Out and About in Bilbao

Here are just a few photos that I've taken around Bilbao. I apologize if you've seen these before, as I've also posted many of these on Instagram and Facebook. These are in no particular order. Bilbao is one of my favorite cities on tour. A little wet, it is a beautiful, green city! In general, the people are warm towards English-speakers, they are active, and they love their dogs. The Casco Viejo (old town) is quite charming and the juxtaposition of modern and traditional is breathtaking.

At the Mercado de la Ribera (market that sells fish, meats, flowers, and produce), there is a gallery of photos and interesting facts about the show. Look who we ran into! 

Posters of the show are all over town. We found one on our first day here!

There are two official languages of Bilbao: Spanish and Basque. Their stop signs are in neither.



















It's very rainy here, therefore it's very green here.

Casco Viejo at its finest. Like in Madrid, there are beautiful statues on top of old buildings. 

The flowers are just begging for Sophie to pick them.  Have I mentioned Bilbao is green?

In the Casco Viejo, the small streets are definitely European. You don't forget where you are.  The colors of the buildings are so vibrant and beautiful, and the added flowers on the balconies make it extra special and extra charming.

Every day on our way to the tram and metro stations, there is a back way through the small streets that we like to go. There is an african grey parrot that we say "hola guapo" to. And every time, Sophie picks it a flower. He takes it and whistles at her.

Buying Sophie her own (pink) umbrella was a good decision, if I do say so myself! 

 The Euskotram is so smooth and fast. Here is a KOOZA one.

Another shot of the back alley way to the tram station. I found a tiny staircase that was just so interesting!

A few days ago, we went up the Funicular to see the view from the top. We're planning on going back again and taking the big camera. We could actually see the rain coming so we didn't stay long!

At the top, there is a cute little park and picnic area, and the view is pretty amazing. The red thing in the middle is the bridge by the Guggenheim museum (the large gold-colored complex-more on that later) and if you look to the right and up just a bit, there is a white blob right next to the river, that's KOOZA.  Oh and notice the incoming rain on the right, just over the tent. Eek. We booked it as fast as we could. 

 

Today we noticed a huge flower-covered elephant that Sophie could not NOT have her picture taken with. We have no idea why it's there or what it's for, but it sure brightened up this grey day!

There are more pictures to come, for sure, of this small but beautiful city!