The Guggenheim, exterior

 There is a bridge outside the museum, Frank Gehry designed the museum to blend into the surrounding structures.

 The museum runs parallel to a river, Frank Gehry added his water feature and bridge, again, to blend into the surrounding features so as to make a seamless transition.

 There were artwork displayed outside the museum.

Like I said before, the building was the star and the masterpiece.

The Bilbao Guggenheim museum

 Jeff Koons' little puppy is being replanted with new plants. We didn't see it in its full glory. It was supposed to be a temporary exhibit but it was so popular that it became a permanent exhibit.

 These are the flats of plants they are going to use for the puppy exhibit.

 The curvy titanium sheets shimmering under a Spanish sun, it was really spectacular.

 I loved the Egon Schiele exhibit. He was Austrian and a protege of Gustav Klimt, another Austrian.

It was hard to find a straight line in the museum, everything was curved. The exhibits was less than impressive but the building was the star and a masterpiece.

Bilbao, Spain

Bilbao is an easy city, easy to get around and easy going. There's a laid back feel to it unlike most major US cities. In the US we are always hurrying some where and there's always so much traffic. Gas shot up to US$4.60 when we were away but it hasn't deterred anyone from driving. We are still paying a lot for gas but I don't see any reduction in traffic. I guess its because we have so many more people in the US. I love it when we are abroad, their rush hour traffic seems so tame. There's a subway in Bilbao. When we arrived by bus from San Sebastian, we were instructed to take the metro to the Guggenheim. We could easily have taken the little commuter train, it stops right in front of the Guggenheim. After the Guggenheim we took that train to the Ribera district.

Gateaux Basque

I had this seven years ago when I was in the vicinity. It's two cookie dough filled with a cream or cherry filling. The cherry filling is harder to find. The cream filling is quite ubiquitous and available everywhere. This cafe only had the cream, so cream it was. It was still pretty good.

San Sebastian, food

 Pintxos, an olive, a sardine, and a pimento on a toothpick makes one delicious bite.

 Food is laid out on the bar counter, each bar has their own selection and the cook keeps the food coming all day long. One goes in, orders a few bites and a drink, sits and chats for a while. Then goes to the next bar and do it all day long or all night long. It's a good life.

 Salt cod or baccala is really good.

 Coquille St Jacques, not so good. I've had better.

And of course, a glass or two of sangria.

San Sebastian, the Atlantic coast

 The lady in the center is topless. I tried to zoom in on her. This is very common in beaches all over Europe, to take one's top off.

Espadrilles? Of course, for beach going. San Sebastian has a very beautiful coastline. I've grown up next to the water and finds comfort in living close to it, I'm minutes away from the Pacific ocean. The Atlantic coast is just as beautiful.

San Sebastian, Spain

 The old town or the 'parte vieja' is a small area, 8 blocks by 8 blocks. The lower levels are where the shops, bars and souvenir stores are. The pensions are on the upper level which makes it very convenient, party all night and walk upstairs to sleep. Except if you don't party, don't expect to sleep because it is very noisy till the wee hours of the morning.

 Interspersed between pedestrain only alley ways are old churches.

This is your typical party town in Spain. Like its counterparts, whether it be Barcelona, Madrid or others in Spain, it has a lively atmosphere. I was in Santiago de Compostela 7 years ago, the place is quiet after dark. I remember being in the cathedral square at 9pm, I was the only one there. I had to meditate and say goodbye to the place. San Sebastian was a lot of fun.