Mmm, let´s see, you may buy cider in bottles in a shop, but in a cider house you drink is straight from the barrel (check in youtube for sidrerías or sagardotegiak, in Basque), AS MUCH AS YOU WANT, but take into account that you don´t have to get drunk (it´s socially unacceptable), just happy!!

ttt for all the great S.B. suggestions!

Mikelg - I read somewhere about drinking the bottle all the way to the dregs. I assumed it was the custom. There was something about it being poured from quite a distance from the glass to aerate it. Perhaps that was if you order in a bar, not a cider house. Not having the responsibility of downing a whole bottle is actually a relief. Since I don't drink much, the whole bottle would wack me out.

Goldiept, drinking the full bottle is the custom in Asturias (about 200 kms west of the Basque Country), where they make a similar cider and it´s ordered by the bottle and you have to drink it all...but among several friends. Bars are places to socialize and meet your friends, not places to get drunk. Kids enter in bars freely and we love to hang around in bars but just to meet other families or friends. And in Asturias they pour it from a distance to aerate it, yes.

In the Basque Country you may order a bottle of cider in a bar, but can order by the glass. Not in Asturias, full bottle it is, but to share.

And in the Basque Country you should try the local, slightly sparkling and very dry white wine txakolí. Stronger than the cider but also poured from a long distance from the glass to aerate it. "Everybody" drinks txakolí with pintxos in San Sebastián.
http://articles.sfgate.com/2007-08-0...iako-txakolina

And be sure to round off the meals (perhaps not all) with a cold Pacharán/Patxaran from nearby Navarra.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patxaran

Thanks Mikelg- I chuckle at my own ignorance and thanks for straightening that out.

Kimhe - I have noted all of your suggestions and will add this one to my evergrowing list.

It will be my introduction to this part of the world. Feels like a place I will want to return to for a longer period of time.

Kimhe - just looked up the your latest links. Sounds divine!

http://www.blogseitb.us/basquetourism, my last post on the Museum of the Basque Beret

On the 12th of April the madrileña Guadalupe Torres dances at Cardamomo. She recently won a prestigious flamenco prize for her coreographic work and she obviously is a wonderful dancer. Here in a clip together with our own Norwegian flamenco star, the guitarist Bettina Flater:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsNu1...eature=related

Torres used to dance in the company of María Pagés (as did Rocío Molina), and she is now starting to get serious attention in the flamenco community: http://www.flamencotv.es/component/k...af%C3%ADa.html

... and Cardamomo is just off central and bustling Plaza Santa Ana: http://www.cardamomo.es/

About Plaza Santa Ana and surroundings: http://www.gomadrid.com/sights/plaza-santa-ana.html

You will have a tough choice in Madrid on the 12th. The same night Manuel Liñan dances at Casa Patas. He was a soloist together with Molina in New York flamenco festival last year.

ttt

To everybody who helped me with this trip a huge thanks.
We had a great time all around. It went without hitch and we lucked out with perfect weather every day.

I must say that some of my favorite moments were just sitting in the squares and seeing how close people are with their friends and family. Women walking with other women - all classy in their nice clothes just walking and talking. Same for the men. Just spending time having a glass of wine and hanging out.

It was remarkable to me how often 3 generations of family were together. Something you don't see that often in New York. It was beautiful.

We loved each of the places we visited. Barcelona's architecture and the neighborhoods off Ramblas were great. We stayed in Eixample but would have much preferred being in the older places that had a lot more personality. Managed to get to Palau de Musica for a concert. What an extraordinary gorgeous cream puff of a building. Just overwhelming.

Bilbao - I had been wanting to see the Guggenheim for so many years that it felt anticlimactic to me. We did get to the Viscaya Bridge and loved that whole experience and the area it was in.

San Sebastian - Lovely and took short trips to Hondarribia, St. Jean de Luz and Donibane. All spectacular experiences.

Madrid - only had one day there. Will have to go back someday - I regret the trip didn't allow more time there but it will be incentive to go back.

Thanks for everything. You all were instrumental in the whole plan and we loved it.

Goldie