Bilbao!!!

Sunday, 13th April

Left Donostia-San Sebastián on the 11:30 bus, and off we got in Bilbao--after a longer journey than I expected--at around 1:10.

Getting ready to leave San Sebastián!

Bit about Bilbao: the largest city in the Basque Country, Bilbao was founded as a village in 1300, and grew to become the most important commercial and financial hub of the north coast in the Spanish Empire. The richest city in Spain at the beginning of the 20th Century due to the progress it made during the Industrial Revolution, Bilbao suffered when its traditional industries collapsed in the 1980s/90's, but it's now in the process of inventing itself, and--thanks to such innovations as Frank O' Gehry's Guggenheim Museum--is considered one of the major stops on the cultural circuit of Spain! :)

So, we headed straight for the Guggenheim (when in Bilbao...!!)--not to go in, mind you (can't stand all that 'Modern Art' crap!): just for a look at the outside! Bought a Euskadi coat-of-arms badge, and then we came across the museum. One word: nyah! Just like a load of tinfoil! Needless to say, not impressed! So I wandered around taking a few pics (what?! Even though I hate it, I'm still gonna photograph it! :p), and then off we went for lunch!

Windswept in Bilbao!


The 'World Famous' Guggenheim!


Puppy! :)


View over the Río Nervión


More 'art' around the Guggenheim




Poor little crab in the restaurant we ate in...

So, after being fed and watered, we made for Plaza Moyua, and from there to the Casco Viejo--just as the pissing rain came on!! We walked through the narrow old streets regardless though (kind of reminded me of a French town!) until we came to the Cathedral. Quite a nice, atmospheric part of town, but the rain ruined it slightly, so we just decided to head back towards the Guggenheim! Decided to take a tram back, so Helen and I jumped on to one, but Kathy wasn't quite as quick, so it left without her lol!! Luckily though (!), we were going the wrong direction, so we got off at the next stop, walked back to where we had been, and then got another tram (actually the same one--just going a different direction!) to where we wanted! :) Headed into the Zubiarte shopping centre (getting practically BLOWN there by the wind and POURING rain!!), where we had...BEN 'N' Jerry'S!!! Yay!!! (Caramel Chew Chew, and Fossil Fuel!! Wooo!!! :p). We then just stayed in there (got so tired sitting down!!) until we got our 6:30 bus BACK to old Oviedo! :)

Entrance to Bilbao's Metro system, called a fosterito in honour of its creator, Norman Foster! :)




Enjoying the...rain?! :p


San Nicolás


Teatro Arriaga


On the Camino de Santiago! :)


Random window in the Old Town...!!!


Painted ceiling in Old Town




Mmmmmmmmmmmm!!! :p

Verdict on Bilbao: on't really know what to think of the place! Wasn't bad--kind of a mix of the old and new--but we couldn't really do it justice 'cos of the weather. Glad to have gone though! :)

So dull, boring, LONG bus journey till we got off in Oviedo at like 11:10!