Donostia – Orio- Zarautz-Getaria               Walk Day 1

23 mile, 3,700 feet elevation.       Getaria

Tomas & Jeanne, a French couple I met at the end of the San Sebastián promenade, helped me find the Camino del Norte trailhead.  Although awkward, we managed to converse; some Spanish, a little English and much gesticulating with hand and sign language. I refrained from using the only French I know: counting to 5, ordering wine(red or white) or beer(up to 5 at a time), or finally asking them to sleep with me. Somehow none of which seemed quite appropriate.

The trail begins near the funicular. (Ry, I’m sure you know where that is). Climbing the funicular/lighthouse hill kicked my ass, and that was just the beginning of the coastal hills. The pathway skirts the coast and passes farms, and vinyards before descending back to the coast itself. It’s beautiful. Orio is a coastal port town at the mouth of a river. I stopped in Orio for water, coffee and a short break. It rained for the next hour or so. Zarautz is a bit bigger than Getaria and a cool marble paved walkway joins them. (What’s with these slick Spanish stamped marble sidewalks; I slip-slid, ice skating part time in my hiking shoes.) They are roughly 3 miles apart and you can see Getaria jetting out from the coast as its own little peninsula. 3 Baleen Whales frolicked a 100 yards off shore, as if greeting me.  A couple of posted signs at vista points along the way notified me that this was a common occurrence.( side note before I forget: Fin, you and Suzi would absolutely love San Sebastián!)   

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