day 13 Dizzy in old town!

People get up late in hostels, not a bad thing at all when you're just planning to wander around old town as is my plan. 

Today that plan is hard to execute, I have an issue with my inner ear my balance is all over the place! I nearly fell twice going to reception to book another night! A bit of motion sickness too...... 

But I'm stubborn and this didn't stop me going out, negotiating some steps down to the river Nervion that features in a lot of my Bilbao pics!

I cross, and head to a viewpoint to look over this valley town, yes today the weather is beautiful! And that soon takes my mind off of the dizziness, from the viewpoint I follow an old route down that would have gone to a church, just it's gate remains now..into the town and cafe lifestyle is in full effect with enclosed squares with cafes and tables... I assume these squares are a remnant of the days of moorish occupation, you can certainly see it in the locals!

I'm so pleased to have come to the old town nothing I like more than wandering down old twisty roads with overhanging buildings nice change in architecture here.... The new town could learn from thistowards the river again I'm on an open plaza where I manage to fumble enough Spanish to purchase a sweet snack and drink, always surprising what can be achieved with nearly zero knowledge! 

On the plaza is a baroque churchwhose internal decor is stunning!i should point out that with the beautiful blue skies it's now warm! Nearly t-shirt weather!! So good to feel the sun's rays! 

I'm back into the plaza with the sun warming my bones and I find a statue of a Basque separatist from the days of ETA I wonder if they are still a force? There is certainly plenty of Basque nationalism here with the flag flying all over! my wanderings take me all over old town, lovely views of the river, churches pretty streets the shift in architectural style as I move around Europe certainly keeps the wandering fresh! Fewer beggars here than in Bordeaux, not that they were an issue there.

Tho sitting in the street to eat your lunch does get the same haughty look from passers by! 

These are a proud people they have neatness and style that I simply wouldn't waste my time on.... I'm not someone who struts..... Ever! 

I'm not saying these standards are bad I just can't see that someone with this effete style could ever rough it in the wild!

Wandering into a very posh shop I see that I couldn't posh it up here! I leave quickly! 

I'm near the Tren stacione so I decide to reccy out my point of departure for tomorrow, glad I did as at 7am here it's pitch black and I wouldn't have enjoyed this stained glass at the platform!Portraying Bilbao right back to financial success in mining for iron. 

There are statues of iron nuggets in town tho these ironically are made of bronze!

Back to the hostel via a little supermarket and I'm nested down for another night.