Spain > Eating tapas in Bilbao

I’m on my way to Schiphol. At the KLM counter I check in my small suitcase. Once I’m seated on the plane, the captain announces that we have to wait for a few passengers arriving from Copenhagen. After these people have boarded, the KLM Cityhopper departs with a twenty-minute delay en route to Bilbao. During the flight I immerse myself in the travel guide about this Spanish city. I read about the city and its famous Guggenheim Museum. After two hours I see the Bay of Biscay appear below me. To the left of the plane I spot rain showers. Hopefully it will be dry in Bilbao. After landing I look for the Bizkaibus to take me into the center of Bilbao. From the streets it’s clear that it has recently rained heavily. Now the sun is shining. It’s six in the evening and still 26 degrees. Spaniards at the bus stop advise me to get off at the Gran Via square. From there it’s just two more metro stops, they say. I decide to walk the short distance to my hotel instead.

Spain - The theater on the Ria river

Pulling my suitcase behind me, I enjoy the liveliness in the streets. Near the theater I cross the Ria, the river that splits Bilbao in two. My hotel is just behind the theater. This is also where Casco Viejo, the old district, begins. Narrow, charming streets filled with many restaurants and bars. It’s Saturday evening and there are lots of people out. At Plaza Nueva I sit down at a terrace. Many locals crowd into the cafés to watch Athletic Bilbao’s match. Lots of people are dressed in red and white. When the cafés empty out, I assume the local team has lost. Without much enthusiasm, everyone drifts away. I head back into the old town. Everywhere, people stand in the streets. Inside the small establishments, they eat tapas and have drinks. I step into one of them myself. I point at some snacks on the bar and order a beer. I return a few more times to try other tapas. I end the evening with a walk along the banks of the Ria. What a delightful city!