De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde swept San Sebastian College-Recoletos on Saturday in the NCAA Season 100 women's volleyball tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan The win extended the Lady Blazers' streak to three after they lost their final game in the first round of eliminations After a big win in the second set for the Lady Blazers Benilde and San Sebastian were tied at 21 in the third set before a crucial service error by KJ Dionisio gave the lead to the Taft-based squad Aya Densing's attack gave Benilde a two-point lead before Mycah Go put the Lady Blazers at match point A Benilde error gave a slim chance to San Sebastian Zam Nolasco had 16 points built on 11 attacks and five blocks as she was the only double-digit scorer for Benilde which improved to 10-2.  Kath Santos and Tina Marasigan had 16 and 11 points {{gallery.imageDetails.images.0.description}} De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde made quick work of San Sebastian College-Recoletos on Saturday in the NCAA Season 100 men's volleyball tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan Benilde had an early 12-6 lead in the third set and with momentum on their side the Blazers cruised to a 23-16 lead before Kyle Villamor and a Benilde attack error put San Sebastian within five Motol put Benilde at match point but a net fault on the Blazers' end delayed the win James Marasigan put the exclamation point for the green-and-white squad Rocky Roy Motol and Jacob Agassi Herrera led the Blazers in offense with 16 and 15 points respectively with Motol having 22 excellent receptions and six excellent digs as the Taft-based squad improved to 10-2 The win spoiled Kyle Villamor's 21-point outing as the Golden Stags' three-game win streak was cut and they slipped to 4-9 while Benilde will face Arellano University on Tuesday Signed by associations representing several areas around San Sebastián’s historic centre as well as a platform of residents pushing for “tourism degrowth,” the letter said: “Hosting the Fifa World Cup will only worsen living conditions in our city,” adding that it would “further exacerbate the touristification” of the city “Residents are being pushed out of the city public spaces are being reshaped according to commercial interests infrastructure is being designed to meet the needs of the tourism industry and the local language and culture are being fetishised for marketing purposes.” The arrival of the world’s largest football tournament would probably exacerbate the situation while benefiting only a “privileged few,” the letter to Fifa said “The effects of this mega-event on most of the population are dramatic: the worsening of the housing crisis the development of unsustainable transport infrastructure and the implementation of security-driven measures that will constrain daily life.” The associations said their call to Fifa was part of a wider push “Tourism in our city has already had a major impact on daily life “We therefore believe it is urgent to follow the path of tourism degrowth and hosting events like the Fifa World Cup moves us in precisely the opposite direction.” Free newsletterA digest of the morning's main headlines from the Europe edition emailed direct to you every week day Fifa did not reply to a request for comment but the city’s mayor was swift to distance himself from the letter “I honestly don’t share that point of view,” said Eneko Goia arguing that residents should be proud of San Sebastián’s longstanding success when it comes to organising sporting events the city would have zero international profile.” This article features Stats Insider's top betting tips for the Real Sociedad vs Celta Vigo game along with the latest betting odds in Australia Using trusted machine learning and data, Stats Insider has simulated the result of Real Sociedad vs Celta Vigo 10,000 times Our leading predictive analytics model currently gives Real Sociedad a 41.5% chance of winning The current Bet365 betting odds in Australia for this La Liga clash at Reale Arena are shown below: Odds are correct at the time of publication and subject to change Bet365 currently has Real Sociedad at $2.30 and Celta Vigo at $3.10 Lastly, Bet365 currently has odds of $3.30 for a draw if you believe both sides will be level after 90 minutes The over/under for total goals scored is set at 2.5 with Bet365 which has odds of $2.00 for the over and $1.80 for the under Today's Real Sociedad vs Celta Vigo betting tips are based on detailed simulations and betting intelligence to bring you the best possible advice around the clock Betting on Celta Vigo to win is the best option because of the edge found when comparing our data-led probabilities to the betting odds Taking advantage of the edges published here at Stats Insider is one of the keys to being profitable in the long run Stats Insider provides full coverage of the Real Sociedad vs Celta Vigo match on Wednesday including data-driven predictions and live win probabilitiestips so keep checking this article for the latest betting tips before the Real Sociedad vs Celta Vigo game As always, see our Best Bets to get the best tips on every La Liga match as well as predictions for a wide range of other sports The La Liga match-up between Real Sociedad and Celta Vigo at Reale Arena is scheduled to commence at 4:00am AEST on Wednesday All dates and times mentioned in this article are in Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) Our Real Sociedad vs Celta Vigo predictions are based on 10,000 data-driven simulations of the game, all curated by our team of experienced data scientists and analysts. We use the latest in predictive analytics technology and machine learning to ensure our La Liga tips are accurate and reliable giving you the confidence to make informed decisions If you decide to use our La Liga predictions for betting purposes, it's crucial that you gamble responsibly and know when to stop. For free and confidential support, call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au Stats Insider is your home for betting on the La Liga in Australia, with the latest La Liga betting news, predictions for every La Liga game, and futures probabilities for the La Liga. © 2015-2025 Hypometer Technologies Pty Ltd (ABN 78 609 507 744). Proudly part of Cipher Sports Technology Group, Level 7, 51 Langridge Street, Collingwood, VIC 3066. Real Sociedad and Athletic Bilbao battled to a goalless Basque derby draw. Athletic boosted their Champions League hopes, while Real Sociedad's European ambitions suffered a setback. Unai Simón was the Man of the Match. The Basque derby between Real Sociedad and Athletic Club ended in a tense, goalless draw, a result that significantly impacts both teams' La Liga aspirations. While Athletic Club edged closer to Champions League qualification, Real Sociedad saw their European hopes take a hit. Ernesto Valverde, Athletic Club's manager, made seven changes to his starting lineup, clearly prioritizing the upcoming Europa League second leg against Manchester United. The absence of influential forward Nico Williams was keenly felt, as Athletic struggled to create significant scoring opportunities. Their cautious approach, understandable given the circumstances, resulted in a lack of attacking impetus throughout the match. Real Sociedad, playing at their home stadium, Reale Arena, dominated possession for large stretches of the game. Brais Méndez came closest to breaking the deadlock with a header that forced a superb save from Athletic's goalkeeper, Unai Simón. Despite several promising chances, including efforts from Mikel Oyarzabal and Sergio Gómez, Sociedad couldn't find the back of the net, extending their winless run to four games. The 0-0 draw leaves Athletic Club comfortably in fourth place, four points clear of Real Betis in the race for Champions League football. However, their Europa League hopes hang precariously following their first-leg loss to Manchester United. For Real Sociedad, the result is a setback, leaving them outside of European qualification places with only a few games remaining in the season. Unai Simón was deservedly named the Man of the Match for his crucial saves. Both teams face crucial games in the coming weeks. Athletic must overturn their deficit against Manchester United, while Real Sociedad needs a strong finish to the season to salvage their European ambitions. This goalless derby, while low on goals, was high on tension and significance, showcasing the intensity of this historic rivalry. The match between Real Sociedad and Athletic Bilbao ended in a goalless draw, 0-0. Despite the lack of goals, the game was intense and significant for both teams' European aspirations. The draw significantly boosted Athletic Bilbao's chances of qualifying for the Champions League. The point gained keeps them in contention for a top-four finish in La Liga. The goalless draw was a setback for Real Sociedad's pursuit of European football next season. They dropped points in the race for a top-six finish, making qualification more challenging. Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Unai Simón was named Man of the Match for his outstanding performance, which included several crucial saves that kept Real Sociedad off the scoresheet. The Basque Derby is a highly anticipated match between Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad, two prominent clubs from the Basque Country in Spain. The fierce rivalry between the teams adds intensity to this La Liga clash. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners All rights reserved @ 2025 Nishtya Infotech (India) Ltd. A much-changed Athletic Club edged closer to securing Champions League football for next season with a goalless draw against Real Sociedad in the Basque derby. Manager Ernesto Valverde made seven changes from the side that lost 3-0 to Manchester United in Thursday's Europa League semi-final first leg. With one eye on Thursday's return at Old Trafford, influential forward Nico Williams wasn't named in the matchday squad and his absence was felt as the Bilbao side failed to create anything of note. In a game of few chances all round, it was Sociedad who went closest midway through the second half, with Brais Mendez's header forcing a smart save from Unai Simon. The draw left Athletic Club fourth on 61 points in La Liga, four clear of Real Betis in sixth place with four games left. Sociedad moved one position and a point above Valencia in 11th spot. