Spanish Getaway

As I was walking the streets of Pamplona with my sister, I realized that there had always been an eight-year-interval between my Spanish trips. I just hope I won't have to wait another eight years before I could go back there. In May 1992, my mom Ligaya, my sister Grace, my brother Ricardo and I went on a trip to Italy, Spain and France. That was my very first trip to Europe and even at such a young age I already knew that I a travel-filled life would be the life for me. Eight years later I found myself back in Spain, this time as a student of the language. For three months I lived and breathed Spain, eating paella mixta and a variety of tapas, drinking sangria and San Miguel, trying to walk as fast as the Spanish, getting used to two-hour lunch breaks and just soaking up the scorching sun. Those were the some of the happiest times of my life. Another eight years went by, got married and separated, went back to school and got a degree, and now trying to make sense of everything that's happened. I found myself back in Spain, not as a student but a not-so-accidental tourist. I had bought the plane ticket some three weeks before. My sister had found a suitable (cheap and clean) hostel where I was to stay for about twenty one days. I had told myself to be careful with the spending, what with the little money I had. But despite steering clear of unnecessary purchases, I still managed to blow $500 the first couple of days. Money was water in my hands and all I bought was food and water. Things got better after a while once I learned to control my spending habits.

I fell in love with Spain all over again and I am considering moving there. The pueblos in and around Navarra like Estella and Puente La Reina are definitely worth visiting if history and old-world charm fascinate you. I took some of the best pictures of the trip in those two pueblos. An inexpensive way to pass the time, the pueblos are a surefire way of familiarizing yourself with the Spanish history, culture and way of life.

San Sebastian, a culinary haven in the heart of Pais Vasco was a world all its own. Walking the narrow streets of its Casco Viejo, I was transported back to a world of horses and carriages, of cobblestones and religiosity rarely seen in modern cities today. The city is a tourist-friendly one, with signs all over giving you a clear idea where you should be headed. The signs even tell you how far a particular place/spot is from where you're standing, granting you can actually walk as fast as the locals do. When we got to the Playa dela Concha, my sister Grace pointed to a statue of Jesus atop a hill, seemingly unreachable if you traveled by foot. "I want to go there," pointing to where the statue was, and my heart suddenly sank. This didn't only mean more walking, it meant more walking and climbing!" I swallowed my hesitation and bravely said, "sure!" hoping there was a bus that we could catch. On the way there, we met an old lady who told us how to get to the towering statue. "Hay que subir!" No way to go but up, up, up! My body's state being the antithesis of what you might consider physically fit, the climb proved to be an arduous, laborious, hyperventilating experience. But ask me if I would do it again...In a heartbeat! The veiw was breathtaking, and just the having experienced everything with my sister made the whole trip worthwhile.

San Sebastian is not the only tourist destination worthy of your attention. Bilbao is also a very popular must-see city for tavel and art aficionados. The city boasts of countless architectural wonders, not as overwhelming as Barcelona, but still as interesting. Here, the famous Guggenheim Museum can be found. The day we went there, the sky was at its bluest. I had never seen a more glorious day. Although taking pictures inside the museum is prohibited, the intensity and amount of art you will see are enough to give you a case creativity overdose. The things that must go on inside these artists' head! After some more walking and picture-taking, we headed back to Pamplona positively satisfied.

I was fortunate enough to catch the first two days of Los Sanfermines, a feast in honor of their patron saint San Fermin. Though I wasn't crazy enough to run with the bulls, I did go to the city center to take pictures of the different people who had joined in the revelry. The streets were a sea of red and white! Definitely a sight to behold. The mental picture I have of locals and tourists walking around beer/wine in their hand struggling to walk a straight path I will keep with me forever. Seriously, it was an experience like no other. I hope that I could be there again, same time next year. We'll see what Fate has in store for me.