Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Getting Around
The airport bus (Bizkaibus A3247; €1.20, 30 minutes) departs from a stand on the
extreme right as you leave arrivals. It runs through the northwestern section of the
city, passing the Museo Guggenheim, stopping at Plaza de Federico Moyúa and
terminating at the Termibus (bus station). It runs from the airport every 20 minutes
from 6.20am to midnight. There is also a direct hourly bus from the airport to San
Sebastián (€15.30, 1¼ hours). It runs from 7.45am to 11.45pm.
Taxis from the airport to the Casco Viejo cost about €25.
The Oldest Language
'The Basque language is a country,' said Victor Hugo and the language certainly encap-
sulates all things Basque. Known as Euskara, the Basque language is thought to be one
of Europe's oldest and most quixotic, with no known relationship to the Indo-European
family of languages.
Suppressed by Franco, Basque was subsequently recognised as one of Spain's official
languages. Although Franco's repression meant that many older Basques are unable to
speak their native tongue, it has now become the language of choice, and of identity,
among a growing number of young Basques, fuelling a dynamic cultural renaissance and
a nonviolent political awareness. There are now Basque-language radio and TV stations,
and newspapers.
In many towns throughout the Basque region street names and signposts are changing
from Castilian to Basque. Often this might be nothing more than Calle (street) becoming
Kalea, with the actual name remaining unchanged, but not always. The problem is that
not everyone uses these new names and many maps remain in Castilian. To make mat-
ters worse, it's often not the local council making these changes but people with aerosol
cans.
San Sebastián
POP 183,300
It's impossible to lay eyes on San Sebastián (Donostia) and not fall madly in love.
This stunning city is everything grimy Bilbao is not: cool, svelte and flirtatious by
night, charming and well mannered by day. Best of all is the summer fun on the
beach. For its setting, form and attitude, Playa de la Concha is the equal of any city
Search WWH ::
Custom Search