After 2 nights in Valladolid we hit the road again (well, the train tracks) and headed north to Bilbao, arriving about 3 1/2 hours later. Once again, our hotel was only a 15 minute walk from the train station, so we walked (thanks to our backpacks). Originally we were only staying 4 nights but due to a change in flights home, we are now here for 6 nights but there are lots of things to see and do, so we won't be bored.
Our first morning we met up with our Bilbao Greeeter Jose and spent a very pleasant 3 hours walking around his city and afterwards had a glass of wine with him. Jose has been to Australia a few times but not to Brisbane, so we have convinced him to visit, so we can reciprocate with our Greet.
Bilbao is in the Basque Country and everything (menus, street signs etc) seems to be printed in the two languages, Spanish and Basque, so that is confusing, just when we thought our Spanish had improved!
Jose showed us around the historical part of town and we saw the remnants of the old town wall. We walked along the Nervion river, which runs through Bilbao and discovered many bridges and Jose explained how the town was a major iron ore producer until the early 1980s. We revisited the train station again as there is a lovely stained glass window which greets visitors.
He took us into the old Municipal Library, a magnificent building and the market where the locals shop. Both had lovely stained glass windows too.
We found there was a real contrast with the old and the new buildings (some quite wacky).
Another day we went up the mountain by the funicular railway, the longest ride I have been on and the cost was only €0.95. Very reasonable and a magnificent view at the top.
Bilbao is the home of the Guggenheim Museum which we haven't been into yet, we will discover the inside tomorrow. We have walked around it and viewed it from across the river. An extraordinary sculptural design with the main materials titanium panels and limestone blocks.
Sadly, our 9 weeks travelling through Belgium, Germany, France, Portugal, Morocco and Spain has come to an end. The time has gone really fast but we have seen and done so much in those weeks, met some lovely people and made new friends, taken so many photos, walked many kilometres (and wore out a pair of sandals), eaten many local delicacies and had too many beers and wine.
The sad news I got from home 10 days ago was that my 93 year old Mum had died peacefully at her nursing home and a few days later privately cremated. Before we left, I had spoken to my brother about the possibility of this happening while we were away and so arrangements had been discussed and I had said my goodbyes to her before we left. I thank Mum for always encouraging me to travel 'do it while you can' she would say. And I have.
