Only one plan for today, in some ways the culmination of our gastronomic adventure here in Spain: lunch at Arzak.
We have breakfast a bit earlier, then find an activity both relaxing and conducive to working up an appetite. We park in the center of Donostía-San Sebastian. If you’ve been wondering why I don’t write just Donostía or just San Sebatian, since the words refer to the same town in different languages, it’s because all local signs by the road are very careful to always use the Euskadi (Basque) ánd the Spanish name. I’m assuming therefor that it’s a sensitive matter.
The plan was to visit the aquarium, but the weather is so nice that we decide to stay outside. We stroll through the old town, looking into shop windows, admiring the narrow streets, the catholic church, Plaza de la Constitucion, the surfers having fun with the big waves, .. We stroll around, I buy a few Basque style fabrics for pillows in my couch at home, we admire the painted wooden altar piece in the gothic San Vicente church, .. until it’s time to go to the restaurant.
Arzak has been a well known place for Basque cuisine for a long time. The food is refined and elegant, with well balanced flavours. The location itself is not as charming as Txispa and the room is quite busy with bustling staff, but that doesn’t detract from the quality of the preparations.
We’re finished around four, still fast by Belgian standards, but a bit slower than Mugaritz a few days ago. We drive out of the city, thinking to take a stroll in Chillida-Leko sculpture garden, but alas it is closed today. Nevermind, we’ll chill out at the hotel, take a bath (it’s become a daily ritual), read, .. We upgraded to a bigger room when we checked in a few days ago and we’re really enjoying the extra space, being able to unpack all our stuff for a few days, doing a small hand wash and indeed, taking a bath every day in the huge tub.
Febe writes 