After the two first chapters (Biscay and Navarre) I think it's about time to show you my own homeland: Gipuzkoa
http://www.arrakis.es/~balencia/mapas.gif
http://www.argia.com/gida/images/m_gipuzkoa.gif

I wont say it's the best, but most people think that it's the most beautiful of the southern basque provinces, and it is very beautiful actually.

It's the second basque province on population (750.000 inh), but the smallest one, so it's very densely inhabited. The valleys are almost full of houses & factories, so we can say that Gipuzkoa is kinda big city hiden under the hills. You can go from the furthest town of the province to the capital in 30 minutes (from my town, for example), so it's like a city really.

The climate is warm and very rainy. Consequently, it's very green and more than the 60% of the surface is covered by forests (mainly the mountains and the hills).

I'ts capital, Donostia San Sebastian, is well known because of it's famous film festival ( zinemaldia, in basque) and it's wonderful bay , La Kontxa (the marco incomparable).

Gastronomy is one of the main reasons to come here: Gipuzkoa has the highest Michelin Stars per capita rate in the world, and the most famous restaurants in Spain (apart from Ferran Adriá catalan's "El Bulli") are located around Donostia-Sansebastian

It's considered a city of old and rich people (which is partly true), but it's trying to change lately. Donostia's metro area collides with Bayonne's (the capital of the french-basque country), and the whole area forms a metro area called Basque Eurocity, which has around 650.000 inh (therefore, the second metro area in the Basque country, after Bilbao with 1 million and far from Vitoria-Gasteiz with 230.000).
http://www.photoways.com/partenaires/photoways/affiche_vignette.php?a=L2J3YWNnYChaJkskXkxbO0QkPX52d2w4KS0rSV1IKksVD1VAUA==

Even if it doesn't seem very industrial, Gipuzkoa is a very industrial region and has very big factories that produce trains, buses, metals, paper, etc. Industry suposes around the 40% of the GDP. However, the capital is not so industrial. There are plenty of farms spread all around the region, but the people who live at them usually work at a factory, so farming is not important at all nowadays (produces the 1,5% of the GDP). That's because of the lack of space.

I don't want to bore you, so those are the photos:
http://www.photoways.com/partenaires/photoways/affiche_vignette.php?a=L2J3YWNnYChaJkskXkxbO0QkPX52d2w4KSojSV1IKksVD1VAUA==
http://www.photoways.com/partenaires/photoways/affiche_vignette.php?a=L2J3YWNnYChaJkskXkxbO0QkPX52d2w4KS0qSV1IKksVD1VAUA==
http://www.photoways.com/partenaires/photoways/affiche_vignette.php?a=L2J3YWNnYChaJkskXkxbO0QkPX52d2w4KS0oSV1IKksVD1VAUA==
http://www.photoways.com/partenaires/photoways/affiche_vignette.php?a=L2J3YWNnYChaJkskXkxbO0QkPX52d2w4KS0pSV1IKksVD1VAUA==
http://www.photoways.com/partenaires/photoways/affiche_vignette.php?a=L2J3YWNnYChaJkskXkxbO0QkPX52d2w4KS0uSV1IKksVD1VAUA==
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http://www.photoways.com/partenaires/photoways/affiche_vignette.php?a=L2J3YWNnYChaJkskXkxbO0QkPX52d2w4KSwpSV1IKksVD1VAUA==
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Typical Basque event:
http://www.photoways.com/partenaires/photoways/affiche_vignette.php?a=L2J3YWNnYChaJkskXkxbO0QkPX52d2w4KS8iSV1IKksVD1VAUA==
http://www.photoways.com/partenaires/photoways/affiche_vignette.php?a=L2J3YWNnYChaJkskXkxbO0QkPX52d2w4KSwtSV1IKksVD1VAUA==

Hope you like it. I keep waiting for comments, bye!

a very green landscape filled with lovely villages in the valleys and a very nice capitol city who boasts with live with a great atmosphere.
a very under-rated region imo

It's a pleasure to see someone from the Basque Fatherland. I'm myself from the very southwest France and have the basque cross engraved in my house. Yet I'm not exactly basque.


DE Snor, pays basque isn't understimated. The price of hoàuse here has been multiplied by 10 in a few years (not even a joke). It's a very popular aera now and very appreciated.

It's a pleasure to see someone from the Basque Fatherland. I'm myself from the very southwest France and have the basque cross engraved in my house. Yet I'm not exactly basque.


DE Snor, pays basque isn't understimated. The price of hoàuse here has been multiplied by 10 in a few years (not even a joke). It's a very popular aera now and very appreciated.

I meant by under-rated that not that much people know the region beside Spanish and French people

It's a pleasure to see someone from the Basque Fatherland. I'm myself from the very southwest France and have the basque cross engraved in my house. Yet I'm not exactly basque.

really? I'm going to the sud-ouest for three days tomorrow! I know it may sound strange, but I've never been to Bordeaux yet (only at the TGV station), so I think it's about time to go there.
Where are you exactly from? Bearn, Landes...?


DE Snor, pays basque isn't understimated. The price of hoàuse here has been multiplied by 10 in a few years (not even a joke). It's a very popular aera now and very appreciated.


