Spent a full day exploring two cities in the Basque Country. I have wanted to visit this area in the very north of Spain near the French border since I did a report on the history of the Basque people in 7th grade. Our guide for day, Zach, started us with a walking tour of Bilbao, mainly in the old quarter. We stopped at the market and saw the stunning Guggenheim museum.

We then drove over the mountains to San Sebastian for a walking tour all the while dodging the paparazzi (it is the middle of the San Sebastian film festival). Then onto a pintxos tasting tour of the old quarter.

First stop…grilled squid and shrimp pintxos with a garlic vinegar sauce and local white wine.

Second stop…orzo sheep’s cheese risotto and a dry rose.

Third stop…traditional olive, pepper and anchovy pintxos and braised beef cheek with cheesy potatoes with a nice Rojas red.

Fourth stop…mussels two ways and fried calamari with white wine.

Last stop…custard cheesecake and hard cider.