If you are like me, trying to leverage an advanced reading skill in Spanish into competency in conversation, you can ask for no better host than Carmen. She is a retired teacher, enthusiastic conversationalist, patient listening to fractured Spanish and providing corrections, and always present at breakfast. Her English skills are presumably quite limited, so I do not know if non-Spanish-speakers can get nearly as much benefit from her breakfast time availability as did my partner and I.
If you can converse with her, you will find that she is very proud of her basque heritage and the touristry wonders of both Bilbao and its surrounding Basque country. Once she found out what general destination we had for the day, we never regretted following the advice she gave for that destination - for example, her restaurant recommendations. And she was particularly helpful at advising us on the local public transit options.
My guess is that Carmen would have been available for as much conversation as we wanted in the evening as well, but she was always very respectful of her guests' space at that time. So, even if you took advantage of her kitchen in the evening, which *is* available to you, I suspect she would not leave her seat in the livingroom just steps away, unless you invited her.
Awaiting you in your room when you arrive are dozens of brochures and several art books of both Bilbao and the surrounding area. The room is tight, but cozy, and the private bathroom is lovely. Carmen is a tasteful interior decorator and a perfectionist in housekeeping. The apt is on a hill above the old city, 10-20 minutes walk away, depending on whether you take the public transport elevator or no.
The price, at least when translated to U.S. dollars, provided tremendous value. This was a great find.