Bilbao Baggins?

Next stop on the European itinerary is the beautiful, yet less visited, city of Bilbao in Pais Vasco (Basque Country, the northern region of Spain).  My friend Christina had taught in a city close to here and lived in the city 2 years ago so she served as our informative, charismatic tour guide (and we didn't even have to tip her, what uppp, friendships rock).  So we met up at the Madrid Metro pitch black and early at 6am to get to the airport by 6:45 and catch our flight.  I thought I would be able to make up some crucial zzz's on the flight but little did I know there would be such fascinating flight material to read on the plane!  As we sifted through the pages of our travel catalogs, we took turns choosing our next destination in the world.  Our choices varied from relatively realistic places (oh hi Barcelona) to more exotic endeavors to the far off Asian continent (sorry, not this trip Hong Kong).  Once landed I was relieved to find out that I hadn't left my bad travelling luck in Madrid as I noticed my phone slipped out of my pocket on the plane and it had most likely taken off to its next destination.  Lovely.  But our adventures were only bound to improve, and so they did, as we took the bus from the airport into the city center.

We decided to grab a bite to eat after checking into the hostel and the Cien Montaditos of Bilbao (a type of bomb diggity sandwich shop) and it did not disappoint.  Bodegon Mendia had a full display of over 20 types of delicious sandwiches (bocadillos) on the bar and our choice of beer or sangria to wash it down (is noon too early?)

Heaven between two slices of bread.

One of the first differences I noticed from Madrid and this new Basque province was how beautiful the countryside really is.  There isn't a place in Bilbao where you can't see the mountains and landscape which is really a difference from the sometimes claustrophobic city center of Madrid.  Don't believe me?  Check it out.

Now what can make this scenery deadly is when you are too distracted by its beauty that you don't realize there is a street lamp right in front of you.  Just ask my friend Sarah.  Or more specifically, the purple bump on her forehead.

After walking around the city for so long we naturally became hungry again, which was no problem, considering how UTTERLY MOUTHWATERING the food up in the north.  The pinchos and tapas (small portions of different types of food) were the best I've had in Spain yet so we made sure to stop by as many restaurants as possible.  We stopped here..

Casco Viejo barrio of Bilbao

and here....

Plaza Mayor of Casco Viejo

to grab some of these delicious tapas.  And truth be told, I could not resist in buying my first caramel frappuccino in Spain.  I was on a food rush and it was calling out to me with its creamy, caffeinated siren call.  Worth it.

We continued to walk around the city admiring the beautiful buildings and enjoying the lack of congestion so often confronted in Madrid.  

Cathedral, naturally.

Amphitheater at the riverside park.

Ice Cream Parlor Street.

Government Building.

No idea, but it looks really cool.

We stopped by an ice cream shop that we were told had every type of flavor you could imagine.  While it was definitely lacking in the unagi-sushi-doused-in-wasabi flavor department, it maintained the hype with bacalao (type of fish) flavored and cheese flavored ice cream.  A friend bought the cheese flavored ice cream and one by one let us try it.  We each had the opportunity to savor in its surprisingly warm, moist flavor, gently tickling our taste buds with a sour and potent punch of musty nausea.  Then it was the trash can's turn.

From there we stopped by the Arts Center where we enjoyed a rooftop drink while listening to the WORST music we had ever heard (think synthetic jazz meets Alanis Morissette), but still relaxing in the cool sunshine nonetheless.  And it even had a rooftop swimming pool!  With windows looking up into it!  Was it awkward?  It sure was!

Man in Speedo

rightfully thinking no one is watching him from below.

Directly after the bar we thought it was a great idea to try and check out the pool and ended up right in the middle of a silent library, which personally I believe is a great place for a group of half buzzed 20-something-year-olds.  What was interesting, however, is that the columns were all painted and decorated with art all over the world.

Follow that with several city shots...

And finally the Guggenheim Musem!  The world famous Art Museum that people dream of going to!  Did I go in?? Nope.  Modern art was not my thing that day, I much rather take pictures from the outside and walk around the city to get a feel for it.  Do I regret it?  Not in the least.

Don't bark up this tree!

No but seriously, I'd imagine there's a pretty hefty fine.

Fwwwwends.

Aragog making a cameo in Bilbao.
No post is complete without an HP reference.

The Goog in all its glory.