OUR POLICE ESCORT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are in San Sebastian, Spain tonight and it has been a very amazing day. We woke early and punched our way to Bordeaux for lunch and then pressed on to the Spanish border. When we got to San Sebastian, Spain I realized I only had the address of our hostel on my pin drive. I followed signs to the city center, or as close as I could go, and finally pulled over to read maps and try to get an address.

 

I saw a motorcycle cop and waived at him. He came right over and I explained we were Americans looking for a hostel called Aussie II. The police officer’s name is Jon Villa and he is native Basque. He radioed in for a fix on the hostel. Then he started to show us on a map where it was. About this time he realized that the way to the hostel was complicated. So he said the Spanish equivalent of “saddle up and follow me boys.”



Officer Villa scoping the map and radioing for the address

 

 I wish I knew the name of his commander and the chamber of commerce president. I would write both a glowing thank you. He gave us a police escort up to the hostel, which we would not have found even with gps. Then he explained the bus system and made sure we got in safe. 

Don Ricardo with our official escort

The only problem was that the conversation was all in Spanish. So I was blathering away with Jon while Rick was standing around wondering what we were discussing.

 
The hostel is great. Easily the best hostel room we have ever had. And the prices in Spain compared to France are very reasonable. We are going to stick around here a couple of days, then ride the Pyrenees. My first impressions are that this is a great tourist town, pretty inexpensive, great atmosphere, and the people are very friendly. So if you have three days to really enjoy the place I think it would be well spent.