€1.5m for a place here – we need to start saving

Zagan the motorhome is getting into the swing of things; a bit of a drive then stop for a few days. We’re still in the aire at Donastia (N43.30796 W2.01485) tonight will be our last night of the 72 hours we’re allowed, although we’ve met a few folks who have managed to stay a bit longer. I really can’t blame them, even on a dull, cloudy day this city still captivates.

Yesterday was gloriously sunny when we set off from the aire into town. We’d toyed with the idea of renting a couple of the electric (Boris) bikes they have here as Charlie is hobbling a little bit and reluctant to walk some days, however after a failed fitting for pampered pooch in one of the bike baskets, we decided to continue carrying him instead.

As we reached the local beach the cloud was rolling in off the sea and over the hills, it looks great, but totally obscured the old town. The tide was out so we walked around the bay and mooched around the old town – funny how Charlie’s hobble disappears when he is on a beach!

As we reached the old town the cloud masked off the sun and the temperature plummeted down to around 13°C – which wouldn’t be a problem except we were in shorts and sandals. After a wander around and a bite to eat we wanted to head back to the aire. Charlie was tired so I asked at the tourist office if he could go on the bus, the reply took me straight back to Barcelona; ‘if it is small and will fit into a bag’. We thought the campsite people were winding us up in Barcelona, but it seems that they are the rules! We walked back to the aire as my hands and feet started to go blue and it was then that we found our local beach was still baked in sun, surrounded by cloud, but lovely and warm.

Spotting our aire neighbours on the beach with their paddle board, we walked over feeling the warm sand under our feet and chatted with Tony and Marion from Manchester. Tony let Jay have a go on his stand-up paddle board, uttering the now infamous words ‘it’s very stable, in fact they’re quite difficult to fall off’ – how Jay managed to prove him wrong!

He got there in the end though

After Tony admitted that the waves might be a tad choppy, Jay was able to be washed ashore with his pride intact, and drip all the way back to the van. With Charlie tired from his walk Jay and I snuck off and caught the bus into town for some Pintxos. Think tapas, but better. Sure some of it is super touristy, but there are still little bars here that the locals nip into on their way home – we managed to have a tipple in a couple of these, and an over-priced tourist bar too.

After a 5k morning jog and several hours of walking we pathetically caught the 8pm bus back to the aire – we really needn’t have worried about what time the night bus charges kick in!

This morning our legs ached and Jay is carrying a small paddle-boarding sprain on his ankle, so we decided to take it easy. We got talking to Alec and Kathryn and honestly could have talked with them for hours – well we probably did but we could have chatted longer only they were leaving today. We’ve exchanged numbers and hope to catch up in Pamplona – which saves us from having to decide where to go to next!

After lunch we made one last trip into the city, walking around the bay to the other side of the river to see what it was like over there. It turned out to be very similar to our side of the bay, but with bigger waves for the surfers. Aching feet lead us back to the old town and for a glass of the local white wine before the bus brought us back to the aire.

Wetsuits and surfboards at the shops are no longer a strange sight

No idea what these images are advertising, but love them – check out the shared eye!

As we arrived back there were quite a few people out and about in the aire, Rupert and Rose were enjoying the fun game of ‘try to buy a ticket’ (it costs €3.25 a day but you need the exact change and no 1 or 2 cent coins!) and asked for change from one of Dave’s friends and fellow blogger Hetty the Hymer. Hetty was here as Susan and John had their holiday to Sharm cancelled, so they got Hetty ship-shape and headed over to Spain. We’ve had a fantastic evening chatting with them both, discussing life, travels and all things Hymer. Good job we had a Spanish omelette in the fridge for emergency tea at 10pm!

Found a little place for sale with views of the bay, only €1.48m!

Quick check down the back of the sofa and we’re a bit short for our new pad so time to join the lottery queue!

Ju x