Bilbao Basics

Now you've been to the wineries, get the low-down on the Basque capital

Featured December 11 Words by Katherine Bilsborough
Bilbao Basics

THE CITY BY NUMBERS

HAVE A WORD (OR TWO)

BILBO
The name of a town might be similar in Basque to the Spanish (Bilbo-Bilbao) or might be very different (Donostia-San Sebasti�n). Some bus and train companies use only one form, others use both.

KAIXO! AGUR!
Even though most visitors might know the words �hola! (hello) and �adi�s! (goodbye) in Spanish, you'd do well to learn the Basque terms kaixo! and agur!, as this is what you'll probably hear.

CALLE OR KALEA?
So as not to be confused by street plans of the city, remember that street names are often written in either Spanish or Basque on maps, but are usually in both languages on street signs. For example, Henao Kalea (B) - Calle de Henao (Sp).

ESKERRIK ASKO
Another useful Basque phrase that will be appreciated in bars, restaurants and shops is eskerrik asko (thank you), pronounced exactly as it's written.

NO TAPAS
You won't get tapas bars in Bilbao, but don't worry, because there are plenty of pintxos: the same as tapas, but arguably superior - the Basque reputation for all things culinary is well-deserved!

THE BILBAO TIMELINE

1300 Diego L�pez V de Haro founds the City of Bilbao on river Nervi�n. It already has the status of an important maritime and commercial centre

1379 The Catedral de Santiago is built on the site of an old chapel. The cathedral is dedicated to the apostle Saint James, the city's patron saint

1832 The first train line opens in the Basque Country, linking Bilbao with Balmaseda. This strengthens Bilbao's status as an economic and financial centre

1898 Englishmen working in the port introduce the game of football and the Athletic Club (later Atl�tico Bilbao) is founded. The team only allows Basque players

1892 New riverside walks and the architecture of the Teatro Arriaga, the Town Hall and the Plaza Nueva help to transform Bilbao into a modern city

1983 Bilbao suffers its worst floods. The river rises five metres, thousands of properties are damaged or destroyed and 45 people lose their lives

1995 The Bilbao Metro opens, linking the city to outlying towns. The glass station entrances are called "Fosteritos", after their designer, Sir Norman Foster

1997 The Guggenheim Museum, designed by world-famous architect Frank Gehry, is built on river Nervi�n, attracting visitors from all over the world

2010 Bilbao, now a vibrant metropolis, beats 77 other cities to be awarded the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize, considered the Nobel Prize for cities

2014 Bilbao is one of the finalists for the World Design Capital 2014. If you'd like to show support, visit bilbaoworld designcapital.com

GETTING AROUND

Bilbao is a small city and easy to get around on foot, though trams are a handy way to move quickly from one end of the city to the other. Buses, trains and the Metro provide an easy link to surrounding areas.

ARTXANDA
Go to the top of Mount Artxanda and check out the city views. The best way to travel up the 770m is by catching the funicular railway. It costs �0.90 one way and takes just three minutes.

THE OLD QUARTER
The old part of the city is a cobbled labyrinth of narrow streets and squares crammed with shops, bars, caf�s and restaurants. Catch the market on Sunday mornings in the Plaza Nueva.

DO�A CASILDA PARK
One of the city's oldest parks, with gardens, ponds, fountains, play areas for children and the Museo de Bellas Artes - its glass-walled caf� is a great place to sit and enjoy the greenery.

LICENCIADO POZAS
A busy street with many pintxos bars, caf�s and restaurants. It comes alive at night and at weekends, with students, locals and visitors.

LA ALH�NDIGA
An old wine warehouse is now Bilbao's newest cultural centre, providing a library, fitness centre, swimming pool, cinema, theatre, gift shop, restaurants and exhibitions. alhondigabilbao.com

CHRISTMAS

Imagine all the fun and excitement of Santa Claus in triplicate. That's what Basque Country children are lucky enough to have, in a holiday period that stretches from 24 December to 6 January.

Everybody knows that on Christmas Eve, Father Christmas brings presents to well-behaved children all over the world - but here he has a helping hand. The Olentzero, a Basque charcoal burner who lives in the mountains, comes down to the city on his donkey, wearing his black boina (beret) and a sheepskin waistcoat over his huge belly, smoking a pipe and lugging a huge sack. Good children get a present, naughty ones get a piece of coal. Look out for Olentzero grottoes around the city.

Later, as is traditional in the rest of Spain too, the Three Kings bring yet more presents. There is a spectacular procession through Bilbao on the evening of 5 January, in which the kings arrive on carriages, with dancers, musicians and various surprises.

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