I just walked around the city in a hurry, but when I examined it carefully, it looked interesting in many ways. It was difficult to adjust the schedule…
Date and time of visit: May 1, 2016, approximately 4:00 p.m.
The ancient capital of the Basque Country
Since this is my first visit to Basque Country, I thought I’d visit the major cities at least briefly, so I decided to go to Vitoria, one of the three major cities in Basque Country. By the way, these three cities are « San Sebastián (Donostia) », « Bilbao (Bilbo) », and here « Vitoria (Gasteiz) ». The names in parentheses are Basque names.
Location is around here. It is south of San Sebastián and Bilbao. If you connect these three cities, you get a big inverted triangle shape.
It was about 1 hour and 30 minutes away from Guernica, I think. It seemed close, but it was surprisingly far. Parking is everywhere in town. In fact, it was so lost where to park. That’s how big the city was, isn’t it?
It’s a lovely city, and I just wanted to see the square.
We came all the way to Vitoria, but due to our future plans (mostly due to the lack of hotels in San Sebastián and the fact that we booked in advance on the wrong day), we decided to just take a quick look around the city and go home.
しかし、よくよくあとで調べてみると、そこそこ観光資源もあったようでした。例えば「フルニエ・トランプ博物館」や「アルティウム（バスク現代美術館）」といったミュージアム系、もちろん街にある聖堂、そして建築物なども見どころだったようです。
I felt that the architecture in the city seemed to be unique and interesting even when I looked at it normally.
That said, Bilbao and San Sebastián are definitely more interesting.
The « inspection style » that cannot be understood from prior information
However, this trip to Basque Country, I originally wanted to take more time, but due to the timing of my visit to San Sebastián, it was very difficult to adjust my schedule. In my case, I have a strong desire to visit widely and shallowly for the first time, so I end up with this kind of sightseeing style. I’d like to visit a place quickly at first, and then come back to Japan and record it on my blog, so that I can finally deepen my understanding of the place and the city.
However, if you don’t actually visit the place, you won’t know if it was worth visiting or revisiting at all. Guidebooks such as « Chikyu no Arukikata », not only those published in Japan but also those published in other countries, and websites, even if you do a preliminary investigation, you will have no idea. Including the way of life and the means of transportation.
That’s why I think this is the best travel style for me. And I think I’ll keep this style for a while.
This is the end of our sightseeing for the day. It takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes from here to Pamplona, where we will stay for the day. (To be continued)
