Re(2): Remember when? Posted on October 15, 2023 at 07:34:27 AM by Mark K.
Actually there is quite more to the story. The airline lost our luggage in Madrid, but we were determined to go on to Mutriku as Aitor had made reservations for us in Mutriku at a hotel (it turned out the hotel was built into the side of a mountain!). We were told to take a bus to San Sebastian to meet Aitor, but it turned out the buses were on strike, so we tried a train, only to find that the trip was sold out. So we rented a car, not knowing that cars in Europe are primarily standard transmission...and I don't drive that...I tried, but 200 stalls later we returned the rental and bought train tickets for the next day, and rented a hotel room nearby.
Aitor met us the next day after our arrival in San Sebastian, and later on drove us to our hotel. We literally had to take steps down the side of a mountain to get to our room. Very wierd. The next day Carina and I walked around the beautiful town of Mutriku and somehow got lost and couldn't find our hotel, so we asked a local who told us we were STANDING ON IT!!! No lie.
The next day Aitor had to work, so we took a cab to Guernika where there partidos scheduled. We arrived during siesta time, so we went into a tapa bar looking completely lost. A nice lady speaking perfect English without a trace of an accent noticed our plight and invited us to dine with her and her husband, who was Irusta, and the nice lady was his American wife.
After dinner Irusta walked us to the Guernika fronton when from across the street I hear "MARK,MARK, what are you doing here?" It was the former Orlando player Azpillaga who recognized me, I don't know how. Anyway, Irusta purchased our tickets and introduced us to the players' manager Totorica, who ushered us to our seats for the event, featuring Irastorza and Hormaetzea in the featured partido. Aitor met us there, and sometime during the event I was given an autographed jersey (probably arranged by Aitor in advance).
Anyway, our luggage didn't catch up to us until we returned to Madrid, where it was waiting for us in our room.
This trip and adventure is one of Carina and my fondest memories. Aitor is a perfect gentleman and a fine host...an all around great guy.
12 years??!! Unbelievable. Replies:
