Compartamento #41

After the initial shock of boarding the train, realizing we were the only Americans, and the only people under 70, we were lead to our living quarters. For the next three nights and four days, Compartamento #41 would be our home. (Note: photo does not do justice.)

Enter shock part two: The living quarters on the train are 6x6, (John is 6'4"). The two single bunk beds were going to allow for no intimacy--heck, we weren't even sure if John could fit on the bunk to sleep!

This calls for alcohol. Where is the bar on this train?!

Our LUXURY (ummm) awaits!

We were so excited for our "main event" part of the trip as we named it. Around 3pm we boarded the El Espresso de la Robla: an "Orient-Express-like" sleeping train operated by the local FEVE that was going to take us on a four day/three night journey into the true heart of Basque country.

Well....things aren't always what they appear. Being under 70, we found ourselves as the only "dark hairs" on the train. An observation we made straight away. We had no idea we'd be "realizing" caves, churches, aqueducts--all in cities that we've never heard of, our friends have never heard of, that are not in any guide books, and not even noted on maps. This was the real, local deep-dive, folks.

A Not So Beautiful Day for the Incline

We had a few hours before our luxury train across Basque country Spain departed, so we took the Artxanda Funicular up to the top of Bilbao for what we were hoping were amazing views of the entire city....but it was super cloudy and not such the best idea that day! Oh well...time to board the train!

Our claim to fame with the Guggenheim

We stayed at the hotel that the famed architect Frank Gehry stayed when he first had his vision for the Guggenheim! Hotel Lopez de Haro is where it all started. In fact the first rough sketch of the Guggenheim was made on the bedside stationery.