Sunset reflections, Ullíbarri-Gamboa Reservoir, Basque Country, Spain

A Spanish sunset sizzles

As a warm sunset glows up the Ullíbarri-Gamboa Reservoir, the scent of red-hot charcoal grills and the sound of popping wine corks cue the start of dinnertime in nearby Vitoria-Gasteiz—a cultural hub for the Basque Country, a historic region split between Spain and France. The Spanish side—known in Basque as Hegoalde—encompasses most of the population and territory, including Vitoria-Gasteiz and metropolitan Bilbao, comprising an autonomous community of Spain. The northern French side, or Iparralde, is much smaller but packs plenty of culture and scenery, from Biarritz to Bayonne and beyond.