Preparing for La Tamborrada

I went for a run on the beach this morning and then went grocery shopping. Then Jill and I went to a shop on the beach where we reserved second hand bikes to use for the semester. We bought our bikes today and bought Maria’s as well! We are very excited to be able to ride around. San Sebastián has great bikes paths throughout the city and all along the beach. It will help cut our walking time and we still get to see the beach every ride! We get to sell our bikes back at the end of the semester! I started my Conversation Class today. I loved the teacher! He was very enthusiastic and encouraging! He seems really motivated to help us learn to talk with each other and the locals! Then I had my regular Spanish class. We talked all about La Tamborrada which is the festival that begins at midnight tonight. Everything shuts down and we don’t have school because it is a very important day for the city! Everyone tries to gather at a nearby plaza in Parte Vieja to watch the Mayor of San Sebastián conduct many people in drumming the song of San Sebastián. This festival is celebrating the day of San Sebastián and is very popular! There are two bands that play. One band is dressed up as chefs and the other as French soldiers. They will play songs consistently until 12pm (midday) on Tuesday. Which is when the children come out all dressed up and start playing until 12am that night. It is the biggest children’s parade in the world. It usually has around 8000 children participating from all ages. They march around all different parts of the city. Everyone tells us that we won’t be able to sleep until midnight Tuesday night….but you know me. I am pretty good at sleeping through anything. We have a group getting together to go towards the plaza at 11:30pm tonight and hang out for a few hours. Then we’ll get up in the morning and try to watch the Children’s Parade. It should be lots of fun and definitely a cultural experience! I am excited and will update you about La Tamborrada soon!!

Agur (Goodbye in Basque).