Blogs from Basque Country, Spain, Europe

I went to an centuries old Catholic Church for my friend's first Communion. There was about 20 boys and girls receiving first communion. After the communion we all walked over to the restaurant for a big party. We ate gigantic lunch , included shrimp, filet mignon, wine, sidra, deserts, other kinds of fish, lots and lots of food. We all played together The party lasted from 2:30 until 10:30, then Grandma and I came home we were exhausted. The place that we went for lunch was a very fancy restaurant. First Communion is a major event here and you receive lots of presents. Where we went was up some outside escalators which we rode and then walked a couple of blocks to the restaurant. I had a lot of fun and the first communion was interesting. ... read more

Yesterday afternoon I had a play time with my friend, Eneritz. WE went to her Grandma's house in Irun. She is teaching me Spanish and I am teaching her English. She takes English in school. All school children now take English in this area. I am going to be attending her First Communion tomorrow in a church that is hundreds of years old. After her First communion we are all going to a fancy restaurant to celebrate her First Communion and to eat. Earlier in the day we had a big fish dinner cooked by Papa's friend who has is own fishing boat for commercial fishing. It is Basque fishing boat. Uncle Victor and Papa went to a soccer game in Bilbao , everybody here is crazy about soccer. Grandma and I are going to the ... read more

There is an old fort and the streets and sidewalks are made of stone. Most of the buildings are made of stone and they are hundreds of years old. I walked all over the fort and saw a big church and a big building with canon and bullet holes in it from a past war. The building is being used as a hotel now, a very fancy hotel. Today I walked to the coffee shop by myself and got my Grandma and Uncle Victor coffee to go and ordered myself churros. They were able to understand my Spanish and I got just what I ordered. Here it is safe for children to run around by themselves, everybody works together to take care of the children. The grown ups here put their hands on your face and ... read more

Dawn day 2 After hearty meal in Bilbao old town and goode telling us the evil that TV is and blessed are the movie makers who send him Netflix for his ipad, we had final beer in skinny bar by hotel. Had hit skinny bar first when we arrived and ken ended up dancing with columbian ladies, as we told them he single and a rock star from show off hands group in Coventry. They his groupies now Not sure they know we're Coventry is but they keep calling "grande Ken" Team tired but in good spirits, bikes fuelled up and goode GPS to be tested to day, as road to Pamplona is back road not tolls or highways, but will it still think its in Guildford UK.? Breakfast shortly for €5 And BBC world news ... read more

all had reasonable kip on ferry but lots of snoring mentioned by all Breakfast was nice as sea was flat and calm so great crossing, and all well. We had bikes parked on bottom of ship deck 1, so we all had the fear of riding up wet ramps, to get out of the hold, etc. We all made it but back wheels spinning to meet the front was a worry. Set off after passport control, border officer looked at my passport and nodded ok, which is a worry as had my helmet on, but hey Ho. In formation we left the quayside but Goodey was having problems with loading his sat nav, for the hotel in Bilbao, mile down the road he pulled in, thought he had a puncture but his sat nav was telling ... read more