Alex & Ale in San Sebastian

"I wanted you to know me utterly...no one else."
-as heard in the film
"Daniel Deronda"

San Sebastian is a lovely beach resort city. It is known officially as 'Donostia-San Sebastian' in the north of the Basque Country.

I was lucky to know two current residents of San Sebastian (Alex Klein & Alejandra Paz). I've known them in a 'cyber' sort of way through one of my photographic sharing/learning websites. They are both fantastic photographers. Alejandra Paz is originally from Rosario, Argentina.

PHOTO: Ale (Alejandra) Paz

Alex is from Dublin, Ireland. Alejandra met Alex in Argentina and they left for Spain as young adventurers in love. Alex's father is from the Ranedo Family in the Rioja region of Spain and his mother is from Germany. His parents met in Ireland and decided to stay there. I like how Alex is so bold about uprooting himself and exploring. Alex and Ale (Alejandra) will soon move to Barcelona in September 2009. After that...time will tell.

PHOTO: Alex Klein

Alan and I met Alex and Ale (Alejandra) the first night we arrived in San Sebastian. We walked into the Old Town and enjoyed wine and dinner together. It was fun to laugh and get a feel for the area from their 'local' eyes. I took a few portrait photos of each of them.

Donostia-San Sebastian is renowned for its Basque cuisine. San Sebastian and its surrounding area is home to a high concentration of restaurants boasting Michelin stars, namely Arzak (San Sebastian), Berasategi (Lasarte), Akelarre (district Igeldo). In addition to these restaurants, the city features tasty snacks similar to tapas called pintxos, which may be found at the bars of the Old Town.

The Old Town is the traditional core area of the city, surrounded by walls built from 1863, when they were demolished so as to occupy the stretch of sand and land that connected the town to the mainland. The Old Town is divided in two parishes relating to the Santa Maria and San Vicente churches.

I would love to re-visit the area during the International Film Festival which is held every September. In 2008, the film GENOVA, directed by Michael Winterbottom won BEST FILM/DIRECTOR while the two 'Donostia Lifetime Achievement Awards' went to Meryl Streep and Antonio Banderas.
http://www.sansebastianfestival.com/in/index.php

Twenty-five years ago today:

Friday
June 29, 1984

I slept soundly last night. I had such a good time at Baxter’s. It was funny because Johnny (a guy visiting from Washington DC on business from Zintel Corporation) was looking for cocaine and junk. Then he treated me to a “kamikaze” cocktail. He kept winking at me and stuff. This was a straight club. Didn’t he notice that? It kind of ‘got to me’ though. He was being a little to ‘touchy feely’ too.
“Yeah, I used to work on the side as a male stripper,” Johnny said in a showing off kind of way.
“Really, did you like that?” I asked.
“I made the money, shoot,” he blurted.
I should consider that for some extra cash (maybe?). Ha-ha. I’d strip for females only, of course (?).
No way. It’s not for me any which way.
“I’ll save it for Katie,” I thought to myself (if the day should ever come).
Katie is definitely marriage material. What a beautiful Alamo, California dame.

There are only four more business days left at the Downtown Oakland Residential Account Service Center. Hoorah!

I ate lunch alone in the cafeteria. I bought ‘take out’ from the Pot Belli Deli.

I telephoned Frank Vasconcellos. Frank and I will definitely be attending the same Traffic School class from 10AM to 5PM tomorrow. He’s cool. It should be fun.

After work I drove Steve Gaster home and I told him about Katie (the girl I met at Baxter’s). I hopped onto my bicycle and had a good ride for about an hour. It was kind of freaky. A dog ran into my bike! The dog barked a little and seemed a tad shaken up. It was okay.

I went home to nap and decided to go out again tonight. I showered and the gas station attendant (a Latin fellow) was very nice to me. He is the one who fixed Chris Cordellos’ flat tire (his car).
PHOTO: Prime-time TV soap opera,
"Falcon Crest"

I drove into The City and decided to check out HENRY’s, a place advertised on KITS radio. I did not like the appearance of the place, so I just drove back over the Bay Bridge and went home. I hate those ‘dud’ kinds of nights that are mostly spent driving. I enjoyed coffee ice-cream, showered, watched a bit of FALCON CREST and crashed for the night.

Before dreamland Chris was on my mind most of the time. Then it was Danny. Now I have Katie on my mind and I am hoping she will call me on Sunday. It’s not that I am tired of Chris but his fickle attitude at his new, ripe age of twenty-one is nerve racking. He has that ‘go out and experience’ attitude that gets to me. It is to the point of “get over it guy” or later days! We will still remain buddies though. I know.