Eldership 2025 Spain - Bilbao Casca Viejo

That would be 'Old Town'.

It's our last day in Bilbao and we had one last 'site' to get in, the old town. If you are European city, you're going to have an old town. Truthfully, both Wife and I were more than a bit tired from our last three days...Wife, in particular, as she has not done any significant walking since being cruelly assaulted in Sweden. BUT, we are truly back in travel mode again and if there was something to see, we were going to see it. 

Spoiler Alert - We've seen more than our fair share of old towns and I would not rank the architecture of Bilbao on the high end. We were lucky we got an early start. The day was cool to begin with but got hot by 1pm. And by that time, it started to get overwhelmed with people. I would hate to see what it is like during the season. We were also frustrated by the lighting situation for our photography. It was a totally clear and bright sunny day which meant the light was on the harsh side. That combined with the significant shadows you get in a narrow alley old town, made for very challenging shooting.

Fotografia

 There are a number of plazas in the old town area. This is the primary one.

 

 You will note here at 10:45am, the number of tours being talked to.

 This is NOTHING to what will be out in two hours.

It's a bad day when SOMETHING good doesn't happen.

A full-on shot of the rare Basque Espouses Fotograficus!

 

 The church of Saint Nicolas

 

A very Baroque church from the late 18th century

 

 Unnamed building in the vicinity of the church

 

Statue of significance that has eluded me.

 

Theatre and vicinity from the 19th century

 

 Bilbao Cathedral

Dates back to the 1300's originally

 

 

I was REALLY looking forward to going inside. BUT...

 

...there was wedding.

Bride:

"I have heard word that de-I is in the vicinity. Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES does he come in to my wedding. My brother was a 'customer' of his Sandia Outfitters Tours and never came back!

 

 There has been a market in central Bilbao since the Middle Ages. The current market was built in 1927 and is the largest enclosed market in Europe (was even in the Guinness Book of Records).

 

 

 

 Complete with lamp posts.

Across from the market was a covered arcade with some neat ceiling art.

 

 Wife was feeling pastry deprived so we had a little break.

 

 The cheesecake was very unusual in that the center was almost liquid. They were both way too sweet for my taste.

The Gothic Church of Saint Anthony (San Anton)

 

They wanted 30 euros each to go in it (and it wasn't that great). I snapped this picture before they shooed us out.

 

 

And right next door is the San Anton Bridge. They call this bridge the oldest in the city going back to the 14th century. But that is not exactly true. There has been A BRIDGE here since that time. But it has been destroyed and replaced numerous times. The current bridge dates to 1937.

 

 

Criminals in the Middle Ages used to hung from here. Unless you were of the nobility. Then they tied stones to you and threw you in the river to drown. 

Justice portrayed.

 

 

Laundry photos were scarce.

 

SIGNS OF THE WORLD

Authentic Basque Pastry