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Showing posts from January, 2008

Spain to Egypt. Espanya a Egipto.

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In January 2007, I explored Bilbao, my last stop in Spain. The Guggenheim modern art museum was the perfect ending to an amazing three weeks in Spain. The structure, reminiscent of a boat, covered with titanium sheets as if a giant metallic fish with scales, was simply stunning. Frank Gehrig, the architect, is a definitely a genius. The only two straight lines in the building are the elevator and the floor. I tried to find another one and i didn't. Walking into the atrium one feels as if stepping into a galactic church. Before I went in, I walked around the building for a couple of hours just enjoying the sun, the park, the river boardwalk and taking pictures from different angles. Once inside, an incredible exhibit of modern art was awaiting. Installations, paintings, video, sculptures and such. Very conceptual post-modern stuff that in some cases did not make much sense to me, but I was most definitely impressed in the simplicity/creativity of most pieces. For instance: an ...

Exploring Spain... Explorando Espanya...

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We arrived in Madrid at 4 am on Dec 20th, 2007... we slept until 8 am in the common area of the hostel so we would not have to pay an extra night... the hostel is a restored Arab home with beautifully intricate geometric designed walls in red and blue with a fountain in the middle of the courtyard... after getting our beds in the dorm, Daryl, Michelle and i headed to the Prado museum... Velazquez, Goya, and many more Spanish painters and sculptors from the 16th - 17th century, were represented in a display of baroque and religious art... the best thing about it is that i got in for free with my international teacher card :-) my friends had to pay 9 euros... on the 21st we walked all around the center of Madrid... narrow streets, ample boulevards, people shopping, beautiful architecture, history and little plazas around every corner... first we stopped at puerta del sol... right after that we got separated when i was taking some pictures so i ended up spending the day by myself... wi...