Coaching for Pizza: Bilbao Adventure Day III

Monday, March 10, 2025

After two wonderful days in Bilbao, it was time to return to Gijón but not before exploring just a bit more of País Vasco's largest city as my five hour and 45 minute bus ride home did not commence until 2:30 p.m.

I did forget to mention in yesterday's post that while I was exploring Bilbao, our Mariners flag football teams were hosting four games against the Cantabria Bisons who are based in Santander.

Gijón Seniors vs. Cantabria Seniors

11:00 a.m.

Mariners Juniors vs. Bisons Juniors

Noon

Gijón Seniors vs. Cantabria Juniors

1:00 p.m.

Mariners Juniors vs. Bisons Seniors

2:00 p.m.

I am stilling anxiously awaiting the results of these four battles.

Checkout at my boutique accommodations was not until 11:00 a.m. so I was up early to do some more serious roaming.

The Athletic Bilbao Fan Club

of the Casco Viejo

Time for some sustenance . . .

Three MAGICAL words

The Basque Breakfast of Champions

Ham Croquetta, Tortilla de Patata

and Café con Leche

A copy of an old map of Bilbao

for me to study while dining

Fully energized, I walked across the street to enter Bilbao's main meat, fish and produce emporium.

The view across the river before

I entered the Mercado . . .

. . . included this large plant dripping

copious amounts of water onto the rocks

The Mercado de la Ribera

This 1929 art deco-style building sits on the site where Bilbao has hosted markets dating back to the 14th century.

It has over 180 shops on its three levels but, as it turned out, many were opting to not open on this fine Monday morning.

Several butchers were setting up

their displays as I explored

One of four beautiful stained glass

widows that added charm and color

A colorful produce stand

Spain and its delicious

myriad of ham products

Look at the size of those red peppers!

Another of the stained glass windows

Trailblazing Women

That open space in the middle of the bottom row is being saved for an as of yet unknown future trailblazer.

She could be you Mary.

More of the unique Basque language

known as Euskara

Bilbao Sausage Fest 2025

Mushrooms that looked tasty

How do these egg prices compare

to the ones back home?

Three Beef Tongues,

YUM!

Delivering more meat to the Mercado

It was a good visit but this Mercado, much like the Mercado del Sur in Gijón, pales compared to a visit to Barcelona's La Boqueria.

I continued walking.

Interesting Balcony Garden

Not sure what this flag represents but

that red star means Commies to me

Weird graffiti but I liked it

How long have these two ladies

been lounging about up there?

Euskal Herria means Basque Country

There are LOTS of pro-Palestine

feelings on display in northern Spain

The plaque on the left informed all

that "Simón Bolivar, the liberator of

many South American countries from rule

by the Spanish monarchy, once lived here."

Sharp looking sign announcing that

this was a store dealing in fine fabrics

I was getting that feeling again . . .

. . . founded in 1911, I just had to

have another Pintxo

It was quite good, believe it or not.

Rising above the Plaza Nueva

Bi-Country Soccer Pride

of two excellent teams

Besides the ubiquitous love for Bilbao's Athletic squad, it appears that the owners of this bar also owe allegiance to the Celtic Football Club based in Glasgow that is a powerhouse in the Scottish Premier League.

Speaking of powerhouse clubs, Julien Urgenti recently informed me that in the history of Spain's top soccer league, La Liga, only three teams have never been relegated to the second division.

Real Madrid and FC Barcelona were easy, correct guesses.

The third Gold Standard Club is indeed Athletic Club Bilbao.

I did not know that.

Victor Montes serves the

Wines and Liqueurs of the Top Brands

Gorostiaga

Bilbao's renowned hat store

located in the heart of Casco Viejo

I was being sorely tempted by this

display of traditional Spanish boinas

I entered and after much discussion and trying on of boinas in different colors and sizes bought one in black, the traditional color of Bilbao boinas, from a highly informative, enthusiastic salesman.

I found out that blue boinas are worn by the people of Santander while red ones are all the rage in Pamplona.

I did not know that.

Why are these embroidered boinas so

BIG?

My encyclopedic salesman tutored me in another Spanish boina tradition.

When someone wins a championship or a major award, their prizes include a huge boina like the ones on display here with the accomplishment boldly embroidered upon it in recognition of the triumph.

I did not know that.

I could have celebrated my purchase . . .

. . . in one of the many bakeries

that I passed but didn't

The Casco Viejo Library

I entered

The Library's Reading Room . . .

. . . had solid looking reading stands

that reminded me of the ones at the

University of Washington's Henry

Suzzallo Library in Seattle

So, I grabbed a book in Spanish about Bilbao's history and started reading for about 20 minutes.

A library stain glassed door

Onward . . .

"The World Needs Nata"

A nata is a delicious sweet that was made famous in Lisbon, Portugal.

They are delicious but I had none today.

Another sturdy, old BBVA Bank building

Found on the Plaza Nueva

Also on the Plaza Nueva that . . .

. . . included this handsome couple

This fountain has stood here since 1800

I included a photo of just the lion on the left in a previous post but felt that it really deserved a full view today.

Ham sandwiches are popular

in these parts

It was time to checkout of the hotel and start my final slow, sightseeing stroll to the bus station.

The Iglesia de San Nicolás de Bari

The Patron Saint of Sailoers

I liked the red Commie star overlooking it on the building behind the iglesia.

I entered.

It was small but impressive

Dark wood Main Altar

I liked this side altar too

La Virgen de Begoña

We'e walking, we're walking . . .

Thankfully, this ice cream shop

is closed on Mondays

I walked along Bilbao's main street

dedicated to the city's founder

Don Diego Lopéz de Haro

There are lots of amazing buildings

along the Gran Via

This Gran Via Plaza includes a

large traffic roundabout . . .

. . . and more grand buildings

New meets old

Again, the Gran Via . . .

. . . has lots of . . .

. . . GRAND . . .

. . . BUILDIGS . . .

At the end of the Gran Via . . .

. . . stands Jesús overlooking all

of the beautiful city of Bilbao

What a great weekend in the beautiful Basque city of Bilbao, I highly recommend that you visit it someday.

Another solid day of exercise

Paul Sabolić asked how all of this walking has affected my weight?

Usually, in these long stays in Europe I lose about 20 pounds which is the equivalent of nine kilos.

This season, not so much.

I did buy a somewhat unreliable digital scale upon arrival in January. One day it said that I had dropped 3.3 kilos or over seven pounds since the previous day's weigh-in. A wonderful result but I did not believe it for a second.

My guess is that I have not lost an ounce as my much more believable barometer, my belt, is still used in the same belt notch as when I left Camarillo.

Disappointing as according to my phone app, for the 16 week period before landing in Gijón I only averaged 5,954 steps per day but during these past eight glorious weeks in Spain I'm up to 11,123 steps in a typical day.

Gracias for asking, Paul.

Such is life . . .