The original kitchen for the house is in the basement of Matilde Enea and for the most part, has been left just as it was in the 1920s.  I love seeing things as they were with implements for cooking, baskets, scales, old stoves, sink, tables and encaustic cement tile floors.   It's really like stepping into another time period..  
An ironing room is also down here with old irons that were heated in the corner on a wood stove.  

We've been having divine morning coffee and pintxos (especially Tortilla de Patatas where they make them fresh in the kitchen) at Bar Alaia on Calle Matia.  More photos to come.   

The sun sets here at 10pm in the Summer.  Last night was especially spectacular! 

My daily steps up and down the stairs bring sight of three paintings that intrigue me: one of a triptych of the Madonna and Child; one of a 14 foot-sized portrait of an Elizabethan lady and at the top of the stairs, one of the Goddess Diana in 18th century garb.  All of these ladies with their symbological content, not to mention styles of depiction by their respective artists, have added mystery and insights to my days here.  Noteworthy also are beautiful wooden carvings of fruits on the bannisters and stained glass windows.    

The first time I came to Villa Matilde, I asked Chris who the man in the painting in the comedora was.   His reply was "Rei de la Rue" which translates to King of the Road.  Of course, the image doesn't exactly bring up trailers for sale or rent or rooms to rent 50 cents.  After that, he explained that the man in the painting was the King of Spain.  When I asked him which King of Spain yesterday, he let me know that he doesn't know who it is at all.   Am I gullible?  I'm learning that this just might be a possibility.  The good news is that a real Rei de la Rue show up last night, Captain Doug, with a suitcase and guitar in hand.  The beach was nucleario today with a sea of colored umbrellas and people tomando el sol.  

I am so enjoying being back at Villa Matilda, Chris' family home in San Sebastian.  Tiburcio Bea built this beautiful villa in basque architectural style for his bride Matilde in 1925.  It is so full of character and tells a story of the Bea Family in a different era. The walls, photos and paintings all seem to speak to me and I will share more soon.    

Chris and I arrived on June 12th to this spectacular city in the basque country.  After arriving at Villa Matilda, Chris' family home, we tucked ourselves away and de-jet lagged in Chris' grandmother's room.  The weather was sirri mirri (rainy & misty) for the most part, with a few gorgeous sunny days interspersed that found us beaching and swimming.  Despite my friends' advice to message photos as they arised, it was not so simple.  My cell phone was just not cooperating.   The evolution of this blog, then, was in response to the numerous bounced photos that kicked back on the cell.  Emailing seemed just as onerous, hence the simplicity of the humble travel blog, accessed by a simple link.   This is a private sharing of our visit to San Sebastian and Prague for the Summer of 2018.