Day One: Durango's Rain

As I was saying, last night when we finally arrived in Durango it was raining. Not storming or nothing like that, just that constant light rain that drenches everything.

But that was not going to stop Juan from showing me the church of Santa María at night, because it is really worth it to see it let me tell you.

One of the main reasons for a member of the Basque diaspora to wish to visit Durango is that although everyone knows about the bombing of Gernika by the Nazi Luftwaffe, it was Durango the first city targeted by Francisco Franco in his effort to destroy the recently created Republic of Euskadi.

This is how the town's website describe the event:

During the dictatorship of Primo of Rivera, the actual dictator came to Durango and opened the food market. On 31st March 1937, during the Spanish civil war (1936-1939), Durango suffered an undiscriminating and systematic bombing against the civilian population. Such an event had never happened in any part of the world before this time. More than 500 people died in the bombing and the occurrences the following days.

The church called Santa María sustained heavy damage the day of the attack, many of the victims tried to find refuge in its interior not knowing just how powerful the bombs used against them were.

Hence, the importance of visiting the city to pay a silent hommage.

Also, I would like to point out to something that Wikipedia mentions about Durango:

Durango is a historic city, home of conquistadors like Francisco de Ibarra, and as a result there are more Durangos in America named after the Basque original one, not least of which is a state in Mexico called Durango, the principal city of which is called Durango.

Now, you have to excuse me, I need to be in Bilbo in an hour.

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