May 18

Cycling and Holiday Accommodation in San Sebastian

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Self-Catering Vacation Rentals in San Sebastian

I could speak for an age about how healthy everyone is here, but today I will focus on something that Basques do very well, cycling. Host to the ‘Clásica de San Sebastián’ (won in 1995 by Lance Armstrong), Donosti is very much a bike friendly town.

The local government have put down 28km of bike path (or ‘bidegorri’ in Basque) to accommodate the numerous bikers and commuters in the town. These red lanes are very much a visual part of Donosti and you will see them when walking anywhere in the town.

vacation rentals in san sebastianThe Clásica that I mentioned before (being held on from the 14th of August), is well known for it’s stunning views of the Basque Coastline and it’s unforgiving mountainous terrain, including the Alto de Jaizkibel, which usually decides the race. The 227km long race starts and finishes in San Sebastian and is now part of the UCI (International Cycling Union) ProTour, which includes some of the toughest road bicycle races in Europe, Australia and Canada.

For the more amateur cyclists, San Sebastian has many places to rent bikes and the bike-lanes themselves are all relatively flat. I myself am able to get around the city in the blink of an eye and I haven’t ridden a bike for years.

Holiday rentals in San Sebastian

San Sebastian has named the bicycle it’s official mode of transport for the 2016 year where they will be the Capital of European culture. San Sebastian has headed an initiative to return to sustainable modes of transport for a happier, healthier city.


One of the measures taken was to provide citybikes that people can utilize throughout the city once they buy the yearly (€20 for residents), weekly (€25) or 3-day (€15) card, the last two are available to visitors to the city.

To get in on the action of anyone of the numerous races held in Donsoti or to become an adoring spectator of some very healthy and handsome cyclists, make sure to check out our Holiday Rental Apartments in San Sebastian.

For more information see our website: www.emyrent.com.

 

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May 17

Music Tourism in San Sebastian (Part 3 – Street Musicians and Singing groups)

Culture, San Sebastian No Comments »

Self-Catering holiday apartments in San SebastianSome of the best artists have come from the streets of large cities that rarely listened; think Edith Piaf, B.B. King or even Jimi Hendrix. Donosti may not be a big city but we have our fair share of talent on these streets. Usually this talent is displayed at the big festivals and celebrations of the year, but every now and then you catch them in the act, practicing or performing on our very own streets.

Last night on my way back from football I encountered a fully trained choir, about 20 or 30 strong, singing outside a bar in the old town. They had obviously just come from their practice for an upcoming celebration or perhaps mass, and where thrilling walkers-by with songs in Spanish and Basque. From the maudlin to an exultant little number that got all the ‘guirris’ (foreigners) singing ‘Canta, canta! Baila, baila!’, they performed non-stop.

Vacation rental apartments in San SebastianThe best thing about their performance was that there was no set-up to it. These professional level singers were just sitting or standing and having a nightcap when for whatever reason they burst into song. They were not overdoing it and it wasn’t for the grateful audience, they were just expressing themselves the best way they knew how; through song.

In general in San Sebastian there aren’t an abundance of street performers. The blessing and curse is that the music (be it good or bad) doesn’t take over the sound of bustling people and loud conversations. What you will notice however, is that at any moment a parade, dance troop or passing choir could leave you stuck in place, mesmerised and astonished by the sudden gaiety and creativeness of this town.

To enjoy this vivacious and surprising town, why not check out our holiday rental apartments in San Sebastian?

For more information see our website at www.emyrent.com 

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May 16

Pet-Friendly Holiday Rental Apartments in San Sebastian

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Vacation Rentals in San SebastianYesterday I was checking a lovely couple out of our Amezketa holiday rental apartment in San Sebastian and in doing so had to say goodbye to their lovely dog Nellie. I’ve never had a dog so I can’t tell you what breed she is, but that was an excited and happy dog if I’ve ever seen one.

Holiday rental apartments in San Sebastian

Perhaps the reason for her excitement is that San Sebastian is most definitely a pet-friendly city. I have spoken before about the ‘paseo’, the evening walk that families take in nice clothes and with good company. If you are out for the ‘paseo’, you will see some of the fanciest and some of the most lovable pooches there are.

All three beaches allow dogs and our very own apartments are pet-friendly, meaning man’s best friend doesn’t miss out on the vacation of a life time. You can see all types of dogs here in Donosti, from the almost mouse sized puppy Yorkshire terriers to the great dane I saw a month ago.

