San Sebastian
San Sebastian was in the news the other day - for playing host to an international peace conference aimed at persuading ETA - the Basque terrorist group - to lay down its arms.
Kofi Annan - former head of the United Nations - was there, so were Martin McGuiness - Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland - and Jonathan Powell - former chief of staff to Tony Blair.
Both Powell and McGuiness played crucial roles in negotiating the Good Friday Peace Agreement - which brought years of sectarian killing and armed struggle to an end.
So I hope the conference had an impact - because the ETA campaign is going nowhere - and is hated by the vast majority of the Basque people in that part of Spain.
I've been to San Sebastian - or Donostia to give the town its Basque - which is nestled on the north coast of Spain to the east of Bilbao.
San Sebastian is the foodie capital of the Basque country and Spain - the taps or 'pintxos' are to die for - and the old town - is the place to head for to sample its wares.
A great night - or day - out can be had wandering from bar to bar - trying out the little specialities of the house - which are not just incredibly tasty but relatively cheap.
San Sebastian is dominated by a magnificent beach - La Concha - and is a great place to visit if you have the time and inclination - especially during its annual film festival when the town is really buzzing.
So I hope ETA listen to Kofi Annan, Martin McGuiness and Jonathan Powell - because killing and maiming completely innocent people will not achieve their political aims.
As events in Northern Ireland finally proved to the world - there is a better way.
Kofi Annan - former head of the United Nations - was there, so were Martin McGuiness - Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland - and Jonathan Powell - former chief of staff to Tony Blair.
Both Powell and McGuiness played crucial roles in negotiating the Good Friday Peace Agreement - which brought years of sectarian killing and armed struggle to an end.
So I hope the conference had an impact - because the ETA campaign is going nowhere - and is hated by the vast majority of the Basque people in that part of Spain.
I've been to San Sebastian - or Donostia to give the town its Basque - which is nestled on the north coast of Spain to the east of Bilbao.
San Sebastian is the foodie capital of the Basque country and Spain - the taps or 'pintxos' are to die for - and the old town - is the place to head for to sample its wares.
A great night - or day - out can be had wandering from bar to bar - trying out the little specialities of the house - which are not just incredibly tasty but relatively cheap.
San Sebastian is dominated by a magnificent beach - La Concha - and is a great place to visit if you have the time and inclination - especially during its annual film festival when the town is really buzzing.
So I hope ETA listen to Kofi Annan, Martin McGuiness and Jonathan Powell - because killing and maiming completely innocent people will not achieve their political aims.
As events in Northern Ireland finally proved to the world - there is a better way.
