And how about the walk along the Nervión? That's a nice pedestrian walk, and since the river's been cleaned up, it smells good, too! [We used to say that the Nervión was water that didn't require faith to be walked on!]

I'll see your Sopelana, and raise you a Mundaka. Interesting to note that the Mediterranean really is tideless, unlike the Bay of Biscay. As with Roe, I prefer some tide/wave action on my beaches!

I liked Bilbao... it's a cool little town. Good for going out and not as snooty as San Sebastian.

As you already know from an earlier post, I like the north of Spain, especially Cantabria. But, unless there is something special going on (like AnTroido (Carnaval) in Santiago or Santo Toribio (Apr 16) in Potes) I might look elsewhere for the late winter/early spring.

For example: March 19th is San José and occasion for las Fallas de Valencia. Festivities continue for about a week further south along the coast (Benidorm). I don't know when Easter is in 2003 but the week preceding Easter is Semana Santa and Sevilla's Feria de abril is usually 2-weeks after Easter. I would do a bit more research before firming up my plans for the north of Spain.