Today was a little break from the academic programming, and we got to enjoy some fun activities together. The first stop for my group was a short walking tour of other parts of the city that ended at La Ribera Market, one of the largest covered markets in Europe. We had the chance to stroll through the various stalls, which were filled with fresh produce, seafood, meats, and ready-to-eat bites. I tried a few pastries that we shared among friends. One was a traditional Basque merengue, with a crispy meringue top and a layer of pastry and cream underneath, definitely my favorite. We also sampled a layered pastry with custard and nuts on top, and a sweet, buttery bun. It was nice to explore more Spanish and Basque flavors.
After the market, we headed to a cooking class, which was one of the highlights of the day. We made a full three-course meal: starting with pintxos, then a Spanish tortilla, and finishing with a dessert similar to crème brûlée. Interestingly, we prepared the dishes in reverse order so that everything would be ready around the same time. For the pintxos, we made two types. The first had a base of bread topped with hard-boiled egg, mayonnaise, shredded egg, and two shrimp skewered with a toothpick. The second featured skewers of olives, peppers, and anchovies served on olive oil-drizzled bread. The tortilla española was like a thick omelet, made with sautéed potatoes, eggs, and caramelized onions. Dessert included a honey-whipped cream base, a sponge cake soaked in whiskey syrup and crumbled, followed by pastry cream, and finally a caramelized sugar crust that was torched. My favorite was the tortilla, but the dessert came close! I’m not a huge fan of seafood, so I skipped the anchovies, but I still tried the egg version without the shrimp and liked it. I’m really looking forward to bringing the tortilla recipe home and cooking it for my family.
Later in the afternoon, we rode the Funicular de Artxanda, Bilbao’s own version of the Duquesne Incline. It was just a short walk to the station, and the funicular took us up Mount Artxanda, where we were met with a panoramic view of the entire city. The weather was perfect, sunny with a gentle breeze, which made the scenery even more stunning. From the top, we could see the River winding through the city, the Guggenheim Museum’s iconic architecture, and the surrounding green hills. We took some time to relax, take photos, and simply enjoy the moment before heading back down and returning to our hotel.
This evening, we plan to go souvenir shopping and maybe grab a few more pintxos along the way. I’m especially hoping to find something handmade or unique to the Basque region to bring back as a keepsake. More tomorrow, so definitely tune back in!
– Paige Colson