Here are some pics. The first few are the Guggenheim in Bilbao and the rest from San Sebastian.
http://picasaweb.google.com/johnmbchapman/SanSebastian
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Bilbao
July 24-25
I got a great place to stay in the Pension Ladero. It’s in the Casco Viejo (old city) which is pretty and very walkable. I walked around the area and then along the river to the Guggenheim. I spent about 3 hours there – it was really interesting, but definitely tiring by the end of the experience. Now I’ve been to two of the four.
Bilbao is a nice place – you definitely feel that you are in a city in that there is a lot of commerce, but not in the sense that it’s overwhelming or dirty. It seems surrounded by hills and then mountains, which provide a nice backdrop to most of the views.
The eating pattern here is definitely big comida at lunchtime and then pintxos at night. The bars get packed for about 2 hours with people drinking beer and eating those. Later, kids hang out in the alleys in the old city, which it pretty typical Spanish. Everyone can speak Spanish here, but you definitely know you’re in Pais Basco by the street signs and the talk in the street.
I got a great place to stay in the Pension Ladero. It’s in the Casco Viejo (old city) which is pretty and very walkable. I walked around the area and then along the river to the Guggenheim. I spent about 3 hours there – it was really interesting, but definitely tiring by the end of the experience. Now I’ve been to two of the four.
Bilbao is a nice place – you definitely feel that you are in a city in that there is a lot of commerce, but not in the sense that it’s overwhelming or dirty. It seems surrounded by hills and then mountains, which provide a nice backdrop to most of the views.
The eating pattern here is definitely big comida at lunchtime and then pintxos at night. The bars get packed for about 2 hours with people drinking beer and eating those. Later, kids hang out in the alleys in the old city, which it pretty typical Spanish. Everyone can speak Spanish here, but you definitely know you’re in Pais Basco by the street signs and the talk in the street.
Santander
So, I skipped writing about Santiago de Compostela and Oviedo (which I loved) but I figured I'd post this stuff or I'd end up posting nothing.
Santander
July 23-24
So, yesterday, it dawned on me that I should be keeping some sort of journal from this part of the trip. I need to do it now, especially, because the great things about this section are much more subtle and things I’m sure to forget the details of more easily. They aren’t captured in pictures as easily as drinking with friends or rock sitting in Italy.
I got to Santander around 4pm on the 23rd and set off to find a place to live. I didn’t reserve ahead because a) I’m trying to be more spontaneous and relax the planning side of me and b) because I have found that I have a hard time reserving things in Spanish over the telephone. So, I put my heavy bag in a locker (big score for patient John) and set off to the tourist office. I got a list of lodgings, made a short list of cheap ones and headed off.
The first one that I came to was full or really shady men. Fortunately, they were full. The second was full through Sunday (at least I think that’s what the sign said). The third had a nice looking woman at the door and I was pretty set. They only had 40 euro doubles, but they let me have one for 30. That’s still expensive, but it’s the best I was going to get in this city.
Before I had a place to stay, the city seemed busy, dirty and unfriendly. After I set off, having secured a place, the city suddenly looked pretty, friendly and exciting. I took a long walk to the peninsula at the end of the city. There were some nice seaside houses along the way and a couple of decent beaches. The palace (beach house) at the end of the island was really impressive. The views of the bay and the two lighthouses that I could see were beautiful. On the way back, I came down a street of restaurants and plazas that were starting to get busy (at 9pm). In there plazas there were these little huts set up, each with the name of a restaurant on top. Later, I found out that this was part of the 10 day Feria. These huts were all over the place. You could go up and get a pincho and bebida from each for 2.50. The bars and restaurants are like that too. You go in, hang out at the bar, grab what you want to eat and pay for it at the end… So, I just hut-hopped and ate dinner. I stopped by the obvious American tourist bar for one (overpriced) beer because I was hoping to speak a little English – it’s been a long time – but there were only some American 16 year olds taking shots, so I passed. Around 11, it was packed everywhere and I headed home.
On the way, I came up on this stage (one of about 3 in the town), and caught the first 5 songs of some Portuguese pop singer. She was pretty good, and I asked her name, but I’ve forgotten. That was a cool experience.
So, then…I headed home, watched a little of some bullfighting Sportscenter show on the first tv I have seen in about a week, and went to bed.
Santander
July 23-24
So, yesterday, it dawned on me that I should be keeping some sort of journal from this part of the trip. I need to do it now, especially, because the great things about this section are much more subtle and things I’m sure to forget the details of more easily. They aren’t captured in pictures as easily as drinking with friends or rock sitting in Italy.
I got to Santander around 4pm on the 23rd and set off to find a place to live. I didn’t reserve ahead because a) I’m trying to be more spontaneous and relax the planning side of me and b) because I have found that I have a hard time reserving things in Spanish over the telephone. So, I put my heavy bag in a locker (big score for patient John) and set off to the tourist office. I got a list of lodgings, made a short list of cheap ones and headed off.
The first one that I came to was full or really shady men. Fortunately, they were full. The second was full through Sunday (at least I think that’s what the sign said). The third had a nice looking woman at the door and I was pretty set. They only had 40 euro doubles, but they let me have one for 30. That’s still expensive, but it’s the best I was going to get in this city.
Before I had a place to stay, the city seemed busy, dirty and unfriendly. After I set off, having secured a place, the city suddenly looked pretty, friendly and exciting. I took a long walk to the peninsula at the end of the city. There were some nice seaside houses along the way and a couple of decent beaches. The palace (beach house) at the end of the island was really impressive. The views of the bay and the two lighthouses that I could see were beautiful. On the way back, I came down a street of restaurants and plazas that were starting to get busy (at 9pm). In there plazas there were these little huts set up, each with the name of a restaurant on top. Later, I found out that this was part of the 10 day Feria. These huts were all over the place. You could go up and get a pincho and bebida from each for 2.50. The bars and restaurants are like that too. You go in, hang out at the bar, grab what you want to eat and pay for it at the end… So, I just hut-hopped and ate dinner. I stopped by the obvious American tourist bar for one (overpriced) beer because I was hoping to speak a little English – it’s been a long time – but there were only some American 16 year olds taking shots, so I passed. Around 11, it was packed everywhere and I headed home.
On the way, I came up on this stage (one of about 3 in the town), and caught the first 5 songs of some Portuguese pop singer. She was pretty good, and I asked her name, but I’ve forgotten. That was a cool experience.
So, then…I headed home, watched a little of some bullfighting Sportscenter show on the first tv I have seen in about a week, and went to bed.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Valencia - In Summary
So, I left Valencia today, and I had an experience that pretty much sums up the city. I was on the subway, heading out of town and sweating like crazy. An older woman sat beside me and was fanning herself, and I was getting some of the cool air. I told her "gracias" and she stopped fanning herself and just fanned me. Then she asked where I was going, where I was from and how I liked Valencia (all in Spanish). Then, we got on the same train. When she got off, she said bye, wished me a good trip and waved to me as the train pulled away. I'm excited to move on, but will miss Valencia.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Valencia - Oceanografica
I visited the aquarium in Valencia, which was cool. The dolphin show was amazing. More interesting, though, were the buildings in the area of arts and sciences in the Jardin del Turia. Check it:
http://picasaweb.google.com/johnmbchapman/Valencia5
http://picasaweb.google.com/johnmbchapman/Valencia5
Monday, June 30, 2008
Euro 2008 - Campiones!
We watched the Euro 2008 match near Valencia's football stadium in a plaza with a big screen and hundreds of fans. It's been 44 years since Spain won the European Championship, and I'm glad I could help them win again. I can definitely sense the pride of the country in the continuing news on tv, the people in the streets and the flags that popped up everywhere. It wasn't as good as seeing the Tar Heels win, but definitely a great memory.
Pics and movies:
http://picasaweb.google.com/johnmbchapman/Valencia4
Pics and movies:
http://picasaweb.google.com/johnmbchapman/Valencia4
Valencia - more fun!
So, Valencia is going well. I'm finding my way around and learning enough Spanish to actually talk to people. These pictures are from watching the Spain/Russia game, some delicious tapas at a local place we found (wine, ham & cheese, chorizo sausage), and the Central Market. The market is a famous landmark in Valencia where they sell everything food: meat, cheese, nuts, spices, fruit, vegetables and fish.
There are also some pictures from around town and the main church. It houses the arm of some famous martyr (weird) and maybe the holy grail (I doubt it). But it was pretty and interesting.
Finally, there are a couple of pictures from the beach Saturday night. On the beach at midnight: parents with children, old men that have probably been sitting there for hours talking over tables of food, hundreds of teenagers, 20's and 30's walking along the boardwalk and sitting on the beach.
Pics at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/johnmbchapman/Valencia3
There are also some pictures from around town and the main church. It houses the arm of some famous martyr (weird) and maybe the holy grail (I doubt it). But it was pretty and interesting.
Finally, there are a couple of pictures from the beach Saturday night. On the beach at midnight: parents with children, old men that have probably been sitting there for hours talking over tables of food, hundreds of teenagers, 20's and 30's walking along the boardwalk and sitting on the beach.
Pics at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/johnmbchapman/Valencia3
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