Madrid to Sydney - May 2026

Flew back from San Sebastian for the first leg of my long trip home. It's a very small local airport. Short flight on Iberia. It's an A319 and looks small...

Leaving...

Goodbye San Sebastian...

Coming into Madrid...

I'm staying at INNSiDE by Melia Madrid Valdebebas near the airport as I have an early flight tomorrow. Caught the hotel shuttle and checked into the hotel. It's very new, and I got a nice room with balcony, overlooking the airport...

I wanted to go into the city, so I caught the shuttle back to the airport and then the airport train and then subway to Sol. It cost EUR3.60.

It was a sunny but cold day in Madrid. I went to Global Blue Exchange to get the tax refund on my new sunglasses. However the queue was outrageous so I left. I hadn't had lunch so I headed to an early dinner. It'd it's a public holiday in Madrid so very busy...

We had tried twice to get into a restaurant that I had been onto on my last trip here. They don't take bookings and are always busy. However, I turned up about 6pm and got a seat. It's a nice place called Entre Santos...

I ordered the stuff portobello mushrooms which were superb...

And the beef tartare was great...

Caught the subway back to the airport which took longer than the airport train. Then got the hotel shuttle back to the hotel. I went up to the rooftop bar and had a vermouth. It was very cold so I didn't stay long.

The next morning it was a 6am wake up for a 9am flight to Brussels on Iberia. It was effectively a domestic flight and therefore now passport control, so I was happy about that as Spain is a bit slow and they have implemented this new ESS which is the electronic collection of fingerprints.

I got a seat at the front of economy which was good. Larger than a regular seat...

I got to Brussels and went to the non-Shengen section. Had to clear passport control which was easy. Found The View lounge as there's no Cathay Lounge here. It was fine and I didn't have long but I had tome for this very nice lunch...

I went to the gate and saw my plane. I think it's the one I came to Rome on as it has the 80 year, retro livery...

Landed in Hong Kong at 0650 after a very long 11.5 hours in Premium Economy. I made my way through transfer which is annoying in HK. Passport control and full security screening. Got to the lounge foe a jounce and a coffee before boarding my 8am flight to Singapore. 

Quick flight to Singapore and landed about 1130. Got my bag and headed out of the airport to Yunimori Onsen for a steam and a massage. Headed back to the airport about 4pm and went to the Qantas First Class lounge which is my favourite. Had the Qantas Sling which was very nice...

I then had the prawn wontons which are my favourite, followed by the pork chop...

Then the sorbet and a Noble One...

Short trip home and it was only 6.5 hours. We landed at 5am and I was home by 6am.

What a great trip!

San Sebastian, Spain - May 2026

Flew from Seville to Bilbao which is the nearest airport. We then caught a bus for the 90 minute ride to San Sebastian.

This is a foodie city and I can't wait to experience some amazing food.

We checked into our AirBnb which is nice and modern, and overlooks the main square...

We then went for a walk around the old town, first stop, The Basilica of Santa María...

This is a view of another church which we will find later...

We then walked towards the river and passed the Museum San Telmo...

We found the Atlantic Ocean...

And walked around the promenade which is effectively around the Old Town...

This is the fishing port...

For dinner we went to a couple of Pinxto bars for tapas...

You fill out a piece of paper with numbers on it to indicate which ones you want to try...

This is the second place...

The one on the left is famous and called a Gilda. Anchovy is not my thing :-)

Then we found a bar with decent music and had a drink...

The next morning I walked up the hill near us to Castle of La Mota...

After that, I found a place for breakfast...

Then headed across the river...

To this beach called Playa de Zurriola...

The Basque region is famous for it's cheesecake...

We went to the place where they (allegedly) invented the Basque cheesecake and had a piece. It was great but very filling...

More pinxtos for a late lunch...They taste better than they photograph!

This is how you order...

That night we walked across the river looking for a bar that had been recommended. It was open but empty so we headed back to somewhere closer to our apartment. This is an auditorium and I have not enhanced the photo...

Walking around town looking for coffee!

This is one of the pinxto bars we went to...

We went for a walk along the beachfront...

Looking back to town...

Then we went to a place which specialised in mussels...

I had a pre-dinner aperol at a bar I found called Arraun...

One night we booked a nice restaurant, rather than a pinxto bar. The grilled asparagus was excellent...

The leeks were superb...

We even had dessert. Couldn't eat it all!

Walking around town on our final day...

Found the Good Shepherd Cathedral that we saw on the first day from the steps of the church near us...

Just a view of the streets in the old town...

Wine is so cheap here...

Last day of pinxtos! I always go for the octopus...

And squid!

For dinner I tried a croquetta and more ham and more squid!

The next morning I went for a coffee and then caught a taxi to San Sebastian airport, which is closer than Bilbao. It's a largely domestic airport and quite small.