I'm just back from a trip on the
Pride of Bilbao, one of the last few before it's taken out of service on that route.
![Whalewatching on the Pride of Bilbao](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_srU3ZWgJr_GVahrTRAHPq2eZ8S0AOS7SlcrSqJseLzb_v3-6sgfFgpONZlzpa_z5h9Dvhnv2Wyt4Fa5JuqcsTJCYp2lnGx7k3JbXErnIO9t4N_UTZZBBA4qCXItHgv0Q=s0-d) |
Whalewatchers in the evening |
You can read the
Biscay Dolphin Research Programme's official sightings list, but here are a few personal highlights...
- Not-too-bad-considering views of Fin, Pilot and Sperm Whales, Bottle-nosed, Common, Striped and Risso's Dolphins, and Harbour Porpoise
- Little flock of Grey Phalaropes bobbing on the sea
- Storm Petrels across the bows
- Sabine's Gulls
- Melodious Warbler on the boat for a few hours, before flying off high towards the Channel Islands
- Swallows and Sand Martins heading south strongly
I opted to get the train into Bilbao city centre, where we did a circuit of the outside of the Guggenheim - well worth it! Breakfast (tortilla and cafe con leche) nearby was much needed
![Guggenheim Museum Bilbao](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sLD0xIxPKtZ_x_lNdTTJUrOE6rAT_zFDr0WFhP28r6dTDMQaqMVYieIzn1ZtrFPfd-vLX1Hs_qrSO7DpZAVSuQrQK9mRY2tfBADDpq5JV0VwRNH9pAcNOpXeBsBgPCgQ=s0-d) |
Giant flowery puppy outside the museum (House Sparrows nest in it) |
![Guggenheim Museum Bilbao](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_s75lQ46DbNxYFai8omIPV6U1tmdFyaS_0wjVQIihgL6Q-N91NwcRSxL9Z6hyg_D81dVFgW_dxfO4aoLDVQhbp1uMN7Fr4WZKTR_3Ra9nkB4UJw_B3dPuGXuEVdvIfeuQ=s0-d) |
Mysterious mist and sculpture |
![Guggenheim Museum Bilbao](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sJxIBoLxkxb63RpagS1S1rpwCGI3EhH2nRvRLe0o4UtgaIoiQpZmYhik3RsUqGF-7afJb6M4Rb2idYoSOLbuHIsYmzQ5xLIJ4x6rA0N9zjCVDkxuXgf5jUX_pqtH4HGnc=s0-d) |
Giant spider |
![Abando-Indalecio Prieto station](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tZ9GayrbgpIh5oI5T2QiEK8UK-Ide3e5oQ6yRLOvV1_e3uP014WJ1x7MKzvsEpOAuvateG9Dtb_vrbV0fi9yXR7PDYjFYIcDvlkgm__UPBle81WZDaN1LIYN_tj_-k1jI=s0-d) |
Inside the station |
![South coast](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uZQIkqNJL0KHANRr9kbDM2q-hhe2CNAa9WP-In_ghsApqNWwkct_N72Fu9vPaSWub8ReGcfmurREVMZQAccJxA1JIj5zmtdlgz8fzgdWZPhpMnMSDWHeaI9MJnB8lu8N4=s0-d) |
Up the Channel on the way back into Portsmouth |
There seemed to be a lot of whalewatchers on board. I'm sure we must have looked strange to some onlookers, but I don't really understand the people who got off the boat and headed directly to the nearest bar in Santurtzi for a pint, then headed off to the shop to stock up on tobacco. Oh well. I still think that's weirder than we were.
photos taken with
Canon Powershot A640