Bilbao, Basque Country
A crowning achievement in architecture, the boldly modern and glistening Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is a monument to creativity, rebirth, optimism and the future. To the city of Bilbao and the Basque peoples, this exceptionally forward-thinking investment has brought cultural renewal, tourism and a reinforced national identity. This creation of titanium, limestone and glass may be the world’s most intriguing building standing.
We left the Endeavour and drove into urban ramble and renewal, along hillsides down to what seems now, at least to visitors, to be the psyche of Bilbao, the Nervión River and the museum. Architect Frank Gehry has masterminded not only a unique swirling structure but has integrated the design magnificently into the urban riverside. We were treated to a private special early opening this sleepy Sunday. At 10:00 a.m. we stood outside on a balcony under a tall lotus leaf umbrella-like structure as fog poured out over the water around us. The living fog sculpture is part of a permanent outdoor collection that includes a giant spider and a giant flowered puppy.
Indoors we toured the galleries, moving through a building of open spaces and few straight lines. A temporary exhibit of Alexander Calder’s teardrop-shaped sculptures and mobiles fit well in the modernity of the display space. Ultimately however, the Guggenheim spaceship respectfully overwhelms its art collection.
The spirit of renewal brought to Bilbao by the museum is a great example of the inspiration of creativity and space. We each found our own inspiration in this unique swirling silvery temple before returning to the Endeavour. We departed Basque country and sailed pleasant seas westward in the Bay of Biscay along the top of Iberia toward the more medieval architecture of Santiago de Compostela where we will be tomorrow.
A crowning achievement in architecture, the boldly modern and glistening Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is a monument to creativity, rebirth, optimism and the future. To the city of Bilbao and the Basque peoples, this exceptionally forward-thinking investment has brought cultural renewal, tourism and a reinforced national identity. This creation of titanium, limestone and glass may be the world’s most intriguing building standing.
We left the Endeavour and drove into urban ramble and renewal, along hillsides down to what seems now, at least to visitors, to be the psyche of Bilbao, the Nervión River and the museum. Architect Frank Gehry has masterminded not only a unique swirling structure but has integrated the design magnificently into the urban riverside. We were treated to a private special early opening this sleepy Sunday. At 10:00 a.m. we stood outside on a balcony under a tall lotus leaf umbrella-like structure as fog poured out over the water around us. The living fog sculpture is part of a permanent outdoor collection that includes a giant spider and a giant flowered puppy.
Indoors we toured the galleries, moving through a building of open spaces and few straight lines. A temporary exhibit of Alexander Calder’s teardrop-shaped sculptures and mobiles fit well in the modernity of the display space. Ultimately however, the Guggenheim spaceship respectfully overwhelms its art collection.
The spirit of renewal brought to Bilbao by the museum is a great example of the inspiration of creativity and space. We each found our own inspiration in this unique swirling silvery temple before returning to the Endeavour. We departed Basque country and sailed pleasant seas westward in the Bay of Biscay along the top of Iberia toward the more medieval architecture of Santiago de Compostela where we will be tomorrow.
