Today, we started the day at the Bilbao School of Engineering, where we listened to Professor Saioa’s presentation on the history of Bilbao and her Oreka Balance Project. This project focuses on a device currently in development that measures the pressure exerted during various tilt-motion exercises. Its goal is to diagnose a person’s balance capabilities and also support rehabilitation over time. One aspect of her research that stood out to me was how her team managed to overcome the “valley of death,” a stage where many research projects fail due to a lack of funding. Fortunately, they were able to secure support from a hospital, allowing them to begin testing their prototype. After the presentation, they provided us with lunch, which in Spain is the biggest meal of the day. They provided us with a 3-course meal that included pasta, chicken, fries, and also chocolate custard!
After visiting the Bilbao School of Engineering, we were given a tour of the city. We walked along the river, where our tour guide, Mangel, shared Bilbao’s rich history with us. Along the way, we saw boats and cranes from the city’s past. The coolest one we saw was called La Gabarra, a barge that the soccer team uses to celebrate major title victories by sailing down the river. It is still used today. In fact, it was used just two years ago when Athletic Club won the Copa del Rey.
We continued our tour with a stop at the Guggenheim Museum, where we saw a giant puppy statue made entirely of flowers! Learning about Bilbao’s history and unique traditions made me appreciate the city’s beauty even more and helped me better understand its culture.
To close the day, a group of us went out to find dinner and came across a small restaurant serving pintxos. However, as we were ordering, the server abruptly cut us off. While it wasn’t ideal, it led to a fun and memorable moment, as we ended up finding two places right next to each other that sold cheesecake and gelato instead. We took our desserts to a nearby park, where we sat together and enjoyed them before walking back under the beautiful night sky.