Hotel Nh Deusto Bilbao

Having disembarked the Pride of Bilbao, following our two day mini-cruise (the highlights of which were DVD horse races, bingo, Geordies on the lash and two memorable dining experiences at Langans Brasserie), we faced the delights of industrial Bilbao, which proved to be a fitting introduction to North Spain. Undaunted we headed to ...

... small place got packed by about 3:30. We had a delicious meal: 1) a Basque version of bruschetta (ham, tomatoes, sea salt, olive oil), 2) a clam that gave you a burst of sea, 3) the best calamari that I have ever had (whole, not your strips type) and then tail of bull (rabo de toro). Oh, yeah, I think we also had a bottle of red wine. Yum!<br><br>We took a nap after a short walk after that. We walked ...

We drove from Madrid, got a bit lost trying to find Lurdea. We thought it is a name of a village but it is not it is just the name of the Hotel/Casa Rural.<br><br>The place is amazing. Located in the hills above Bermeo, with magnificent view of the ocean. It is clean (like really clean) and has the air of a relaxing boutique hotel.<br>

Bilbao, the capital of Viscaya in the county, with the nice weather and climate that is milder than in most other parts of the peninsula, rarely falling below freezing in winter or rising above 35 degree C in summer. <br><br>One of the best features of this place is the collection of Museums that exhibit the artifacts that well ...

... 3 drinks down by 1:30pm), helped us find camping stove fuel and materials for making our bikes bus-ready, and then sent us on our way to the Guggenheim. <br><br>After much needed coffee and ice cream to counter the sleep-inducing combination of tasty tapas, beer, wine and hard cider, we tackled the Guggenheim. Richard Serra, Cai Guo-Qiang, and some modern art from the Guggenheim permanent collection. All stupendous, thought ...

Urghh long, long bus journey from Valencia. Sleeping tablets helped, but what didn't were the rude Spanish couple behind us who persisted on banging on the back of our seats all journey. They seemed angry that we were using the recline function which we had paid, and were entitled to use...<br><br>Anyway, arrive at about 8 or something where we got ...

... our budget allows for, but not by much, just six euros. Tapelia is the name, great food is its game (http://www.tapelia.com/). We do the menu del dia (at 15 euros each adult plate, its the most expensive lunch for us yet), but it turns out to be worth it. The main dish is a rize with chorizzo and artichoke heart deal ... sort of like paella. Just look at the smile on my face. The food was THAT GOOD. A couple of interestig things during lunch. The first thing is ...

... regardless of age. Also, there are not really any health codes-at least I don't think so. The public bathrooms rarely have hand soap, paper towels, and sometimes there is no toilet seat. Yeah, it is different. At least I keep hand sanitizer and such with me at all times. So, I have been acting like a Spaniard. I have been eating late lunches and very later dinners. I have also been walking everywhere--at least a few miles ...

... pork chop meals from my childhood. For dessert, Farida had the DQ ice cream cake (the highlight of the meal), and I had the Flan, made with rotten eggs. I don't think I am lying when I say that this is the first food that Callista has ever said that she hated. Nasty, Nasty, nasty. I made sure to drink all of the included wine, figuring that this might kill the bacteria that I surely just injested. After that meal...I can't wait to taste the next.

... in the world (see photo). After a long night and few hours of sleep, these friends dragged me out hiking up Mt. Gorbea. It was a beautiful day and took a few hours to reach the summit. At one point I was too exhausted to go any further. But after a quick snack break, we headed up to the top (see photo). I was lucky that they all spoke English pretty fluently. Bilbao is in the heart of the Basque Country. For eons the Basques have been a separate people with a culture ...