SpaniaEuskal Autonomia ErkidegoaBilbaoPlaza Nueva43°15’34” N 2°55’20” W
15. september 2018, Spania ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
I’ve not visited the Basque area before so it’s a bag of surprises. My senses are expecting to hear and see a language with some familiarity to other European languages - but Basque (or Euskara)Les mer
SpaniaEuskal Autonomia ErkidegoaBilbaoGuggenheim Museum Bilbao43°16’7” N 2°56’2” W
15. september 2018, Spania ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
Words don’t really do it justice - amazing architecture from Frank Gehry.
Jeff Koons’ iconic ‘Puppy’ stands as a sentinel at the entrance.
SpaniaEuskal Autonomia ErkidegoaSondikaIzartzaFingerprint Sculpture43°16’27” N 2°55’19” W
15. september 2018, Spania ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
Lovely to walk around - locals enjoying their Sunday. Came across impromptu dancing on the river esplanade. Families picnicking. Some mini festival in the main park. Generally a city at ease withLes mer
SpaniaEuskal Autonomia ErkidegoaBilbaoPlaza Nueva43°15’32” N 2°55’21” W
15. september 2018, Spania ⋅ 🌙 21 °C
Basque Country is renowned for its gastronomy. In fact it has the highest concentration of Michelin-starred restaurants per capita in the world!
The local Pintxos may not have those stars - but whatLes mer
SpaniaLa RiojaLogroñoParque del Espolón42°27’53” N 2°26’23” W
17. september 2018, Spania ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
Met up with my Skadaddle Espana bike tour in Logroño. It was the local festival for the start of the wine harvest. Everyone out celebrating, music, bands and frivolity.
Logrõna is on the Camino deLes mer
SpaniaLa RiojaEzcaray42°19’36” N 3°0’48” W
18. september 2018, Spania ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
Big early climb over the Herrera col, then cycling through the heart of the Rioja wine area. Beautifully tended vines with grapes just ready for harvesting.
The Sierra de Cantabria is one of theLes mer
SpaniaCastilla y LeónQuintanar de la SierraRío Zumel41°58’51” N 3°2’30” W
19. september 2018, Spania ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
Big day of climbs. Thought I was practically going backwards on the first 12km climb with a gradient of 14%. But I made it!
Glorious scenery heading away from the Sierra de Cantabria and into theLes mer
SpaniaLa RiojaSan Millán de la Cogolla42°19’32” N 2°51’57” W
20. september 2018, Spania ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
Got our altitude with an initial 9km climb and then rewarded with a gentle 35km drift down through a spectacular valley following the Río Najerilla.
The winding road was in perfect condition butLes mer
SpaniaLa RiojaLogroñoPlaza del Mercado42°28’7” N 2°26’35” W 21. september 2018, Spania ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
Some ups and downs as we headed back towards Logroño. We had a bit of a peloton going and enjoyed some kilometers of high speed cruising.
76km, 825m climbed.
Celebrated the end of an excellentLes mer
very different from Spanish