Weather in the Basque Country

The weather in the Basque Country and Northern Spain is different than the rest of Spain.

The typical weather a tourists thinks of when they travel to Spain is dry and sunny, and it is true, but not in the north. On the Cantabrian coast the weather is cooler and rainy due to the Atlantic sea that bathes the northern coast of Spain. In these latitudes the Atlantic Sea is a cold sea so its influence is felt in the summer. On the other hand, in the winter the sea does not get as cold as the atmosphere thats why we also have winters with mild temperatures. Rain is never absent so if you come to the Basque Country you will see that everywhere you look everything is green.

So, while in the rest of Spain in summer it can be 100 degrees F, in the north we are at about 80 degrees F.

In the north of Spain the climate is Atlantic while in the rest of Spain it is a more continental Mediterranean climate. In other words, if a tourist wants to avoid the heat during the summer months the Basque Country and the north in general is the best option.

In addition to a perfect temperature we have beautiful beaches, mountains and villages to visit. Of course, the famous Basque gastronomy is always a great attraction.

 

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White wales in San Sebastian

sailing with wales and dolphins in san sebastian

white wales in san sebastian

This season we had unforgettable moments with our customers. One of them and perhaps the most exciting was when sailing only half a mile from San Sebastan we spotted white dorsal fins. I wasn’t sure what I had seen so I discussed it with my colleague Enrique. He confirmed it to me. He had also seen those imposing white fins. They were moments of confusion because they took a few minutes to emerge again.
When we saw them again they were closer to the boat and we could see that they were totally white, white as snow. I quickly thought of the Beluga whale as the shape of the head and the colour white coincided but not the dorsal fin. The beluga whale does not have a prominent dorsal fin and only inhabits the Arctic Circle.
The customers on the boat were very excited and asked if it was normal to see white whales. Obviously this is not normal. For me it was the first time I had a chance to see one.
After thinking about what kind of whale it could be, we came to the conclusion that it was the pilot gray whale. When they are adults that gray color becomes white. The description coincides perfectly with this species.

They were a while emerging from the water but always maintaining a distance with our boat. It was impossible to capture a good image with our mobile phones but we all have that moment engraved in our memory. I hope to find more in the future and that our customers can enjoy them.

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Sailing in San Sebastian

San Sebastian is a small, picturesque city on the Bay of Biscay, which is where the Atlantic Ocean meets the French and Spanish coasts. The city’s crown jewel is La Concha Bay, a natural harbour which has provided shelter to ocean-bound ships thoroughout the city’s seafaring history, which you can see reflected on the city’s coat of arms – an open ocean schooner with sails unfurled. Until the 17th century, Donostia (San Sebastian’s name in the local Basque language) was one of the most important ports in northern Spain.  Sailing out from the picturesque old port is one of the most authentic experiences you can enjoy in our city.

Sailing

Just like merchants and fishermen have done for centuries, we will set sail in search of adventure. We will head out through the steep, rocky coasts and enjoy the marine life that abounds in this area. We always have fishing rods at the ready in case guests want to set a line for tuna or mackerel. Dolphin sightings are common, and we’ve even seen the occasional whale.  After a delightful sail we will anchor in the bay, which gives us a chance to to have a swim and enjoy a sunny afternoon in the bay with an onboard picnic.

Lunch based on local products

This experience is not complete without a good lunch made of local products. We will make some pintxos, the Basque tapas that have made our city famous and wash them down with a glass of good wine. All this in a privileged setting such as the bay of La Concha. It’s certainly one of the best moments of the day.

We look forward to an authentic experience.

 

San Sebastian sailing

Lunch time in the San Sebastian bay

 

 

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Top Cheese cake in San Sebastian

Cheese cake at La Viña in San Sebastián

Bar La Viña is on 31 de Agosto Street in San Sebastian’s old city. It is a very popular spot for pintxos, casual dinners and formal events for tourists and locals alike. Their formula for success consists of using all high quality ingredients. In the last few years the most popular menu item has become their cheesecake. It’s different than a traditional cheesecake, lighter in texture, and impossible to try without getting addicted. A stop at this lively bar located on one of the city’s most historic streets makes the perfect ending to a night out in the city.

I am posting this because many guests are amazed by this desert. They wanted to know how to make it so today I wanted to share the secret with you. Although you won’t have the same lively surroundings with a mix of strangers and friends, the big wooden bar covered with exquisite pintxos (unless you’re quite fortunate), and the thrill of spending a few days in this gorgeous coastal city, you will have this fabulous desert. I’ll leave the ambience up to you to create at home.

Cheese cake recipe

Use a cake pan about four inches deep. The only tricky part is the baking time. Depending on the oven and the pan, the time can vary slightly. The goal is a moist, spongy filling – test it with a cake tester or something similar as often as necessary. Eternal vigilance is the price of the perfect cheescake!

Ingredients:

  • 1kg cream cheese, such as Philadelphia
  • 5 egg
  • 350g sugar
  • 500ml heavy cream
  • 1 tablespoon flour

Preheat the oven to 230ºC/450ºF. Mix all the ingridients in a bowl and beat until smooth. Pour mixture in to the cake pan and bake for around 30 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean. Best enjoyed at room temperature.

And that’s it! Enjoy!

Pintxo tour in San Sebastian

 

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