Bilbao, 100% Rain, and this is how my mobile phone prepared me for the last day of vacation. I woke up at 6 AM with the rhythm of hiking and was the first at the breakfast buffet at 7:30 AM. Alongside coffee and toast, there was fresh fruit at the 'Hostel Quartier'.
My city tour was scheduled for 10:15 AM. It was raining heavily. Unfortunately, I had lost my umbrella during the trip. The rain radar indicated rainy weather continuing into the afternoon. Equipped with a new umbrella from the nearest souvenir shop, I set off.
Together with seven other brave participants, six of whom were from Germany, the tour took place in the rain. Tour guide Gillen, an architect of my age, led the group through the rain and Bilbao's history as an industrial city, highlighting the decline of heavy industry in the 20th century and the positive development in recent years due to the so-called Guggenheim effect.
I kicked off the afternoon of this rainy farewell day with a nap, followed by an extensive walk and a visit to the train station and the library. By 4 PM, the sun was even trying to break through.
Thursday evening was finally dedicated to nightlife. I made friends with a group of American cruise passengers from Virgin Voyages, who were travelers and sailors alike. The perks of an all-inclusive life at sea were exchanged, while I held back my skepticism about the sensibility of traveling in floating entertainment containers.
The night followed a familiar pattern: bar, another bar, kebab shop, one member of the group departs, the remaining four continue on to the cabaret club, where more crew members are celebrating. Eventually, it was time to head back to the hostel. With the input of the door code 099745, the night ended for me.
On Friday morning, somewhat sleep-deprived, I checked out at 11 AM, glanced at my phone, the departure was delayed by 45 minutes, took one last stroll through the alleys of the old town, gathered travel snacks, in Fantastic Bilbao I found a nerd hoodie that prompted an impulse buy, then had one last beer and two delicious pintxos at Plaza Nueva and headed to the metro, arriving at the airport at 2:30 PM. With a transfer in Stuttgart, I flew back to Berlin.