Although due to the apartment based living style here in Donosti there are more pomeranians than Irish wolfhounds, all breeds fit right in to the relaxed yet active atmosphere we have here.

This city has some fantastic promenades and walkways for you and your dog to enjoy, not to mention the beach, great parks and lovely benches to rest in the sun.

vacation apartments in San SebastianI have travelled quite a bit around Europe and I have noticed areas that don’t have proper animal control or regulation. These places tend to have many homeless dogs and cats that are unwell and untreated.

I have to say I have never noticed a problem here in Donosti and if anything the dogs are remarkably well behaved. You are much more likely to hear a kid crying than a dog barking.

As I said earlier, all of our vacation rentals in San Sebastian are pet-friendly. So see our website www.EmyrEnt.com for more information.

 

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May 15

Photo of the Week 3 (Rental Apartments in San Sebastian)

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Vacation Rentals in San Sebastian

Having always lived a reasonable distance from a beach, when choosing where to go next the seaside was quite a deciding factor. I have known for a while that San Sebastian has one of the best beaches in Europe and so I decided to visit and fell in love with this town.

This lovely picture comes to us from a friend of mine: Loni Schreier
Loni has taken some wonderful pictures of the Basque country and other places that she has visited. You can see her blog at the following address: http://tinylooni.tumblr.com/ 

A wonderful way to enjoy this town is by checking out our lovely rental apartments in San Sebastian. Here at EmyrEnt we have a number of apartments within walking distance from the beach. Our San Martin, Belle Epoque, Meninas and Belle View apartments are less than 100 meters from the world-famous La Concha beach.

Our Ondaretta apartment is within short walking distance from the smaller and more serene Ondarreta beach with access to the beautiful sculptures of ‘El Peine del Viento’ (The Windcombs) by Basque sculptor Eduardo Chillida.

I really don’t think I would do well living away from the sea, all my life I have lived near it and it would definitely feel as if something were lacking. I firmly believe this is the reason so many holiday makers choose seaside destinations. There is nothing more relaxing than laying out on a beach, a book in hand (and perhaps a drink), with those you love or in the relaxing privacy of a spa, knowing that the most stressful thing to think about is not getting burned!

Speaking of spas and relaxation, Donosti has some very lovely sights and it’s very own La Perla spa, directly on La Concha and very close to all our apartments on Calle San Martin.

So what more is there to think about? A seaside vacation to take your mind of the day-to-day. Why not check out our holiday rental apartments in San Sebastian and forget about the paper pushing.

For more information see www.emyrent.com

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May 14

Tourism and Safety in San Sebastian.

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vacation rentals in san sebastian

As I was checking a lovely couple into our San Martin holiday rental apartment in San Sebastian this afternoon I found myself having to remember to mention safety measures to be taken in Donosti. The reason for this is that there are very few things you have to do. San Sebastian is easily the safety town I have ever lived in on my own and I am continuously telling tourists and students just how safe I find it.

Nighttime is usually when people are most nervous and having seen my fair amount of midnight hours I can reassure the general population that at no time in my stay here have I ever been nervous for my safety. There are extremely few dark alleys or suspect characters and there is a very low crime rate in the Basque country in general.

 

As this is a tourist area, the usual precautions should be taken in the high-season during the months of June-August. Do not keep your wallet in your back-pocket, do not leave your valuables on view in a car and do not leave your bag down out of sight. I give this advice to avoid the relatively slim chance that you will be robbed while here.

Criminal activity in the Basque Country is amongst the lowest in Europe, if not the world, and San Sebastian is quite a distinguished area, so more serious crimes like drug warfare are distinctly lacking.

Some people are still worried about the more real political threat in coming to the Basque country and to this I have only two things to say. Firstly, that the threat was never against tourists; it was much more aimed at the government of spain and it’s supporters. Secondly, I want to make clear that these troubles are near invisible here in San Sebastian in this day and age.

I have been here 6 months now and while peaceful and generally uneventful demonstrations rival France’s crown for protesting, there has never been an incident to make me or any of our guests worry.holiday rental apartments in san sebastian

For more information on our holiday rental apartments in San Sebastian see our website: www.emyrent.com.

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May 13

Holiday Apartments and Sundays in San Sebastian

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Vacation rentals in San Sebastian

In many countries, Sunday is seen as a day of rest. Here in San Sebastian (as in much of Spain), Sunday is a day of long walks, longer meals and family friendly activities.

For students, the end of the weekend is the day of recovery and this too is seen much in San Sebastian, a young and vibrant city. For me personally, Sunday is a day to hide under the covers and eat my weight in carbohydrates, but every once in a while I get the energy to wander from my self-inflicted solitary confinement and see the town I have given up country and study for.

