Tag Archives: Retirement abroad

Spain

Tapa Bar in San SebastiƔn

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We went to an amazing tapa bar called “Nagusia Lau” in San SebastiĆ”n.

Tapa Bar Nagusia Lau in San SebastiƔn in Spain

Inside the bar were tapas of every imaginable type laid out on the bar area.

Tapas laid pout on the bar for choosing by customers.

When we entered the bar the place was packed with people. We were lucky to find a table near the back of the bar. We sat down and our waitress arrived and explained how the tapa bar worked.Ā We go to the bar and select and put on our plate whatever tapas we want. We then tell the person behind the bar our table number and he notes the tapas on our plate.

Shelley walking along the bar selecting her tapas.

Selecting our tapas was not easy because of the large selection of interesting and tasty looking tapas. We walked along the bar looking at the different ones trying to select the ones we wanted.

some of the tapas for choosing.

We chose different tapas and headed back to our table. Each tapa was very tasty but there were a few that were extremely delicious, “Gambas” and “Pulpo”

“gambas” scrimp in a fresh sauce with peppers
“Pulpo” octopus sliced in garlic butter with paprikaĀ and other spices

We really enjoyed sampling some of the great tapas in San SebastiƔn and the Nagusia Lau Tapa bar was a great experience.

“Ados eta egun handia”

Spain

Not a Canadian River

Sunday we went with friends to do some hiking in the foothills of the Sierra de Mariola Natural Park. It is located near theĀ town of “Banyeres de Mariola” which is the highest town in the interior of the province of Alicante. The trail began with a concrete path which went towards the valley of the mountain.

Shelley at the beginning of the trail in the Sierra de Mariola Natural Park.

We walked along the concrete trail for sometime and eventually the trail narrowed and changed to a dirt path.

A path in the park

We arrived to an area with a river called “VinapolĆ³” which was quite small and shallow. It appeared more like a stream than a river.

Shelley, Victor, Irena and Ray in the Sierra de Mariola Natural Park

We walked along the path towards the source of the river. There were a few small footbridges that we crossed as we went along.

Footbridge over the VinapolĆ³ river

We walked along the river for about an hour and came to the source of the VinapolĆ³, which was an underground stream.

The source of the VinapolĆ³ river

We followed the trail further and came to some building ruins that were quite old and other unique features.

building ruins in the Sierra de Mariola Natural Park

We even saw in the distance some castle ruins, but decided that it was too far for this trip.

Castle ruins along the trails in the Sierra de Mariola Natural Park.

We did not pack enough water or food to hike to the castle ruins so we will save that for another time. We walked about 10 kilometers during our time in the park. It was a great day and we enjoyed seeing some of the Sierra deĀ Mariola Natural Park.

“Adios y que tengas un gran dia”

Spain

A visit to San Sebastien, Spain

We went to San Sebastien to explore this beautiful city. We began our exploring by taking the hop-on-hop-off bus.

Hop-on-hop-off Bus in San Sebastian, Spain

We were able to explore the different areas of San Sebastian and see some of the key points of interest before exploring them in more detail on foot.

Shelley, Ray, Mark and Vicki on the Hop-on-hop-off bus in San Sebastian

The city had some unique and beautiful sites. There are several great beaches which are very picturesque.

Beach front of San Sebastian, Spain
Ray on the boardwalk at the edge of the concha beach.

We walked through the old city centre exploring its charm. There was some beautiful architecture and parks.

We then went to “Funicular Monte Igueldo” which is a mountainside train which brings you to an amusement park. We decided to take the train car which is pulled up the mountain Igueldo by cable to the top.

The Funicular Monte Igueldo cable car in San Sebastian

We bought our tickets and lined up for the next cable car.

Ray, Shelley, Vicki and Mark waiting for the cable car to arrive.

You could see the train tracks leading up the Igueldo mountain.

Funicular train tracks leading the cable car to the top of the mountain

We rode the cable car up the tracks to the top of the mountain. It was an eerie felling as we went up the steep incline of the mountain. There was no sound of a motor and if the cable broke the cable car would surely go straight down the mountain. When we reached the amusement park at the top the views were spectacular.

Shelley, Ray, Mark and Vicki at the top of the mountain overlooking the city of San Sebastian, Spain

We walked around the top of the Igueldo mountain enjoying the beautiful views.

