Tue, Jun 13 - Frank Gehry's Museo Guggenheim Bilbao

Jeff Koon's "Puppy"

"Puppy: Detail - Live Flowers

We set off after breakfast along the Ría de Bilbao that runs through the city, as we had tickets for the Guggenheim at 10 AM.  We admired the lovely parks and beautiful apartment buildings lining the waterway, and, finally, the huge shape of the museum began to appear.

Titanium Plates

  We reached the Guggenheim and marveled at the stunning shapes and the outdoor artwork...but from our route of approach the entrance was far from obvious!   We walked all the way around this big building until we finally found the way in!  Amazing lack of signage, but dramatic views of the walls covered with titanium plates and amusing art in the public walkway made it well worth while.

Jeff Koon's "Tulips"

 We walked around the first floor finding a huge gymnasium-sized room with the permanent installations of Richard Serra's The Matter of Time which consisted of very large (~15' high x 2" thick x various lengths) steel sheets, some winding around, forming a maze into which one could walk. The walls narrowed and leaned inward, creating a claustrophobic space!  There was also a video of how these sheets were manufactured: not surprisingly in a shipyard - the only place where these large piece of steel could be shaped and angled precisely.

Part of Richard Serra's "The Matter of Time"

On the third floor was a display, Paris, Fin de Siècle, with many beautiful paintings of the late- impressionists.

Museum Interior

The second floor was closed in preparation of a new installation, so we wandered outside to admire the building some more and watch some of the many musicians and other street performers. Our favorite was three people dressed as ducks that clacked their beaks rhythmically.  When I gave them a Euro, they all bowed!!

The Quacking Ducks!

We had a reservation for 1 PM for lunch at the Museum Bistro and got a table overlooking the river.  We chose the tasting menu with matching wines and had a terrific tuna tartare, roasted egg with sweet cod juice (!), hake with vegetable purée, and roast lamb that, at first glance, appeared to be a chocolate dessert, but really was lamb!   For dessert we had caramelized French toast with ice cream.

Roast Lamb with Vegetable and Hazelnut Puree

After lunch we walked back to our hotel to nap and pack for tomorrow.  We are flying home on British Airways and hope that the terrible computer problems that BA suffered 10 or so days ago are completely rectified!