Monday, June 29, 2009

San Sebastian


Those of you who have been there will know.
Those of you who have not can only dream about it.
There is not a great deal to do in San Sebastian, but it is the most beautiful little town.

Tall, skinny, colourful, buildings in winding streets with no traffic, delis dripping with ham and cheese, wild hydreageas, that display saturated color, as opposed to the faded, soft, lilacs of ones that grow in Australia.


We decided to do all the tourist typical things. A little list
1) eat an ice-cream on the promanade,

2) walk the old town in circles thinking we had entered a new street when really we were just walking up the same street in the other direction

3) drink coffee on the promanande

4) walk up to the top of the the park to be blessed by Jesus. (It turned out to just be a giant statue.)

5) Stare at the beach, mountains, town, boats, sea, river, people, making ho-hum noises of satisfaction and awe.

6) and last: sit at a beachside cafe and eat seafood (sardines and mussels) with un-ashamed licking of fingers and mopping up of sauces with bread.



Education in the Basque country. I met a teacher on the bus who was on her way from San Sebastian to Bilbao to defend her English teaching program in order to attain a permanent license to teach English. The things that annoy her are that the syllabus gets changed everytime there is a new government, the program defense is an oral exam and she was very nervous, it took a lot of time and preparation, but she did not think it made anyone a better teacher. She was forced to reinevent her teaching a bring it in line with competencies, but was pretty convinced that the next government would just change things again. SOUND FAMILIAR ANYONE?

She liked the fact that Basque is the language of instruction, but pointed out that that this makes things difficult for the migrants from Venezuela, who come to Spain because they can speak the language. She was a tall, skinny and colourful, just like the buildings of her home town.

Julie has suggested that I take photographs of my rash and blisters, but I realise that some of you may be eating.

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Hey mum.
Me and Viv have been reading your blog. Sounds like you're having an amazing time. Viv wants to know how the shoes you bought are going. Talk to ya soon. Xo Charles

Dementos said...

Come on we want to see the photos of your blisters it would be funny. I hope you are enjoying your time in Spain. xoxo Colette

Dementos said...

Hi Greta,
great to read your blog.
Where exactly in Spain are you?
Hilarious about the poor teacher.
Just like it is for us, except we don't have to pass any test.
We are off to Germany in a few hours. Yipee. Singapore only just OK. Wouldn't come again.
Michele