Buscando las cosas en la lista: Looking for the things on the list

After day 1 in Bilbao...we all were a bit baffled as to what we should do with our full day...hadn't we already seen everything?!

Apparently not.

A map we got from the front desk at the hotel had a list of more than 40 sights to see in Bilbao, so needless to say Victoria, Tom, and I set out to see everything on that list...and I'm pretty sure we got all but 2 of them...the following are just a few of the cool places we saw :)

After grabbing food at a Buffet...Fresh Co (which I recognized--we have them in Barca, too), we met up at the train station for our 10-hr overnight home...pictured below is

all of us except Felipe, who came home tonight. Sean went home this morning, and Bri, Rob, and Ben are staying to see the movie 300 before they head home tomorrow...

Felipe and I are off to have a snoring contest...apologies to anyone within 20 feet of either of us :)

Continua a llover: It keeps raining

It's raining and cold this morning, so we hit up a "Euro-store" and get some cheap ponchos, gloves, hats, etc. before braving the elements in search of the Guggenheim museum, the most published piece of architecture in history...true story. Ben and Tom look excited, no?

So does everyone else...

especially Bill...we haven't seen snow in...almost a day (if you count the hail in Rome)!

12 little ducklings all in a row...

wish they could take a bilbobus instead...haha

SWEET sculpture...the sun in this pic is deceiving!

The bridge from a playground I wandered through...are you surprised?

A bridge by Calatrava...he's kind of a big deal

Classic rainy-day image

OMG it's the Guggenheim...if you don't recognize it you are probably missing out on the world as it is in newspapers, magazines, commercials, etc for any number of reasons...except for its purpose, that is, as an art museum...

I like the effect of the stairs reflecting in the glass at the entry, below or at street level, depending on which street you approach it from

Felipe and Tom are attempting to break something...shhhh

Yup, that is the Guggenheim...how many views can you find that HAVEN'T already been documented?

The structural tower, which reveals the panelling system used for the museum--pretty nifty.

Felipe, Tom, and I spent A LOT of time at the museum...we were the last to leave around 5 or 5:30 PM. We watched a really interesting video on one of the sculpture artists featured in the museum as well as a video on Frank Gehry, architect of the Guggenheim at Bilbao, and his work. We wandered back toward the hotel and found this plaza that, the taxi driver told us last night, is one of the most beautiful city renovations in Bilbao.

Something about this bldg and facade were fascinating...how did it happen?

Faltamos unas horas en Roma: We are missing a few hours in Rome

This is Rome...in fewer words.

This is our awesome final-day excursion/hike to Tempietto, a baroque...temple? church? very tiny...not big enough for a service or anything...

We made it to the top just before it was opening-time...

and...just as a HUGE hailstorm entered sight!

We took refuge in the neighboring church

before heading over to complete our sketching assignment at Tempietto--see the following pics to get an idea :)

yeah, it's tiny.

The dome

Check out the detailing

...and again!

After not having time to wait on a line the length of the Great Wall to see the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museum, we headed for food then back to the apartment, where Tom seemed sad to leave the place...it's always hard to leave.

This is us...in a trunk.

Apparently the storm from earlier followed us to the airport--SWEEEET.

But we made it back to Girona, Spain with time to grab taxis and head to the BCN airport for our flight to Bilbao, just 2 hours later! Oh--and we got a beautiful sunset show on the ride there!

PS--Jung called from Leon where she's visiting her bf--she is my exchange student/sister from Chile/South Korea--miss her mucho!

Cambia de pais: change of country

This statue greets you as you approach the bridge nearest Vatican City
San Pietro and Monica

We were enjoying our down time...obviously

Special view

Inside of the Cupola...gorgeous

REALLY inside the cupola...not so gorgeous...

but definitely worth it!

Sean Mon Rob and Vic atop the Dome

Vic heading back down to roof level

meeting up with the group after braving the claustrophobia-minded spaces

Interior of San Pietro

Bob...doing the "Tom Pose"

Tom and the plastic bag... Tom's hair

Roma in the rain