Bilbao Local Customs

A group of 3 cafes with an atmosphere from the early 1900s - traditional cafes from Bilbao.

Good pintxos and cafe during the day - and music and going-out places at night.

During the Aste Nagusia, they organize lots of activities - gastronomical, cultural and of course, party during the whole night! - the circular square (Plaza Biribila) is almost closed to traffic because of the crowd of people dancing outside Cafe La Granja.

Cafe Iruna - at Jardines de Albia, beautifully decorated inside with Andalusian-style tiles.
Cafe La Granja - at Plaza Circular
Cafe Boulevard - in El Arenal, oppsite Arriaga theater, also hosts tango dancing from time to time.

Aste Nagusia or Semana Grande, are the city fests. The name means Long Week, because they last from a Saturday to the following Sunday.

A typical fest day begins early in the morning with the Encierro, which takes the bulls to the bullfighting arena. In the old part of town, there are gastronomical contests and plays for children .
In the afternoon, after the Bullfighting, the Konparsas go down playing music to the Casco Viejo, where the party goes on at any txozna, eating and drinking in the evening.
One of the most crowded activities is the daily 11pm iInternational Fireworks Contest, from Etxeberria Park - all usually very noisy and coloured.
After that... concerts (for every taste: for nostalgic and parents, rock, folk...) and party all night long (gaupasa).

When:August, usually beginning the Saturday after 15.08 to next Sunday.
This year a bit earlier:
Aste nagusia 2.004: 14-22 August

Every Christmas, El Corte Ingles on Gran Via (a large department store) has animated displays depicting festive things. They are on from early December to Los Reyes (6 January). Free, and very popular with children.

Processions occur all through holy week all over the city. Some are silent at 5am, others are large and noisy, with wailing trumpets and loud drumbeats accompanying the movement of large icons depicting the passion.

That's Basque Country, in Euskara the basque language, you very often hear on the street.
It's a nation. At least for it's history and culture. The Basque Country is the territory which is historically, ethnically and culturally Basque. Basques consider their country with 7 regions: Bizkaia, Gipuzkoa, Araba and Nafarroa on the Spanish side, Lapurdi, Nafarroa Beherea and Zuberoa on the French side.
Basques defend their culture and want to be an independent country.

The "big week" of Biblao is celebrated the last week of agoust. The Arenal gardens are full of dancing-drinking-smoking... people.

Groups of cultural associaties install tabers on the streets and the party is traslated there.

Too many people, a lot of music, drinks... PARTY!!!

One thing that struck me both here in Bilbao and neighboring Vitoria, everyone hangs out their laundry to dry. Everywhere you look there are balconies, clotheslines, and windows sprouting the daily washing.

At Bilbao as almost all Spain the citizen are catholic that's why you can find a lot of churches and beautiful Cathedrals. But the true is that if you go at sunday to a mass it will be difficult to find young people.