"Enjoying living was learning to get your money's worth and knowing when you had it."
- Ernest Hemingway, The Sun Also Rises

We decided to leave a day early from Estella since we had done all we had set out to do. I had planned on running with the bulls twice, but, as I have already explained, once was enough. We took the 5:30 a.m. coach to Pamplona, then rushed to the bus station to catch the 7:00 bus to Bilbao. We took the Bilbao metro to the city center then the airport bus to Bilbao International only to discover thay had no storage facilities. We were faced with lugging baggage around for the next 24 hours. We took the bus back to the city center where we consulted with a person inside an information kiosk outside of the Guggenheim Museum. We discovered that we could store our things at the train station that was -- yes, that's right -- on the other side of town.


Riding on the Bilbao metro.




Still more Spanish kids playing soccer.




A Smart car that I wish was available in the U.S. But then Americans aren't that smart.




A fountain in Bilbao.




Apple, baby!




We decided to see the inside of the Guggenheim this time.




The atrium of the Guggenheim is 165 feet high and the rear of the museum looks out over Rio de Bilbao. I was instructed not to take photos but having already burned on the bullrun I stuck my camera down my pants (the guard probably thought I was just happy to see him). Keep in mind that I'm the guy who has taken surreptitious pictures in the Paris catacombs, John Keats' house, Shakespeare's church-grave and the Sistine Chapel. These Spanish rent-a-cops didn't have a chance.




"The Snake" by Richard Serra was created in hot rolled steel. The fish motif is over 100 feet long and is one of Frank Gehry's favorite.




Mike smoothly poses in front of Roy Lichtenstein's 1968 "Preparedness."




I call this "Lucy in the Sky with Titanium."




Mike listening to the recorded tour.




Me on the Guggenheim's rear patio.




We came full circle as we returned to the Subway and enjoyed Ben & Jerry's ice cream in colossal cones. We were worth it.




The Subway was also a cyber cafe and we were able to check our e-mail for the first time in nearly a week. It was at this time that I learned of the death of Ronald Reagan.




The final shot of late afternoon Bilbao from the airport bus. Farewell, Spain.




We set up camp at one of the terminals but at 11:00 p.m. we were banished to the waiting area where...




...we eventually would sleep.




It turned out to be the best sleep I had the entire trip.




Awake at 6 a.m. then again at 7 we finally packed up at 7:30, enjoyed a croissant and orange juice and waited for our flight home.