Hello from another sunny day in Bilbao! We began our day with a guided tour of the stunning Teatro Arriaga Antzokia, where we delved into its rich and dramatic history. The theater was originally built in 1890 and named after Juan Crisóstomo de Arriaga. Tragically, Arriaga died at the age of 19, but his legacy lives on through this building. The theater has seen its fair share of hardships. It was severely damaged by a fire in 1914 and later by the devastating floods of 1983. Each time, it was restored, preserving its original style while modernizing some aspects to suit current needs. For example, it was the first building in Bilbao with electricity! One of the more interesting parts of the tour was learning about the “widow’s box,” which was a special area designated for the widows of theater members who had passed away. The decor inside has very intricate detailing. I enjoyed taking a peek at some vintage costumes, including one from a production of Hamlet, a play I’d love to see performed in such a venue.
We had the rest of the day to ourselves, so we decided to go shopping. I had a long list of souvenirs and goodies in mind to bring home, so we stopped at tons of different places. We browsed through nearly every clothing shop along the main street before eventually finding ourselves in a little chocolate shop. I ended up choosing a small tin of chocolates with the iconic Bilbao tile pattern on it. I was hoping to buy some Bilbonitos (a popular local treat), but unfortunately, they were a bit too pricey. Next, we grabbed a quick lunch at Bobby’s Gourmet BBQ, where we shared a bunch of appetizers. The standout was definitely the chips and dip platter, it came with crispy potato chips, bacon, cheese, and a delicious creamy dip that I don’t quite know what it was, but it was amazing. We also had some croquettes and an empanada-type dish. After lunch, we popped into a bookstore where I found the perfect pintxos cookbook for a family member. Then I picked up some Bilbao-themed chocolates at El Corte Inglés to bring back as gifts. We headed back to the hotel for a short siesta to recharge before venturing out again.
In the evening, we visited at least a dozen shops in Old Town, picking up souvenirs, shirts, and mementos. I’m still on the hunt for a Bilbao-themed puzzle, fingers crossed there’s one out there somewhere. It was such a fun and relaxed afternoon. For dinner, we ventured out toward the city center in search of pizza. I accidentally led our group to a place that wasn’t quite what we had in mind, but we found another great spot. I tried a pinsa, which is similar to pizza but made with a different kind of dough that’s pinched instead of rolled out. It was absolutely delicious. After dinner, we took the funicular up and watched the sunset which was a truly magnificent sight. The view was breathtaking and incredibly peaceful. On the way back to the hotel, we grabbed a sweet treat to end the night on a high note. Good night Bilbao, see ya in the morning!
-Paige Colson
