Elciego. Elciego is a small village in the Biscay province of the Basque Country, most famous in recent years due to the Marqués de Riscal Hotel & Winery, designed by Frank Gehry, most famous as the architect of the Guggenheim in Bilbao. Elciego has one of the most beautiful landscapes, and its rich soils provide excellent conditions for growing grapes that produce fine wines with a unique character. Elciego has been cultivating its vines for over three centuries, and it still preserves many old wine-making traditions from times gone by. The people are proud of their way of life and its vital role within Basque culture. During our visit, we stayed at the Hotel Marqués De Riscal. The Hotel's vineyard contains of 120 hectares of grape varieties: Tempranillo, Albariño, Viura, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah grapes. The Hotel also has an award-winning restaurant called Restaurante La Luna with two Michelin stars. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Elciego. The Hotel was better than advertised, with incredible vistas of the vineyard and surrounding countryside. The rooms were modern, spacious, and bright. The Hotel's architecture is quintessential Frank Gehry and is a great warm-up for those interested in visiting Bilbao. We took a tour of the famous Marqués de Risca and watched first-hand the artistry that goes into crafting the fine Rioja vintage. 

Bilbao. Bilbao is a city in Basque Country of Spain known for its modern architecture and sustainable urban planning practices. The city has been rebuilt since the late 20th century when its steel industry began to decline. Today, Bilbao is a thriving city with a strong economy, beautiful architecture, and a commitment to sustainability. The city serves as a model for other cities looking to redevelop and rejuvenate their economies and urban spaces. The European Commission has also recognized the city for its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, Bilbao has also been designated as a "Green City" by the World Health Organization. Bilbao is well-known for its architecture, food, and culture. If you're planning a trip to Bilbao, you're in for a real treat! There are plenty of things to see and do in this vibrant city.

One of the best ways to see Bilbao is on foot. Walking around the city is a great way to take in the sights and sounds of this beautiful place. Most of Bilbao's citizens tend to get around the city on foot and by bike. Thanks to its flat terrain, most people opt to walk or pedal in their daily movements around the city. Furthermore, the widening of pavements, the network of cycle lanes, the elimination of architectural obstacles, and the installation of lifts and escalators have all encouraged this trend.

Of course, my favorite spot is the Guggenheim Museum, built by the master architect Frank Gehry. The Guggenheim is the city's most recognizable landmark and popular tourist destination. But the Guggenheim is more than just a museum; it represents the resurrection of a city that had fallen into a slow and steady decline. It is a museum, more so than others, where the architecture transcends the arts that it holds. Another favorite activity in Guggenheim is to jog along the banks of the River Nervión. The river is the city's lifeblood, and several impressive bridges bisect the city. My favorite bridges include the eccentric La Salve Bridge, which overlooks the Guggenheim Museum, and two footbridges: the Puente Euskalduna, and the Puente Pedro Arrupe.

Outside the city, we had an opportunity to visit the island of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, located on the Bay of Biscay and 35 km east of Bilbao. The island is connected to the mainland by a man-made stone bridge with a narrow path containing 241 steps and many switchbacks. If you're a Game of Throne Fan, you may recognize it as the fictional site of "Dragonstone".

Another fun excursion is Getxo, a suburb of Bilbao located twenty minutes from Bilbao. Getxo is a foody paradise with a host of bars that serve its famous pintxos. In Gexto's Old Port, you will find restaurants that specialize in seafood and can also find more traditional Basque cuisine. In addition to great food and drink, Getxo has beautiful limestone cliffs that oversee the beach of Gorrondatxe-Azkorri.

There's no shortage of things to do in Bilbao. Whether interested in architecture, delicious seafood, or culture, this city has something to offer everyone. I had a wonderful time in Bilbao. The city is full of surprises. For example, because Bilbao has essentially been rebuilt, the architecture is very different from what I'm used to seeing in Europe. 

San Sebastian. Fantastic food, beautiful people, spectacular beaches - that's just for starters. Donostia-San Sebastian is a coastal city in the Basque Country, Spain. It's one of the most popular destinations for tourists these days due to its rich culture and amazing food. 

San Sebastian is best known for its Basque cuisine, specifically its world-renowned pintxo (think tapas). It also ranks second in terms of the most Michelin stars per capita globally, behind only Kyoto. So during our stay, we felt it was our obligation to try as many pintxos as we could. The most famous ones are found in bars called 'tapeo'. They serve small plates of tapas that are priced at three euros each. 

One of the must-sees in San Sebastián is Playa de la Concha, located right by El Muelle fish restaurant and Jardines de Muruzabal gardens. This beach has been awarded as one of Europe's cleanest beaches by the European Environment Agency (EEA).