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made substituted for Barrenetxea at 62 minutesNumber 28 substituted for Mikel Jauregizar at 62 minutesNumber 24 substituted for Mikel Vesga at 74 minutesNumber 7 substituted for Adama Boiro at 82 minutesNumber 9 substituted for Álvaro Djaló at 62 minutesNumber 12 substituted for Maroan Sannadi at 62 minutesSubstitutesNumber 13 Yeray Match OfficialsReferee: César Soto GradoVideo Assistant Referee: Valentín Pizarro GómezAssistant Referee 1: Carlos Álvarez FernándezAssistant Referee 2: Rubén Becerril GómezFourth Official: Sergio Escriche GuzmánAssistant VAR Official: Gonzalo García GonzálezMatch StatsKey Mikel Vesga (Athletic Club) wins a free kick in the attacking half Fourth official has announced 3 minutes of added time Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad) header from the centre of the box misses to the left Ander Barrenetxea (Real Sociedad) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked Delay in match because of an injury Álvaro Djaló (Athletic Club) Luka Sucic (Real Sociedad) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal Unai Gómez (Athletic Club) wins a free kick in the defensive half Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked Andoni Gorosabel (Athletic Club) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul View this post on Instagram A post shared by Soccer Laduma (@soccer_laduma) Local International Off The Pitch Podcasts & Videos La-Liga Real Madrid kept their LALIGA title hopes alive after defeating Celta Vigo 3-2 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday afternoon Jude Bellingham and Lucas Vazquez returned for Los Blancos after serving suspensions in the league while Kylian Mbappe joined Vinicius Junior in the attack Carlo Ancelotti's charges had to wait until the 33rd minute for the opening goal through Arda Guler who found the back of the net with a curling strike The lead was doubled six minutes later as Mbappe surged towards to the box and rifled the ball into the top corner for his 23rd league goal Los Blancos were able to add a third goal shortly after the break as Guler turned provider to pick out Mbappe with a superb pass before the Frenchman fired into the far corner to complete his brace Javi Rodríguez did pull a goal back for Celta with 20 minutes left on the clock before Williot Swedberg made it a nervy finish after bagging the visitors' second goal 76th minute The win sees Real move back to within four points of FC Barcelona with four games left in the second FC Barcelona rallied from behind to secure a 2-1 win over Real Valladolid on Saturday night The home side broke the deadlock after six minutes courtesy of a strike from Ivan Sanchez Hansi Flick's charges got back on level terms thanks to Raphinha latched onto a loose ball rifled home from close range Barcelona completed the turnaround six minutes later when Fermin Lopez latched onto a pass from Gerard Martin and calmly slotted into the far corner This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Check out the match stats here 22:42 CET - It finished all square in Bologna too as the hosts came from behind to draw 1-1 against Juventus in a result which doesn't do any favours to either side's ambitions of European football 22:39 CET - A more entertaining second half saw Marseille and Lille score a goal each in a 1-1 draw Check out the match stats here 21:47 CET - Finally, it is goalless in Spain between Real Sociedad and Athletic Club with the visitors perhaps having one eye on a huge night on Thursday for the club First half statsStatsPerformFollow the second half here 21:43 CET - Whilst in Italy, Juventus hold a 1-0 lead in Bologna after a dominant first half display Check out the match stats here 21:40 CET - Elsewhere this evening, it is goalless at the break between Lille and Marseille after a cagey first half First half statsStatsPerform21:32 CET - How valuable a point might that prove to be for Mainz? The surprise package of this season's Bundesliga came from a goal down to draw 1-1 against Frankfurt and stay in the mix for European football 20:40 CET - Meanwhile, the final game of the weekend in LaLiga sees Real Sociedad host Athletic Club from 21:00 CET Starting lineupsFlashscoreFollow the action here 20:22 CET - Who else but Antony to come to Real Betis' rescue? The talk of the town in LaLiga strikes again to score a 91st-minute winner for Real Betis away to Espanyol It is a result which keeps them on the tail of fifth-placed Villarreal and therefore Champions League qualification LaLiga standingsFlashscore20:15 CET - Last up in Serie A tonight, 6th placed Juventus travel to 7th placed Bologna in another vitally important game in the race for Europe in Italy Starting lineupsFlashscore20:00 CET - Roma have held on to an impressive Serie A win at home to Fiorentina to continue their remarkable run of form and move into 4th place in Serie A If this is Claudio Ranieri's last hurrah then bringing the return of Champions League football to Roma is the dream goodbye 19:50 CET - Last up in Ligue 1 tonight is a huge game in the fascinating battle for Europe that is going on in France. Sixth-placed Lille host third-placed Marseille with just two points separating the sides Follow the match from 20:45 CET 19:30 CET - From one champion to another, Liverpool have had a less good day a week after becoming the champions of England Champions League hopefuls Chelsea have secured a vital win against them to increase their hopes of a fifth-placed finish Check out the match stats here 19:24 CET - BAYERN MUNICH ARE CHAMPIONS OF GERMANY The 2023/24 winners are fittingly the side who have made it official that Bayern are the new Bundesliga champions after their 2-2 draw at Freiburg Leverkusen produced an inspired late comeback, but it was only enough for a point as a title which fell out of their grasp a while ago fell safely into the arms of Harry Kane and co Kane's trophy cabinet is empty no more 19:11 CET - Lens have claimed a mighty impressive 2-1 win at Lyon inflicting a real blow on their opponents' hopes of securing European football 18:22 CET - Are Bayern Munich about to become Bundesliga champions? Their closest rivals might be about to do them a favour as Bayer Leverkusen trail Freiburg 1-0 at half-time Follow the second period here 18:18 CET - A really good half from Chelsea, who have punished a rotated Liverpool side by taking a 1-0 lead into the break after a fast counter attack was finished off by Enzo Fernandes 17:44 CET - Up next in Italy sees two sides with European ambitions go head-to-head as Roma host Fiorentina Starting lineupsFlashscore17:25 CET - Next up in the Bundesliga is possibly the game which confirms Bayern Munich as champions Bayer Leverkusen know anything but a win away to Freiburg, and Harry Kane will have the first trophy of his career Follow that game here from 17:30 CET 17:20 CET - Holstein Kiel might be going down, but they restored some pride today after an impressive 3-1 win away to Augsburg in the Bundesliga Match statsStatsPerform17:10 CET - Over in Serie A, Monza have been relegated after a challenging season as Atalanta thrashed them 4-0 17:00 CET - A dramatic afternoon in the Premier League! After two earlier penalty appeals, it was third time lucky for Newcastle United, who salvaged a point away to Brighton Match statsStatsPerformA thriller at the Community Stadium was won by Brentford 4-3 after a late Manchester United revival, and West Ham drew 1-1 with London rivals Tottenham Check out all the Premier League match stats here 16:33 CET - Team news is in for the final match of the weekend in the Premier League as top-five hopefuls Chelsea host the newly crowned champions Liverpool from 17:30 CET Listen to commentary of that game here The champions have heavily rotated and named a completely different midfield for the clash Starting lineupsFlashscore16:00 CET - Despite a late scare, a Kylian Mbappe brace is the difference as Real Madrid defeat Celta Vigo 3-2 to keep the pressure on LaLiga leaders Barcelona Check out the match summary here 15:55 CET - Meanwhile, a first-half brace from Charles De Ketelaere has given Atalanta a 2-0 half-time lead at Monza Match statsStatsPerformFollow the second period here 15:48 CET - It is half-time in the three early kick-offs in the Premier League, and the big story developing is that Brighton are leading Champions League chasing Newcastle United after a brilliant individual goal by Yankuba Minteh. Match statsStatsPerformFollow the second half here Brentford 2-1 Manchester United  West Ham 1-1 Tottenham 14:50 CET - A pair of spectacular strikes from Arda Guler and Kylian Mbappe have given Real Madrid a commanding two-goal lead over Celta Vigo at the break Follow the second half with Flashscore. 14:28 CET - Lazio have claimed a crucial three points in their pursuit of a top-four finish in Serie A, as Boulaye Dia's first-minute strike earned a narrow 1-0 victory over relegation-threatened Empoli Read the full match report here. Match statsOpta by StatsPerform14:02 CET - Gian Piero Gasperini's Atalanta travel to Monza in just under an hour with La Dea looking to consolidate their place in the Champions League qualification spots in Serie A Follow the match from 15:00 CET here. 13:49 CET - There are three games in the Premier League kicking off at 15:00 CET this afternoon, including fourth-placed Newcastle's visit to Brighton & Hove Albion Elsewhere, in-form Brentford host Manchester United and West Ham take on Tottenham in a London derby between the league's 16th and 17th-placed sides Keep track of the Premier League right here. Brighton vs Newcastle lineupsFlashscore13:12 CET - Over in Spain, second-placed Real Madrid host Celta Vigo in LaLiga at 14:00 CET with Carlo Ancelotti's side hoping to reduce Barcelona's lead at the summit back down to four points Follow the match with Flashscore here. Team lineupsFlashscore11:45 CET - Lazio continue their charge for European football with an away game at Empoli as they desperately battle to avoid relegation from Serie A Follow the game live with Flashscore. Serie A tableFlashscore11:00 CET - Good morning and welcome back to our Football Tracker as we look ahead to a typically busy Sunday across Europe's top leagues Real Madrid vs Celta Vigo - 14:00 CET Brentford vs Man United - 15:00 CET Freiburg vs Leverkusen - 17:30 CET Chelsea vs Liverpool - 17:30 CET Lille vs Marseille - 20:45 CET Bologna vs Juventus - 20:45 CET 23:03 CET - Monaco moved up into second in Ligue 1 after an exciting 3-1 win over relegation battlers St Etienne 22:56 CET - After going 1-0 down in the first half, Barcelona called on the cavalry to take down Valladolid, mounting a comeback to seal a 2-1 win and extend their lead at the top of LaLiga Top of LaLigaFlashscore22:36 CET - With a heavily rotated side, Inter Milan managed to get the job done against Verona, clinching a 1-0 win to move three points behind Napoli at the top of Serie A 20:32 CET - Title-chasers Barcelona and Inter Milan are in action tonight and ahead of their meeting next week in Europe several key players are being rested for both sides Barcelona line-upsFlashscoreInter Milan line-upsFlashscore20:27 CET - Arsenal have just suffered a nightmare result ahead of their Champions League second leg, losing 2-1 at home to Bournemouth It is the Cherries' first-ever win at the Emirates Arsenal will have to start looking over their shoulder with teams closing in on them in second place 20:23 CET - Borussia Dortmund have thumped Wolfsburg 4-0, with both Serhou Guirassy and Karim Adeyemi bagging braces to move into the top four in the Bundesliga 20:07 CET - It wasn't always convincing, but at this stage of the season, it doesn't really matter, as Napoli battled to a tight 1-0 win at relegation-threatened Lecce The victory sees Napoli stretch their lead to six points at the summit of Serie A with Inter Milan in action a little later this evening Top of Serie AFlashscore18:59 CET - Meanwhile in Ligue 1, a heavily rotated PSG side have lost back-to-back games to give Strasbourg a huge win in the race for Champions League qualification Check out the match summary with Flashscore 18:59 CET - An unstoppable Giacomo Raspadori free-kick is the difference at the break in Lecce. That brilliant strike from the edge of the box gives Napoli a priceless lead as they look to extend their lead at the top of Serie A Follow the second period here 18:12 CET - Villarreal have further cemented their position in fifth place and in possession of the final Champions League spot in LaLiga with a dominant 4-2 win against Osasuna 18:01 CET - Back to England and an inspired second-half response from Ipswich Town sees them walk away with a 2-2 draw at Everton Match statsStatsPerformLeicester City held on to beat Southampton 2-0 in the other game as the Saints' miserable season continued in the same light 17:53 CET - A heavily rotated PSG side have helped Strasbourg's push for Champions League football Luis Enrique has kept almost all of his star players from last Tuesday on the bench, and Strasbourg have taken full advantage to take a 2-0 lead at the break they will occupy fourth place and the final Champions League qualification spot First-half statsStatsPerform17:46 CET - Ahead of the biggest game in Arsenal's recent history on Wednesday, Mikel Arteta has selected a strong side which includes talisman Bukayo Saka for their game against Bournemouth this evening Starting lineupsFlashscoreListen to the commentary of that game from 18:30 CET here 17:35 CET - Next up in Serie A is a big game near the top of the table as league leaders Napoli travel to Lecce with a chance to go six points clear of Inter Follow the game here Napoli's starting lineupFlashscore17:27 CET - Bayern Munich will have to wait at least one more day to win the Bundesliga title, and Harry Kane too A dramatic last-gasp equaliser from RB Leipzig denies them on the day after a thrilling 3-3 draw Match statsStatsPerformCheck out the match stats here The soon-to-be champions thought they had pulled off the remarkable comeback to claim the title today Kane will have to wait for his first trophy a little longer.. 