Spain: Basque Country: Bilbao

Finally had the chance to go to Bilbao to see the Guggenheim museum. It was a 1 hour flight from Barcelona airport to Bilbao. Apparently a 0720hr flight, but it got cancelled, I think cos there weren't enough people crazy enough to take the plane at this time (but it was a really good price!). So anyway, when I got to the airport the departure screen showed the scheduled flight as 'CANCELLED' and I was promptly bumped onto the 0850hr plane. Bummer, could've slept for 1 1/2 more hours! Anyway, at least the view from my plane window was good.

It was colder in Bilbao that in Barcelona, a good 12 degrees when I landed. That was the moment that I wished I was in 'warm and cosy' Barcelona (took me 7 weeks and a change of weather to finally appreciate that just cos I wear 2 pairs of tights in a place doesn't mean that I can't think of it as warm and inviting later on). 

Was drizzling slightly when I arrived in Bilbao, which was the typical welcome weather there, so it was okay and I had my brolly and was still able to balance the camera in the other hand while walking. First destination was the Guggenheim, straight from the airport. Harangued the security guard at the airport how to get there, by walking into the arrivals hall after I had left it, so he had to come out to greet me (and see what the hell I was up to). Anyway asked for directions and he gave me a time on where to get off the bus from the airport to the town centre (Place Moyua). Always nice to know that the place that you intend to go is within walking distance of the stop where you are getting off.

The Guggenheim is known more for its temporary exhibits than its permanent one. Which means that besides going for the impressive architecture of Frank Gehry, which reflects the maritime nature of Bilbao commerce of the past, the experience inside the museum itself would be pretty (to borrow a phrase from my cousin Mervyn) some sort of 'random'. I was lucky enough to be able to go through a Cy Twombly exhibit on the entire 2nd storey of the museum, as well as a private collection from Austria which covered most of the medieval periods from the 14th to the 18th centuries on the 3rd floor.

Cy Twombly is a modern artist with squiggly lines and splashes of paint as his signature (Google and see!) I like his poetic quirkiness with a hint of whimsicality and seriousness in the same note.

The first day in Bilbao I out- museum-ed myself by going to both the Guggenheim and then to the Museu de Belles Artes (Fine Art Museum) for the works of Basque country artists of all periods. The reason was that I arrived on a Wednesday and the fine art museum was free on Wednesdays. ;)

Bilbao in general is a quieter and more quaint town with shorter buildings than in Barcelona. Ther people seem more innocent and open to strangers. Still, it has its own beauty, especially the Chrismassy-looking Gran Via shopping street where are the branded things are. But like any other city that doesn't get quite enough sun, it's not cheerful enough to live in for me. However, they really know how to do food. More on that later when I post on San Sebastien.