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Patrick Ross was the most interesting of my various, all to brief aquaintences. A burnt-out violin prodigy , with an oversized goatee. He teaches music in Vermont, and is, from my observations a borderline alcoholic. He disapeared sometime on a friday night, after babbling drunkenly in french canadian (which he speaks fluently) for an hour. As expected, I didn´t see him again.

Euskal Herreria

James Taylor
2006-08-23 12:34:20

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a real town at all.

It turned out to be a good move though. Despite being part of the loathed HI organization, the hostel was a sociable place. There were other long term backpackers, something I had rarely seen in since Paris. The weather was good, and there was nothing in the town that I felt obligated to see. So I relaxed. I hung out on the beach, watched the surfers for hours and read my book. The hostel was located some distance from the town, so in the evening the bar was a lively place. On my first night, I hung around, drank pints of Heineken, and met some well-to-do English gentlemen. One of them went to Edinburgh university (which I have heard is even more of a haven for toffs than Exeter) and spoke constantly about sailing. The other worked in an expensive clothes shops that I had never heard. He was called Sandy. They obviuosly had plenty of money, and at first I found all this very amusing. But I warmed to them, they were decent people and easy to get along with; something that I wouldn´t have discovered had my usual prejudices been in place

I spent most of my time with a couple of Canadians. For a few days I did almost everything with them. I cooked diner with them, I sat on the beach with them. I drank with them, and I almost got drowned by the incoming tide, with them (this is about all there is to do in Biarritz). They had such a relaxed attitude that I found it almost impossible not to adopt one aswell. In keeping with stereotype Paul said "eh" after after every sentance and Calep said "dope" (meaning good) constantly. In keeping with a different stereotype they had the maple leaf sewn onto their backpacks. They liked good music, so there was plenty to talk about.

This sort irresponsible behaviour continued in San Sebastian; just down the coast, but over the Spanish border. I stayed out late every night, drank a lot, and slept in late; but I met more people in three days than I had in the previous three weeks. In ...