16:55 CET - Over to Serie A, and Como have extended their impressive winning run to five games after edging to a 1-0 win away to Parma Match statsStatsPerformOn the other end of the spectrum, Udinese have ended a losing run to defeat mid-table rivals Cagliari 2-1 Follow all the action from Serie A today here 16:52 CET - The first 16:00 CET game to reach half-time sees Everton lead Ipswich 2-1 in an entertaining first half First half statsStatsPerformIn the other Premier League game this afternoon, and after a lengthy stoppage to change referees, Leicester City lead Southampton 2-0 in the game between two relegated sides It will feel like an opportunity missed for Saints who had a chance today to beat Derby's Premier League total Follow the second period live with Flashscore 16:35 CET - Meanwhile, play has been paused in Leicester under comical circumstances as the referee has been wiped out by Jordan Ayew resulting in him needing to be stretchered off now a replacement referee has been subbed on 16:20 CET - It is not going to plan for Bayern Munich in what was set to be their title-winning day as they trail the impressive RB Leipzig 2-0 at the break Match statsStatsPerformElsewhere in the Bundesliga this afternoon: Borussia Monchengladbach 2-1 Hoffenheim  St. Pauli 0-0 Stuttgart Union Berlin 1-2 Werder Bremen  15:56 CET - All over from the first game of the day in LaLiga, and Atletico Madrid's season continues to fade after a dull 0-0 draw away to Alaves 15:39 CET - It’s all over in the Championship, with Leeds wrapping up the title after a last-gasp 2-1 victory at Plymouth Catch up on all the action here. 15:28 CET - Aston Villa have secured a crucial three points in their pursuit of a top-five finish, with Youri Tielemans' first-half header proving to be enough to defeat Fulham 1-0 Read the full match report here. Match statsOpta by StatsPerform14:57 CET - We've got a relatively quiet afternoon in the Premier League with only two matches getting underway at 16:00 CET David Moyes' Everton host already relegated Ipswich Town, while in the East Midlands, it's a clash between the league's two lowest sides, Leicester City and Southampton Follow both games with Flashscore. 14:42 CET - It's a blockbuster afternoon in the Bundesliga with four games kicking off at 15:30 CET, including Bayern Munich's trip to fifth-placed RB Leipzig as Vincent Kompany's side target a victory to seal the title Elsewhere, Borussia Monchengladbach host Hoffenheim, Union Berlin take on Werder Bremen and Stuttgart travel to St. Pauli Keep track of the Bundesliga action here. RB Leipzig vs Bayern lineupsFlashscore14:20 CET - We've reached the halfway stage between Aston Villa and Fulham in the Premier League, and it's Unai Emery's side who have the lead thanks to Youri Tielemans' close-range header Follow the second half with Flashscore. Real Madrid fans are expecting major changes at the club ahead of the 2024/25 La Liga season With Carlo Ancelotti expected to depart from the Spanish capital at the end of the current campaign Los Blancos will have a new leader in place over the summer with Xabi Alonso on standby to take charge Alonso will be given a transfer budget to work at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, with the former Spanish international reportedly already raising targets with the club, including Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold. Real Madrid have been working on a deal to bring the England international to the club since the start of 2025 with his current contract at Anfield expiring in June Despite optimism over getting a deal secured the 26-year-old has not provided a clear update on his intentions with Liverpool and Real Madrid both putting forward five-year deals with sizeable salary packages Alexander-Arnold remains the priority for Real Madrid, but other options are being considered, with reports from Fichajes.net indicating Real Sociedad right-back Jon Aramburu is on their radar 📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp Aramburu has impressed in the Basque Country following his switch from lower league side Real Union in 2023 with the Venezuela international now established as first-choice under Imanol Alguacil and La Real expected to miss out on European qualification - the club could be forced to sell a host of players Martin Zubimendi has been tipped for a move to either Real Madrid or Arsenal and Aramburu could following him out of the Estadio Anoeta The two main stumbling blocks to a possible deal lie in Aramburu's current contract in San Sebastian with a reported release clause of £51m [$67m] Los Blancos will not pay that much for a developing player particularly if Real Madrid offer a player-plus-cash deal for the 22-year-old Aramburu offers a stronger defensive option than Alexander-Arnold - with the latter regularly criticised for his defensive output - and Alonso could potentially deploy him in a defensive midfield hybrid role As per the latest data from Fbref.com Aramburu is the second-highest tackler in La Liga this season with 91 made and 65 completed He is also top in La Liga for dribblers tackled in 2024/25 with 60 which also places him at No.1 in that list across Europe's top five domestic leagues Feargal is a content producer for The Sporting News He has been working with TSN since the start of 2022 after stints with Reach Amazon UK and Squawka in a nomadic career in the football media pyramid Always with a keen eye on Arteta's 'Reds' and Kenny's Ireland 'Greens' and a 100% five-a-side penalty record Best in Travel is here! Discover 2025’s destinations The 30 best countries, cities and regions to visit in 2025 Plan your trip with Elsewhere, by Lonely Planet See where a Lonely Planet Membership takes you Subscribe to our weekly newsletters to get the latest travel news, expert advice, and insider recommendations Explore the world with our detailed, insightful guidebooks Stay ahead of the curve with our guidebooks Uncover exciting new ways to explore iconic destinations Every month, we release new books into the wild Search Search Close search menu Explore Best in Travel 2024 Africa Close menu Countries Antarctica Antarctica Close menu Regions Asia Asia Close menu Countries Australia & the Pacific Australia & the Pacific Close menu Countries The Caribbean The Caribbean Close menu Countries Central America Central America Close menu Countries Europe Europe Close menu Countries Middle East Middle East Close menu Countries North America North America Close menu Countries South America South America Close menu Countries Whether you come for the beaches or the pintxos here are the best times to visit San Sebastián The town of San Sebastián in Spain's Basque Country is one of the most postcard-perfect destinations in Europe but you'll need to factor in the weather when you visit Spain's most famous foodie hub If you plan your trip based on Google Image searches you may be daydreaming of sunny days on the city’s three gorgeous beaches day trips to an island topped by a perfect little lighthouse with a gray drizzle falling on half the days of the year The weather doesn’t really matter if you’ve come to eat and drink This corner of the Spanish coast has no clearly defined dry season and while the summer months from June to September tend to be the best bet for beach weather this is also the season when San Sebastián fills up with beach towels and tourists the quieter spring and fall months are easier times to find a table in the city's Michelin-starred restaurants.  To make the most of your visit, take a second to reflect on your Basque bucket list. Are you here to bask on La Concha hailed as one of Europe’s most beautiful beaches Or are you more concerned with scoring a table at one of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants Or perhaps you’d like to save some pennies and experience some lively local festivals Read on to find out the best times to visit San Sebastián Let’s be honest, you’ve probably come to San Sebastián with a list of the top pintxos to try and the best places to eat The true highlight list of this Basque Country city is its food from small plates of tender braised beef cheek to gooey cheesecake and best-in-the-world grilled steaks Bars and restaurants take the odd week off here and there throughout the year, but the less busy months from March to May are a great time to get the restaurant reservations you've dreamed of. In fact, you can often walk in without a reservation, even at dining favorites such as Rekondo and Narru cozy watering holes with outsized delicious bites – are also much less crowded which can greatly increase your snacking enjoyment (as well as the quantity of fizzy white txakoli wine consumed) San Sebastián’s weather is nothing if not unpredictable You can usually rely on one of the summer months to be a rainy mess but the other three will usually be warm and sunny The problem is you never know which month will catch the showers with beaches buzzing with lifeguards and cute striped tents for rent on the beachfront the traffic and limited hotel and restaurant availability can make life difficult in July Unless this is the only time you can visit, it’s best to avoid the period from late July to the end of August when hordes descend on the picturesque old town, and you can expect long queues for a bite of the world’s most famous cheesecake at La Viña September is probably the single best month to visit San Sebastián. Prices are starting to drop and sunshine is virtually guaranteed, with balmy late summer temperatures. Towards the end of the month, the streets and the pintxo bars flood with film fanatics as the San Sebastián International Film Festival – which locals call Zinemaldi – rolls into town As October approaches, prices tumble at the city’s hotels, and lodging bargains are easy to find, except around All Saints Day on November 1. And the warm weather has not entirely abandoned San Sebastián, so you'll still be able to enjoy some of the amazing hikes on the city fringes and climb Mount Urgull to visit the free museum at the summit San Sebastián is sandwiched between