Two heavy nights of partying and work at 10.30 in the morning had put me in a no-nonsense mood and I was not properly prepared to ‘disfrutar’ or make-the-most of this lovely sunny Sunday.

Much like San Sebastian always does, this town surprised me with the last day of the Festival of RompeOlas. Boulevard (the main street) was closed off to stage a huge meal with all the people who have worked on the festival coming together to eat, drink and be very very merry. The singing blended nicely into the beginnings of a DJ set in the tourist port.

I convinced a few people to join me for sun, tunes and ‘lejías’ (beer and lemon) and we spent 4 hours checking out the good looking people and the summer fashion that was walking the streets of Donosti. It has been a long time since I felt that content and I know without a shadow of a doubt that it comes from being in the right place, at the right time, with the right people.

Vacation rentals in San Sebastian

The chill atmosphere here in Donosti is very seductive and this is exactly why the blog is approximately two hours late (for which I must apologise), but much like the people I checked out of our holiday rental apartments in San Sebastian today, we all have to return to work at some point. Believe you me, I was almost as reluctant as the group from this morning, to sit down and finish my tasks.


To enjoy some of this chill and yet vibrant atmosphere check out our vacation, self-catering apartments  here in San Sebastian at www.emyrent.com.

And remember to always wear sunscreen!

 

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May 12

Festivals in San Sebastian (Part 1 – Rompeolas)

Culture No Comments »

tourism and accommodation in san sebastianIn the run up to 2016, Donosti has created a new festival to celebrate art, culture and humanitarianism to reenforce why exactly this town was chosen to represent European culture for one whole year.

Rompeolas, which means crashing waves, is a 3-day festival in the heart of the city exhibiting music, photography, performance, eco-consciousness, geopolitical awareness and change as well as some of the vibrancy that makes this town so popular.

 

 

 

 

 

The festival has 8 tenets;

  1. Transformation & Progress (TRANS)
  2. Eco-consciousness (EKO)
  3. Geopoetics (GEO)
  4. Experimentation (LAB)
  5. Cooperation (KOOP)
  6. Popular Culture (POP)
  7. Online (NET)
  8. Do-It-Yourself (DIY)

This interactive and multi-medium festival allows people to really interact with artists and regular people in the name of change and progress. For example, on Boulevard today locals are celebrating the ‘Día Internacional de Comercio Justo’ or International Day of Fair-Trade, with music and a market.

Later tonight I want to attend a music event held in the harbour, when DJ Nauticool will be presenting a night of international music and mixing.

holiday accommodation in San Sebastian

Last night, approximately 80 bands played in bars all around San Sebastian as the first day of the festival got underway with a bang. Good music is not hard to come by here in Donosti and although it was physically impossible to visit all of the gigs, I am sure that they lived up to San Sebastian’s stellar musical reputation.

Tomorrow is the day of dance and the barrio (neighborhood) of Antiguo will be filled with dance events and music. At 12.oo midday on calle Matía the intention is that everyone in the street will stop and dance. After this is a Basque Dance display at 13.15 in Plaza Gazkuña.

It’s not surprising that Donosti has so much to offer in terms of culture. As a major hub of Basque culture, Donosti is regularly filled with music, art and expositions from around the Basque country, Spain and indeed the world.

To visit this cultural hub, why not check out our holiday rental apartments in San Sebastian, our Ondaretta Apartment is very close to the center of the Day of Dance in Antiguo. For more information see www.emyrent.com.

Self-catering vacation rentals in San Sebastian

(We are the European Capital of Culture for 2016!)

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May 11

Music Tourism in San Sebastian (Part 2 – Jazz & Rock bars)

Culture No Comments »

Rental apartments in San SebastianDonosti is one of the smaller cities in the Basque Country, but regardless of its size it has a wealth of culture and beauty that belie its size. I have spoken in the past about the festivals held here, from the drum festival of La Tamborrada in January, to the Heineken sponsored, international Jazz Festival in July; the hills are alive with the sound of music.

Because of its status as an international Jazz town and because it has its very own conservatory of music, San Sebastian has some really great Jazz bars. On boulevard you have the underground haven that is Altxerri (pron. Al-cherry).

Ranked 41st of 87 on the LonelyPlanet list of things to do in San Sebastian, Altxerri has regular gigs by up-and-coming local talent as well as some very successful open-mic nights and a lovely collection of art and photography.

