Bilbao

Right after romantic and elegant San Sebastian, let’s visit energetic and vibrant Bilbao! The place I live in. Despite being an old city, it’s like a fairy tale mixed with a modern centre, in which art and everyday life complement each other. Throughout the Basque Country, and in particular in Bilbao, you will be amazed by the hospitality and serenity of the citizens. Moreover, everybody seems to enjoy the charms of the city together – both the young and the old, people of different origins and preferences. You can meet them all around, laughing, eating and enjoying their lives in such an open and varied place like Bilbao.

Being there, don’t forget to visit the stunning Guggenheim Museum with the famous spider sculpture outside. The museum designed by a leading architect Frank Gehry was opened in 1997 and immediately has become the biggest tourist attraction of the city famous all over the world. The shape of the building is very original. From the outside looks like a futuristic block. Around the museum there are several artistic designs that catch your eye with the fresh and innovative form such as Mamá, Puppy, Fire Fountain and Tall Tree & The Eye. 

Inside the museum of modern art in Bilbao you will find exhibitions, which also surprise with its newness and thought provoking. I've been there once, because once a month in the museum is organized an event - Art after dark. It is a party with electronic music which starts around 21 and lasts until 1 am. During the party you can listen to music, dance, drink and at the same time visit the museum. 

The biggest attraction of the old town of Bilbao and I think my favourite one is a walk in the area known as Siete Calles (Seven Streets). It allows you to feel the atmosphere of the times when it was ordinary, although undoubtedly charming town in northern Spain. You will find there a lot of bars, independent shops and several historic churches, among which the special attention deserves the Gothic Cathedral de Santiago.

Walking among the narrow streets of the old town we will arrive at the Plaza Nueva, the main square of the old town lined with pintxos bars. There’s a lively Sunday-morning flea market here, which is full of second-hand book and record stalls. Elsewhere in the market, children and adults alike swap and barter football cards and old stamps from countries you’ve never heard of. Unfortunately the market is much more subdued in winter.

Despite the fact that I fell in love with Andalusia, Bilbao is really beautiful city and I’m really glad that I can live here. There is a lot of interesting places, about whom I could talk and talk, so if you will come, be prepared to spend here couple of hours at least!