several important Spanish wine regions, including DO Getariako Txakoliña to the east and La Rioja – one of Spain's most important wine areas – to the south blanketing the countryside in breathtaking fall foliage This is also the harvest season – a great time for winery tours to see the winemaking process in action The winter months see the weather in the Basque Country at its most wicked chilly temperatures and days so dreary even locals won’t leave the house for pintxos the winter has one saving grace – the parties Christmas and the Epiphany get their own parades, but nothing compares to Día de San Sebastián on January 20, known locally as the Tamborrada. The party kicks off on the night of January 19, with the raising of the city flag in the Plaza de la Constitucion at midnight. Members of the famous Basque dining societies walk through the city dressed as cooks and soldiers, drumming through the night and into the following day for 24 hours straight. This is the only night of the year when visitors can peek behind the scenes of these members-only dining clubs, making this a great time to visit for a genuinely local experience. The parties continue into February, with quirky celebrations such as Caldereros and Inudeak eta Artzainak in the run up to the city's annual Carnaval. Dress up, drink, parade and have fun for three months straight! SpainChevron San SebastiánChevron Save this storySaveSave this storySaveAll products and listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links One of three bedrooms, each with a queen-size bed When looking for somewhere to stay, we ideally wanted to be close to the beach but within walking distance of the town for lunch and dinner. We are three couples, so we needed a three-bedroom place with enough space to cater to us all. Affordability was also a key factor, as we weren’t looking to splash out on hotel rooms, which is why we were sold when we found this modern, spacious apartment in an ideal location; just two minutes from the beach, and an easy 15 minutes to old town. but unfortunately we left it a little late to book and given San Sebastián’s incredible popularity But there were certainly benefits to using a larger company: speedy responses and even a tailored list of things to do and restaurants delivered to my Airbnb inbox before we arrived While I was a little frustrated to find that I needed to download an app to access the apartment (who needs another app?) I was pleasantly surprised to find that it did feel like there were some personal touches in the apartment: a welcome note and a magazine with local tips left on the dining table A full-size kitchen and dining table allow for meals in up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse We understand that time is the greatest luxury which is why Condé Nast Traveler mines its network of experts and influencers so that you never waste a meal or a hotel stay wherever you are in the world Augustine’s San Sebastian River received a failing water quality report card in early October Water samples taken by the Matanzas Riverkeeper showed that the quality levels for chlorophyll and total nitrogen exceeded their thresholds As noted on the Matanzas Riverkeeper website nitrogen and phosphorus are critical elements for a healthy ecosystem can have “devastating effects on water quality resulting in harmful algae blooms and low oxygen conditions But nutrients aren’t the only pollutants affecting the waterways Stormwater runoff containing nutrient-rich fertilizer from streets yards and commercial sites and aging septic tanks that leak nutrient-laden wastewater into the ground can travel into waterbodies such as the San Sebastian River Tony Cubbedge, the Environmental Division Manager for St. Johns County Utilities Augustine Record that the county does not discharge into the San Sebastian River “We discharge into the north Matanzas River Estuary south of the 312 bridge in the area of the intercoastal waterway,” he said Johns County is currently permitted to discharge high quality treated effluent to the North Matanzas Estuary from its Anastasia Island Water Reclamation Facility.” Cubbedge explained that while runoff from septic tanks and lawn fertilizer could be the culprit behind the river’s failing grade the county was not responsible for the oversight of that area of water underscore the importance of residents reducing the amount of fertilizer that can be washed off by rain along with maintaining and improving the technology of septic tank systems Florida-friendly landscape as the county maintains its dedication to clean waterways science-driven solution to protect the natural resources including our aquifers and our pristine water bodies,” he said “There’s a lot of watershed and different components that flow into the San Sebastian River People need to be cognizant of what they shouldn't be doing and remain dedicated to what they should be doing.” Cubbedge said the county is highly regulated and diligent in monitoring the water quality “doing everything we can to ensure we are expanding the reuse.” “We are also reinforcing our commitment to the health of the North Matanzas Estuary and the well-being of our residents,” he said Johns County is 18 months away from further reducing over 80,000 pounds of nutrients per year being discharged into the Matanzas River That figure is anticipated to increase to approximately 100,000 pounds per year by 2032 This reduction is part of the county’s plan to lower nutrient contributions to local waterways support healthier ecosystems while maintaining compliance with state and federal environmental regulations.” Cubbedge said that while the nonpoint sources such stormwater runoff may be challenging the county will continue to expand the reuse system to interconnect the plants so that water can be reused with very little discharged into water bodies “The county recently modified its ordinance to require all new developments to utilize lower quality water for irrigation including stormwater and reclaimed water,” he said “By encouraging residents and businesses to adopt reclaimed water for non-potable uses the county is not only reducing demand on potable supplies but also advancing sustainable water management practices.” The Matanzas Riverkeeper indicated on its website that it will continue to collect water samples for testing to monitor the measures of pollution to help implement effective remediation strategies “We will be collecting discrete surface water samples on a bimonthly basis through December 2024 to be analyzed for an array of parameters including alkalinity “The primary focus of this effort is to gather more information about the concentration of nutrients in the water.” The Daily Briefing: Get the latest St. Augustine news in your email each day. Sign up for The Record's newsletter your new go-to podcast to spice up your weekday mornings with relevant news and behind-the-scenes from Brussels and beyond From the economy to the climate and the EU's role in world affairs this talk show sheds light on European affairs and the issues that impact on our daily lives as Europeans Tune in to understand the ins and outs of European politics Dare to imagine the future with business and tech visionaries Deep dive conversations with business leaders Euronews Tech Talks goes beyond discussions to explore the impact of new technologies on our lives the podcast provides valuable insights into the intersection of technology and society Europe's water is under increasing pressure floods are taking their toll on our drinking water Join us on a journey around Europe to see why protecting ecosystems matters and to discover some of the best water solutions an animated explainer series and live debate - find out why Water Matters We give you the latest climate facts from the world’s leading source analyse the trends and explain how our planet is changing We meet the experts on the front line of climate change who explore new strategies to mitigate and adapt San Sebastian in Spain celebrated its patron saint's day with the traditional Tamborrada drum festival More than 4,500 children grouped into 45 companies opened festivities in front of the town hall setting the stage for the parades made up of 28,000 adults grouped into 167 companies this historic event has its roots in a local carnival group San Sebastian's Tamborrada attracts thousands of people every year bringing together locals and visitors to form a unique festive atmosphere San Sebastian is one of Spain’s most popular tourist destinations renowned for its 18 Michelin stars and picturesque Vigo is a historic port city on the country’s Atlantic coast with an industrial past and a growing tourist industry Both have deep football traditions and want to host games at the 2030 World Cup, which will be held in Spain, Portugal and Morocco.  And both have now been swept up in the latest political battle within Spanish football: Vigo mayor Abel Caballero has accused Spanish football federation (RFEF) president Rafael Louzan of manipulating the process of selecting venues for the tournament to deliberately exclude the Galician city in favour of San Sebastian On Monday, Spanish newspaper El Mundo published a report based on leaked federation documents and emails which it claimed showed rankings of the different potential host cities for the 2030 World Cup #Exclusiva La Federación Española de Fútbol se reunió el 25 de junio para puntuar las 11 sedes del Mundial 2030. Escogió a Balaídos con 10,2 puntos en última posición. Dos días después manipuló la clasificación para mejorar la puntuación de Anoeta y dejar fuera a Vigo. EL MUNDO… pic.twitter.com/4TdpKsBfzL — Esteban Urreiztieta (@eurreiztieta) March 24, 2025 One document dated 25 June 2024 showed Vigo and its Balaidos stadium (10.2004 points) in 11th place in the internal rankings San Sebastian and its Anoeta stadium were just behind (with 10.1226 points) in 12th — and therefore excluded The report says this document was emailed to senior federation figures — including Louzan who was then an RFEF vice-president and president of the Galician regional federation the report suggests the results of that ranking were modified with San Sebastian gaining points and ending up on 10.6026 The second list of 11 cities was sent to FIFA on June 29. It then featured in the joint candidacy which was ratified by a FIFA congress last December, with Spain, Portugal and Morocco unchallenged as tournament hosts — but that was not the final word on which cities and stadiums would host games in 2030 A further El Mundo report included leaked audio from a meeting supposedly held at RFEF’s Las Rozas headquarters on June 25 — with Maria Tato then director of Spain’s World Cup 2030 candidacy who was also part of the three-person committee charged with choosing the 11 Spanish stadiums we’ll keep putting numbers into Excel and see what we get,” says Tato in the audio “We’ll keep going until it works out for us.” #Exclusiva La esperpéntica reunión en la que se eligieron las sedes del Mundial 2030: "Vamos a meter valores hasta que nos cuadre el resultado" ✍️ Esteban Urreiztieta pic.twitter.com/rlXVCI4crd — EL MUNDO (@elmundoes) March 24, 2025 In an interview with Cadena Ser on Wednesday night Tato said: “Nobody likes to be recorded by a colleague in a work meeting I don’t think anyone has the right to do that… Nobody has the right to do it manipulate it and share it to media outlets.” Tato added that the initial list had been a “working document” and that stadiums such as Anoeta and Espanyol’s RCDE Stadium had gained points as they “don’t