Visiting the Maritime Museum in Bilbao

Spain is known internationally for its strong fishing industry. Spanish food and drink is very interesting, in part due to the fact that most of the typical dishes contain fish or some sort of seafood, normally caught from the waters that surround the country. Our students know this very well, as apart from taking Spanish courses here at Instituto Hemingway, every day they have the opportunity to enjoy free cultural activities. Previously, these have included trying the tasty, traditional varieties of northern Spanish food, exploring Bilbao, and also seeing the city from the river on boat trips.

If you are interested in the world of fishing and sea-life, coming to Bilbao gives you the opportunity to get to know the fishing industry, how sea vessels are built, and all the different life-forms that live under the sea. The Maritime Museum, with its iconic red crane, is a favourite landmark amongst all age groups, with activities and exhibitions that are enjoyable for adults and children alike.

The visit to the museum starts with a display of pictures of Bilbao throughout the ages, which allows you to see the huge advances that Bilbao has made over previous decades. This museum is unique in the sense that is is has both indoor and outdoor displays. The building has three floors, all of which are full of exhibitions on the construction of sea vessels, and show you both what can be found in the sea and what life is like for crew members who live on ships on the high seas.

If you want to know what being on a real boat that has sailed the seas is like, we have good news for you! On the 17 of August, you have the opportunity to go on a free trip aboard a ship named ‘Creoula’. The vessel has previously served as a fishing boat on which many generations of fishermen have worked to earn a living for their families. Nowadays, ‘Creoula’ is used as an educational resource for young people who want to learn about life at sea. It usually takes around 600 students a year, and goes on trips to a variety of destinations. You can either go just for a weekend, or choose a longer trip, covering a lot more of the ocean. On the 17th, the boat will be available for the public to visit from 1 o’clock in the afternoon until 11 at night, with a short break between 7 and 8.

Here at Instituto Hemingway, we offer you a fun learning experience in a friendly and culturally-enriching environment. If you like the idea of enjoying activities like this with us and our international students, email us at info@institutohemingway.com to get involved in one of our Spanish courses.

See you soon!