BILBAO #4 - PUENTE COLGANTE AND FINAL VIEWS OF THE CITY

[jenni_blog]

The Vizcaya Bridge, or Puente Colgante, is the oldest transport bridge in the world, construction having started in 1890. In 1999 a pathway over the top was created so people could walk across it, across the Nervion River. The pathway affords a panoramic view of Bilbao beneath. A gigantic gondola suspended from the bridge, carries vehicles and large animals across the river without touching the water. The bridge was declared a World Heritage site in 2006.

I also took some photos on my last walk around La Plaza Nueva, one of my favourite places to visit in Bilbao.



Looking up at one side of Puente Vizcaya



The Nervion River.



A view of Getxo from atop the bridge.



The river seen through the bridge.



The Getxo side again from the bridge.



This was the bridge 'sentinel'. At first I thought he was real!



He seemed to be looming there and gave me a start when I first noticed him!



This is the bottom of the bridge from the Getxo side.



This pretty little park was at the bottom.



Looking up...



Some nice buildings in Getxo.



The morning I left Bilbao for Berlin, Germany (December 7th) I went out and took some pictures in the Plaza Nueva. That was a big square that I loved to walk through every day. In this bar I ate six pintxos in one sitting! (Okay, I was standing, and they were very small!) And I washed them down with a glass of Txaicoli, a delicious Basque white wine.



Next door to it was another very busy bar.



Whenever I felt like having a coffee, I went to the 'Coffee Break' where they also served delicious sandwiches and sweet pastries. xurda87 and I went here on our last night together. *sniff* *sob*



OMG...Victor Montes...the busiest bar in the square! It was gorgeous.



Some other views of La Plaza Nueva before I leave you.







And last but not least...the Cafe Bar Bilbao! We passed by this place every single day! Never went in, but this bar is mentioned in the Lonely Planet Guide to Spain, in the section on Bilbao! It's a landmark, on the far side of La Plaza Nueva. Bye bye Cafe Bar Bilbao, and bye bye Bilbao. I hope I can return soon!

Comments

[just-jenni.livejournal.com]

I was so lucky that the day we went to see the bridge (it was the same day as the Lezama visit!) the weather was warm and amazing. The sun came out, and that made the pics of the Portugalete side not so good because of the glare! That's why I didn't post any. :(

But yeah...there were a few clouds when we came down on the Getxo side which allowed me to look back towards Portugalete and take the pic from below. I think it turned out well too.

I still remember the six pintxos I ate! But they were small, so I wasn't too sick-feeling after. LOL. I have since tried to duplicate them at home, with varying results.

Do you remember that in the Tryp Hotel there was a big book on Bilbao that had a sign on it: 'Please Do Not Remove This Book'? I didn't, of course, but I forgot to write down the address where you could order it for yourself. I could kick myself for that! I think that inside were some recipes for pintxos, although I know I can find some online. :)

Actually, those people were sitting outside in DECEMBER! XDDD

I could kick myself also for not going into the Cafe Bar Bilbao! Oh well, next time I will do all the things I kicked myself for NOT doing this time!!! :)

Are you still planning to go back in February? I won't be able to go back until at least early 2012 and I am not going in winter again! Because of the weather here, not there! And finances, of course, unless I win a lottery or something!