So I am totally behind on updating my blog…I know, I know…I
suck. But, to be fair, if I were typing all of the time, would you even believe
me when I said that I am having a good time?
I will pause there to say that homesickness is, in fact, real.
No matter how good of a time you have traveling, there is a definite hole that begins to
form and grow in your chest when you are on the opposite side of the world from
all that you know and love for an extended period of time. I will not dwell on
this or go into monotonous sappy detail. However, for future folks in this
situation looking at this blog for advice and an idea of what’s to come (like I
did with other blogs last year) I felt it would be a disservice to not honestly
disclose that sentiment.
Moving right along…
A few weeks ago (told ya I suck) I made a lovely trip to
Bilbao with a lovely group of girls and we had a lovely time eating lovely food
and seeing lovely sites. We
visited the Guggenheim and the Basque History Museum, we watched a beautiful
impromptu violin concert in the street that brought us to tears, we walked
through the most picturesque plazas and squares, rode the cleanest subway
system on the planet, and ate food that tasted
like art.
There really aren’t very many words that can describe how
much I loved this city and I hear tell that pictures are worth a thousand so I
shall let a few photos do the talking…
 |
| Even on a rainy day...it was beautiful... |
 |
| I really appreciate Spain for automatically cooking steak medium -rare. |
 |
| He was really incredible...I'm sure he must be an actual professional moonlighting for fun |
 |
| Nicer than American water fountains...but I'm just as scared to drink from them |
 |
| The Guggenheim |
 |
| A river runs through it... |
 |
| Everything worth seeing was outside...trust me on this! Very strange art... |
 |
| There were actually white balls in the bottom that looked like spider eggs |
 |
| I could live in this bar... |
 |
| Pan seared pork with a curry dijon sauce |
 |
| Spinach and Potato Mousse...yum! |
 |
| Delicious ceviche |
 |
| Cod fish with fruit and and veggies |
 |
| German Dinner: BEFORE |
 |
| German Dinner: AFTER |
(One day I will learn how to bunch my photos and not present them all in a line...one day...but not today...)
If you are ever in Bilbao you MUST check out these
restaurants…some of the BEST food I have ever had…and that is saying
something…. I’m Southern….
It was exactly the type of vacation that I was in need
of…really relaxing, cultural and consistent stuffing of my face with delicious
goodness. I spent several hours in a food coma and it was fantastic. It was, in short....LOVELY!!!
Oh, and we also had Halloween here, of course… we didn’t do
much, as Logrono is sorely lacking in the Halloween spirit. But we did dress up
and go out to confuse passing Spaniards and have a drink before calling it a
night. I went as Medusa!
Another quick item that was crossed off of my bucket list
recently: Grape Stomping!!! We went on a quick day trip to the nearby town of
San Ascencio where a local bodega was hosting a wine event. We were able to
tour an underground wine cellar, taste some of the best wine on earth, eat some
of the best chorizo I have ever had and of course smush our toesies into some
grapes…note for future stompers: Get a pedicure first. You will be judged for
chipped polish. I learned the hard way.
(I wanted to include some pics from San Acencio--there were plenty--but my comp is just not having it today! Sorry)
So I believe you are all caught up on my shenanigans…
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and we are planning a big AmeriBrit
dinner (I’m trying to convince the Brits to dress as pilgrims…this feels
appropriate to me). And we possibly may head into another nearby town for a
night to stave off any residual holiday blues…
What is on your bucket list? Where did you have the best
meal of your life? Please share, for every one thing I cross off of my bucket
list, I want to add more…keeps the heart pumping and whatnot…
¡Hasta Pronto!
XOXO
