Friday 6 September It is still dark when we get out of bed at 6.00am. No tea or coffee in the room unfortunately, although in other respects the 3 Star Codina Hotel is modern and comfortable. We are packed by 7.00am and decide to head out for a walk. With luck we will find a cafe/bar open with something for breakfast. The hotel buffet and bar don't open until 7.30am which only gives us half an hour before Irene wants us to depart. We find said bar close by...

Thursday 5 September Today we booked a small group tour, but as we were the only clients we had a private tour. Ainhoa is waiting for us so we head out a few minutes early. Our first stop is at a roundabout close to the airport between Irun and Hondarribia, close to the crossing of Canal Amuteku. Poor Ainhoa cannot get the car to start and we are blocking one of the lanes on the main highway in to town. In Spain, every vehicle is required to carry a dayglow ...

Wednesday 4 September We have a relaxed start time of 9.15am this morning, so breakfast at Cafe Calenda. Jamon y queso bocadillo, un thumo de naranca y un cafe con leche por favor. Very continental. We leave on time to wheel back to the bus station to catch the 10.00am San Sebastion service. There seems to be some confusion however, and Irene disappears for a period, reason unknown. However, once on the bus it seems that the bus was nearly cancelled and w...

Tuesday 3 September Today is Rioja wine day. We have a winery tour and tasting booked for this morning at the Bodega Franco-Espanolas which is just down the street, across the iron bridge, from the hotel. In times gone by the winery and vineyard were outside the town, but despite development around the estate it continues as one of two now within the city. The winery is quite large, producing over a million bottles per annum, and very high tech. Very similar...

Monday 2 September We checkout at midday today so this morning we head back into the old town for a coffee, and a look at any of the shops that are open. Monday is a slow day in Pamplona so we don't expect too much. Cafe Iruna, being on the tourist route is open and busy but we enjoy our cafes con leche (coffee with milk) outside overlooking the placa. On this side of the square are 2 establishments associated with Earnest Hemmingway. One he slept in, the ot...