La Coruna-Bilbao

Yet another Sunday almost over!! Here I am trying to extend my weekend by posting more delicious photos from the cruise. This leg brings us from La Coruna to Bilbao, a little spanish city made most popular by a single building alone known as the Guggenheim Museum. Perched by the waterfront along a river that runs through the city, the Guggenheim in Bilbao is a perfect case study of human geography in the instance of post-industrial redevelopment-- taking a decrepit area in the throes of post industrial decline and transforming it into an arts and culture hub. It's success is due to the architectural magnificence of the building itself, the shell a shining beacon of titanium designed by Frank Gehry.

Ok pardon the obligatory plate/food photos. BEST SHRIMP CAKE EVERRR. HANDS DOWN. 

The building is all curves and angles, inside and out. This is probably the coolest elevator around too. 

A super fun permanent exhibit, it's interactive so you get to walk through the structures (which are made from old ships, if I remember correctly), and sound echoes all around it. 

The requisite Jeff Koons sculptures, duh. 

The biggest sculpture ever made by Louise Bourgeios, entitled Maman. Yep thats yo momma right thur! The idea of it was that like a giant spider, your mother is both a protective creature as well as a fear inducing one. I don't know about anyone else but that kinda sums my mother up quite accurately. (kidding mom, I love you!!) 

I'm quite glad I got to see this Guggenheim. I never went to the one in New York when I was there all those years ago, but this one is such an icon of Bilbao. The gleaming titanium panels in the sun and the reflections by the water makes it a breathtaking specimen. The exhibits were also very good! When we were there, a huge David Hockney exhibit was on. He's a contemporary artist who has now adopted the ipad as his main medium, but I like how he revisits places and redraws them, with time and space a constant evolution in his paintings. Check his work out here. 

And then I leave you with a panoramic view of Bilbao and a shot of my feet in my new cheap shoes. 

Peace out kids, happy monday (ugh)  

London - La Coruna

Day 6 of having my braces in, and I still can't eat solid foods yet. The most solid thing I've had is half a slice of spam that Maylene very graciously offered me when I was dying of hunger while at work. Just thought I'd share this update with whoever cares. Moving on, I thought I'd finally put up some photos from my cruise!!! Which was in May this year and therefore just 3 months too slow, but whatevz. I just got timelined so I hate facebook. I'm not putting any of these photos up just cos I'm trying to boycott them hahah 

The first night on the cruise we were just sailing along to Spain, so all I have are photos of food. This is the most amazing mushroom tarte I have ever eaten. Trust me when I say that all you do on cruises is eat. 

 First stop was La Coruna, but my family decided to take up one of the day trips to head out of the city to the medieval city of Santiago de Compostela. The cathedral there is a pilgrimage destination for many Catholics since the 9th century, because apparently the apostle St James' remains are there. The cathedral itself is a impressive building, the outside grubby from years of wear and tear but so beautiful in its gothic way. Also, they had a pretty damn impressive organ inside. HUGE. 

Hello kitty everything everywhere!! Also, the pilgrims we saw hiking to the cathedral wore these sea shells on their backpacks. It is the emblem of St James. Apparently you could only be counted a pilgrim if you travel a certain distance by foot. I can't quite remember the stats that my tour guide was throwing at me, but it was something like maybe 100km by foot, and then if you were travelling by horseback it would have to be double, and then double again if by boat. 

After touring around the area we headed into some medieval dungeon like place for lunch!! Spain has the BEST FOOD EVAR. Ok I just really like their hams. Look at that iberico! And the fresh seafood! Ok really torturing myself here considering I can't even bite into anything solid for the moment. 

The Santiago de Compostela was truly a breathtaking sight. Maybe not as awe inspiring as the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, but here the quiet determination of the pilgrims with their staffs and shells along with the general reverence of this medieval city was a novel experience. 

Barcelona Beautiful

Some of my favourite parts of Barcelona! Park Guell and of course the ever famous Sagrada Familia that displays only a modicum of Gaudi's brilliance, and the beautiful Parc Montjuic with its sweeping views and people watching. Sat on the steps of the Montjuic castle/museum and had a scoop of Movenpick icecream while people watching to the strains of a guitarist busker-- utter bliss!! One of my best days was a solo jaunt to Sagrada and taking the lifts up and climbing down those scary spiral steps, and then heading off to La Boqueria market for a yummy lunch my friends Kristin+Sam recommended at Bar Central for superb seafood. Right now I kinda miss Barcelona, but since I just got back China and am now lying in my lovely bed, it is just really good to be home. Till I see you again, Espanol!!!