Backpackering 8 - Day 14

 

Dawn.

The APL Vanda on its way to Dunkirk.  Amazing what a search on Google can reveal!

Waiting 

Waiting 

Waiting 

Waiting........ ✋️ 

On the way.

Backpackering 8 - Day 13

Approaching  Portsmouth, passing the Isle of Wight 

passing outgoing containers 

to watch the sunset over the city.

Backpackering 8 - Day 12

 

After a 20 minutes taxi ride with a very helpful driver,

we found our transport home.

Leaving the harbour, with  the high wind being enjoyed by the sails 

Backpackering 8 - Day 11

 

A morning stroll down the Nervion river bank

to visit the Ribera Market opened in 1929 on the site of the original 14th century one, 

to be greeted with welcoming music,

delicious looking, very tempting pastries 

and fresh, fresh everything. 

Escalating up a floor to be met by these historically powerfull ladies, 

 to view the stained glass window 

 

we left empty handed

to find a cafe for a snack 

not expecting to be entertained by Mark Knopfler, never mind  Tom Jones.

Back up the river

passing the old train station entrance 

and the Arriaga Theatre built in 1890, to cool off in our accommodation. T'was 30+, this day.

This being our last night here, we took a walkout to see the night lights.

A few minutes saw us at the River 

walking towards the G Museum 

where spider looked even spookier. 

Then, without warning, all hell broke loose!

A calm return began.

Backpackering 8 - Day 10

 

On the way to the Guggenheim Museum along the river bank to see the Zubizuri bridge

passing a sculpture in iron by Dora Salazar recognising the women who worked in the 19th century pulling barges along the river with ropes tied to thier bodies. 

And there it is

guarded by a massive spider.

We rounded the building 

to see the Iturria Fountain and the Iberdrola tower

followed by the Puppy

to find the entrance to be greeted by chaos, both human and architectural. 

Not knowing what to expect, not having the done the research, it is all a little dizzying. 

Like some kind of maze.

The only straight lines were the railings.

Get what I mean?

Almost traditional. 

An escape to the park to recover,

followed by lunch at........yes, the Swansea Cafe. The lady who served us explained the name. A guy from Swansea came here in 1972. Anyway, he must have liked the experience so much he set up a eatery. Now there are three across the city.

On the way again, to the Fine Art Museum, no not this building - a piece of art in its our right,

Francisco Canello
c. 1655-1665, 104 × 163 cm

to see art of the past.

A tiny part of it. Spot it  on the master piece. 

Backpackering 8 -Day 9

 

The walk to the bus station took us across the Maria Kristina bridge, built in 1905, modeled on the Alexandre III bridge in Paris,

but with much more elaborate obelisks made with concrete.

Opened in November 2019, this underground station is immaculate. Our lush transport to Bilbao, seated on the upper deck giving us scenic views on the way though the Pyrénées.

An afternoon stroll took us to the railway station

to spot the trains. Spain has 3 different rail track gauges with the standard one only recently being used to allow high speed trains in from France. This one Spain's own wider one.

Walking out and round to see the original entrance 

before a tour of the old town's 

architecture 

including 

the 1849 Plaza Nueva. Still looks pretty new.