The Extebarri Experience

"Don't try to understand it. Just feel it."
"Ne pas essayer de comprendre. Juste le sentiment."
"No trate de entenderlo. Sólo siente."
-as heard in the 2000 film
'WOMAN ON TOP'
Extebarri is the name of an unforgettable restaurant in the middle of Basque Country (Spain). It is not easy to find. Extebarri is located in the Basque province of Vizcaya, a 45-minute drive southeast of Bilbao, or more than an hour southwest of San Sebastián.

It took Alan and I two hours to find Extebarri from San Sebastian because our concierge foolishly printed the wrong address. Still, the tiny village of Axpe can be easily missed. Never give up. I was ready to go back to San Sebastian and have a late lunch at McDonald's but we finally found it when we were determined to find Axpe (it's just about the only establishment in the village).



It is best to aim for lunch. You will see the gorgeous Basque landscape and won't have to drive in the dark. There aren't many street lights in these parts. Lunch is served daily (except on Monday).


The food is delicious. The cod fish salad and the Galicia steak filet memories make me want to return to this 'middle of nowhere' place. I honestly believe I have never had a better steak filet in my life. The sprinkled sea salt and those peppers were not spicy hot, just miraculously ultra-fresh vegetarian.

I took a photograph of each course (as you can see). The only thing I would not order again are the croquettes (they were much too filling).

Needless to say, there was a very light dinner that night in San Sebastian.
We were 'well fed'.




Twenty-five years ago today:

Sunday
June 24, 1984

I woke up early once again. Chris did not appreciate that fact. He wanted to sleep in. He remained in bed while I organized and got things together around the house.
We had a ‘morning delight’ and headed for Tillie’s on Webster Street for breakfast. It was good. We were both hungry. Chris bought his mom a mirrored brass frame at the Alameda Flea Market. She ended up loving it.

We went for a Moosehead beer at my house and everything was reasonably fine between us until I saw an empty matchbook in his car from the ‘Islander Motel”. This evidence was an indicator as to how much he smokes when he is up in Humboldt. We went to Concord and then Chris drove my car to Sonoma. I did not feel like driving.

While in Sonoma Chris ran into some of his old friends (Charlu, Robin, etc). We went to a pool party and then ate at Mary’s Pizza Shack in ‘Boyes Hot Springs’. We had a good time. We couldn't help cracking jokes about the name of this town (BOYES HOT SPRINGS).

“You are the A-1 looker at the poolside,” Chris said. His comment made me feel good. I was flattered after all of his talk about his friend, Charlu, and what they had done together.
“He’s like a bro to me because we’ve known each other since we were three years old,” Chris repeated.

By 7PM we were on our way back to Concord. Once again, Chris went through his doldrums mood about not wanting to go back. We dipped into the swimming pool in Concord. His mom gave us some “tool kits” gifts. She’s so sweet and caring.

Chris and I shared vague goodbyes.
“Well, at least I have some clothing of yours that will remind me of you,” Chris said. Suddenly the stupid arguments we’d had over the weekend were erased and seemed so blah-zay. I still cannot forget the not-so-nice things he had said. I don’t intend on calling or writing him for a while. I will wait and see how long it will take for him to initiate contact with me.

I went to see mom once I returned to Alameda. We watched “Young & the Restless” again. I headed home at around 10:30PM and settled in to bed, starting to feel ready for another Monday, a Blue Monday.