Thursday, June 13 - Gernika, sheepfarm, and Bilbao

 I had spent some time yesterday afternoon after the rain cleared and before we joined a group for dinner - walking  along the river and bay watching people, families, couples,  people in conversation,  and people out gor the exercise.  I also paid attention to the waves crashing against the rocks. I had time thus morning  for a bit more walking and listening to the waves crash against the rocks. The day was sunny and warmth was beginning

  We drove along the bay to the small fishing village, Getaria. Its boats bring in hundreds of pounds of local fish for processing  and selling. We walked down to the harbor where we saw many fishing boats. Workers af the harbor were busy, and the narrow and  cobblestone pedestrian- only streets felt as though they were fron a different time. It was a quiet and peaceful visit.

  We drove next to Gernika, a city  made known to the world by Picasso 's painting which depicts the horrific bombing by the Nazis at the request of Generalisimo Franco. It took place during the Spanish Civil War, in April, 1937. Republican forces in opposition to Franco had a communication  center in the cit it was totally destroyed. During a short stop in Gernika I viewed several large photos of the destruction.  They and Picasso's painting,  a copy of which is on the outside of building are permanently reminders of the horrors of war. 

  We drove a few blocks to a restaurant with only several long tables. Our groupnwas soon joined by another group. Several courses of salad with chicken, steak and fries, course of hake with sauce, and a cake with sauce and ice cream.  Premilla was served candles on her cake,we sang Hapoy Birthday, and Augustin gave her a small colorful notebook with blank pages. She was surprised. 

   For a complete change we drove into the countryside to a sheep farm. We were warmly welcomed by the owner, his English-speaking assistant and three dogs. We entered a large room with several tables and benches for seating. On each table were six small pottery jars. We watched the assistant heat to boiling several bottles of sheep milk and begin stirring. Meanwhile were given small bottles of rennet and asked to drop two or three drops into the jars. The owner the  added the heated milk to the jars and asked us to stir. After about ten minutes we covered the jars to let the milk and rennet become firm and went to the barn to meet the sheep. They have very long and coarse wool. We learned they were to have their yearly shearing the next day and that the wool would be used for compost. They were gentle and a few walked through the group outside.  Several adult cats and kittens  scampered around, too. We returned to taste what we had made: a yogurt texture and flavor which was tasty.  We also ate some cheese, along with cheese which had been smoked over hot rocks.

  We drove another 45 minutes to our hotel in Bilbao. Located on the river and near a beautiful bridge as well as within viewing distance of the famous Guggenheim Museum designed by Frank Gehry who also designed Disney Hall in LA. After an orientation walk with Agustin, a few of walked the area and saw some of the setting up  work bring done for the weekend celebration of the city's founding over 200 years ago.

  It wasavaried and long day.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sunday, July 13, 2025 - Travel Day to Kyoto

 We selected breakfast items and picked up some requested items for Kenji rom the grocery store across the street. Karin had already started a load of laundry while I was still asleep. In our room we ate our purchases. I had a banana, a small bag of shelled edamame,and half a ham,cheese and llettuce. It was p,enty to hold me over four our 1130 reservation at a shabu ahabu restaurant.  Karin had researched inexpensive shabu shabu restaurants and found this one out of the main  touristy areas and in a metro mall. This meal had many parts: a choice of broth which is simmered on a burner at the table. On c houses a meat and how much  eat. One chooses  two dipping sauces and what kind of rice,  oh yes. The. There was a large bowl of fresh vegetables some of which I didn't recognize. I put them and the meat into the simmering broth.  With spoons to stir the ingredients there were lots of things on the table. The  meal was delicious,  super deliciou...
Read more

Sunday at the Dome and sore feet

Although it was cool the sun was out, and it was dry. We had breakfast in a neighborhood Cafe which we like. Along with coffee milk I had a lentil and couscous and vegetable salad, and Karin had a Spiegelei and muesli. This is a great way to begin the day. The food and environment, and company were perfect. We walked to the Senenfelder U Bahn station to Alexanderplatz, and we had difficulty locating the bus stop for bus #100 to bring us to the Dom for the 10 AM service.  Road work as well as construction continues in this city.  After asking directions and few times we found the correct stop and bus and made it to the Dom on time. We stated we were international visitors and were ushered a special seating area slightly above the congregation where we were given headphones and an audio device to receive live translation.  The choir was the Swiss chorus which we heard last evening. Throughout the service they sang the Bach Lutheran mass which we enjoyed last evening. It was...
Read more

A New Week Begins in Wermelskirchen

With the homemade muesli breakfast the week began happily. Fresh oatmeal flakes, sunflower seeds, another teaspoon of seeds, one banana, dried prune and apricot pieces, walnuts, almonds, and other nuts, homemade yogurt, and a little milk, Anja let the mixture sit for ten minutes before we began eating.  It was delicious. We then went outside. Anja cut back dead flowers from bushes in the front.  I picked up the material and placed it into a large plastic container.  When the battery hand shears needed recharging we left for Remscheid to do a little shopping. Herbert did his daily physical therapy exercises. He then went grocery shopping which he enjoys and Anja doesn't enjoy. She wrote the list on her cell phone, i.e. Handy, he saw the list on his Handy because the two devices are linked somehow. When he had completed the shopping he wrote on that list page that he had purchased everything. Slick.  Shopping at the Allee Center Anja point out the number of mall shops ...
Read more