need intervention to be host stadiums” so you can’t penalise those stadiums” and that “in a first draft we penalised them in an error of criteria” An outraged Mayor Caballero held a press conference on Monday at which he brandished a copy of the El Mundo report and claimed Louzan was responsible for the changes to the criteria that saw San Sebastian chosen instead 🗣️Esto es gravísimo, exigimos que nos expliquen quién lo cambió, por qué y con qué criterios ❌ pic.twitter.com/mudbgaB5xn — Abel Caballero (@abelcaballero) March 24, 2025 “Vigo fell off the list 48 hours after Louzan got it,” Caballero said “Vigo disappears and is no longer a World Cup host city I don’t trust any of it — I demand Louzan comes out immediately to explain.” The mayor suggested Louzan had a personal motive to stop Vigo hosting games The RFEF president was president of the provincial Council of Pontevedra (of which Vigo is part) for 14 years until 2015 representing the conservative Partido Popular “I don’t know if this is because Louzan lost his job running the provincial council of Pontevedra because of the results in Vigo,” Caballero said this week “It’s clear that there’s a position against this city.” requested anonymity to speak freely to The Athletic — deny Louzan being involved in any manipulation of the rankings They say it is not credible that a former Galician federation president would want to stop a city from his own region hosting World Cup games The federation sources also deny that any manipulation took place — telling The Athletic that the documents published by El Mundo are just some of many different drafts compiled during the process of compiling the World Cup bid book They said the audio was taken out of context But the idea of Vigo losing its spot has been floated by Louzan since he took over as RFEF president speaking on the El Cafelito de Josep Pedrerol podcast “Vigo is fighting to be a host city but its capacity will be 27,000 spectators and FIFA requires 43,000.” Vigo is a city of 300,000 on Spain’s northwest Atlantic coast — the largest by population in the region of Galicia home of much of the region’s traditional industrial base and now an increasingly important tourism hub Celta Vigo’s municipally-owned Balaidos stadium was one of Spain’s 17 host stadiums at the 1982 World Cup A renovation currently under way will increase capacity from the current 20,700 figure to the 27,000 mentioned by Louzan he announced a project to increase capacity to 43,000 so it could host 2030 World Cup games San Sebastian is the capital of the Basque province of Gipuzkoa and has a population of just under 200,000 it is one of Spain’s most beautiful and most visited cities Spanish royals spent their summers there and these days it hosts an internationally renowned film festival Real Sociedad’s Anoeta stadium first opened in 1993 An €80million ($86m; £67m at current exchange rates) redevelopment completed in 2019 removed an unloved athletics track expanded its capacity to 40,000 and modernised the VIP and media facilities required to host high-profile games including the 2020 Women’s Champions League final FIFA required 20 venues to be included in bids to host the tournament After negotiations between the three federations this was broken down as 11 stadiums for Spain six for Morocco and three for Portugal in the official bid book presented last summer The bid also allowed for the first three matches to be played in Uruguay Argentina and Paraguay as part of the centenary celebrations of the first World Cup in 1930 FIFA has its own criteria for evaluating bids — with scores given for metrics including stadiums The RFEF did not use these criteria when evaluating venues and the metrics they did use have not been shared publicly The Spanish government wanted a bigger role in choosing the host cities and suggested points be added for proximity to the two other host countries which would have helped Vigo as it is close to the border with Portugal the federation’s final calculations included extra points for stadiums which did not need extensive construction work Anoeta’s recent renovation helped San Sebastian clinch the final spot The 11 stadiums mentioned in last July’s announcement were the Bernabeu and Metropolitano in Madrid the Camp Nou and RCDE Stadium in Barcelona Riazor in La Coruna and Anoeta in San Sebastian Four others had put themselves forward to host games but did not make the cut — Vigo’s Balaidos Gijon’s El Molinon and Murcia’s Nueva Condomina the headline city to lose out (besides Vigo) was Valencia The issue in Valencia was uncertainty over the status of their New Mestalla stadium, where construction had been stalled for 15 years and there was no commitment in place when the bid was submitted for the ground to be finished by 2030 Since being elected as RFEF president last December Louzan has moved quickly to stamp his authority on the World Cup plans Two of the three executives who put together the bid book were fired including former Real Madrid player and La Liga executive Sanz Federation sources said an internal enquiry was being undertaken into how the 11 stadia were chosen for the ‘bid book’ I put my job at the disposition of the RFEF president because I’m not capable of withstanding the media pressure of these last few days.” a former socialist politician and world champion skier work finally restarted at the New Mestalla stadium in Valencia and a modern 70,074-seater ground is now slated to be completed by 2027 Louzan visited the works and pledged the stadium would host games at the World Cup “This great city and region cannot be left out of the World Cup,” Louzan said One possibility is Atletico Madrid’s Metropolitano stadium dropping out to make way for the New Mestalla Ceding the Metropolitano to FIFA for two months during the summer could potentially cost Atletico €20m in income from concerts and other events RFEF and Atletico sources did not discount this possibility when it was put to them Both the RFEF and the Spanish government now want Spain to somehow go up to 13 venues for the 2030 tournament — which would allow both Vigo and Valencia to host games without any ground having to drop out The total number of teams who will play at the 2030 World Cup has yet to be confirmed FIFA discussed a proposal to increase the number of countries to 64 16 more than 2026’s tournament in the United States There are still some years of debate and politicking to go before final decisions are made on which cities and stadiums actually host games when the tournament comes around The initial bid book accepted by FIFA in 2018 for the 2026 World Cup listed 23 potential venues for games It was not until June 2022 that the 16 host cities were selected and not until February 2024 before the final breakdown of games was confirmed including the final being confirmed for New York/New Jersey That process was shrouded in secrecy — and the final calls were made by FIFA president Gianni Infantino and a very small circle of the organisation’s most senior executives Sources familiar with the process point out expensive renovations required to meet FIFA’s stadium specifications in cities including La Coruna and Zaragoza cities dropped out of the process between those federations’ bid book being accepted and the final selections of host venues for 2026 Another factor for negotiations that are sure to be tough includes the hosting of the opening game and especially the final The RFEF wants the decider to be held at the Bernabeu while the Moroccan federation has indicated it could be played at a new 115,000-capacity Grand Stade Hassan II stadium being built in Casablanca for the tournament Dermot joined The Athletic in 2020 and has been our main La Liga Correspondent up until now. Irish-born, he has spent more than a decade living in Madrid and writing about Spanish football for ESPN, the UK Independent and the Irish Examiner. Follow Dermot on Twitter @dermotmcorrigan About 30 years after opening San Sebastian Winery in downtown St. Augustine Clermont-based Lakeridge Winery and Vineyards wants to develop a marketplace adjacent to the vintner Lakeridge owns both the 0.26-acre 157 King St vintner building and its adjacent 2.38-acre lot Johns River Water Management District is reviewing a proposal for the development retail building and additional surface parking adjacent to the vintner Read the rest of this story at the Jacksonville Daily Record By Jim Turner - News Service of Florida Condo owners shouldn't expect the state to pay for complying with new state laws after the Surfside collapse Already a member? Log in Not a member? Sign up Explore our Food Tours → Activity has resumed at the narrow door hidden between the shops on Calle Getaria the iconic little restaurant tucked away in the basement of an ancient house in the downtown area can once again sit at its six indoor tables and savor signature dishes like salpicón de bogavante (lobster with a citrus dressing) and perfectly fire-kissed grilled fish the restaurant has held an extraordinary place in the memories of the Donostiarras (the locals of Donostia as San Sebastian is known in the Basque language) and anchovies served by Alicio Garro and his friendly team the Covid-19 pandemic forced Ibai to close its doors leaving a void in the city’s gastronomic scene when chef Paulo Airaudo decided to bring the restaurant back to life where he built a small restaurant empire that includes Amélia his fine-dining restaurant with two Michelin stars; a modern Italian spot called La Bottega; and The Blind Pig I insisted: ‘We have to reopen it; Ibai cannot be closed,’” he recalls The chef had been a regular customer since his arrival in the city and quickly recognized that a place implementing daily market products and seasonal ingredients with such quality and care could not vanish I made a proposal and decided to bring Ibai back to life myself,” he says Airaudo spearheaded a renovation to transform the interior of the restaurant This transformation of the kitchen and dining area matches the new energy that Airuado has brought to this project while Airaudo holds the operating rights for the next 15 years “There is a great synergy between what I believe and what I pursue in my restaurants: creating a cuisine centered on high-quality products I have adapted some recipes to cooking techniques that interest me I’ve given absolute importance to ensuring that everything from the aperitif to the dessert experience is at a level of excellence,” Airaudo explains The restaurant’s original philosophy remains unchanged: “The season dictates We do our best with the products we have at hand selecting them with the utmost care,” he assures The menu – both à la carte and in a tasting menu format – focuses on products from the surrounding Basque Country: fish and seafood from the Bizkaia Gulf vegetables grown on the mountain slopes such as asparagus and peas and the famous and traditional txuleta (a chunk of beef cooked on a charcoal barbecue) To make the restaurant more welcoming to the neighborhood Airaudo brought back the pintxos bar that existed for many years at Ibai Basque-style snacks are served starting in the early morning hours with coffee and even wines available for those who want a quick bite without having to sit at a table as well as iconic local dishes like Gildas foie a la plancha (slightly grilled foie gras) “We revived part of the bar because it was a beloved feature of Ibai until 2010 The philosophy is to offer seasonal products in miniature This also allows for a more agile and direct approach to Ibai,” says Xabier de La Maza the tables and the counter have been consistently full “Reopening a place like Ibai is something special the death of Juantxo [one of the restaurant’s founding brothers] this has been a beautiful revival,” says La Maza he understands the value the restaurant has always had in the city I am happy that we could invest in Ibai and that we managed to bring together an excellent team and reopen it to the city,” he adds Currently open only on weekdays – and only during the day for both sit-down lunch at the tables and quicker bites at the bar – the new Ibai aims to maintain the aura of the old Those who arrive notice the changes but still recognize the familiar Ibai beneath the linen tablecloths and the modern touches “This is a very beloved project that has been nurtured slowly and with great care,” says Airaudo the restaurant is ready to reignite excitement among locals and visitors loading map - please wait...Map could not be loaded - please enable Javascript!