Actually, the price of the houses is one of the biggest problems here at the moment. It's almost imposible to buy a house! specially in Donostia-San Sebastian (the most expensive city in Spain after Madrid (and Barcelona?)).

If you want a apartament in the city centre, you need at least 500.000 €

Hautes pyrénées. The former part of Navarre who's been divided in Midi-Pyrénées.

Biarritz is even more expensive than most area of Paris and as expensive as the old Paris....

Why are the houses so expensive ?

too much people in a too little country.

Pop. density is about 350 people per square km. , so imagine (however, it's even higher in Biscay, with 505 ppskm.!), one of the highest in europe. That's what I meant with "Gipuzkoa may be considered a city".

If the houses were cheap, everybody would want to live in this narrow piece of ground between the Kontxa and the Urumea river... impossible.

Why are the houses so expensive ?


Well, in France it's foreigners (and rich foreigners), who are buying everything they can for insane prices, much higher than their real value (don't look at me, I'm not xenophobic, it's a fact some of my friend working in this confirmed it). In my small village, a few couples of British bought houses. And they pay the price for those. Local peoples just can't follow. This is a very natural, preserved and beautyfull area. With both mountains and ocean in sight. This is why I say this place is recognised are way recognised as a nice place. My house is getting more value almost each month.

donostia es la ostia

It's a pleasure to see someone from the Basque Fatherland. I'm myself from the very southwest France and have the basque cross engraved in my house. Yet I'm not exactly basque.


DE Snor, pays basque isn't understimated. The price of hoàuse here has been multiplied by 10 in a few years (not even a joke). It's a very popular aera now and very appreciated.


here another european basque navarrensis...from hondarribia :wave:

+ photos

DONOSTIA / SAN SEBASTIAN

http://www.photoways.com/partenaires/photoways/affiche_vignette.php?a=L2J3YWNnYCg5Jj8kPTg6OyIhPX52d2w4KygvKikpKi0QD1VAUA==

http://www.photoways.com/partenaires/photoways/affiche_vignette.php?a=L2J3YWNnYCg5Jj8kPTg6OyIhPX52d2w4KyAtKikpKi0QD1VAUA==

http://www.photoways.com/partenaires/photoways/affiche_vignette.php?a=L2J3YWNnYCg5Jj8kPTg6OyIhPX52d2w4KyAoKikpKi0QD1VAUA==

http://www.photoways.com/partenaires/photoways/affiche_vignette.php?a=L2J3YWNnYCg5Jj8kPTg6OyIhPX52d2w4KigvKikpKi0QD1VAUA==


HONDARRIBIA

http://www.photoways.com/partenaires/photoways/affiche_vignette.php?a=L2J3YWNnYCg5Jj8kPTg6OyIhPX52d2w4Ky0vKikpKi0QD1VAUA==

http://www.photoways.com/partenaires/photoways/affiche_vignette.php?a=L2J3YWNnYCg5Jj8kPTg6OyIhPX52d2w4KyooKikpKi0QD1VAUA==

Hondarribia & hendaia

http://www.photoways.com/partenaires/photoways/affiche_vignette.php?a=L2J3YWNnYCg5Jj8kPTg6OyIhPX52d2w4LS8iKikpKi0QD1VAUA==


visit basque forum! :cheers:

----> http://www.skyscrapercity.com/forumdisplay.php?f=320

Thank you very much, but I don't speak Spanish at all, maybe I'll go there some time to time.

too much people in a too little country.

If the houses were cheap, everybody would want to live in this narrow piece of ground between the Kontxa and the Urumea river... impossible.

Impossible ?
There is still the possibility of building taller residential towers , why aren't they built ?

Impossible ?
There is still the possibility of building taller residential towers , why aren't they built ?


well, the city centre is full of historical buildings which are already quite high, 7 floors, XIX century, but quite nice), so I supose (and hope) that it's forbidden to "break" or spoil the urban landmark. As you can see, the new sides of the city are quite "high", classic blocks of 8 floors or 15 floor towers... quite dense I think. I've just come from Bordeaux and there aren't any buildings with more than 5 floors!!! (and most of them are 1-2 floors, incredible).

Thank you very much, but I don't speak Spanish at all, maybe I'll go there some time to time.


you don't really need to speak spanish, its just 25 (maybe 30?) kms away from the french border and many people who work in bars and restaurants speak french and english.

Thanks, I'll check.

Sin duda Donostia es preciosa......

Pero habria algunas cosas por matizar......ARABA es mucho mas bonita...jejejejej..... ;)

Venga un saludo y el de Araba a ver si me lo curro....:P

Sin duda Donostia es preciosa......

Pero habria algunas cosas por matizar......ARABA es mucho mas bonita...jejejejej..... ;)

Venga un saludo y el de Araba a ver si me lo curro....:P

No thanks , I prefer Gipuzkoa :)

No thanks , I prefer Gipuzkoa :)

OK, I prefer Álava..............:P

OK, I prefer Álava..............:P


hahaha, el pueblo ha hablado!

animo, vuestras patatas son muchísimo mejores (valeeee,... tb la calidad de vida).

hahaha, el pueblo ha hablado!

animo, vuestras patatas son muchísimo mejores (valeeee,... tb la calidad de vida).

