On the Road Again

  The Romans  called  Sagres “The End of the World” because the dragons and sea serpents were obviously just over the horizon. Prince Henry the Navigator came here in the 15th century with his astronomers, navigators and ship builders to study the ocean and plan the conquests in the “Age of Discovery.” He is pointing to Africa, home of the Portuguese’ first colonies. Around this time, they built  a fortress on a wind swept point to protect against invaders and pirates.  The sentinels used these huts to look for trouble. They erected obelisks to claim the land they “discovered.” This one, in the fortress, has the Prince’s coat of arms. The scenery here is dramatic cliffs and sheltered bays. The hotel is located on a cliff overlooking the Mediterranean, with views of the Atlantic.  It is definitely in the running for best of the trip. It has interesting art throughout. It’s beautiful and relaxing, so I am staying here until I come home.

Bilbao, a sprawling, modern port city with great facilities is surrounded by hills with a cool funicular to get you to the top. The Guggenheim looks different from the top too. The Nervión River is a focal point for the city with bridges and statues along the banks. The statue honors the sirgueras, rope girls who pulled empty barges. I came here to see the museum, but have been impressed with the outdoor, cafe loving vibe that people of all ages embrace. The cafes and bars serve pinxtos along with the beer and wine. Last night at around 9PM, I was having a beer outside with an American I met at the hotel.   These ladies sat next to us, wished us a good evening, and went back to discussing the events of the day.

 Bilbao, in the Basque region of Northeastern Spain is home to the Guggenheim Museum of Modern Art. It is by far the coolest building around and very different from the ancient stuff in the beginning of this trip. It’s hard to describe its uniqueness, but here goes.  It has two giant sculptures outside: the puppy, covered in flowers and the Spider. The interior lobby  is equally impressive. The exhibits are large scale, modern and way cool. One room is an AI generated piece, using a large architecture model that does not repeat and that neither these pictures nor any of the others I took reflect how different it is. The use of space allows some interaction. You observe this sculpture from inside where the audio coordinates with the mist. Even the parking lot shows off the architecture. The city is a lot of fun. I walked to the Mercado this morning which reminds me of Lexington Market. And for the olive lovers in the audience, the market did not disappoint.