Bilbao - Day 6

To Bilbao for the Guggenheim!  After a week of eating, I really was looking forward to a little architectural focus for the day as we headed to Bilbao.  The Building, designed by Frank Gehry, opened in 1997, is everything you expect from a Gehry building, lots of complexity, good light, neat relationship to water and the site.  As with most Gehry structures, you could argue some details and the "why?" of pieces and parts, but mostly it is a joyful piece of art in and of itself.

Despite the rain, the outdoor collection at the museum was then most fun from my point of view. The giant spider, topiary dog, and dancing ladies were all great fun.  Te third floor was doing an interesting exhibition of Niki De Sant Phalle- which was joyful and disturbing in equal measure, it would be fair to say it was not a hit with everyone but I liked it. The Jeff Koons exhibit is on its way, which I would love to see, but sadly, we missed it this time.

A permanent gallery houses large metal labyrinths, which were designed to cause vertigo- and succeeded admirably.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 As a going away meal, Chef's Liz and Michel took us out to La Cepa in the Old City- for a special dinner in the wine cellar. Delicious.  Even the water bottles were pretty, and the wine, Muga, went down easy.......