Day 146: Around
Bilbao - Sun 28 Sept, 2014
Overcast and warm, 22˚ on BilboBus to city. Hardly anyone around at 10.30am! Walked
through Old Town, coffee in square with church.
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| Intersection of the Seven Streets |
Went into archeological museum, pre-historic to Stone Age to Iron Age to Roman conquerors to agriculture to modern day. Arrow heads from silica rock, skeletons buried with bowl at feet, carved tombs, runic and burial stones, pottery, ship reclaimed from muddy quarry. Many of the exhibits spoke for themselves, but as there were no English signs, leaflets or audio, it was somewhat hard going...
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| Fragment of monolithic window |
Decided against ethnographic museum without translation, and embarked on
modern ethnography instead - observing people who were arriving in city en
masse to enjoy Sunday afternoon! Basque band, traditional dress.
Found Plaza Nueva, square with antiques and book sales, stamps, coins and cards - couldn't believe the numbers of child collectors there with parents, trading and crossing off sought after items from their lists.
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| Aussie budgies on show... |
Had lunch of delicious highly
decorated pintxos with red wine, GirlRob surviving her first/accidental taste
of octopus....
Outside Old Town ran into anti-abortion parade in front of picturesque Arriaga
Theatre (named after "the Spanish Mozart"), lots of speeches, music
and dancing.
Back to campsite in hills for arvo, pulled out all internal cupboards and
plastic boxes from outside, threw out dated food won't eat this year before we
store vehicle over winter. Culled cutlery (including "Amazing Bag
Sealers" we'd bought at camping show), cooking dishes (too many), cake
pans (never made any), plasticware (too many), laundry gear (including
"Amazing Scrubber" we'd sent for over internet), electronics
(outdated), books (read) etc, etc. Finally got rid of bags we'd been shuffling
from bed to seat daily, that had accumulated with no place to live permanently.
Quite cathartic! Rearranged final three weeks itinerary with Boomers on their
return from their day exploring. Ate leftover spaghetti with Roquefort sausage
and last bottle of Australian red wine. Talked to some Italian tourists who
were so impressed with our trip they gifted us a packet of Italian biscotti.
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| Goodbye lovely view... |