→ more information Two talented Emerson filmmakers are making waves on the international stage after their films were selected for the prestigious San Sebastián International Film Festival (SSIFF) last month Held annually in the coastal city of San Sebastián, Spain, the festival occurred in late September, and provides a platform for both emerging and established filmmakers to showcase their directorial talent. Leaving a Comfort Zone Leads to a Holy Ghost Luo’s Holy Ghost Conversation explores an unlikely friendship and the challenges of documenting truth on screen, offering a unique perspective on relationships and self-representation. The film is a hybrid documentary that tells the story of Luo’s friendship with Hal, a newspaper vendor he met shortly after moving from China to the United States for graduate school.  “I couldn’t find anything to write about or make a film about, so I decided that I should step out of my comfort zone and go on the streets and interview different people. After about a year, I met Hal,” said Luo. “While everyone else maintained boundaries, Hal was open. He has an outgoing personality and we quickly established a connection.” Instead of presenting a straightforward documentary, Luo chose to reenact their shared experiences, placing himself in front of the camera. “It was interesting because once I placed myself in front of the camera, everything changed,” said Luo. “The film started to deviate from the script and transformed into more of a documentation of the process, capturing how Hal and I attempted to reenact our story.” Luo acknowledged that his approach was unconventional and that he faced many uncertainties regarding how everything would unfold. “It is kind of like creating your own recipe, you don’t know what it is going to look like or taste like,” said Luo. “But that is the way you find your own approach in cooking or in this case making independent films.” Luo said he struggled with feelings of guilt of how he portrayed both himself and Hal, acknowledging the moral complexities involved. “It becomes a moral choice – how much honesty you want to have and what reality is. I had to figure out the connection between reality and honesty myself,” shared Lou. “You can try to be more honest about the process or depict the relationship as accurately as you perceive it.”   Ultimately, he recognized that the audience sees constructed personas, creating a gap between perception and reality that is present in all media.  Lou credited Visual & Media Arts Assistant Professor Amy Beecher’s Foundations of Image and Sound Production class for transforming his perspective on art and filmmaking.  “Previously I looked at filmmaking as something standard, like a recipe you follow,” Lou explained. “But after this class it broadened my view as an artist, encouraging me to think differently than what already exists and discover what I truly want to make.”  Inspired by her mother’s battle with breast cancer, Liu’s film, Milky White, delves into themes of survival, loss, and resilience, exploring the unlikely bond between a daughter and her family’s cow in the wake of tragedy. In Milky White, the cow plays a pivotal role as a symbol of the family’s survival and connection to the mother. This allegory draws a deep connection to Liu’s own experience with her mother’s battle with breast cancer during COVID. “I was shocked and scared, unsure of what to do,” said Liu. “It got to the point where we feared she wouldn’t make it.”  The emotional turmoil and fear Liu experienced during this challenging time became the foundation of the film’s narrative.  “I had this story in my head starting with the death of the mother and the daughter’s journey to overcome it,” said Liu. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Chloe Yinuo Liu (@yoyo0o0oo) for encouraging her to attend Emerson and pursue a career as a director “I was really afraid of getting into the film industry because of all the challenges my mother faced as a producer,” shared Liu but she had a strong belief in me that I could become a successful director.”  Liu highlighted the freedom she has experienced at Emerson praising the flexibility that allowed her to explore different paths “I’ve shifted between wanting to be an actress or a director and I’ve adjusted my class schedule several times “Professors like [Visual & Media Arts Assistant Professor] Peter Flynn have been incredibly inspiring but how to complete a film by relying on my own capabilities.” Though she was torn between pursuing acting or directing her selection for the San Sebastián Film Festival provided a newfound sense of confidence in her filmmaking journey “When I received the notification from San Sebastian I was so excited because it felt like a sign to continue making art,” said Liu “This [nomination] told me that I can aim for bigger things News & Stories , , , Addressing Acts of IntoleranceThere’s Still Time to Join ‘Justice at Work’Discover the Cultural Center: Your Space for Community and More! Emerson College is internationally recognized as the nation’s premier institution of higher learning devoted to communication and the arts. Learn more about Emerson College. E-mail Emerson Today Privacy Policy 2025Foto: Hiperfocal.Save this storySaveSave this storySaveAll products featured on Architectural Digest are independently selected by our editors Before taking a closer look at this home in San Sebastian, in Spain’s Basque Country Spain was preparing to open its economy to increased international trade and foreign investment through an approved stabilization plan The longed-for economic benefits soon followed and the foundations of Spain’s current tourism sector were established There was a boom in the construction of social and low-income housing a response to an urgent need in San Sebastian and other parts of the country The new projects included this home in a building erected in 1966 Most of the housing units built under the initiatives of the time followed some basic rules. The apartment that architect Ismael Medina Manzano recently renovated was typical of them It consisted of three bedrooms with a tiny north-facing living room and it was intended for a married couple with two children “We have tried to give it a twist and adapt it to how we live now reorganizing the space and incorporating local materials,” Medina Manzano who divides his time between Spain and New York City which is used as a vacation home by its owners included some carefully considered updates Another view of the same space, showing the curve of the wall covered with glazed ceramic tiles. The stool is made of reclaimed teak root. On the ceiling, the Teti lamps are by Vico Magistretti for Artemide The home now has two bedrooms instead of three a large entrance hall that serves as a dressing room and a common area with a kitchen and living space It is organized around a curved wall clad in green glazed ceramic tiles “It is the main element and not only serves as a room divider but also provides storage solutions It is an aesthetic moment with its reflective qualities and it provides a coherence to the space,” explains the architect It sits next to the mirrored kitchen—another playful addition to the home—and it is only interrupted by a doorway made of San Sebastian sandstone “The doorway is a reflection on the geological layers of the city and even The Comb of the Wind [a group of three monumental steel sculptures by the artist Chillida that sits on the edge of La Concha the bay that San Sebastian is built around],” the architect adds which consists of a wall of mirrored cabinet fronts a table incorporates a reused lacquered steel structure The wooden chair is made of ash and the aluminum tube chairs were recovered from a local restaurant and restored Another theme to the apartment is its use of vibrant and strong colors First by choosing one that sets the mood for the home and then others to compliment it,” Medina says From the green tiles of the living room to the electric blue ones used in one of the bathrooms or the pristine white ones in the other bold colors play a leading role in this home “There is a false belief among many that creating a cohesive design is about using certain colors and materials but it has more to do with the process behind the choices,” Medina says when asked about some of the design decisions “This apartment is integrated into the city and its environment thanks to the type of stone that was used and references that speak to the area’s industrial past Colors can be responses to the culture of the region A good example of how Medina consciously places the home in the context of the city is the kitchen which was already mentioned as a focal point of the home thanks to its unusual you can see a footbridge crossing over the railway tracks in the distance The mirrors create an illusion where you can see yourself too It is sort of an architectural wink,” he notes with an amused look This private joke shared only by the architect and the owners—and now AD readers too—sums up the inspired spirit of the project as well as the contagious vibrancy of contemporary San Sebastian This home tour was originally published by AD Spain A sandstone doorway separates the two rooms as if it were a witness to the geological passage of time in the area The central element of this 861-square-foot apartment is a curved wall of glazed ceramic tiles interrupted by a portal of San Sebastian sandstone—a stone commonly used in the region who divides his time between New York City and Madrid is seen here in front of the mirrored kitchen One bathroom is covered in royal blue pool tiles The second bathroom is also covered in pool tiles Not a subscriber? Join AD for print and digital access now Affordable Housing in America Through Three People’s Eyes Inside a Party With The White Lotus Cast at a Storied Beverly Hills Home Mark D. Sikes Brings All-American Optimism Home With Pottery Barn Amy Astley’s Entertaining Essentials The Best Airbnbs in Istanbul Are Historic Gems Inside an Italianate-Style New Orleans Mansion That Channels Parisian Glamour Jennifer Aniston’s Houses: Inside the Friends Star’s Multimillion Dollar Real Estate Portfolio This 850-Square-Foot Brooklyn Heights Apartment Is the Epitome of Romance Meet Ficus Interfaith, Two Rising Stars Making Art Furniture From Everyday Refuse Sign up for our daily newsletter to get the best of design in your inbox. “A poignant drama that addresses the subject of death in a manner that is simple but effective.” Saying goodbye to a loved one is a daunting process and one that not many of us are able to fathom without