If there's one thing known about Bilbao, it's that people love to have fun here. Residents of Gate of the Basque Country (a nickname of the city) try to feel joyful in everyday living, and in this they are similar to the Spaniards. And from the Basque people they got a certain pridefulness. All together - the violent temperament of the Spaniards and the pride of the Basques - gives a vivid combination turning them into interesting and original persons. That's why they consider themselves a little unlike the Spaniards, and the issue of national identity is one of the taboo topics for conversation. It's not like the locals want to detach from Spain, but some of them could really think about it.
However, discussing such subjects as football can last endlessly. Actually they are all enthusiastic about sports, including football. There are many sports complexes and stadiums in the city, which only confirms this fact. You can often meet cyclists, because it is believed that health is one of the most important values. Languages in Bilbao (as well as throughout the whole region) are both Spanish and Basque. The latter is very interesting because it does not resemble any other Indo-European language. It is a very original language with a very few modern borrowings. These are the people of Bilbao and their language.
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