G
gatvol
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We have just returned on the BIlbao to Portsmouth Ferry following a trip around France and Spain.
We found that our Tom Tom works well in France and Spain generally. But for some reason it really struggles in Basque Spain - Donostia (aka San Sebastian), Bilbao. This part of Spain has dual language signs, making it harder than other parts of Spain to drive around. The road junctions in Basque Spain can be rather "interesting" with all manner of strange looking things. It is quite common to see a junction with two identical looking exits, both signed the same thing but actually going different ways
Camping Sopelena, the nearest campsite to Bilbao and the Bilbao ferry was quite frankly disgusting and the worst place, we stayed on out three week trip. It is actually 20km away from Bilbao. Cold water only for pot washing, the basins had not been cleaned for ages, the toilets had a film of dirt over every floor/ wall, ceramic surface, no locks on some of the doors, areas were closed off ....... We spoke to some other campers who were similarly disgusted with this place
Bilbao is not really a ferry port. It is a very large trade port. Using our Tom Tom, it took us from the disgusting campsite across the fantastic little "transporter bridge", which is a UNESCO world heritage site and well worth visiting. It is like a cross between a bridge and a ferry where you drive onto a little gondola that is suspended by cables. We had actually visited this before so were delighted to go over it again. BUT the folk behind us in a much larger mobile home were terrified that they would not be allowed onto it as it only takes about 8 cars at a time. Like us, they were using a Tom Tom to get to the ferry port from the campsite. They were extremely relieved to get on the bridge! But it adds time to your trip
The Tom Tom then takes you on a tortuous way to the port (which is huge) and we were very relieved that a guy at the port drew us a little map of how to get to the Brittany Ferry part.
All very manageable, but we were pleased that we had left a decent buffer.
We found that our Tom Tom works well in France and Spain generally. But for some reason it really struggles in Basque Spain - Donostia (aka San Sebastian), Bilbao. This part of Spain has dual language signs, making it harder than other parts of Spain to drive around. The road junctions in Basque Spain can be rather "interesting" with all manner of strange looking things. It is quite common to see a junction with two identical looking exits, both signed the same thing but actually going different ways
Camping Sopelena, the nearest campsite to Bilbao and the Bilbao ferry was quite frankly disgusting and the worst place, we stayed on out three week trip. It is actually 20km away from Bilbao. Cold water only for pot washing, the basins had not been cleaned for ages, the toilets had a film of dirt over every floor/ wall, ceramic surface, no locks on some of the doors, areas were closed off ....... We spoke to some other campers who were similarly disgusted with this place
Bilbao is not really a ferry port. It is a very large trade port. Using our Tom Tom, it took us from the disgusting campsite across the fantastic little "transporter bridge", which is a UNESCO world heritage site and well worth visiting. It is like a cross between a bridge and a ferry where you drive onto a little gondola that is suspended by cables. We had actually visited this before so were delighted to go over it again. BUT the folk behind us in a much larger mobile home were terrified that they would not be allowed onto it as it only takes about 8 cars at a time. Like us, they were using a Tom Tom to get to the ferry port from the campsite. They were extremely relieved to get on the bridge! But it adds time to your trip
The Tom Tom then takes you on a tortuous way to the port (which is huge) and we were very relieved that a guy at the port drew us a little map of how to get to the Brittany Ferry part.
All very manageable, but we were pleased that we had left a decent buffer.
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