The Maritime Museum of Bilbao, with its Carola crane reminding us of the industrial origins of the estuary, made even more sense when we presented a brief audiovisual document explaining the urban development of this UNESCO Creative City. We sailed until we caught sight of the silver forms of the Guggenheim. In the underlying streets, we visited art galleries, totally heterogeneous, showing why the Basque art is so valued in Europe.

We ate in a traditional wood and stone house hidden in the middle of a natural park. From there, we walked to see the whimsical shapes of the sandstone cliffs, but we had prepared a surprise: the Oma Painted Forest.

The artist Agustin Ibarrola participated in this genuine and enchanted landscape by painting pine trunks; creating different perspectives and mysterious compositions depending on your location, with magical characters that appear and disappear as you ‘re watching the environment.

The next day, the Chillida family opened the doors of the farm where his father looked for inspiration. A private environment where you can feel the energy of the sculptures of this universal artist; each of them placed based on the Basque creator’s own wishes.

In the afternoon we contemplated the magnificent work of nature: the shell-shaped bay of Donostia -San Sebastián, European Capital of Culture 2016. We ate at the Aquarium on the sea near the island Santa Clara and the imposing sculpture Empty Construction (Oteiza) awarded half a century ago at the Bienal de Sao Paulo.

Unforgettable moments for our art loving group. The art of good living!

S.F.
go Basquing & Friends