BASQUE COUNTRY - France 2014 - page 793

fast served 7:00-10:00, facing the side of the big white market building at San Juan 3, tel.
943-428-353).
Santa Lucía, a 1950s-style diner, is ideal for a cheap Old Town breakfast or churros
break ( churros are like deep-fried doughnut sticks that can be dipped in pudding-like hot
chocolate). Photos oftwo dozen different breakfasts decorate the walls, and plates offresh
churros keep patrons happy. Grease is liberally applied to the grill...from a squeeze bottle
(daily 8:30-21:30, Calle Puerto 6, tel. [phone]).
San Sebastián Connections
By Train
SanSebastiánhastwotrainstations:AmaraEuskoTrenandRENFE(describedunder“Ar-
rival in San Sebastián” on here ) . The station you use depends on your destination.
Amara EuskoTren Station: Ifyou'regoingintoFrance,taketheregionalTopotrain
(which leaves from the Amara EuskoTren Station) over the French border into Hendaye
(usually4/hourMon-Fri,2/hourSat-Sun,35minutes).FromHendaye,connecttoFrance's
SNCF network ( www.sncf.com ), where connections include Paris (6/day direct, 5.5-6
hours; 12-hour night train, weekends only off-season, reservations required). Unfortu-
nately, San Sebastián's EuskoTren Station doesn't have information on Paris-bound trains
from Hendaye. EuskoTren tickets to Hendaye must be used within two hours of purchase
(or else they expire).
AlsoleavingfromSanSebastián'sAmaraEuskoTrenStationareslowregionaltrains
to destinations in Spain's Basque region, including Bilbao (hourly, 2.5 hours—the bus is
faster, EuskoTren info: tel. [phone], www.euskotren.es ) . Although the train ride from
San Sebastián to Bilbao takes twice as long as the bus, it passes through more interesting
countryside. The Basque Country shows off its trademark green and gray: lush green ve-
getation and gray clouds. It's an odd mix of heavy industrial factories, small homegrown
veggie gardens, streams, and every kind of livestock you can imagine.
RENFE Station: This station handles long-distance destinations within Spain (most
of which require reservations). Connections include Irún (8/day, 25 minutes), Hendaye,
France (4/day, 30 minutes; better connections on EuskoTren, described above), Madrid
(4/day, 5.25-7.25 hours), Burgos (6/day, 3 hours), León (2/day, 5 hours), Pamplona (2/
day, 1.75 hours), Salamanca (5/day, 6 hours), Barcelona (2/day, 6 hours), and Santiago
de Compostela (1/day direct, 10.5 hours).