Ugly and Beautiful

 Hiking Day 7    Lezama to Bilbao

Mikes today        7.9

Total miles         91.5

Ascent        1137’

Descent      1227’

Since we have a short mileage day, we sleep in, have a late breakfast, and are on the road by 9 am. And yes it is indeed a road. We follow a busy road through industrial areas, past a chemical plant, and long stretches of warehouses. The first 2.5 miles is just pure ugly!

Then into the trees on a nice path and up we climb, gaining 700 vertical feet in just seven-tenths of a mile. A few miles further on we reach a rest stop with picnic tables and a great view of the city of Balboa far below us.

               The Guggenheim Museum is in the center left of the photo, on the left of the river

We wind our way steeply downhill entering into Bilbao well above the river, heading down staircase after staircase as we descend. On final long stone staircase that goes on forever finally brings us to a park next to the Nervion River. Across the first pedestrian bridge and into a small plaza where we enjoy a cafe con leche, then onto our Silken Hotel accommodation where we are able to check in shortly after noon time.

After a short rest, we head out into this city of 350,000 to enjoy the beauty that it offers. And the beauty of the city is immense, with incredible architecture. We walk around the outside of the Guggenheim Museum, see a couple of marvelous bridges, and admire some of the old city architecture as well as the modern. Beautiful!

Tomorrow we will tour the inside of the Guggenheim. Tomorrow’s forecast is for rain, but no problem for us….much better to have rain on a rest day that on a long hiking day!

While walking the city we enjoy a beer/wine, more coffee, and ice cream. We need those calories!

The following photos are of some of Bilbao’s sights: