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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.
From here 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.
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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.
|
(Superior)
Bilbao
& Beyond - 10 nights