Logo graphic by Mike Hortens Design

Sunday, April 14, 2024

Spain: Bilbao, Montserrat, Barcelona

Wendy & Penelope are enjoying the changes in landscape as we travel through the Basque region of Spain.



BILBAO:
We stop in Bilbao to visit the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. This museum of modern art was designed by Frank Gehry and it is a work of art outside and inside. 


We enjoyed a brief tour of the highlights. Here are 4 of my favorites in a collage. 


Top left is the work "Daddy, Daddy" by Maurizio Cattelan.
This sculpture depicts Walt Disney’s Pinocchio face down within the fountain at the base of the rotunda. The artist suggests that the puppet, having plummeted to his death from the ramps above, might be a victim of foul play, a tragic accident, or suicidal impulse.

To the right of Pinocchio is the sculpture "Celebration" by Jeff Koons. The ballon-like tulips have a sense of pop-art.

Bottom left is the soft sculpture "Soft Shuttlecock" by Claes Oldenburg & Coosje Van Bruggen. Oldenburg is a favorite of ours!

The last picture is of the largest single gallery in a museum. It houses several pieces entitled "The matter of time" by Richard Serra. We enjoyed walking through the steel pieces, however it was fun to get this perspective of the entire work from above!


Wendy & Penelope needed an ice cream break to contemplate the modern art they had seen. 



Our trip took us to Pamplona where we walked the streets where they have the annual "Running of the Bulls". No bears or people were harmed during our walk!

MONTSERRAT & BARCELONA:

We then continued to Barcelona for a 2 night stay. We spent the morning visiting Montserrat and the Monastery. Wendy and Penelope wanted a photo-shoot with this beautiful serrated mountain top!

Montserrat


We've had a chance to explore the historic area of Barcelona as well as the new areas of the city. But the highlight was definitely La Sagrada Familia Basilica. 

La Sagrada Familia Basilica








We continue our trip along the Mediterranean coast.