Opening Day of Aste Negusia

Kim took the boys into Casco Viejo on the very first day of Aste Nagusia, hours before the official opening ceremonies would kick things off after dark. Even in daylight the streets were alive — txarangas roaming and playing, and the txosnas being built up all around, their makeshift beer and food gardens getting dressed for the days ahead. The set designs stopped us in our tracks, whimsical and wild, and the whole place hummed with a festive energy you could feel just walking through it.

We stopped to eat at Izen Barik, sat down together — Jack, Oliver, and Anders all squeezed around the table, and ever missing their pup who was traveling to Spain from Seattle, we photoshopped him into the photo because he was on our minds. The menú del día was mediocre (thirty euros for a fine but unmemorable meal!) — one we won't rush back for, but the company and the buzz of the day made it a good one regardless.