidewalks.
Vending machines selling small cans of pistachios, chocolate covered peanuts, sunflower seeds, even olives.
Groups of old men and old women playing cards in the bars
and cafes, reminiscent of China.
Next: Spain Chapter 1 - San Sebastian
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