Lost in the Locale

Our Group Attempting to Figure out the Metro System

Despite having orientation about the local area and the university yesterday, my group couldn't help but get lost both yesterday and today. I should mention that in the Bilbao/Getxo area, there are several neighborhoods that comprise each city and all of them are connected by a metro train. The metro train itself is the primary means of transportation for most of the residents and its efficiency is worthy of admiration. While the University is located off the Moyua exit, most of us residents live in either the Areeta, Neguri, or Algorta neighborhoods 15-25 minutes away. Most of our exploration yesterday was based in the Areeta and Algorta neighborhoods, and we saw several local attractions while we tried to establish our bearings.

Landscape View of Areeta

The following are some observations of Spanish culture I noticed while walking the city:

• Most people have dogs and walk them often
• The dogs here are either furry giants or tiny balls of fur
• In addition to biking and walking, rollerblading is a popular mode of transportation
• Public displays of affection are more extreme than in the U.S. and are considered normal in Spain
• People walk with a purpose
• The Basque language is distinctly different from Spanish and looks almost German
• Going down the wrong hill is extremely regrettable

One of Several Alleys on Old Bilbao

This morning wouldn't prove much better. After meeting up with Carrie and Kaitlyn (two other USAC students from UNR), we wanted to get some coffee and baked goods for breakfast before our first day of class. We wanted to revisit Old Bilbao because of its quaint, European atmosphere. However, there comes a point where once you lose your position, every alley and street begins to look the same and the neighborhood becomes a maze of sorts. We started rushing to find a familiar landmark and even asked directions from locals. After 45 minutes, we arrived at the UPV (Universidad del Pais Vasco) just in time for our class. I guess I should note that we (the three students from UNR) are the only students in our class, meeting the bare minimum to prevent USAC from canceling it. Needless to say, our instructor was happy we all enrolled, therefore subsidizing his free trip to Spain. The rest of today will involve studying at the Bilbao library and relaxing on the beach but I will leave you with more pictures of Old Bilbao before I leave. Hasta Luego!