Bilbao

Bilbao

We left our albergue at Meakaur early after a quick cafe. We started up the hill to circle back to the camino. The Albergue is about 2k off the main road which will return us to the camino. Our walk this morning involved multiple climbs crossing Altos de Morga and Aretxabalgane. We stopped at Larrabetzu for morning coffee and tortilla. While walking up the road N-637 to Lezama, which is known for three towers that speak to its medeval military significance, we decided not to follow the camino which turns left at Zamudio instead we walking a little further and took road Bi-631 to the ridge above Bilbao.

Bilbao is a very big city and our albergue we knew was at the far end of the city. We met several very helpfull people who pointed us in the right direction. Finally, a couple took us down steep streets and multiple stairs past city hall in the old city across a bridge and to take a right at an obvious large bank building where we were to walk across town to the bus station. Once at the bus station we started to see yellow arrows. We were tired and were not thinking clearly so we followed the arrows which took us up hill and many more steps only to deliver us to a converted school acting as an alberque starting in June. Fortunately, as luck would have it, we met another couple with their dog that walked us down the hill and steps most of the way to the Albergue juvenil where I had made reservations. By this time we were really tired and decided to stay an extra day in Bilbao.

After a leisurely breakfast at the Albergue we wandered through the city of Bilbao. There is quite a transition from the tranquility of the mountain roads and the forest paths to the bustling of a big city. Bilbao was founded in 1300. It has extensive resources including iron mines, forests and abundant water power. It is at the base of the mountains and right on the banks of the Rio Nervion. We walked through the old city the parks and along the river. We saw both the Guttenheim museum and the Basilica of Bergonia.

 

Taking the day off.

Spider lady

 

 

Recharge in Larrabetzu

Stu asking directions

 

Don't follow till June, goes to convert school. Keep straight ahead.

Don' t follow till June.

Look ahead. The Alberque is 7 stories high.

 

Stu uses MotionX-GPS on the iPhone and is sharing with you the following track:

Name:		Bilbao
Date:		May 19, 2013 6:52 am
Map: (valid until Nov 15, 2013)		View on Map
Distance:		32.2 kilometers
Elapsed Time:		7:46:06
Avg Speed:		4.1 km/h
Max Speed:		9.4 km/h
Avg Pace:		14' 29" per km
Min Altitude:		4 m
Max Altitude:		327 m
Start Time:		2013-05-19T04:52:21Z
Start Location:
	Latitude:	43º 18' 55" N
	Longitude:	2º 44' 52" W
End Location:
	Latitude:	43º 15' 47" N
	Longitude:	2º 57' 42" W

 

Posted via Blogsy