This morning marked a big transition as we checked out of our hotel in Bilbao to make room for the crowds arriving for the Europa League Final. After loading up the bus, we took a scenic drive through the Basque countryside to visit Tekniker, a high-tech research center nestled in the mountains. The views were incredible because the facility was surrounded by lush green hills. Inside, we listened to a presentation by two staff members who introduced the company’s mission and current projects they’re working on. We also listened to a presentation by two University of Cincinnati biomedical engineering students currently doing an international co-op there.

Later on in the day we continued on to Gernika, where we’ll be staying for the next few nights. After settling in, we visited Casa de Juntas, a historical meeting place for the Basque government. We also saw a copy of Picasso’s painting “Gernika,” which depicts the bombing that devastated the town during the Spanish Civil War.