Back to San Sebastián, on the 10th of October I left Berlin headed back to the beautiful town on the beach that I had fallen in love with in September! I headed back to start work in a small hostel, I was ready for some detoxing and to put some stability and normality back in my life. What I got out of San Sebastián was so much more.

I was there for a month in total and loved every moment of it. It rained a lot there but that's what gave the coast line and landscape such lushes green rain forests. When it would rain I would head over to urban house hostel where Maddie, Munro and doug worked; we would watch movies and play cards, we'd cook big group dinners or sometimes go wander the streets in the rain. There was a park just across the road we would head over there at night and hang out for hours or play tips. Living here was like being a child again being carefree and having minimal responsibilities. On the sunny days the regular crew and sometimes a few hostel guests would go on long hikes along the coast line, ride bikes through town, eat pintxos at one of the many bars or walk along the beach and have picnics. Life was good!

San Sebastián has a small hill behind it which has a statue of Jesus overlooking it the views from the top are amazing Maddie, Doug and I would spend lazy afternoons napping and listening to music up there as tourist would walk past taking photos. There was another hill at the end of La Concha which has a theme park on top; I would take walks to the top and bathe in the sun or read, it was a nice place to get away and the view from the top was absolutely breath taking.

We had many good nights out in San Sebastián, we would cook up a big family dinner and have pre drinks and drinking games. Then we'd head out to our favourite bars, we knew where all the cheap drinks were and where all our friends would be hanging out! Halloween was massive night, we got dressed up and spent the night in clubs and bars or just walking the streets I had a huge wrestle with Munro through the streets which lasted half an hour and got plenty of attention from people walking by.

The group grew so close and I have definitely made friends here that I will spend time with back in Australia! I've made bonds here which rival those I made in Rimini for sure! I guess it's because we were in similar circumstances which were so unique and had the power to create friendships like no other!

San Sebastián was not all fun and games, my boss Ernesto kept me in line! I liked having a home and my own room, a job and some routine back in my life. I took over the running of the hostel, my role encompassed everything, I cleaned and shopped and handled reception and guests. Ernie kept me on top of things to, with surprise visits when I was hung over and the hostel was a mess. He was slightly OCD and so clean was not clean enough! It became a joke between us and he slowly became more relaxed and let me run the hostel my way. It gave me some responsibility and made me feel like I was useful which I have been missing since travelling.

Ernesto met an Aussie while I was here in September. I remember him talking about her. Now they are a couple! Her name is Nicole and we got very close. She became that older sister I never had! Ernie and Nicole made San seb feel like home and they became my family, they would take me out for lunch and dinner and invite me to there place. I would have them over for dinner parties and I'd get to cook up big meals for them! We would drink wine and talk and go to local bars for drinks, it really felt like home and a place I felt comfortable. Ernie also introduced me to a friend of his Jose. He had worked at the hostel during summer. I am so lucky to have met Jose he became a good friend, we spent a lot of time together cooking and he even started giving me Spanish lessons! I loved netting local people and feel like I had a chance to experience the Spanish culture more!

I have so many memories crammed into my one month in San Sebastián! I loved my time here and can't wait to return one day. My decision to leave was very spare of the moment. Maddie, a girl I've become incredibly close with, and I decided San Sebastián was getting quiet and it had given us all there was to offer and it was time to start the next chapter. We had an interview with a new hostel in Portugal on Skype which went incredibly well. We got the job and was asked to start straight away. As a result I only had a few days to do all the things I had wanted to do while living in San seb.

We were so lucky the weather was beautiful for us. I spent a day with ernie, nicci and Jose where we cooked lunch together and then went to Biarritz which is a gorgeous coastal town in France. While there we had coffee in a Marie Antoinette style cafe (very fancy) and watched the sunset. When we came home we bought fresh fish and seafood and spent hours in the kitchen cooking a drinking wine! It was by far one of my favourite days spent here. I spent my last days cooking meals for my new friends and ridding bikes with Maddie, walking the streets of old town and having a picnic by the water. I felt so spoilt, loved and appreciated. Jose took me out to the movies, ernie and nicci bought me gifts and took me out for lunch, I feel so blessed and am even finding hard to leave his beautiful place

Today is the 15th of November and Maddie and I are on the over night train to Portugal. We had a rushed day of tying up loose ends, packing, I had a final farewell lunch with my San seb family and then watched the sun turn San Sebastián golden the way I love and then set behind the rolling hills. Maddie, doug, nicci and I sat on the port and reminded and appreciated everything we had experienced here together! It's sad to leave but also so exciting to start this next chapter.