Just turn left

Apart from one occasion when we visited the other marina by dinghy we have never ventured left upon leaving the Real club maritimo del Abra. Wanted too, but had never taken the promenade past the holiday homes and palaces along the front. So we decided it was about time we did. After all we had spent a week looking at the harbour front of Le Abra sometimes through binoculars ( the buildings are fascinating ) or more usually at night when the whole harbour wall puts on an impressive light show.

I may have forgotten to mention that we had moved into the Marina after a week at anchor due to a very windy forecast. Which proved accurate if unseasonal. As usual the Capitano Alvero was very helpful and found us a nice berth.

The Marina was very convenient for town and transport links. However as previously mentioned we had never turned left to walk along the front. The vague plan was to walk as far as the old fishing village at Algorta. The various houses along the front are in differing styles and there are helpful plaques describing who had them built and when etc. at many points along the promenade. All very interesting and in a strange echo of France a very eclectic mix of styles, the local one looking a little alpine in character. Surprisingly similar to a Swiss chalet. A couple of the bigger ones are more like small castles with turrets, castellations and carved coats of arms.

We were slighty surprised to discover yet another beach as we walked past the second marina complex. Not particularly that it was there but more the size and extent. It's well developed with several hotels sited adjacent to the beach. There was a beachfront bar invitingly placed and it was playing some nice jazz and R+B so it seemed a shame not to stop for refreshment.

As we were late in the season there was a distinct lack of customers but we didn't mind!

We noticed some posters for live music and decided we would return one evening. We carried on and in a very short time we came across yet another part of Getxophoto the open air photography exhibition.

 

Lynne was busy enjoying the pictures but my eye was caught by something in the background. A funicular railway! My inner child was overjoyed....,.

Too good to miss so we paid our 20cents and rode up and back down.

Worth it for the views alone. The photography exibits are visible just behind the beach.

After a few more minutes walk along the very attractive front we came to the old port of Algorta. 

Even here, art was everywhere. Looking carefully at the old quay revealed a portrait "El Sireno de Getxo" or the Getxo merman.

The old harbour was a very attractive and charming place. The village above was precariously perched on the steep hillside.

We climbed up the steep steps to find yet more art.

Also a charming collection of winding streets, houses and small restaurants and tavernas. It seemed churlish not too and besides it had been a hot steep climb so a refreshing wine was in order under the shade of the trees.

The food on offer in the small bars was the typical "Pintxos" we were beginning to appreciate. Those on offer here had a distinctly seafood bias. On our table were the remains of a sea snail feast with the needles in a cork providing eating utensils. It's fair to say we are having a very surprising day, we had sailed past this part of the harbour at 5 in the morning without realising what treasures the daylight would have revealed.

As we drank our wine beneath the trees we were reflecting on the 100 miles sail to Hendaye and we began to wonder if we wouldn't be better staying where we were for the winter as it appeared we had barely scratched the surface of things to see and do. On returning to the marina we had a word with Álvaro and the response was typical, " of course you can stay "

So that was that! When we considered that Bilbao had an international airport, with direct flights both to Tennerife and the U.K. It seemed to make perfect sense.

We returned to the beachfront bar on Saturday evening but were too late to see the band but we thoroughly entertained by the music on offer and were given drinks on the house, I think to compensate for some offensive lyrics by an English band that the barman was playing when we arrived. The band in question were the Sleaford Mods, I believe from  Nottingham, and we weren't offended really!

The following morning was a bit of a late one for us but we were puzzled by the noises coming from the town. We had to investigate and discovered that a rowing event was being held on the Ria under Bizkaia Bridge. The boats are known as Traineras and are based on the sardine boats that would race home with the catch. There are thirteen crew and it's very popular in Basque Country, most events ( including this one ) being televised.

The racing is very close, and the banks of the river were coloured green, red and yellow by the various groups of supporters, of which there were literally thousands.

 We watched one race then made our way to the start/finish line to watch our local team Portugaleta ( yellow) be unfortunately  beaten into second place.

We were gutted!