Day off in Bilbao

In the morning at breakfast, which is only served from 08:00 a.m. (it's not a classic pilgrimage hostel, but a hostel where most people came home much later than me last night, and it was already 11:30 p.m. for me), I meet Ralf and Claudia. Claudia was in the old town yesterday, together with Miquel, Radio, Maria, and Tom; we had a spectacularly beautiful evening. Tom received a call from his girlfriend that she is pregnant..... an additional reason to celebrate.

Claudia has already continued today, Ralf too. However, he is initially walking in sandals and still has to make a detour to the cobbler. The soles of both hiking boots have come loose and need to be reglued. I hope everything works out for him, and we'll see each other somewhere in the next few days.

I take it very leisurely ---- as is appropriate for a day off and start my exploration of Bilbao around 10:00 a.m.

Just quickly pop into Decathlon and buy a small daypack. I want to give Carsten the shopping bag that I have been using so far, as well as the water bottle from the bike race and a small tin can. And also the umbrella that I bought from the street vendor I trust, because I realized when it started raining that mine is still in the backpack at the hostel.

And as I originally planned, I go to the barber here and have the stubble removed from my face, even though there are followers who think beard growth is cool.

The highlight of the day is meeting Carsten. We meet at around 6:30 p.m., have dinner, and have a very heartfelt chat ---- what a treat for me. But then it's time to say goodbye again, Carsten has to work in a city about 70 km away tomorrow and me, oh well, my journey on the Camino continues tomorrow.

Bilbao is beautiful........