Martina, Teresa and Elisa

Elisa, from Italy, came to Bilbao a year ago in order to study as part of an Erasmus grant. For the time she has lived in Bilbao she has been taking care of Martina and Teresa. Although she is soon going back to Italy, she is planing to come back to Bilbao frequently and will keep renting a flat in the city and working on her art projects. she likes Bilbao but she found difficulties to meet with local people and find most of people close and cold. Most of her friends come from abroad. Elisa said during an interview: "Living with this family is like if I've found a new family. They are like my sisters".
view more pictures from Martina, Teresa and Elisa by clicking here.

Uribarri School

At Uribarri public school children coming from different parts of the world grow up together and are educated in Basque language as well as Spanish so the local culture as well keeps growing.

Esmeralda and Maria Luisa

Esmeralda, from Ecuador, lives together with Maria Luisa, who is 99 years old. Esmeralda came to Bilbao 6 years ago because her husband was working there. A year after she arrived she divorced from her husband and became sick as result of a depression. She has worked as a carer during all this years in Bilbao and had some bad experiences with people she has taken care of. At the moment she feels happy with Maria Luisa, who respects her, but misses her country and is thinking of going back after she finishes working with Maria Luisa. Her two sons are in Bilbao as well and both have difficulties in order to integrate.

Goya and Chabela

Chabela, from Bolivia, comes every afternoon to visit Gregoria Molina (Goya). They talk, walk around the residency when is raining or go out for a coffee when the weather is good.

Welcome to Open Cities Bilbao!!

Hello,
This blog is created with the aim to keep a photography diary of the progress of the Open Cities project in Bilbao. Starting in March 2008 the project will continue along 2008 and is open to everyone to comment on the photography and text posted on the blog.