Moroccan Adventures…we made it back alive!

Viva Bilbao!

                                   Weekend getaway to the North of Spain!


My Spanish" Family"pictured here to the left…So…. I've been adopted while here in Spain. I'd like to introduce you to my Papi Patxi, Carmen and brother Iñigo. They travel once a year to their beloved homeland otherwise known as Bilbao. Taking extreme pride in their Pais Vasco- Basque Country, they now have converted me into part Athletic de Bilbao futbol (soccer) fan. However I still root for REAL MADRID…puedes ser!? Well yes don't tell them…

Anywho the north of Spain (and especially Bilbao) is rich in culture and …blah blah blah..ya its really cool and I am horrible at history. 

I fell in love with Casco Viejo..the old part of the city. Here's what trip advisor says about it…

Casco ViejoThe Casco Viejo is the Old Town and is the medieval barrio of Bilbao. The area was part of the walled part of town until the end of the 19th century. There are Seven Streets that comprise the neighborhood, and these are Somera, Artekale, Tenderia, Belostikale, Barrenkale, Barrenkale Barrena, and Belostikale. Today it includes the Plaza Nueva (good place to try pintxos), Ronda, Correo, Santa Maria, Ribera, Askao, the Arenal, and Esperanza. There are several churches here, namely the Santiago Cathedral, San Nicolas, San Anton, and the Church of Los Santos Juanes. Beside San Anton is the Ribera Market, recently renovated and being expanded. This building has three beautiful stained glass windows. Correo Street is a very good shopping street with good stores. There are also museums in this area, such as the Basque Museum and the Bizkaia Museum of Archaeology. At one corner is the Arriaga Theater. 

 This is Padre Patxi being a BEAST. He rode for 4 1/2 hours in a cycling race 115km…No skin off his nose. He said the ride was nothing too special and it seemed wayyy too casual for him. He comes to Bilbao once a year to see more of his family from here and to take part in the race. He's been coming for the past 20 years.. and I am so fortunate to have been able to crash their parade and come on their annual hommage to BILBAO trip. :)

On Sunday was the race and it was splendidly warm and sunny. (Unlike most times when it rains!) On Saturday night we went tapa and bar hopping. Bilbao is known for their little mini beers so that you can hop to lots of bars and not get too full. I spoke Spanish and was surrounded by it from Friday-Monday and I could feel myself improving! This really just encourages the fact that I need to live with Spanish speakers…
They also drove me and their friends to a neighboring beach to see the water and take a little coffee along the sea.. Did I mention I literally tear up every time I see the beach? My name is Arielle for a REASON! !

 

Met some awesome girls at a hostel in Bilbao one from Romania and the other from Uruguay. She had a super thick accent but it was fun to listen to.

After a surreal weekend away with the Aguirrezabal's I feel refreshed, rejuvenated and… ready for more?

 Ready or not I am off tomorrow for MOROCCO!!! AHHHHHHH

Dejé mi corazón en Valladolid

En este foto^ hay dulces de desayuno y vino mistela. Vino mistela es un poco mas fuerte que vino blanco o rojo, tiene espíritu como brandy o licores como así. (Grace y yo ) Hemos sido este café con una amiga nueva de Valladolid!:) Le conocimos la tarde anterior en su tienda se llama "espacio creativo". Leticia y su hermano os ofertaron hospitalidad increíble y cuando estábamos saliendo teníamos sus tarjetas, sus números de móviles, y planes este noche y el día siguiente! 

My Spanish is a rocky but I'm learning a lot! Bare with me as I try to write more in spanish on my blog.:) Anyways..We went to this quaint precious town called Valladolid and met some truly genuine people. Leticia and her brother Kico (real name Fran-don't ask me about their nicknames) saw us wandering into their store and they both got up out of their seats and chatted with us for a good long while. We walked in empty handed and walked out with their business cards, their numbers newly added in our phones, hand drawn map of all the local hangouts, bars and best eats as well as plans for that night with their friends and brunch to tour the city the next day!…

JACKPOT!

This is a photo of Leticia and Fran (Kico) Grace and I met up with Fran and all of his wild friends later that night. We had a great time bar hopping then ended up in a humid, overcrowded place called Hache…where we realized later we were the only ones dancing. We finally shoved our way through the sea of bodies to find fresh air again…just around 4am..time for pizza! haha The guys were sweet and wouldn't let us strangers pay for our own food so we laughed and enjoyed flat bread pizza as we walked down the cobblestone streets and casually strolled by the 15th century Cathedral of Valladolid. 

Leticia and Fran met us for a brunch the next day and showed us around to local places. They own a few restaurants in town so we really got lucky meeting them! They made our taste buds very happy. :)

The main plaza in Valladolid

preciosa!:)