SPAIN - Different Modes of Travel

As I have mentioned already the Bilbao area is very hilly so it is no surprise that there is a funicular railway running from near the riverside to a view point high above the city - that therefore was the first place to visit today.

Then once back in the city it was across to Abando station to catch a surburban RENFE (the state railway) train out towards Santurtzi. Abando is the main railway station in Bilbao but not the busiest as the Basque government has their own railway company Euskotren which uses other stations. Those of you, however, that follow Mr Portillo on his continental railway journeys will know that the station has a wonderful stained glass window at the end of the trainshed overlooking the platforms.

RENFE Cercanias (Surburban) Train

To be honest the journey on the line to Santurtzi did not look that promising, the train went down river through areas with abandoned industrial buildings that have yet to experience the wonders of regeneration. However, at the far end of the line there were a couple of really nice riverside communites near the mouth of the River Nervion.

Once again I hear you ask Why? What is he doing this time? I was here to see and ride on the UNESCO world heritage transporter bridge.

A transporter bridge is a bridge that has a gondola suspended from a metal frame to transport cars and passengers across a river where there are no banks from which to build a bridge high enough to allow clearence for shipping (the river valley here has opened out).

The brave can go up in a lift on either side and walk across the top

The Bilbao bridge is considered to be the oldest in the world hence its hertiage status but we still have a couple of them in the UK - one across the River Tees in Middlesbrough and the other across the River Usk in Newport, South Wales. I had never seen one before so this was all good fun.

In addition to the RENFE line, the metro runs along both banks of the River Nervion so once across it was easy to get a metro train back to the city centre.

After my siesta it was off to the Guggenheim for a wander in air conditioned comfort - it really has been hot here today.

Inside the Guggenheim

The permanent collection is closed at the moment for a reorganisation but the building was playing host to an exhibition of cars as works of art, sponsored by the Norman Foster Foundadtion. It was a very popular exhibition but most enjoyable.

Bugatti Type 35 - 1924

Tatra T87 - 1948 
This model was made to order for a high ranking offical in the USSR
I know Tatra as a company that built trams for Eastern Europe

Aston Martin DB5 - 1964
This is the car that was driven in the James Bond film Goldfinger
It therefore has a lot of "extras"

It was getting dark as I left the Guggenheim so what better thing to do than finish my day where I started on the funicular for some night time views of the city.

There will be no post tomorrow as I am travelling to San Sebastian and with temperatures due to hit 37 degrees in Bilbao I suspect it will be too hot to do anything of interest. See you in a couple of days.