 Bilbao
& Beyond
The Guggenheim Bilbao, a sculpted piece of art itself
and acclaimed museum in a city that’s risen to the
top of must-see lists worldwide. Basque culture. Historic
and hospitable. Hemingway’s Pamplona. San Sebastian's
beaches and world-renowned chefs
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| Itinerary Highlights: |
Day 1
Your flight takes off for Spain.
Days 2-4
Bera—Biarritz—Pamplona
We meet in Bilbao and travel a relatively short distance
through spectacular mountain scenery to the ancient walled
seacoast village of Fuenterrabía — close
to the French border. We:
• walk through
the old walled town, with spectacular sea vistas at every
turn, just beyond the balconies overflowing with bright
flowerboxes.
• do a little tapas tasting —
pintxos, as the Basques call these delicious appetizers.
The seafood that Fuenterrabíans use for many of
their tapas was swimming out in that gorgeous blue-green
water just this morning. You can watch the boats bring
it in.
• tour the Bonnat Art Gallery in Bayonne,
France — home to the works of El Greco, Goya, Murillo,
Degas, Rubens, Ingres and others. The gallery’s
wonderful architecture harmonizes nicely with its world-famous
collection.
• stroll along the same beach that
captured Empress Eugenie’s heart, where her husband
— Napoleon III — built a private sea-side
palace for her.
• explore Pamplona — Hemingway’s
favorite city and home to the annual “running of
the bulls.” We tour the Jewish Quarter in the old
part of Pamplona, and we explore the ancient route of
pilgrims bound for Santiago.
Days 5-7
Aranzazu- Oñati -San Sebastian
An expansive view of San Sebastián’s perfect
shell-shaped beach and harbor is as close as our hotel
room balconies. Sunset is not to be missed! Among the
happy culinary, artistic and cultural experiences that
await us in the heart of the Basque country:
• the Basilica
of Arantzazu — an important Basque shrine for artistic
and religious reasons. The basilica showcases the works
of Basque artists who were finally allowed to exhibit
during the Franco years.
• an evening at a private Gastronomic
Society, an all-male club where men display both their
well-developed cooking skills and their vocal prowess
for a small group of visitors. Between the many courses,
an Ochote, a chorus of 8-12 men – plumbers, bank
presidents, set designers and many other professions in
real life – sings folk songs from the Basque Country,
Russia, even America.
• La Parte Vieja (the old city of
San Sebastián) at the foot of Monte Urgull. Sidewalk
cafes, tapas bars with an enthusiastic San Sebastian clientele,
and family-owned shops line the pedestrian-only streets.
• the new Chillida Leku, a restored
16th-century farmhouse and grounds filled with the works
of internationally famous sculptor Eduardo Chillida.
You have a free day in San Sebastián, a beach resort
and food capital built around one of Europe’s most
enchanting shell-shaped bays. Explore this wonderful city
on your own or with the help of your guides. We suggest
a ride up the funicular for spectacular views of Monte
Igueldo. Relax among the promenaders as you take in the
harbor view from the beachside benches, or reserve for
lunch or dinner at Arzak. Many critics say it’s
the best restaurant in Spain.
Days 8-11
Guernica — Bilbao
On our way to our five-star hotel in Bilbao, we drive
through more lovely mountain scenery, with the occasional
glimpse of the sea. We visit:
• Guernica, with
its oak tree that symbolizes the ancient roots of the
Basque people — and their heritage, law and freedom.
Guernica was the site of the first saturation bombing
by the Nazis, which inspired Picasso’s masterpiece
of the same name. We see the petrified trunk of the original
oak, the young oak planted beside it, and sculptural monuments
to peace by Henry Moore and Eduardo Chillida.
Among the highlights of Bilbao, tagged by Atlantic Monthly
Online as “the kind of city that many travelers
long for — a city where the streets aren’t
jammed with tourists, where ‘authentic culture’
hasn’t been assigned to souvenir shops”:
• the Guggenheim
Museum, architect Frank Gehry’s titanium-clad masterpiece
of “extravagant, eccentric and whimsical design,”
with 19 surprisingly intimate internal galleries and Jeff
Koon’s giant Puppy sculpture made of begonias, impatiens
and marigolds stands guard out front.
• the Riverside Market, a ship-shaped
building with stained glass windows where vendors sell
huge varieties of seafood, flowers, and olives under stained
glass beauty. Bilbao housewives and restauranteurs alike
come each morning to acquire the freshest materials to
build an acclaimed cuisine.
• the Bilbao Museum of Fine Arts,
a gallery displaying classical, contemporary and Basque
collections. After you browse, enjoy a coffee in its tree-shaded
patio and watch the Basque families promenade in the adjacent
park.
• The seven winding cobblestone streets
in the old part of Bilbao, revealing at every turn new
architectural and cultural treats — not to mention
bargains for intrepid shoppers.
We take a short bus ride into the countryside to lunch
in a fine caserio (Basque farmhouse), where you receive
the royal treatment with native dance, music and costumes.
We take a different scenic route back to Bilbao, along
the coastline. Our scenic return to Bilbao takes us along
the rugged Basque coastline.
Day 12
Flight home.
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| 2008 Tour Dates: |
22-31 may 2008
25 Sept - 04 Oct 2008
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| Land Cost: |
Guaranteed departure*
*With
a minimum group of 4 people.
Cost: 4.190 Euros
Single supplement: 583 Euros
Tour members must purchase round-trip air to and
from Bilbao.
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| This tour includes: |
• off-the-beaten-path
places
• deluxe hotels
• gourmet dining
• fine local wines
• landmark sites
•
knowledgeable, regional, English-speaking guides
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| Hotels: |
3 nights:
(Superior)
Hotel Churrut
in Bera, on the border with France and Spain
3 nights:
Hotel Londres in San Sebastián,
located right on the beach, in the center of town
4 nights:
Hotel Carlton in Bilbao
— Beaux arts splendor within walking distance
of the Guggenheim
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