Bilbao, Spain

Borja takes me to the center of Bilbao by the cleanest subway I've yet seen. Duesto University, where Borja studied and taught, is sandwiched between large hills and the new Gugenheim. We spend a while looking around the campus. The halls are quiet since it's the grueling exam week for students. The campus buildings are beautiful, and look surprisingly new for being 100 years old. The campus is more centralized than the average American University. Most classes are held in one huge building.

On the subway, we hear a few students griping about one of their classes. Apparently, it is considered insulting to assign homework in most Spanish universities. This makes quite a contrast with University of Chicago, where certain professors are known to give three or four homeworks a week. ;)



The old quarter of Bilbao is exceptionally clean and pretty. It's amazing how the all the buildings keep a consistent look. Shops and restaurants line the narrow streets. We stop at a coffee shop to try another Spanish custom, mid-afternoon snacks over coffee. I order a couple small, tasty sandwiches. One has a raw, cured meat called jamon serrano; the other has raw sardines.

Here are the pictures.

Barcelona, Spain

After a short flight, it is time to see Barcelona. Our first stop, the unfinished Sagrada Familia, is the beautiful design of Gaudi. Gaudi is a local architect who is world famous for styles that imitate nature. Barcelona has many buildings designed by Gaudi, but the Cathedral is the most ambitious. It's so ambitious that, over 100 years after construction began, the main tower remains to be built amongst other parts. There is, however, a great view of the city from the completed towers, via a long staircase. There are some great opportunities for photographs here, and I took many.



Lunch in Spain is extravagant compared to American standards. There is much more food, often several plates of croquettes, tapas, etc. I had chorizo, fried pig tripe, croquettes, and battered, fried squid rings. After eating, we had a nice strong coffee, much stronger and flavorful than American coffee. There is no time, however, for the traditional siesta.

We visit a couple other Gaudi buildings, and finally a park overlooking the city. The park is also designed by Gaudi. It was featured in a popular European movie, L'Auberge Espagnole (The Spanish Apartment). A college student seduces an older French woman there with a forceful kiss, leading to steamy adultery. Quite an excellent scene. ;)



After dinner it's time to catch the flight to Bilbao, a city in the Basque country of Spain. Borja's parents pick us up at the airport, and we drive to their home on the river. Borja's mother speaks a little English, and his Father speaks no English. Since my Spanish is particularly weak after years of neglect, Borja is conscripted to translate. Borja's parents are excellent hosts, and great people. But there's little time to talk tonight. I quickly fall asleep after such an exhausting day.

Here are the pictures.