Our next house sit was back in Barcelona. A return sit that we enjoyed twelve months prior. As there was a little over a week between the sit we completed in Lisbon and our next one in Barcelona, we took the opportunity to visit San Sebastián, a world renowned town on the Bay of Biscay in Spain’s mountainous Basque Country. A place we had heard so much about and had been trying to get to since we arrived in Europe. A flight from Lisbon to Bilbao got us to within an hour’s bus ride to San Sebastián. Instead of continuing our journey the moment we landed, we booked a hotel in the centre of Bilbao for a couple of nights to check it out. So glad that we did as it is a stunning city. Home of the famous Guggenheim museum and allegedly has some of the best Pintxo bars in the region (Pintxo being the Basque version of tapas). We walked for hours marvelling at the incredible architecture, riverside, artwork and fresh food markets making several stops at Pintxo bars along the way.
spoilt for choice 
Guggenheim Museum
The one hour bus ride to San Sebastián turned out to be closer to three by the time we caught the local bus to the depot and then navigated ourselves to the correct ticket window and then to the appropriate gate, but we managed to get on the correct bus and arrived at our hotel near the bay, and walking distance to the old town, where we would stay for a week or so to discover all San Seb had to offer. Admittedly most of the people that recommended the place to us usually visit during the summer months when I’m sure the beachside has far more appeal, but we were thankful not to have to fight the crowds to get into the numerous restaurants and Pintxo bars. On the downside, some of the restaurants we wanted to try were closed for the off season but there were more than enough to ensure that we did not go hungry!
crowded beaches even in winter 
such a grand location
San Sebastián is definitely an absolutely amazingly pretty place and a gourmet’s paradise. We had been given advice for some of the best baked cheesecake to try and where to get the best Pintxo, and they were all outstanding. If you were to factor in some sunshine and warmth it is definitely worthy of its glowing reputation, but for my part, I preferred Bilbao as it struck me as a genuine traditional city with loads of charm, and as Linda would probably summarise my preference, cheaper Pintxo.
business meeting? 
would you look at that! 
Three ladies enjoying Pintxo
Our flight to Barcelona was from the small airport just on the outskirts of San Sebastián right on the border of Spain and France so we didn’t have to go all the way back to Bilbao. We landed at El Prat (Barcelona) on time and were greeted at the airport by Bob and Gina, who’s apartment and pooch we would be looking after for a second time. We caught up on each other’s adventures of the past twelve months over a nice dinner and a few fine bottles of Tempranillo before driving them back to the airport early the next morning to board their flight to Dubai where they would be spending time with their grandchildren, as they had done the previous year.
The sun drenched apartment in Castelldefels, Chewie, the handsome rescue dog and time spent with Bob and Gina were what drew us back. Long walks along the nearby beach and coffee at the beachside cafes was going to be a pleasant way to spend a couple of weeks. We even afforded ourselves a day in town, this time visiting Gaudi’s ‘Parc Guell’ which was quite an experience. A day in downtown Barcelona wouldn’t be complete without lunch at a restaurant we proclaimed as one of our favourites last time we were in the amazing city. I also very nearly experienced being pick pocketed by a couple of shady characters walking too close behind me. If it wasn’t for a good hearted local woman walking the opposite direction spotting them and yelling aggressively at them, they would have had my phone for sure. That experience caused us to go shopping for a ‘man bag’ much to my dismay but necessary when travelling in parts of Spain unfortunately.
Chewy soaking up the rays 
Parc Güell
It was early in February when we flew from Barcelona back to Lisbon. We noticed some people wearing masks in the airport thinking it looked a tad strange – little did we know what lay ahead!!
We were to commence our next house sit in Salir do Porto which is part of the Silver Coast in central Portugal, about an hour and a half drive from the airport. We picked up a rental car and headed north avoiding the toll roads, choosing the scenic route as we had ample time on our hands. While we were driving through the small town of Vila Franca de Xira we were waved off the road by the police into a car park that was crowded with people. In all the driving we had done throughout Europe to that point we had never been pulled over. We soon noticed that a large number of the crowd were children, a group of them approaching my window behind a police officer who began talking to me in Portuguese until I interrupted him to apologise that I did not speak the language. This seemed to have annoyed him a little as he waved a woman amongst the crowd of children to come forward (apparently a teacher) to interpret for him. In broken English she announced that it was ‘National Hug Day’ and they were asking if I would get out of the car to hug a group of school children. Somewhat bewildered and happy I was not getting a ticket, I got out of the car and did as the teacher asked. Another memorable travel experience just because we were too lousy to pay the motorway toll! I don’t know for sure but I’m pretty certain that would have been the last ‘National Hug Day’ for a long, long time.
The house-sit in Salir do Porto was for the lovely couple we sat for the previous year in Curzon, France. They had since relocated to Portugal with their two adorable standard poodles (one of which is a giant!). Sadly their third elderly spaniel had passed and did not make the transition to their new life in the sunshine on the Silver Coast of Portugal. We were going to enjoy a few weeks walking the energetic pooches along the coastal cliff tops and on the golden beaches while soaking up the local charm of the welcoming locals. Unbeknown to us at the time, that we would be settling (isolating) in neighbouring Sao Martinho do Porto for the next four months!
National Hug Day 
Walkies on the cliff 
Hortense and Valentino (Big Boy!)