:P solo es mi opinion...... y eso de la patata ya es mas viejo que el catarro tio..... :runaway:

Me encanta Gipuzkoa pero me gusta mas Álava por su diversidad.... diversity XD... que dirian por ahi...... eso si con Donostia no me meto jejejejej

Que no todo es patataaaa :P...........:

http://www.mifotodigital.com/mifoto/album/albums/1329/23066213.jpg

During wintertime someone from Euskadi posted very nice pictures of a snowy landscape.
Where were these pictures taken , can somebody remember that cause I think the thread has been deleted ?!

I was me I think

http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/601/4585montagnes_pyr_n_es.jpg

I took the picture myself, it's the very edge, on the distance you can see Roland's Breach were legend says he was killed by the basques.

Your picture was in that thread too , I believe a Spanish guy posted that thread with pictures of farms in it covered in snow.
Remember those images :?

To stay on topic, these pictures of Donostia

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/3020/3donostia.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/3020/3donosti2.jpg

Your picture was in that thread too , I believe a Spanish guy posted that thread with pictures of farms in it covered in snow.
Remember those images :?


Well no I don't remember

Dont say stupid things, all basque country is good, but all of you know that Biscay is the best part jejejejejeje
About the prices of the houses, I have to say that I live in a tower of 11 floors in a residencial district of those tipe of towers and my parents buy this aparment(100m) for 26000€ 19 years ago and now it cost 305000€, and i have to say that this district is the last one of Bilbao city.
Anothere basque here :nocrook:

@Lechacal: Dont worry, we speak english (or we try, like me) so whatever you want ask us ,and you know, spanish is so similar to french

I remembered , "Vito" posted those images !
Post them again please :yes:

:P solo es mi opinion...... y eso de la patata ya es mas viejo que el catarro tio..... :runaway:

Me encanta Gipuzkoa pero me gusta mas Álava por su diversidad.... diversity XD... que dirian por ahi...... eso si con Donostia no me meto jejejejej

Que no todo es patataaaa :P...........:




tranki onbre! jejeje, que era broma. ya se que lo de la patata esta muy oido, pero no veas como le jode a mi prima de vitoria!!! :cheers1:

lo que pasa que llevo tantos años oyendo la tabarra de mi padre con eso de que los giputxis damos asco siempre hablando de lo verde... que al final le tengo manía al paisaje de alava y la zona media navarra, tan "diverso" él. jejjej

the smiley version of my father in a conversation of giputxi's about landscape:
:lurker:

During wintertime someone from Euskadi posted very nice pictures of a snowy landscape.
Where were these pictures taken , can somebody remember that cause I think the thread has been deleted ?!

i'll try to find them..... ; )

I have photos from Alava a Vitoria- Gasteiz....

Post them please !

What is going to happen with the RENFE trainstation in Donostia when the new line from Dax to Gasteiz is built ?
- I've read about a new station in Astigarraga...
- Is the local train (Euskotren) to have a service from Baiona (Bayonne) into Gipuzkoa ?
- Are there plans to restruct the aera around the existing Norte station in Donostia ?
- Where exactly is the new line going to be built , is the Basque "Y" to be built ? ?

Ok, I will answer some of those questions. There isnt Euskotren to Bayonne, there is only to Hendaya, in the North of the Basque (France part) there isnt Euskotren.
The "Y" is the High Speed Train (AVE) and connect Bilbao, Donosti and Gasteiz
(A map put by Vladimir)
http://www.photoways.com/partenaires/photoways/affiche_vignette.php?a=L2J3YWNnYCg5Jj8kPTg6OyIhPX52d2w4LCkoKikpKi0QD1VAUA==

I can't wait to go to Biarritz this summer.

I went two years ago to Biarritz and that city is so expensive. Is more expensive Bayonne that you must pay if you want to go to the toilet... XD. I remember that in Saint Jean de Luz a man argued us because we spoke too high XD.
Biarritz is very beautiful and the beach is fantastic

^^ I pay nothing there, I'll be squatting a friend appartemnent. Like I do every years.

ohhh thats ok...

^ I know the Euskotren is going to Hendaya but in the future , are theyre no extensions planned to Baiona after the HST line is built ?

no, I dont think so... I would look for information

In the future works dont appear but in the map you can see how the Euskotren line goes to France...

http://www.photoways.com/partenaires/photoways/affiche_vignette.php?a=L2J3YWNnYChaJkskXkxbO0QkPX52d2w4KSwpSV1IKksVD1VAUA==

What a great setting for city. Are there many tourists?

I dont know, i think so. This city was a city for kings/queens and rich people and because of that, it has many old beautiful buildings.
I have to say that city is one of the most expensives in Spain.

for people who are interested in the Basque Country ,there is every 3 months this publication by Milan Presse about this region with wonderfull pictures and lots of information:

http://www.milanpresse.com/Magazines/Affich.htm?RID=PY040036&RTitre=Pays%20basque%20Magazine

I have a subscription since ages ;)


@ tahk , all your pics are :redx: