Now, after spending millions in restoration, it's really quite beautiful
Bilbao is situated along the Nervión River, which made it an important city for transportation purposes.
The Guggenheim Museum, designed by internationally acclaimed architect Frank Gehry, is unquestionably the main attraction of the city. The 104,700-sq.-m (1,126,980-sq.-ft.) colossus is the focal point of a $1.5-billion redevelopment plan for the city.
Although some disgruntled Basque locals still call the museum "the colossal Californian cauliflower" or "a cheese factory," many architectural critics from around the world, including Paul Goldberger of the New York Times, have hailed Frank Gehry's unique structure as the first great building of the 21st century.
Gehry actually used several completely different materials in the contruction of the museum. For example, the portion facing out onto the square is made of limestone.
The museum has virtually abolished right angles and flat walls. As one critic put it, "It was as if Gehry were working in pastry rather than concrete or steel." In fact, before choosing titanium, 29 different materials including stainless steel, copper and aluminum were considered. Each of the titanium pieces of which the museum is comprised is unique, and all of them were designed using a computer programme called "Catia".
The giant "puppy" in front of the museum...looked more like a cat to us!
Kimberly posing with the "puppy"
What made Bilbao so different from other cities was the very close proximity of the countryside...look, you can see a farm on the mountain behind the Guggenheim
Tapas time at Victor Montes!
We love Spanish Tapas....we almost named Zookie "empanada" or "croqueta"...
Yum...Jamon Iberico!!
Ironically, this place is called "Plaza Nueva"...funny for a square in the oldest part of the city the "Casco Viejo"
We managed to snag a fabulous deal on Expedia to stay at the historic "Hotel Carlton." Today you are likely to see such celebrities as Chelsea Clinton or Pierce Brosnan. In days of yore, it was Albert Einstein, Ernest Hemingway, or Ava Gardner. In the Civil War, the hotel was the seat of the Basque government.
When we showed up, it turned out the hotel was overbooked...so they gave us a two room suite!!
The bedroom was beautiful
...and so was the dining/sitting room...which we didn't have a chance to use!
And the view was gorgeous, looking out onto Plaza de Frederico Moyúa in the heart of the city.
As Cova is from Bilbao, the Basque region of Spain, they decided to include a Basque tradition of having a piper and dancer perform for the couple after the ceremony.
The dancer was quite quick on his feet and very flexible!
Cova and Jaime looked very happy..and made a beautiful couple!
The dancer bows at the end of his performance.
Some of the GSBers who attended the wedding (from top left): Marcin, his wife Ana, Didier, Raquel, Renaud, Kimberly, Dan, Max, Michelle, Belen (Leo's wife), and Leo.
Another GSB group photo, taken during the "tapas hour" at the reception at the Sociedad Bilbaina: Didier, Irina, Renaud, Leandro, Gustavo, & Dan.
GSBers at dinner (that's Dider in the front...he's French by the way)
The other half of the GSB table.
Raquel explains the "present" we are giving Jaime and Cova...each of us is to write some happy marriage advice or congratulatory wishes on paper that we will then wrap around pieces of candy.
Jaime and Cova's first dance. (This didn't happen until around 1:30am...)
View of the dance floor from the second floor.
GSBers having fun!
Kimberly & Raquel
Daniel, taking a break from the dancing madness...bonding with some Spanish ladies
Yes, Didier did try to take over the musical performance...does that surprise anyone?
Jaime and his housemates at the "after-party" downstairs. I think this picture was taken at about 4:00am. Max (Mexico City), Dider (London, but originally Paris), Jaime (Madrid), Pino (New York, but originally Italy), Ryo (Tokyo), and Renaud (Brussels)
We finally called it a night at 4:30am...
