After 17 hours of flying from Manila to Madrid via Bangkok, we arrived shortly before sunrise in Madrid. (Sunrise happens after 8am.) Straight from immigration and customs, we loaded our rental van and headed 389 km, or 241 miles, north to Bilbao. The 3.5 hour drive passes smoothly and quickly thanks to the efficiency of Spanish roads and the gorgeous lush scenery - from golden lands, through vineyards, along rocky mountains, and into green forests.
Bilbao is a city to be desired. It retains its history and culture, while maintaining clean roads and alleys. The city is full of pride displaying its love and attention to the arts. Frank Gehry's Guggenheim certainly brought popularity to the city, and Bilbao has flourished since then.
Aside from the arts, the city houses the largest covered market in Europe, the Mercado de la Ribera. The market is full of fresh fish, meats, and produce. It is such a clean market, too! This was the best introduction into the quality of Spanish food and cooking. If there markets are this clean, then I knew I'd have no worries about questioning the quality of ingredients during the next 3 weeks of restaurant eating. What a great taste of what's to come on this epic trip!
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| Driving from Madrid to Bilbao Immediately boarded the rental car after exiting the airport. 389km/242miles in 3.5 hours. The roads and the ride was smooth and gorgeous. Spain has beautiful countrysides, making it ideal for an early fall roadtrip. |