Amusement park on the top of the mountain
A view from the mountain pf the City of San Sebastian

We decided to stop and have a refreshing drink while looking at the views. Afterwards we headed back down the mountain using the cable car. We enjoyed exploring the city of San Sebastian and look forward to our next visit to this wonderful spot.

“Ados eta egun handia”

Spain

Inside the Guggenheim Museum

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We bought tickets to go to the Guggenheim museum. The tickets were 16 euros each and provided a specific time for entry into the museum. We went a bit early and managed to get in before our selected time by approximately 30 minutes.

Shelley using the hand-held audio device issued by the museum

The inside of the museum is very unique and interesting. In the main atrium area of the museum there was a large flowing material which looked similar to a plant. It is called the “Egeria”, and is made of different fabrics, colours and textures. It flows throughout the ceiling and walking areas.

a section of the Egeria art exhibit in the atrium of the Guggenheim museum
A large section of the Egeria art exhibit hanging in the centre of the atrium area
Shelley and Ray on a walkway in the atrium of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao

The “Egeria” exhibit was created by Joana Vasconcelos a reputed Portuguese artist. She was also one of the featured artist in the museum with her exhibit show entitled “I’m your mirror”

We went through her exhibits and were astonished by some of her art. In particular the “Call Centre” which was made up entirely of old style dial telephones.Ā  The telephones are combined to create a black handgun. It was surprising to hear the telephones playingĀ  an electo-acoustic symphony using the bells in the telephone.

The Call Center exhibit by Joana Vasconcelos in the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao

We also came acrossĀ Joana Vasconcelos’sĀ  Marilyn, from 2011. It is a pair of large stiletto shoes that on closer inspection are composed of pots and pans.

Joana Vasconcelos art piece entitled Marilyn, a pair of large stiletto shoes made of pots and pans.

There were many unique and interesting pieces at the museum. One exhibit which was extremely large and different was created by Richard Serra. It was entitled “The Matter of Time”

The exhibit was so large that an entire wing of the museum housed the exhibit. It was made using weathered steel and consisted of eight different sculptures. The steel was quite thick and each piece was approximately 20 feet hight.

The Matter of Time, sculptures at the Guggenheim museum
sculptures of “The Matter of Time” in the Guggenheim museum

We walked through the different sculptures and each one was a different. The walls of each one of the sculptures were slanted in different ways. After walking through the sculptures it made us feel slightly dizzy and disoriented. It was a weird feeling because we had just walked through the sculptures.

Shelley and Ray in the centre of one of “The Matter of Time” sculptures

We spent most of the day in the museum exploring the different exhibits. It was a very enjoyable and a great experience.

“Ados eta egun handia”

Spain

The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao

We had the chance to go to the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. The museum building itself is an amazing piece of architecture and art.

Shelley and Ray in front of the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao, Spain

We walked around the building admiring the different shapes and art pieces on display outside.

Large flower puppy designed by Jeff Koons at the main entrance area of the Guggenheim museum

There was an area beside the museum which had a pond with a fog drifting above the water.Ā  It was called the “fog Sculpture” designed by Fujiko Nakaya, and was created usingĀ 1,000 fog nozzles and a high-pressure pump system.

Fog Sculpture designed by Fujiko Nakaya at the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao

There was also some tulips on display outside of the museum.Ā  These tulips were large and made withĀ chromium stainless steel and had a transparent colour coating.

Tulip sculpture designed by Jeff Koons outside of the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao
Ray’s reflection in the tulip taking the photo.

We came across a large “Spider” which was on the walkway between the river and the museum.

Large spider exhibit on the sidewalk beside the Guggenheim Museum

The building is very large and took quite awhile to walk around the parameter.Ā  As we came to the back side of the museum we found a large “diamond ring” in the pound.

Ray in front of the “diamond Ring” at the Guggenheim Museum
Engagement Diamond ring created by Joana VasconcelosĀ  outside of the Guggenheim museum

The engagement ring was made of gilded wheel rims and glass whisky tumblers for the diamond, it was quite impressive.

The building itself was multi-shaped and had a very distinguished look. The walls were curved and covered in a shiny metal which made the building look more like a piece of art than a museum.

A view of one of the wall areas of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilboa
Ray in front of the walls of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao
Guggenheim museum building in Bilbao

The outside of the Guggenheim was such a great thing to experience. We enjoyed seeing the large art pieces and the building architecture but the inside is amazing and warrants a blog post of its own.

“Ados eta egun handia”