Bilbao, magical places

The second day that we were in Bilbao, we discovered fantastic things that we never expected to find. Thanks to one of the teachers who was from there, and knew the city, we visited some places that a normal tourist wouldn't have known.

Our hostel was next to the Azkuna Zentroa, something like a cultural centre. It was previously know as Alhóndiga Bilbao, and it was where wine was stored. From the outside it's an old building with some towers in its corners. In its day it was probably had great importance as it has quite a few details and is well looked-after.

It was restored and in its interior it houses some new buildings. Huge blocks made of brick are supported by small columns of all shapes and colours, it's something very original. But there's one thing that stands out, all of this is under a swimming pool. It wouldn't be so surprising if it were not for when you realise and look up, you see people swimming.

I'd never seen a pool from below, and I'd never thought of this perspective because it's so original, and from a normal point of view it's not possible.

I loved seeing the supported feet, also it was up very high. I'd like to swim in that pool at some point in my life. Then I could see how the people look below.

From there we walked to the Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao. This museum can be passed unnoticed in the shadow of the Guggenheim Museum, also found close-by to it. However, it has great value; whilst the Guggenheim represents the contemporary, the modern, the Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao represents the culture and the history of the city, even that of Euskadi. Thus it doesn't detract from the museum that it can't house more contemporary exhibitions.

The first thing that we saw of this museum was a huge corridor where one can see all kinds of things, as if it were a type of warehouse.

After the visit we sat to wait the arrival of our other friends, next to a sculpture. The weather was nice outside, but we would've needed a coat if we'd gone out.

After going to eat with my university friends, I stayed with a friend who lives in a small village near Bilbao. We went from the Maritime Museum to the Café Iruña.

It was my parents who'd told me about Café Iruña and I was curious to see it. It was quite far away, but we used the time to chat and talk about the day. Once we got there we saw that it was in a type of plaza in which were the Albia Gardens. It's an old local, I thought it had a lot of charm, I love old things. My friend had also never been there despite living nearby.

When we entered we sat next to a window and ordered a coffee. I put on my glasses to see the place better, and I saw that a professor and some other classmates had also gone there. This cafe is an iconic place of the city. One can imagine writers having gatherings there centuries beforehand.

At night I went back with my friends from the university and had dinner at some places that were near the hostel. That day we weren't tired and we took advantage of this by going out at night. Coincidentally, the area with the bars and clubs was very close to Café Iruña, which we now knew and we passed by it again.

Another place we passed by that night was the Headquarters of the Health Department of Bilbao and although the memories of it are fuzzy, we also count it as one of the buildings that we visited from our perspective of architecture students.

It looks like a broken glass and reflects the buildings around it. It was a pity that we didn't see it during the day.

Source

See more photos

Photo gallery