some sense of dread it’s something that we all face at some point and the only hope is that we are fortunate enough to bid farewell to those we love while they are able to receive our affection In her striking feature-length debut Sylvia Le Fanu uses this theme as the centerpiece of her conversation about death and its obstacles for both the person at the end of their life and the people who are witnessing their gradual demise a quiet teenager who closes out her school year and ventures to the Danish countryside with her parents to spend the summer in the most idyllic of surroundings since while they do spend their days engaged in the same simple acts of rest and relaxation a sad reality lingers over each moment – Fanny’s mother is terminally ill and they have all come to realize that this is her final summer and that she will very likely die at some point over the next few months at least in the way the young protagonist has known them to be Simultaneously driven by a sense of sadness for the imminent loss of a loved one and the catharsis of knowing their suffering is not going to last much longer My Eternal Summer is a film as complex as its emotions Death is a concept that has been widely explored throughout human history and artists have attempted to craft their own understanding by creating works that directly address the subject from many different angles My Eternal Summer is a fascinating work primarily because of how it uses contradiction as a narrative tool – it takes place in summer a season associated with health and vitality which sharply contrasts with the theme of death that lingers heavily over the story It is also mostly situated in gorgeous surroundings where the matriarch of this small family chooses to spend her final summer luxuriating in the splendor of the natural world as she quietly prepares to transition from this life to whatever comes next The film smartly doesn’t ever veer towards discussing the concept of life after death as her family does its best to make these few weeks seem as normal as possible My Eternal Summer is an exceptionally strong film since it looks at perhaps the most well-known but feared inevitability a universal experience with which we all must come to terms at some point challenging narrative with a sense of steadfast simplicity that speaks to the soulfulness of the story and the importance of its message which is not an easy discussion to introduce but one that is nonetheless vital to the development of this touching drama What soon becomes evident about My Eternal Summer is that this film is defined not only by its themes but also the manner in which they are handled The subject matter at its heart is objectively difficult and anyone who has lost a loved one may find it challenging particularly those final few moments where death finally does make its inevitable appearance The execution is as integral to the story as the narrative specifically because Le Fanu is navigating such a narrow emotional tightrope; any sense of overt sentimentality or heavy-handed storytelling would reduce the impact of the film The director approaches the story from a direct and unfurnished perspective albeit one that is never cold or clinical in the way that we might expect from an honest depiction of someone’s final days it uses a more subtle style of storytelling – one built on silences and small emotional cues – to explore the harrowing experience of watching someone slowly fade away My Eternal Summer is still able to find warmth and comfort in unexpected places subtle touches of humor softening the emotional and bleak outlook that we are presented with at the start and accurately depicting the sometimes challenging journey of bidding farewell to a loved one A poignant drama that addresses the subject of death in a manner that is simple but effective and one not always comfortable in how it chooses to confront some of its emotional content Death as a subject is never easy to discuss in any context and the director has the challenge of making a film set in that vague period between life and death where time feels elongated beyond comprehension and yet there is still a desire to cherish every moment in fear of the remorse that will come with the inevitable final breath Le Fanu takes a bold approach with this film particularly in how she filters the story through the eyes of the young protagonist (in a stunning performance from Kaya Toft Loholt) and follows her journey as she undergoes the ordeal of handling her mother’s imminent passing Through this experience we find that it is possible to begin the process of healing before even reaching the apex of the pain she is bound to encounter which is one of the few reprieves that can come with watching a loved one slowly fade away A film built primarily on human interactions My Eternal Summer draws our attention to the smallest details as it navigates the harsh reality faced by this family and depicts their journey towards recovery all of which is done with tenderness and heart Swiss rider Marc Hirschi won the San Sebastian one-day classic on Saturday by edging Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe at the line after a 236-kilometre slog around the Basque Country combined with UAE Emirates team-mate Pavel Sivakov to tire Alaphilippe over the final kilometres Lennert Van Eetvelt of Belgium was third at seven seconds while Kevin Vermaerke of the United States was fourth at 17sec and Ecuador's Jhonatan Narvaez fifth at 25sec Sivakov reached the penultimate summit with a 20sec lead on a group of a dozen riders The 32-year-old caught and passed Sivakov on a steep final climb 7km from the line but was accompanied on his downhill dash by Hirschi who foiled him in the seafront finish at San Sebastian Alaphilippe was racing in the Basque Country hours after his boss at team Soudal-Quick Step had told Belgian daily Het Nieuwsblad the rider was leaving the outfit after a decade Alaphilippe is a two-time world champion who enjoyed a tilt at the Tour de France title in 2019 with 14 days in the leader's yellow jersey Get the most important Cycling stories delivered straight to your inbox Considerable cloudiness with occasional rain showers About a million people arrived in San Juan from Thursday to Sunday Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Today begins the 55th edition of the San Sebastian Street Festivities The San Sebastian Street Festivities are much more than a celebration the streets of Old San Juan are filled with music color and tradition in honor of San Sebastian whose memory inspires one of Puerto Rico's most popular festivities these festivities have become a renowned cultural event that brings together locals and visitors alike But who was San Sebastian and what makes it so special his life was marked by faith and sacrifice The Catholic Church commemorates him every January 20 remembering him as a martyr who defied the Roman Empire by refusing to abandon his Christian beliefs Admired by the emperors Diocletian and Maximian Sebastian dedicated his life to comforting and helping persecuted Christians bringing them food and even working miracles This bravery cost him his life: after being wounded with arrows cementing himself as a symbol of unwavering faith The beginning of the San Sebastián Street Festivities has religious roots organized a simple celebration consisting of a Mass and a procession participants wore cardboard masks known as "giants and bigheads," which represented characters from Spain in honor of the traditions of Father Madrazo's hometown With the retirement of the priest in the 60s director of the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture entrusted Doña Rafaela Balladares (who died in 2011) to revitalize the festival Their initiative was joined by the folklorist Aníbal Rodríguez Vera the painter Tony Maldonado and the neighbors of San Sebastián Street who transformed the event into a space of cultural expression for the entire community the festivities have incorporated activities such as period balls a San Sebastian carving competition and a special mass in honour of the patron saint book fairs and children's games consolidated its cultural importance and family spirit musicians walked the streets announcing the beginning of the festivities followed by a procession from San Sebastián Street to the San José Church this tradition has evolved and the procession culminates in the Cathedral of San Juan Bautista with emblematic characters of Puerto Rican folklore runs through the streets accompanied by crowds that sing and dance to the rhythm of the music The traditional celebration always included the neighbors of San Sebastián Street who used to decorate their balconies in a special way as well as used to prepare the costumes for traditional dances and prepare typical dishes of Creole gastronomy to share In front of the house of Puerto Rican painter José Campeche it is still customary to present artistic exhibitions in a celebration that continues to be a pillar of Puerto Rican culture in Puerto Rico and overseas SAN Sebastian is dead set in bringing back its lost glory with first-year head coach Rob Labagala and new backer Red Dynasty fronting the charge is already hard at work in putting the pieces in place with a slew of promising prospects headed to Recto Ian Cuajao, the 2025 NBTC All-Star Game MVP, is the latest get for the Golden Stags, bolstering their backcourt which still features Paeng Are The 5-foot-10 guard normed 15.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.0 assists for Emilio Aguinaldo College in the NCAA Season 100 juniors basketball tournament 18 in NBTC's annual rankings of the top 24 under-19 players in the Philippines hitting the game-winning three to lift Team Heart over Team Hustle Now, the 19-year-old takes his talents to a San Sebastian side which last made the Final Four before the pandemic in 2019 when coach Egay Macaraya and RK Ilagan were still in gold-and-red Cuajao will be joined by another former NBTC All-Star in Jevy Hinoguin, NU-Nazareth School big Gab Nepacena, and Gomez de Liano brothers Jordi and Jaime as San Sebastian's new building blocks for the future 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Find out more here The Spanish-American curator and founder of the Villa Magdalena gallery shares his favorite spots in his adopted city made his ascent in the 1980s alongside the likes of Andy Warhol and Keith Haring is a designer and former model from San Sebastián But instead of pursuing an art history degree Schnabel studied political science at Bard College “I spent a lot of time looking at art alone,” he told Elle last year and not feeling confident enough to express my own opinions.” he settled into Garmendia’s home on the Spanish coast read about contemporary and modern artists he opened an art gallery called Villa Magdalena on the ground floor of a townhouse which veers away from the white cube format writing press releases for every show and curating group and solo exhibitions the 30-year-old curator shares his favorite spots in his adopted city A restaurant in Monte Igueldo with one of the most famous wine cellars in the world. They use the traditional Basque grilling and barbecue techniques and serve signature dishes from the region like Chipirones en su tinta (Baby squid in their own ink), Txangurro al horno (Donostia-style baked spider crab), and Kokotxas (Hake or cod cheeks).(rekondo.com) Situated in one of the most beautiful plazas in the heart of the old town of San Sebastián El Tamboril has the same owners as Ganbara An incredible place to share everything and one of the most consistent kitchens in town They are some of the most authentic and fun places to go in the city These are nice places to have a drink and enjoy the lively atmosphere of the city’s historical district A nightclub and live music venue with the best music programming in the city and one of the best in Spain. Dabadaba is an incredible venue for electronic music. (dabadabass.com) A contemporary art gallery, established in 2018 by Gregorio Cibrián, showing emerging and established artists. Cibrian has participated in prestigious art fairs such as Paris Internationale, ARCOmadrid, and Liste Art Fair in Basel. (cibrian.eu) A cultural center opened in 2015 inside a restored tobacco factory. It focuses primarily on promoting and supporting creative industries in the Basque Country. Some of their main activities include an exhibition program and the postgraduate film program Zine-Eskola. (tabakalera.eus) including Eduardo Chillida and Jorge Oteiza have been invited to make permanent site-specific commissions that form part of the architectural complex This sacred site holds a special place in the heart of the Basque people and has become a pilgrimage site for artists A permanent land art installation by Eduardo Chillida at the end of the Paseo de La Concha, the walkway along La Concha beach. (sansebastianturismoa.eus) Courtesy Lasala PlazaSave this storySaveSave this storySaveAll products and listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors In the matter of the best hotels in San Sebastián it hasn't cut the mustard in quite the same way—which is all the more surprising given they city's long history as a watering place for the Spanish bourgeoisie which enjoys a prime beachside spot on the Miraconcha promenade the city can finally match its starry cuisine with a clutch of great places to stay Every hotel on this list has been selected independently by our editors and written by a Condé Nast Traveler journalist who knows the destination and has stayed at that property our editors consider both luxury properties and boutique and lesser-known boltholes that offer an authentic and insider experience of a destination and warm service—as well as serious sustainability credentials We update this list regularly as new hotels open and existing ones evolve Stupendously situated in a 19th-century apartment block on a sedate square beside the neo-Gothic Cathedral this easeful boutique property is predicated on an idea of contemporary Basque-style fusing dark-hued minimalism with respect for rural tradition Natural materials (notably wood) are highlighted and there’s an elegant austerity in the interior design Suites so large they feel like apartments have perfect views of the Cathedral from their grey-painted ornamental balconies Narru—where chef Iñigo Peña does his radically stripped-down Basque cocina de producto—lies at the center of a growing restaurant ecosystem in Centro Arbaso (‘ancestor’ in Basque) has considerably raised the neighborhood’s self-esteem instead partnering with local restaurants including Mirador de Ulía and Bodegón Senra to offer an on-site dinner service on request housed in a grand 1917 building made of golden sandstone typical of San Sebastián manages several clever tricks all at the same time One side of the hotel abuts a quiet old-town square on the fringes of the Parte Vieja while the other gives directly onto the old harbor with all its buzz and brouhaha The Lasala Plaza has no pretensions to five-star fuss yet its clean-lined modern rooms with a palette of greys and whites Immersed as it is in the Parte Vieja's vast universe of pincho bars the new hotel hardly needed its own-house restaurant Ander González's Jarana is making a name for itself with a disingenuously simple menu of retro dishes (steak tartar egg and chips with morcilla) impeccably done Crowning the building is a rooftop solarium—a rare beast in San Sebastián—with a swimming pool and bar When it comes to venues for a glass of cold txakoli while watching the sunset over Santa Clara island and the heights of Igeldo this classic 19th-century building has plenty of stories to tell having witnessed the San Sebastián of the Belle Époque and even hosting Mata Hari herself Its privileged views of La Concha Beach are hard to resist with an enviable location that's just a few steps from the promenade and the emblematic beach make a reservation at the Mari Galant Brasserie The hotel's La Perla Spa is one of the best in the city as well this former summer house on the outskirts of Gros—an architectural mashup of Surrey Tudor and bourgeois Basque—was a frowzy Following its purchase and re-opening by the Soldevila family of Catalan hoteliers the Villa (which dates back to 1898) has a new lease of life and the fin-de-siecle ambiance is all part of its charm under the careful hand of designer Núria Ferrer combines original elements—such as the carved wooden staircase with smart new furnishings and judiciously chosen modern Basque art (look for the original works by Eduardo Chillida) Bedecked in fine wallpapers and rich fabrics in stripes and tartans this old lady now has quite a spring in her step Antique furniture makes a strong showing—an antique Dutch grandfather clock stands beside the reception desk Sitges' regular collaborator Paul Christopher McKenna is behind the gorgeous hand-painted lifts and the trompe l'oeil murals of tropical vegetation Argentine chef Paulo Airaudo ups the ante with San Sebastián's restaurant of the moment 'Favorita' may not have been the Villa's original name but it's coming to seem deeply appropriate the Maria Cristina—which opened in 1912—is even more than the sum of its considerable parts San Sebastián’s most venerable and glamorous lodging has no sprawling gardens with views of Rafael Moneo’s Kursaal building and the Cantabrian Sea beyond is as nearly perfect as any hotel in Europe If the building’s sandstone façade has a certain severity the interior is voluptuously furnished in the eclectic style of modern luxury the Maria Cristina has history and heritage in spades; anecdotes cling to it like sequins (Here's just one: a portrait of Bette Davis who smoked her last cigarette here before being rushed to Paris and death presides over the cocktail bar.) Worth singling out for praise is the hotel’s charming and discreetly omnipresent service which creates something of the intimacy of a grand private household the out-of-town settlement somewhere between suburb and bucolic hilltop village is best known in San Sebastián for three very different things: its funicular railway and Pedro Subijana's Akelarre restaurant (one of a trio of storied establishments in the city boasting three Michelin stars) Subijana had dreamed of building a small hotel as an adjunct to his restaurant and was snapping up adjacent plots of land for the purpose (on one of which stood an abandoned discoteca) is a cut above the average restaurant with rooms Attached to the existing building is the modernist structure of the hotel (designed by Marta Urtasun and Pedro Rica of Madrid-based architects Mecanismo) whose low-slung cuboid forms are faced with rough grey slate Akelarre's 22 rooms have the studiedly neutral aesthetic of the boutique retreat de nos jours cool modern furniture (check the butterscotch-colored leather armchairs) and plate-glass windows giving wide-screen views of sea The effect is so restful it's easy to forget you're just a 10-minute drive from the bustle of downtown San Sebastián Each of the breezily designed contemporary rooms is named after an actor or director and photographs throughout the hotel are a roll-call of winners at the annual San Sebastián Film Festival Theming of this kind in hotels can be annoying if it's not done with the coherence and humor on show here: the Zinema7 has a library of film books a huge collection of DVDs for guests to enjoy and do not disturb signs that read: “Silence We're rolling!” Ceiling installations in the ground-floor Bistroteka restaurant are made of recycled film reels while the portly gentleman permanently seated in the lobby is a sculpture of Alfred Hitchcock who also lends his name to one of the suites and this is one of the few hotels in San Sebastián that the whole family can enjoy A version of this article originally appeared in Condé Nast Traveller. From a Game of Thrones filming location to the Picasso's inspiration in Gernika With a plethora of pintxo bars to eat your way through, dazzlingly verdant mountains to hike, and beaches to lounge upon, many visitors wish they had more time in San Sebastián.  The historic towns along the Bay of Biscay’s coast and inland From the fishing village where Balenciaga was born to the larger-than-life hermitage that doubles as Dragonstone on Game of Thrones the picture-perfect possibilities are endless and well worth taking a break from pintxos (tapas) and playa (beach) Whether your priority is tucking into some of the world’s best grilled fish or you have your sights set on famous sanctuaries and Picasso’s inspiration for Guernica you’ll find a memorable place to visit on this list of six day trips you can experience in under two hours’ drive A postprandial stroll is best done along the marina and the Bidasoa river and you can even take the ferry to Hendaye How to get to Hondarribia from San Sebastián: The E20 and E21 buses go from San Sebastián’s central Plaza de Gipuzkoa to Hondarribia at least once and sometimes twice an hour from 6:30 in the morning to 10:20 at night Cristóbal Balenciaga (yes, that Balenciaga) was Basque. So was the first man to circumnavigate the globe, Juan Sebastián Elcano. Getaria is their birthplace, so you can visit the monuments to these two men here (in the case of Balenciaga there’s an absolutely fabulous museum featuring rotating exhibits of his most iconic looks).  Grilled fish had something of a renaissance in this village in the 20th century, so be sure not to miss the world’s most delicious grilled turbot at Elkano so take a turn around the port where you can catch a glimpse of boats unloading their catch and women cleaning bones off anchovies How to get to Getaria from San Sebastián: Public transport is easier, if a little slower than car. You can take the UK10 or UK11 Bidaide buses from their stops on Avenida de Libertad in the center of the city where games of the gorgeous cesta punta mode of Basque pelota are played How to get to Gernika from San Sebastián: Gernika is not the easiest village to reach from San Sebastián by public transport, so take a car if you can. To take the bus, you must first go to Bilbao and, at the station, get one of the provincial BizkaiBus rides, such as the A3933 or A3523 for an equally long journey to the interior of Bizkaia. You can also take the Euskotren from the city center Europe’s most comprehensive center for marionette art How to get to Tolosa from San Sebastián: This lively inland village is wonderfully easy to get to. You have two choices – the provincial Bidaide bus BU08 or the RENFE train but the train is more comfortable and scenic where in summer you can ride the old steam locomotive down the Urola railway line How to get to Azpeitia from San Sebastián: The bus is the best public transportation for getting to Azpeitia. Take one of the Bidaide buses from the Avenida de Libertad stop – the UK01 is the quickest option How to get to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe from San Sebastián: San Juan de Gaztelugatxe is too remote to reach by public transport, so you’ll have to take a car or hire private transport to get there.