Spain!

Spain. We made it, no immigration incidents happily. The bus dropped us off about a half mile from the center, and we had made friends with a newly married Canadian couple on their honeymoon... Marcus and Patty. They were also on their way to Pamplona after a quick stop in the coastal tapas capital of Spain.

We headed for the tourist office, found out what bus to take to the city's campground, exchanged numbers with the Canadians and headed off. The campground was about a 20-15 minute ride up from the center... being from central Texas, I am still not sure what you call something that is bigger than a hill, but smaller than a mountain. Anyone know? Anyways, up we went up this hill to the campground, which was pretty much full to the brim with backpackers, vacationers and Australians. The guy at the counter spoke great English, no help for my limp-along Spanish, and he was super friendly.

We pitched camp and headed right back to the mounthill to the beach... and to the tapas.

We're camped somewhere up there, kind of right above my head. SanSebas

It wasn't exactly beach weather, but who really cares when there are delicious tapas and cheap wine to be had? We are talking dinner for about six euro... meaning glasses of wine for a euro sixty, and tapas plates for about the same. Besides, we were about to be getting plen-T of sun, more than anyone really needs, really.

Mike gets a head start on the sun overdose. SanSebas

Despite the stormy conditions, Mike was not about to be cheated out of a beach weekend.

From SanSebas

I didn't mind the overcast conditions quite so much.

No sun for me! SanSebas

We saw excellent rock formations...

From SanSebas

From SanSebas

Rock! SanSebas

Contemplated wave formations...

From SanSebas

Posed for scenic pictures,

From SanSebas

And Mike punched a bear in the stomach.

From SanSebas

That night, we caught an early bus back up to the campground, and weathered a storm in our now proven-very waterproof tent, as long as you set it up right. The next day, we headed back down to the town to meet the Giants... (Andy and Lindsay) and Alistair and Catherine.

Giant #1 SanSebas

And pictured here, Giants #2 and #3

From L-R. Alistair Fife (Giant #3), Catherine-who-now-lives-in-Dallas, Lindsay Bergland, aka Giant #1, Andy Scho (Giant #2), and Mike Scho. SanSebas

This was our last night on Spain's north beach, as the next morning we were hopping a bus and headed for one of the most world famous festivals- Running Of the Bulls in Pamplona Spain. The boys were already laying out their plans...