The Old Town
We carried on walking along the river until we came to the bridge that went over to the old town. By now it was time for a drink and rather than go over we went into the nearby Starbucks. The Wi-Fi was fast enough to get emails but not fast enough to post images for my postcard app. Starbucks was almost empty except for the young Spanish lady who talk very loudly on the phone almost the whole time that we were sat nearby.
After we had rested our feet and had coffee and doughnuts we set off back to our pick up point.
The rain and started again as we left. The street from the Starbucks didn’t have much cover, so we did get a little wet. At an intersection we passed a Five Guys restaurant – another place to remember on our next visit.
The trees that lined Gran Via don Diego Lopez de Hari provided us with shelter and by the time we reached the Fine Art Museum the rain had stopped.
Some shopping
The queue for the shuttle was quite long and stretched for over 100 yards. Chatting to a lady in front of us in the queue we learnt that just around the corner past the museum was a supermarket in the shopping complex by the Euskadi Plaza.
As there were no shuttle buses insight we abandoned the queue and walked around the corner to the shopping mall. The supermarket was below ground and we picked up tonic waters and Cokes. We were tempted to go to the restaurants on the top floor but resisted.
We joined the queue in almost the same place so we must have missed one or two shuttle buses. After 30 minutes a shuttle came and we moved closer to the front. Then 10 minutes later another. Now we were in the first twenty or so in the queue for the next shuttle.
When it came we watched as a passenger began to berate the local guide about the lack of buses and having to wait and how she intended to complain. I think she must have missed the point that the buses were free and were provided by the Port of Bilbao. She was still complaining after we had boarded our shuttle bus and we are leaving the waiting point.
The lighthouse
I went out of the terminal building and walked along the harbour wall to the lighthouse. There I watched an old man fishing off the breakwater. He caught a small fish and carefully threw it back before casting his line again.
Evening onboard Sapphire Princess
We went for dinner in the Savoy but were again sent to the Verona next door. While we were getting ready to eat the Captain spoke to everyone on the ship. The computer servers that counted passengers and crew back on board had all crashed. This meant there was no certainty as to who was on board the ship. Until the servers were fixed Sapphire Princess could not leave. If the servers could not be fixed then everyone would have to return to their cabins for a headcount check.
I again had shrimp cocktail, Caesar salad, followed by grilled chicken and bizarrely a desert called Burnt Rhubarb Napoleon. The desert was surprisingly good.
As we finished our deserts the Captain announced that the computer servers were fixed and that he hoped to leave after 7:30 pm when a pilot was available.
We went to the early show of the ‘Born to be wild’ production. The star of the show for me was the replica pink Cadillac. The show was excellent covering different genres a rock ‘n’ roll.
It seems some of our neighbours don’t appreciate the amount of junk mail we get everyday.
We passed the Atrium and listened to the two violinists for a while.
Back in our cabin I watched Bilbao recede into the distance from our balcony.
From the Cruise Log
Bilbao – Tuesday, 28th May 2019
Throughout the night Sapphire Princess maintained various easterly courses towards Bilbao.
At 06:14 the Officer of the Watch instructed the Engine Control Room to ‘Stand by Below’ as once again we readied the vessel for manoeuvring. Sapphire Princess continued inbound into the port limits as we prepared to arrive to the assigned berth.
Sapphire Princess cast her first line ashore at 07:46 and we were, tall fast’ at 08:06, at the same time the Officer of the Watch instructed the Engine Control Room that the Bridge had ‘Finished with Engines’ as Sapphire Princess settled down for a quiet day alongside in the Port of Bilbao.
At 19:10 Sapphire Princess was almost ready to depart and once again the OOW rang ‘Stand by Below’. With all of our guests on-board we depart at 19:15. Sapphire Princess then followed reciprocal courses and navigated out of the port.
Once clear we altered our course to port and set a north-westerly course towards our next port of call Le Verdon in France.
At Noon
Position: Bilbao
Sky:Overcast with Rain showers
Air Temperature: 15°C / 59°F
Pressure: 1008 mbs
Wind: North-Westerly, Force 5
Sea: Calm
Spain, France and Guernsey Day 5 Le Verdon, France and then a day at sea