Buzz
During our internship at a travel company in Marseille, we were constantly mesmerized by the introduction to Basque Country with its endless green plains, enchanting beaches, and cuisine that made everyone forget their worries! Still believing in the advertisements, we packed our bags and headed to the land with its own name (Basque people always refer to their homeland as Euskadi), its own flag, language, and a hint of demand for independence!
Explore the Colorful Cities of Basque
Stunning Cities and Mysterious Beaches
Encompassing a small part of Southwestern France and a part of Northeastern Spain, Basque Country is slightly larger than Switzerland. Along the border with France, French influence is still evident with colorful half-timbered houses.
Signposts feature all three languages – French, Spanish, and Basque – reminiscent of Eastern European countries. Travelers here find the most joy in getting around, thanks to the modern and affordable metro system that connects the region.
More than 40 minutes on the metro, we passed through many small cities. The deeper we went, the more the urban architecture bore the Spanish style.
In March, the sky remained a deep gray, but outside the train window, the green hills burst into life with white sheep scattered like cotton balls grazing. Most trees stood bare, yet the vibrant yellow of mimosa and the faint pinkish-white of blossoming apple, apricot, plum, and peach trees hinted at the imminent arrival of spring.
San Sebastian welcomed us with a gentle rain. The gray drizzle only added to the city's timeless charm. The streets were lined with tall, golden or brown buildings, each exuding an aura of antiquity.
There were houses with charming French influences, while others stood in simple grandeur. Tall buildings connected by narrow streets adorned with pale pink cherry blossoms, deep purple wisteria, or vibrant camellias.
Centuries ago, this was merely a small fishing village. Since the Spanish monarchy resolved to transform San Sebastian into a hub of culture and entertainment, the city has increasingly attracted celebrities and socialites from all corners of the globe.
As night fell, the air of antiquity gave way to a myriad of dazzling lights stretching from the city center to the waterfront. Tourists reveled in the lively atmosphere of the old town's bars, the sophistication of upscale restaurants, and the bustle of high-end fashion boutiques surrounding the main cathedral.
Not even the weekend yet and it's only 7 PM, but the bars are already packed. In San Sebastian, even those who dislike noise find themselves stepping into bars because if they don't, they'll miss out on pinchos - a cherished part of Basque cuisine.
Pinchos are typically made from sliced baguette topped with cold cuts or shrimp, eggs... intricately decorated, just looking at them makes you crave! Each bar usually has its own type of pincho to entice customers, but basically, there must be cold pinchos that can be eaten right away and pinchos that need to be heated before indulging.
My favorite pincho is the sweet, tender, paper-thin Jabugo ham, when heated, the translucent slice of meat reveals both its texture and marbling. The shrimp pincho is without bread, with shrimp peeled, skewered, grilled on the tabletop, then sprinkled with finely chopped fried shallots, the shrimp is crispy, fragrant, and juicy.
Each pincho costs 3 - 4 euros but even if you eat a dozen, you'll only try a very small portion of the extensive menu. Luckily, txakoli wine, a local specialty, is cheap, only 1.5 euros a glass, it's the same in every bar.
In no time, the bar is crowded, spilling out onto the sidewalk. When I try to look up to breathe, I'm greeted with even more smoke-filled air from huge smoked beef shanks hanging thickly.
The next morning, after breakfast with pinchos, we head to Zumaia, the most famous landscape in the Basque Country. Zumaia beach is unlike any other beach in the world because it's all sharp, jagged rock layers, stacked parallel, resembling giant book pages created by nature.
These unique rock formations are essentially sedimentary rocks formed from the deposition of thin layers of mud and volcanic ash. Nature, throughout its cycles, tirelessly adorns the coastline with these stone masterpieces.
The mountains seem to be constructed from slivers of rock rather than from solid blocks. Looking at the vertical cross-sections, one might feel as if thousands of saw blades are interlocking.
The wheels of time have probably been turning for over 100 million years. The aging process of the mountains is showcased by the sea, transforming those towering peaks into long ridges running from the mountain base through the sand, sinking into the water like the roots of a giant mangrove tree burrowing straight into the ground.
As the most magnificent scenery of Zumaia unfolds in the morning, everyone strives to arrive here early. At this time, the wind fiercely blows against the cliff walls and the jagged rock formations. The roaring sea waves toss up white foam, flooding the gaps between the rocks along the shore. Without the lighthouse and the church atop the verdant mountain peak, we might have thought we were participating in some sort of 3D game due to the surreal landscape.
Impressive Architecture in Bilbao
While San Sebastian is renowned for its elegance, Bilbao attracts tourists with its many impressive architectural structures. This port city, surrounded by mountains on three sides, vigorously developed its tourism sector from the 1990s onwards and has proven that this shift in focus was indeed correct.
Strolling along the picturesque Nervion River, we couldn't believe that just 30 years ago, Bilbao was a heavily industrialized city plagued by severe pollution. The river now runs clear, dividing the city into the old quarter and the modern district, connected by beautifully designed bridges.
With nearly 800 years of history, Bilbao boasts numerous churches, universities, and valuable museums. The government cleverly capitalizes on these strengths with the most advanced transportation system in Europe: In addition to an international airport, Bilbao has a comprehensive network of subways, roads, railways... connecting to regions across Western Spain and neighboring countries.
Though tourism and services now dominate the economy, Bilbao never forgets its over 700-year history of mining and metallurgy. The Guggenheim Museum - the city's icon like a modern fortress entirely clad in titanium. The 24,000 m² structure shines silver against the gentle beauty of the Nervion River.
Also on the Nervion River, a peculiar sight unfolded before us: a 'floating' suspension bridge gliding across the water, ferrying passengers and vehicles across the river in 1 minute and 30 seconds. It's the Vizcaya Bridge - a transporter bridge, though locals often refer to it as a suspension bridge, despite its entirely different structure.
The Vizcaya Bridge is 164 meters long, 43 meters high, with a gondola hanging below to transport goods and passengers. Vizcaya is the oldest transporter bridge in the world. Bilbao residents still take great pride in this unique mode of transportation, a combination of a steel bridge and a hanging gondola.
Source: Businessman Saigon
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Reference: Travel Guide by Mytour
MytourApril 13, 2016
