October 11, 2024

These yummy treats are unique to Bilbao!

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This is the Merkatua La Ribera in the older part of town. It has traditional fish and produce markets and the center atrium is filled with Pintxos Vendors also offering a variety of wines and spirits. Each pintxos is just 2 to 3 Euro's so easy to try a bunch to find your favorite. I really liked the shrimp pouches and the specialty dessert called a Carolina - meringue was so dense, like a marshmallow.

We saw one of the locals drinking a large wine colored drink from a beer glass and asked her what it was - red wine mixed with Coke!

We recreated drink yesterday at lunch and four of us tasted it and was surprised at how good it actually was - we used coke zero.

Seems strange combo, but suggest you try it! Looked it up and again common here in Basque region called Kalimotxo or Calimocho.

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SHIP SHENANIGANS - CLUE PARTY

By Pat Patrick • September 16, 2026
It's never a dull Sea Day on the Odyssey! We have such creative residents, that are always coming up with new ideas to entertain ourselves and have a good time. This plot was the calculating of Eddie and Michelle - a Game of Clue! The rules were simple - find the party venue at 8:30 pm, come dressed as a character, weapon or room from the game and solve the mystery of who stole the Ship's bell.

TERRACOTTA ARMY - XI'AN, CHINA

By Pat Patrick • September 16, 2026
In March of 1974, some local farmers outside Xi'An, China are digging a well and accidentally hit one of the great archaeological sites in the World! They were paid one day's wages for the find, roughly 4 USD! The Terracotta Army was dubbed the 8th Wonder of the World by France's President in 1980 when he came to visit and wanted to meet the farmers, the oldest was then, 89 years old.

XI'AN, CHINA - WALLED CITY

By Pat Patrick • September 15, 2026
Xi'An, China has been on my must do list , for awhile. The story of the Terracotta Army has fascinated me, since I first heard it. What I didn't know too much about, was the actual City of Xi'An and the walled inner City that remains today. It was built from 1370 to 1378 during the Ming dynasty on top of the older Tang dynasty foundations. There are 9 miles of City walls, they are 39' high, 45' to 50' wide at the top and 55' to 60' at the base. There are four main gate towers and the only draw bridge restored is at the South Gate. There are 98 ramparts, watchtowers, battlements and a wide surrounding moat. It one of the oldest and best preserved fortifications in China .