Getting there

 So the first step was to head to Manchester on the Thursday evening where we were staying in a b & b. I was working the Thursday so the plan was to head up as soon as I got home. Apparently this was not possible because in Karen infinite wisdom she had booked her nails in as it was the only time they could fit her in before we went so this would push back our leaving time.

I will let you judge if it was worth arriving at the b & b at 23.30:

The b & b was basic but the breakfast was good and we now had lots of time to faff and head over to Karen’s sisters to drop the car off and get a lift to the airport. After 20 minutes in the park with Karen’s neices carrying every Disney doll known to man and catching them at the bottom of the slide we were off.

Smooth sailing through Manchester airport, my first time also using self service bag check-in. Just as soulless as the super markets I prefer to be asked if I packed my own case ect.

Security was a breeze, now well drilled and boots straight in the tray. Time for a quick shandy and all aboard the easyJet plane to Bilbao.

Very short and smooth flight only 1 hour 40 mins tho with the hour extra it was 17:00 when we landed. We got a bus I to Bilbao city centre a bargain at only 3 euro’s each. And headed straight for the pension hotel I booked. As we were walking over I noticed a few groups of people wearing the tell tale bandana scarfs around their necks I usually associate will bull runs or fiesta’s so assumed there was something on but didn’t pay it much attention. Got in the room, all self service check-in. The room was small but clean with a communal room.

We headed out for food and this is where the real significance of the fiesta was noticed, almost everything was closed until sunday. We were quite tired so stayed bear the room and just found a takeaway and had a kebab.

Then back to the bar right by the room for our first Spanish alcoholic drinks.

So the plan was to head over to the bus terminal early and get on the bus at half 8 and be in Oviedo by lunch get checked I to the hotel and have a mooch round the cathedral and find the Camino for the morning.

We were cream crackered from the travelling so went to bed early. About an hour later I was woke from my no doubt sensual chorus of snoring to what can only sound like a war zone of cannons and fireworks going off continually this continued for about 40 mins where on the last boom Karen took her earplugs out and went to the toilet oblivious to the noise until the final crusiendo.

After a long sleep we got up at half 7 and headed over to the bus station. On previous camino’s have always had a fairly relaxed approach to buses normally you can just rock up and buy a ticket. This chill attitude was about to bite me back very hard. The bus station was bedlam at least 500 zombie like drunk people all trying to get on buses. After looking for ticket machines we realised not only was the 8.30 bus full but all buses until 18:00 too. We clicked on the 18:00 bus and there was only 4 seats left so we had to just book 2 of the remaining seats and scupper our casual day in Oviedo.

We had also put our key for our room in the box so it was 07:45 and nowhere to go until 18:00. We walked back to a cafe we had thought of getting breakfast and started the day with a pan au Chocolat and a cafe con leeche.

So next problem was the room I booked in Oviedo said no check-ins after 19:30 and we would be arriving closer to 22:30 so I messaged them on booking.com but they refused my late check-in request and when I messaged them to explain said it was not possible to check-in later and requested a refund, I don’t think he has to give it and we can’t use the room so had to book another hotel that had a later check-in. Fingers crossed on a refund but not holding my breath.

Not ideal but we’re not letting it spoil the experience.

So after we chilled and sorted out the bed for the night we headed down to old town where we discovered the fiesta’s main location the place was wreaking of stale beer but the old buildings were pretty.

We strolled around for most of the day stopping in cafe’s and benches within the plaza’s and wound down the hours wasn’t a bad way to spend the day and Bilbao really is pretty probably more so when the festivities are not on.

So I am writing this whilst on the bus finally on the way to Oviedo. So no cathedral stamp for us and an early start on the cards but tomorrow the Camino begins. Wish us luck. Oh and there is a 30-40% chance of rain tomorrow .

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