Our Spanish students hang out at the hanging bridge

On Tuesday 20th September, our Spanish students made a trip to the renowned Puente Colgante (hanging bridge) in Portugalete. This spectacular bridge was recently declared the first World Heritage Site recognized in the Basque Country, for its beauty and its status as a symbol of the innovation of the Industrial Revolution. The first of its kind in the world, the bridge has changed very little since its construction in 1893 and for more than a century, has remained a centre of permanence in the often-changing geographical, social and political landscape of its surroundings.

There are two ways of crossing the bridge: in the “barquilla”, a gondola suspended by cables, or on foot, along a walkway on top of the bridge, a dizzying fifty metres above the river. We opted for the latter, and were rewarded for the vertigo-inducing ascent with spectacular panoramic views of the city, the river and the sea. We even spotted a few beaches from our lofty position, and it was quickly decided that we should round off our sunny afternoon at the Puente with a trip to the playa!