Today was our first full day in Bilbao. After a long travel day and a good night’s rest, we started the day with breakfast at the hotel. We went to the Bilbao School of Engineering and began with an information session about Bilbao and everything the school has to offer. It was really interesting to compare their university system to ours. I was especially surprised by how low the cost is to attend school here in Bilbao.
We had our first lunch in the cafeteria and then attended another presentation where we learned about the Oreka-Balance medical device. This device focuses on finding ways to measure and improve balance in patients. As a nursing student, I never realized how much work and time goes into developing medical devices like this. It was fascinating to hear about the different phases (T1–T9) and how challenging it can be to secure funding and grants for research and development.
In the afternoon, we went on a walking tour to explore the city and learn more about the culture here in Bilbao. We visited several places, including the Guggenheim, Casco Viejo, and the riverwalk along the Nervión River. One of the highlights was seeing the giant flower-covered puppy sculpture outside the Guggenheim. It was colorful and seasonal, and I learned it doesn’t really symbolize anything specific like we all thought. Every part of the city had its own unique style. One of my favorite buildings was the one designed to look like an upside-down boat because it was so different from anything I’ve seen before. We also got to try our first pintxos, which are small, bite-sized snacks typically served on bread with different toppings. There were so many varieties, and I’m excited to keep trying new ones throughout the trip. Overall, it was a great introduction to Bilbao and I’m really looking forward to learning more and getting to experience all this city has to offer!
