Assumption Day – Celebrating The Donostia Way

We’ve arrived in San Sebastian, Spain to rest up for the next big adventure.

Before we begin sharing Donostia, remember our last blog regarding what seat you are living, 42J or 3C? Guess where we were sitting on the plane from Atlanta to Madrid?

You guessed it, 42-G. I knew the Lord was speaking through Louie last week. I now think he was trying to tell Jay he needed to upgrade us to 3C, except those upgrades were $4,200 per person. So, maybe not. We thought you would enjoy the laugh we had when we saw our seat assignments.

When we arrived in Madrid we learned it was a big European holiday – a bank holiday which means everyone is off work and going on holiday for a long weekend celebration, and for many, a fifteen day holiday. We thought it might be some sort of independence day. Much to our surprise, August 15, 2019 is Assumption Day. For all our Catholic friends, you know what I’m about to share. Assumption Day is the day believed to be when Mary, the mother of Jesus, departed from this life and entered heaven. In parts of Europe it is also called, “Easter of the Summer”. In Spain, it also marks the start of the annual summer holiday when many escape the hot cities to enjoy their beautiful coastlines and hills.

Donostia – San Sebastian, one of Spain’s beautiful coastal towns, celebrates well. Before we begin to share in the celebrations, enjoy a few beautiful areas we found.

San Francisco needs to see how Spaniards deal with hilly roads a person needs to walk up. Yes, that’s an escalator to walk (ride up the hill). There was actually four separate ones to get up this particular hill. The light colored building behind us on the left is our flat we are living in for these few days here.

It’s booming in the Basque Country. Jay counted ten cranes when we were standing in one place.

This is one of those blogs I wish I could share videos. The celebration pictures we are about to share do not do justice. The celebration began in the evening with many street acts, music and cultural dancing on stages in several of the plazas in old town.

The food is interesting. Most of the bars serve pintxos, which are Basque Country equivalent of tapas. The pintxos bars give you a plate, you pick out your food from dishes lined up along the bar, and they count how many pieces you have, then you pay. So simple. By the way, a glass of wine is so cheap here. A lovely glass of a reserved Tempranillo blend, $4 euros. The markets are fun to go to each day too. Jay is ready to move here. They just lack Lionfish.

Back to celebrating – As many of you know, I love firework displays. Almost as much as a great sunsets. Fireworks bring out the bright-eyed girl in me. There’s something when the skies are lit up with all the brightness and beautiful colors that brings great joy for me. Rancho Murieta, we have found a place that out does us on fireworks. Three days of this celebratory time ended with a fireworks display choreographed perfectly with musical arias from several operas. Before the fireworks began, there was a time of complete silence for prayer and thanks giving for this celebration. Absolutely beautiful to see thousands of people standing in silence.

Awh, sunsets! Yes, they are beautiful here as well.

As we end our rest time in Donostia, we are already seeing so much beauty and kindness in the people of Spain. Next stop – our Camino. This piece of our year long adventure has been a big part of our planning for almost one year. It’s hard to believe the day has come.

Walk to Emmaus people, I know we learned not to anticipate (DeColores) however I must admit I have had some great anticipation with a side of anxiety since we left Atlanta. We are so far away from home. It’s not as easy to get back as it was while traveling around the caribbean and East coast. No one speaks English and we don’t speak much Spanish. Can we really do this? Have we prepared well? Oh, my brain! Oh yeah, worry about nothing, pray about everything.

Internet services will be sporadic, so we will post when we can. If you think of it from time to time, please pray for us. We need endurance and injury free days (42 of them to be exact) strength in our backs, knees, and ankles. and especially, no blisters.

Blessings and as pilgrims say to one another, Buen Camino.