{"id":1417,"date":"2017-06-18T14:26:42","date_gmt":"2017-06-18T21:26:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jjkpryde.com\/blog\/?p=1417"},"modified":"2017-06-18T14:32:26","modified_gmt":"2017-06-18T21:32:26","slug":"day-47-san-sebastian-2-of-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jjkpryde.com\/blog\/day-47-san-sebastian-2-of-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Day 47 – San Sebasti\u00e1n (2 of 3)"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Don Quixote and Sancho Panza<\/p><\/div>
\nFirst, I need to retract yesterday’s inaccurate characterization of San Sebasti\u00e1n.  It is not like Miami and it is not built particularly for tourism. <\/p>\n

San Sebasti\u00e1n was a thriving international commercial seaport long before Ponce de Leon even arrived in Florida.  It has a wide range of traditions, arts and culture which are celebrated in noisy raucous festivals throughout the year.  For instance in late January locals celebrate “Tamborrada” by having hundreds of drummers march through the streets in costumes until late at night.<\/p>\n

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San Sebasti\u00e1n is wrapped around a long sandy bay which is dominated on each end by 180 meter high promontories. <\/p>\n

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Saint Sebasti\u00e1n on Mount Urgull<\/p><\/div>The fortress on Mount Urgull, on one side of the bay, dates back to the 12th century.  Today a huge statue of Saint Sebasti\u00e1n presides over the city.  I followed a steep path up to the base of this statue where there is a small chapel and interpretive center.<\/p>\n

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Igueldo Tower<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n

On the other side of the bay, on an equally imposing hill overlooking the town is Igueldo Tower, built as a lighthouse in 1778.  The access to this was by a rather rickety funicular.  <\/p>\n

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