Today is a big day for soccer in Bilbao — the 2024 UEFA Women’s Champions League final is being held at San Mamés Stadium. The tram into town was jammed with fans wearing team gear, singing chants and ready for a good time. When I walked back to the hotel from the Guggenheim, the streets were filled with revelers – … Read More
Spain – Day 3
Well, not really Spain, I spent a large part of the day in France. Whenever I think of Basque culture, I’d only ever heard of it in conjunction with Spain. The tour I took today taught me otherwise—parts of France are considered Basque as well. The Basque region is mostly located in northern Spain, on the Bay of Biscay at … Read More
San Sebastian, Spain — Day 1
This morning, I wondered if I would get from Bilbao to San Sebastian, at least as planned. It was one of those, if it can go wrong, it will days. The bus was scheduled to depart at 11 am. From the hotel to the bus terminal, the trip is supposed to take about ten minutes. At 10:15, the front desk … Read More
San Sebastian, Spain – Day 2
Today was the unofficial start of the conference. For those of us who arrived early, we had a choice of activities, like a city tour, rowing in the bay, a boat trip along the Basque coast, surfing, hiking, and the one I selected “cooking like a Basque chef.” We started in the market where the chefs buy all the food … Read More
San Sebastian, Spain – Day 3 – part one
The official start of the conference is tonight, with what sounds like a lot of surprises for us. But before then. I took another pre-conference tour. This one was largely outside in lush, green sites. The weather cooperated, warm but not hot and very sunny. We started at the royal home of Maria Christina. The group made a long walk … Read More
San Sebastian, Spain – Day 3, Part 2
After the tour was over yesterday I had just enough time to return to the apartment, relax for a few minutes and then head out to the first “official” event of the conference. We took buses to a town just outside of San Sebastian to attend a Jai Alai match. For those of you who don’t know what Jai Alai … Read More
Amsterdam, Netherlands—Day One
Some of you may have noticed that I didn’t post anything for a couple of days, which is unusual for me. The first omission was because the conference I was attending so occupied me, there simply wasn’t time. Yesterday I took an early morning flight to Amsterdam. When I arrived, I was coughing, sneezing, and felt awful. Though I showed … Read More
Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Day 2
I seem to have shaken the worst of my cold, so today was a packed day. After an early breakfast, I went out for a walk, heading vaguely in the direction of the Central Station. Within minutes I found myself at the flower market, a long line of stalls alongside a canal. It calls itself the flower market, but really … Read More
Amsterdam – Day three
Yesterday was my final morning in Amsterdam before flying home. The friendly desk clerk at my hotel (the @NesHotel) helped me come up with a plan. He suggested that I walk over to the Oude Kerk. But, he cautioned, “go now. You have to walk through the Red-Light district to get there. It will be peaceful now, but in a … Read More
Roof lines
While traveling in Spain and the Netherlands I couldn’t help but notice the two countries differing architectural styles. In both San Sebastian and Amsterdam older, traditional buildings showcased their approach to ornamentation and, in some cases, over-the-top ostentation. Today I’ve got photos of rooflines, tomorrow decorations. The thing is, I don’t have a preference. In both locations the buildings were … Read More