Hola,
As I write this post Nicole is probably close to departing for the airport in Columbus. The plan is that I will take the EuskoTren to Irun on the Spain/France border and meet her tomorrow evening. I have already spoke to the owner of the B&B where we will be staying, the conversation started in Spanish and ended in English...in other words my Spanish is improving, but I still can�t have a consistent conversation. In any event, if any of you are interested you can see pictures of the B&B Isabella, the owner has some pictures posted on her website
http://www.roomsisabella.com/ubicacion.html
On another note, I am still surfing and taking classes. My day pretty much consists of waking up at about 8am, getting ready for school, walking about 10 minutes to a local cafe that is on the way to school and having a morning pintxo as well as cafe con leche, and then I walk another 20 minutes to school. After class is over at 1pm I walk back to my apartment and change for surfing. On my walk back to the apartment I consistently stop at these two local stores for food and water and what not. I usually pick up some fresh baked french bread (la barra in espanol, bread is actually pan, but french bread is barra) as well as a pastry called a carracola (not sure about the spelling) it is alot like a cinnamon roll except not as covered in as much frosting and it has raisins. After I have a quick lunch I walk all the way down to the beach which takes about 30 minutes and then I get a wet suit (although the water is getting warmer and warmer) and board and then the surfing begins. After surfing sometimes I walk to school and post to the blog and other times I just wander San Sebastian.
As for the last few days, well classes are going pretty well. I am coming along but it can be a bit tiring, mostly I just want to learn and learn quickly...instant fluency...yeah right. We had a test today though
and I did have than annoying realization of how easy, and yet hard, a simple exam can be...let�s just say I made a lot of stupid mistakes. As for the surfing, well that has been quite the adventure. On Tuesday we surfed in a thunderstorm. Honestly, I thought it was bit insane, but the surf school people didn't seem to think it was a big deal. It was pretty cool though trying to see through the pouring rain as the waves rolled in. I'm not sure I would want to do this everyday, but I like having the story to tell. In any event, on Wednesday we kind of played avoid the jellyfish. The water is really warming up here so there are more and more jellies. No big deal though, most of the jellies were beached so we just had to watch to not step on them, although I did brush one in the water...the surf school guys were pretty indifferent about the jellies as well. Somehow I think it might take a lot to phase the surf school guys. Although I do find it infinitely amusing when the surf instructor says, "this is Muy Importante," and then follows it with a statement in Spanish that I have no hope of understanding. Regardless, even though I don't understand the "very important" things, I am managing to improve. Although today was another one of those days where I felt like I was in a washing machine. Today was the kind of day where just as you paddle out you get devoured by a wave, pushed backwards, and then resume paddling only to get to the same point again and then get devoured. It was kind of funny, but mostly annoying, and by the end of the day I felt more like a punch drunk boxer than a surfer. Such is life.
On a final note, I attempted to call a one Juan Iroz who lives in Anglet, France. Sadly, I was told repeatedly that the number does not exist. I am in the midst of trying to send him a letter. I hope we can find him and see him. If anyone has any different information about how to contact him I would be greatly appreciative, thank you.
Oh yeah, one other thing, property in San Sebastian is very expensive although it is less expensive in the surrounding towns. Just thought any prospective retirees might be interested. Okay, well I still am not
prepared to answer that question from the earlier anonymous email...perhaps before I leave I'll manage to pull that off. Next time I post Nicole will be here. Here's hoping for safe travels for her.
Signing Off,
Justin
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