Spain. A stop in Bilbao.

August 27, 2010

Spain. A stop in Bilbao.

Talk about a change of scenery! Driving into Bilbao after a week in the countryside was a bit of a shock to our senses - tall buildings, roads and bridges criss crossing left and right, so many cars and people… it certainly was night and day from the quiet, laid-back village of Ruerrero.

We decided we wanted to spend one night in the city as it seemed a shame to fly all that way and not do a little city exploring.

We stayed in a great hotel right on the waterfront - thanks to a recommendation from our new friend Isabelle who is a resident of the city. It was a perfect location, walking distance to everything and after setting down our bags and taking a quick breather, we were ready to go. and do. and see.

By 2pm, we found ourselves starving but without our trusty Spanish speaking friends and so we chose a little outdoor restaurant and took a seat. I asked the waiter if he spoke English. (No such luck) so I asked him for a menu. A few minutes later, a gentleman came over and started telling us about the lunch menu in Spanish while Brent and I sat there trying desperately to listen to words we recognized.

I heard the words Salmon. ensalada. Carne de vaca.

I repeated those three back to him. Then he proceeded to ask me a million more questions in Spanish - none of which I understood so I just said OK and “Si” to everything.

When he walked away, we burst out laughing. WHAT THE HECK DID WE JUST ORDER????

Lucky for us - our meal was delicious!

After lunch, we wandered the city taking photos, doing a little shopping, and stopping for cafe con leches when the mood struck.

We also visited the Guggenheim which was incredible! It’s a beautifully designed museum with some very inspiring artwork inside. Everly absolutely adored the experience and would clap, squeal, and reach her hands out at many colorful works. I’d get a little embarrassed when she’d squeal in the silent, echo-y rooms but not embarrassed enough to whisk her out of the galleries and deny her the pleasure of enjoying the collections.

We finished the day just walking the streets and crossing over the foot bridges that connect the city. Bilbao is an absolutely stunning city and one that I very much look forward to visiting again. We ate ice cream on a park bench, watched children play on a nearby playground, and just generally enjoyed being still together against the bustle of city life.

My brain is already spilling over with ideas as to where we will go next. It’ll probably take us another year to save up for a trip like this one - but not doubt about it, we’ll be traveling on.

Love,