Day 11: Bilbao to Lourdes

There are more pictures from the Picos de Europa and an interesting story about Bilbao, which will be separate posts.

The exodus from Spain back into France was largely welcome on my part. There had been some great riding, but I was beginning to miss French bread. The route out of Spain included a lunch stop in San Sebastian, which is more beautiful than anything you've heard about it. Here are pictures; the first is of Black and Yellow and its missing light.

[caption id="attachment_334" align="alignnone" width="150" caption="Thick in the Back"][/caption]

This is one of several narrow streets in San Sebastian. Incidentally, GPoS tried to make me go down this street; notice the "do not enter" sign on the right. Stupid GPoS.
[caption id="attachment_324" align="alignnone" width="150" caption="Old San Sebastian"][/caption]

Some church:
[caption id="attachment_312" align="alignnone" width="150" caption="Church"][/caption]

Same church above as seen across the plaza to the Museo San Telmo. Interesting juxtaposition between old and new. That's right, I said juxtaposition.
[caption id="attachment_322" align="alignnone" width="150" caption="New and Old"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_326" align="alignnone" width="150" caption="Lunch!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_332" align="alignnone" width="150" caption="San Sebastian Coast"][/caption]

This is the only place in the world where rocks naturally occur in perfect rectangles. Some say it has to do with the legend of San Sebastian and how he rid the city of circumferences, diameters, and radii using only his Fender Stratocaster and his wicked ability to rock.
[caption id="attachment_328" align="alignnone" width="150" caption="Rocks"][/caption]

This is San Sebastian's fortress of solitude.
[caption id="attachment_316" align="alignnone" width="150" caption="Fort"][/caption]

Finally, the day's map: