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The train to Bilbao should have taken less than an hour. But passing green little valleys scarred by the proliferation of high rise blocks and desolate industrial projects, it ended up being closer to four.I arrived hot, sweating and without the slightest idea of where I was staying

Chicas!! Chicas!!

James Taylor
2006-08-23 12:26:28

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The train to Bilbao should have taken less than an hour. But passing green little valleys scarred by the proliferation of high rise blocks and desolate industrial projects, it ended up being closer to four.I arrived hot, sweating and without the slightest idea of where I was staying

Construction projects were everywhere. I had set of along the riverbank in the hope of finding a tourist office, but so much of the pavement was dug up that I kept having to switch river banks. Bilbao is situated on a flood plain in the centre of a river valley so, unusually for a big city, green hills are always in view. Rather than offer an attractive escape from the urban reality though, partially hidden by a skyline of cranes and incomplete tower blocks though, the surrounding greenery seems to mock the current disorder.

The walk was longer than I had first thought and while my bag seems lighter these days it makes its presence felt after a 40 minute walk in the heat of the early afternoon. On arriving at the tourist office, I was informed that my accomodation was situated further out of town than I had realised. This meant a Bus ride. The closest Bus stop was back at the train station I had just come from. Fortunately I am someone with patience; and now a permanently dented collar bone and dislocated thighs.

I was unavoidably staying at a HI youth hostel. After my experience in Bordeaux I had vowed to steer clear of them, but there was no other budget accomodation in Bilbao so I had no choice. Situated in the centre of two motorways the albergue Bilbao had all the disadvantages of a Business Hotel and none of the advantages. Because it was so far away from the town the only option was to eat and spend the evening at the hostel. The food served at the canteen was of the chips with pasta variety, but at least it was cheap. The entertainment options were limited. There was no bar, the common room had all the charm of a cardboard box and the T.V playing ...