with Nora

So after Luis, Saioa and Nora got back from their holiday in Mallorca and before we headed to Cantabria, we met up in Algorta for the morning and got all the kiddos together again.

cuteness on overload

No more words.... just a pile of lovely pictures taken one Sunday in August, the day after our night out at the Fiestas de Bilbao. Marije babysat the boys for us and made us a gorgeous meal the next day. We are spoiled!
This impromptu photoshoot was taken down in 'Villamonte' (where Daddy used to live), when we went for a walk and a mosto... and some 'caracolillos' (periwinkles: see Malachy's hand):

FIESTAS!!!

We cleverly made our time up north coincide with the famous "Aste Nagusia", "Semana Grande"... or "Fiestas de Bilbao".

The new camera came along for the fun so, needless to say, many, many photos were taken.

Here are a few favourites.

Cue giant collage:

Click to view larger version :)

The city transforms for a week of music, shows, fireworks, partying and nightlife...

This is a txozna, or temporary bar where drinks and bokatas are served all night long.

The main concert on the night we attended the fiestas was The Pogues. Very apt for Irish party-goers like myself and my friend Eamon. However, embarrassingly for us, they were... there's only one word for it: "shite". Shane McGowan made a fool of himself, falling around the stage and slurring his words. But that wasn't going to run our night! We soon headed back across the city to where the fun was....

City at night

F is for 'Fiesta'... and 'Fun'... and 'Friends'...

...and, happily, we enjoyed plenty of all of those things.

:)

while staying at Marije's...

Ahhh, brothers, hand in hand...



So, yes, we're still in the midst of our summer holiday photos (in, ahem, November!!)... but with all the running around we did in the summer, there are lots of photos!... and with all the running around we do all year round, there's not all that much time to post them (mummy's job, usually uploading in the background while she works ;)



On the road again... This is what you see when you cross the "Puente de Vizcaya" hanging bridge that links the left side to the right side of the River Nervión between Portugalete and Las Arenas.



Its designer, Alberto Palacio, was a disciple of Mr. Eiffel (of obvious fame). It's like a little slice of Paris in Bilbo ;)

Mmm, we went to Romo and met up with Xavi (from Brixton Denda) for some rabas... mmmm

The fountain in the station square between Romo and Las Arenas is a temptation for running kids to dash in and cool off in!


Next up, Algorta:

After Romo, we hit Algorta again! There, we stayed with Marije and her boys. The kids were delighted to see her again... and we went straight to the local playground... armed with a skateboard... yikes.

Malachy needed some careful restraining!

Even Lorcan wanted a go.

Later friends Unai and Esteban turned up for a while...

And naughty Liam even chatted Esteban's girlfiend up on the swings ;)

more gallarta... and some algorta

So, what did we do while we were staying in Gallarta? For a start we did this:

played on the local stick-the-money-in-the-slot car

took turns on it

took a walk to the playground in the town square

got instantly friendly with the local girls ;)

found the perfect baby swing for Lorcan

learnt to "drive" the school bus

did some bouncy brotherly bonding

made sure it was all recorded for posterity

looked cuter that cute (spiderman!)

walked some more

looked cuter than cute (superman!)

crossed the River Nervión to take a stroll with Abuela and Nacho along the beach at Ereaga and the lighthouse pier

chatted and sauntered

decided that not all August days are beach days and that's ok

walked the wall with Abuela

loved that swirly sky

bought ice-cream from Aberasturi (the best ice-cream and sorbet in the world, according to Daddy).

confirmed that this ice-cream is pretty damn good

savoured the treat

all together by the rocks

...every last drop

looked over to the Puerto Viejo de Algorta

walked (or was carried or pushed) right to the end of the pier

swang with Mummy and Abuela

watched the fishermen

looked up at the lighthouse tower

...and then turned around and went back home again.

:)