Pais Vasco First Stop: Bilbao Read more about the city here

DSC05096.JPG DSC05099.JPG DSC05101.JPG The Basque version of the tapas: the Pintxos. By far the best snacks you´ll get on a stick. Also different tapas have sticks with different lengths. So you help yourself to what you want, and at the end you pay according to quantity and size of the sticks left on your plate. DSC05112.JPG DSC05116.JPG DSC05118.JPG And here the famous Guggenheim Museum. Also marvelous from the inside ! DSC05121.JPG DSC05123.JPG DSC05124.JPG DSC05128.JPG DSC05132.JPG DSC05133.JPG Below: The Israeli drumming group Mayumana. DSC05134.JPG DSC05135.JPG DSC05138.JPG We seemed to have picked the right day for our visit (21st of dec), which is the day of the market of Santo Tomás. This market remembers the traditional arrival of thousands of baserritarras (inhabitants of country houses) Just before christmas. It is of course the opportunity to stuff oneself with Talo with txorizo and drink a lot of Sidra. DSC05140.JPG DSC05144.JPG DSC05145.JPG La festividad de Santo Tomás se remonta a mediados del siglo XIX, cuando la mayor parte de los baserritaras, que cultivaban tierras del que no eran propietarios, se desplazaban a la capital para pagar las rentas de estas tierras. Aprovechando su presencia en Donostia, vendrían a los vecinos de la capital sus productos agrícolas y hacían acopio de artículos que no lo podían obtener en sus localidades. Por esto se vio la necesidad de organizar una feria, y surgió la Feria de Santo Tomás en la plaza de la Constitución. Con los cambios que se producían la sociedad a lo largo de los años, la razón principal para celebrar la feria fue desapareciendo, pero continuaron organizando la feria, pasando a ser una tradición. DSC05148.JPG DSC05149.JPG DSC05150.JPG DSC05152.JPG DSC05153.JPG DSC05155.JPG Below: the lovely basque coastal town of Lekeitio DSC05156.JPG DSC05159.JPG DSC05160.JPG DSC05162.JPG DSC05163.JPG DSC05166.JPG DSC05167.JPG DSC05168.JPG DSC05172.JPG DSC05174.JPG DSC05179.JPG DSC05180.JPG Since the weather was bad and nights very long, the photo collection of San Sebastian (Donostia in Basque) is rather limited. I would however recommend it as a destination as it´s absolutely gorgeous ! DSC05181.JPG DSC05186.JPG DSC05187.JPG DSC05189.JPG DSC05190.JPG DSC05191.JPG Last pictures taken in Pamplona. Capital of the region "Navarra", it plays an important part in the history of the Basque people. It is also famous for the Running of the Bulls during the San Fermin Festival. Of course, one can also enjoy the city without running into raging bulls.. DSC05192.JPG DSC05193.JPG DSC05194.JPG DSC05195.JPG DSC05196.JPG DSC05198.JPG DSC05199.JPG DSC05203.JPG DSC05205.JPG

Last modified: 17th of July 2007 © Arno entertainment 2007