Back in the pub, in Bilbao

The idea was that I'd rent a bike and take to Bilbao on wheels, writes Brian Byrne. Now instead, I'm in the pub this Sunday afternoon.

It isn't as bad as it sounds ('it sounds just typical', comes voice from offstage). This is research. On how the Bilbaoians spend their Sundays. And it's very similar to how we do. Except that, joy of joys, there isn't a single TV screen in the pub. It's how we used to do it ...

But back up. To the bicycle. Turned out that the two local places to rent don't open today, even the one that was supposed to. 'Sorry for the inconvenience', or words in Basque and Spanish to that effect on the door. So instead I took a tram across the city, and before getting here I've done the culture thing, and been to two museums.

Before Sunday lunch, note. Lunch in this event being samples of some seriously delicious tapas that are part of the city's pub scene. With the local vino del mes, of course. (Travel writer's research, guys.)

READ MORE