The other side of the old town you also have the 61st ranked Etxekalte on Calle Mari. This late-night Jazz haunt sometimes offers all styles of dance music for it’s night-owls, but is better known for it’s collection of Jazz classic and is definitely and cool place to hang-out.

This is not to say that San Sebastian is stagnant in its music-scene; on the contrary, this town has a very lively club scene with many places playing everything from Top 40 to Rock, DJ lead techno or electro to old-school hip-hop. You just need to discover and stay off the beaten-track.

Vacation rentals in San Sebastian

A popular rock & roll hangout can be found on the other side of the river (well worth the walk). Bukowski offers gigs of many varied styles as well as hip-hop nights and is a very cool bar indeed.  To find it you must cross the 3rd bridge down, go through the tunnel and follow the road up the hill, it is on your right hand side.

To enjoy the nightlife and music scene here in Donosti why not rent one of our holiday rental apartments in San Sebastian. For more information see: www.emyrent.com

 

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May 10

Beachside Vacations in San Sebastian.

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Accommodation in San Sebastian

With the past few days being in the high 20s and 30s, most people have found themselves steadily drifting towards the beach to relax, sunbathe and cool-off in the sea. I myself have been enjoying this new side to Donosti as I arrived in autumn and had yet to lounge on the beach in the heat.

I realized when walking along the beach, how different a sunny climate culture is to my own (in Ireland 22 degrees is called a heatwave). People are happy and healthy, playing volleyball, swimming, enjoying good food and most of all relaxing during their siesta in the sun.

The three beaches too have different personalities, with La Concha (the main beach) filled with families and teenagers all playing ball, sunbathing or making sand castles. Many locals spend an hour or two of their siesta here topping up their tans for the summer. Ondaretta (to the west of La Concha) is a bit more quite and has areas set-up for volleyball.

Accommodation in San Sebastian

Finally, Zurriola (the surfer beach) is filled with students and surfers chilling by the waves and creating the young-vibe this area is famous for.

Around Zurriola, both on the beach street and in the neighbourhood of Gros,  you have many great bars and cafes as well as a lovely promenade from which to observe the surfers. The Zurriola beachfront runs along the back of the Kursall towards the river, making it a lovely walk at anytime during the day.

Holiday Rental Accommodation in San Sebastian

Our San Martin, Meninas, Belle Epoque and Belle View apartments are less then 100 meters from the La Concha promenade, extremely close to the sea and sand.

Our Ondaretta apartment is a very short walk from the lovely Ondaretta beach.

For a seaside vacation you won’t soon forget why not look into holiday rental apartments in San Sebastian. Make sure to check out our website at www.emyrent.com.

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May 10

Music Tourism in San Sebastian (Part 1 – Open-Mic nights)

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Tourism in San Sebastian

It’s no wonder the musical flock to the cultural hub of San Sebastian, here in the Basque Country. This town plays host to one of the most famous Music Festivals in the North of Spain, the Heinekin Jazzaldia in July.

Donosti offers some of the best entertainment and nights out around, with concerts, gigs, festival, open-mic nights, DJs and much more on offer in numerous places around town.

Today I want to focus on the up-and-coming tradition of the open-mic night here in Donosti. As a singer myself I really settled in once I found the two main open-mic nights on a Monday and Tuesday.

Bar Ondarra offers an eclectic and ever-changing night every Monday in Gros;downstairs in this unassuming bar facing the Kursaal you can find some of the best live music in town, with guitarists, singers, drummers, saxophonists, harmonica players, bass players, pianists and more turning up to prove they have what it takes to rock out.

Vacation apartments in San Sebastian

The songs are sung in English, Spanish and sometimes Basque, with styles ranging from old-school rock & roll to Jazz classics, basanova and freestyling.

On a Tuesday, VIPs in La Concha on calle de la Marina, only 50 meters from the beach, offers its own open-mic night to rival Ondarra’s. This bar was created to replicate the rock style of Great Britain and continues this intention with great live music including live gigs every Thursday.

Another notable bar is Altxerri that offers numerous open-mic nights with more Jazz instrumentalists putting on a show, but I will come back to Altxerri in another post.

The best thing about these nights is their open atmosphere. The idea is that anyone can play anything and someone should be able to accompany them. The people who play are generally very talented but still open to anyone who has enthusiasm for music and is willing to try their hand at a song on-stage.

Our San Martin, Belle Epoque, Meninas and Belle View apartments are less than 50 meters from VIPs themselves and so experiencing this side of San Sebastian couldn’t be easier.

For more information see our website: www.emyrent.com

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