In Bilbao - Girona to Bilbao 2014 - CycleBlaze

June 16, 2014

In Bilbao

Seeing the sights, packing for home

We thoroughly enjoyed our day in Bilbao. It is a delightful city to walk around and explore. About all I really knew about it was that Frank Geary's Guggenheim museum was here, but there is much more to see. The renovated central districts along the river are quite beautiful with many attractions. Highlights for us were of course the Guggenheim (it is Monday and closed, but it is amazing to walk around the exterior and marvel at it from all directions; the Open air Henry Moore in Spain exhibit; Puppy, the immense topiary dog; the bridges, in particular the Zubizuri, yet another diaphanous Calatrava creation); and the climb up to the Artxanda mirador for a dramatic overlook of the city and river basin. Bilbao is a city I'd happily pass through again some year down the road.

Packing the bikes went very smoothly. I've assembled and disassembled the Bike Fridays enough times now that it's finally routine. We ate a fine early street-side dinner in the old city, around the corner of our hotel. All done; time to hail a cab.

The Arriaga Theater
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The Zubizuri again. A lot of shots of the same subject, but I think this is the most ethereal bridge I've ever seen.
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'Puppy', the giant flower sculpture beside the Guggenheim
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Oval with Points, part of the 'Henry Moore in Spain' exhibit of several of his most famous works on tour through the Major Spanish cities. We're in luck, and it is in Bilbao when we are.
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Reclining Figure, from the Henry Moore in Spain exhibit
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Reclining Connected Forms, from the Henry Moore in Spain exhibit
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Reclining Mother and Child, from the Henry Moore in Spain exhibit
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The Guggenheim
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At the Guggenheim
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Maman, the giant spider sculpture at the Guggenheim
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Tall Tree and the Eye, a sculpture by Anish Kapoor at the Guggenheim
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A close up of Tall Tree and the Eye, by Anish Kapoor
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Tulips, a Jeff Koons sculpture at the Guggenheim
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La Salve Bridge and the Guggenheim
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The Giltza Bat mural, by the north end of La Salve Bridge
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Bilbao from the Artxanda mirador
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At the Artxanda mirador
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In the funicular down from Artxandra
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The Arriaga Theater
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Santander station
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Iberdrola Tower
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