Last week I started Máster Universitario en Modelización e Investigación Matemática, Estadística y Computación which takes place in Bilbao during the first semester, and in Zaragoza later on.
Between my earlier visit in summer alongside my family, and these few days, I’ve had my fair share of time to wander around the city. And so: here are some snapshots.
Film is so much fun. It’s a shame I didn’t bring my parent’s trusty Yashica 109 Multi Program with me.
Ermita de San Juan de Gaztelugatxe.
My guilty pleasure is visiting speciality coffees, and my first one here was Dupla Specialty Coffee. It was neat! No shots from the shop itself, unfortunately.
Alongise the Nevirón river, and up until I reached Guggenheim, I saw lots of interesting buildings — colorful textures on walls and contrasting facades side by side, coliving in an eloquent clash of former elegance and vanguard arquitecture.
Afternoon sunrays scattered across the smooth metal surface of the Guggenheim generating mesmerizing hues of red, orange and green. I wonder—no, I bet it is intentional. Such a fest for the eyes.
Maman (spider) feels like it came straight out of Half Life.
Autumn is coming already here but it doesn’t feel that way? — at least that’s what my sweaty shirt is telling me, for crying out loud.
Bilbao has to be one of the cleanest cities I’ve ever seen. There’s barely any litter on the ground (!!!), neat benches everywhere which I have no need to look over before sitting —speaking of which, I’ve seen no traces of Camden benches neither other forms of Hostile architecture—, lots of bins everywhere in packs of four (organic, plastics, paper & glass).
Txurdinaga, the eastern district I’m living in, has an oneiric vibe going on — one of peacefulness, of calmness, of Yoyū (余裕). Abundance has been, in general, a recurring thought during my brief week here. Elderly in their morning walks, kids playing football everywhere, good boys (dogs) goofing around; Europa parkea even hosts small habitats with frogs, and a litter of kittens that I saw playing with each other. Not a trace of engine noises — just birds chirpling and wind breeze.
Some snapshots from my very tiring walk to Funikularraren Parkea
A horse in horseschool learning to, umh, be ridden? — at least that is what his equestrian told people, since everyone got scared for having an enormous animal coming ungainly straight out at them.
Phew, so many photos! But, I admit, the scenery compels me! There’s such a vast amount of greenery, and verticallity —my poor calfs)— and so I must comply!
Winter will come shortly and the colors of the landscape will inevitably change. That will be fun, too.