Pasaia to Orio

We were woken 06.30 by loud music and lights, and were out by 07.00 to take the small boat across the bay. (We first met a young French couple on the boat, who we met occasionally throughout the weeks.) On the other side, we walked through the port rather than the way around the wooded headland, and had coffee and tortilla in a local workers' cafe. From there we walked through the outskirts to the main town of Donastia / San Sebastian (all places had joint Basque and Spanish names) and then down to the beach for a barefoot stroll along the sand. The tourist office helped us sort out the hostel for the night, because emails and phone hadn't worked, and so we hadn't received confirmation of our reservation. Then followed coffee at a beach cafe, and a long walk up a hill, pausing at a Mary of Lourdes grotto. Then we followed the coast inland through rolling countryside and followed signs to a friendly shop with everything you needed for a picnic, including a picnic table! From there we followed the coast through a variety of scrub land and chestnut forests, and some concrete road, ending in a steep descent on what looked like an old Roman road to cross a modern motorway to the Albergue of San Martin. There, the friendly young girl apologized for the confusion, but her aunt was in hospital so she had to do everything herself. There was a large kitchen and eating area where we made a meal and spoke to a few other pilgrims, although one group took over the tables and utensils, which was a bit annoying!