Page 18 - PGA Community News - September '21

Page 18, PGA C.A.N.! September 2021 September 2021

Bilbao: Two Sides from page 16

respected, which it wasn’t. The second loss created a split
of the Basque region between France and Spain.
Sabino de Arana y Goiri became the catalyst and first
leader of the Basque Nationist Movement because of this
division of land. The official name of the organization
is Eusko Alderdi Jelzalea. The Basque people refer to
themselves as “Euskaldunak” (Euskara speakers).
Bilbao is the most highly populated of the Basque
metropolises and the economic capitals of the area.
Agriculture, the basis for the establishment of the original
area, has subsided, so it attained its character because of
the impact created by the iron industry. The magnitude
of trade relations with Great Britain from which coal was
imported and to which steel was exported raised Bilbao
to the position of unofficial capital. Bilbao has always
considered itself the Basque capital with the most “British
style.” The iron industry had been around since Roman
times.
The beginning of the movie The Full Monty bears
a striking similarity to the happenings of Bilbao.
Manchester, England, was a steel producing town that
went bust and led a group of young men to resort to
stripping. However, it wasn’t disrobing that saved Bilbao, The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela
but one very unique idea that did the trick.
Ana Aguirre Zurutuza, the chancellor for trade and Leaders, his family owned and operated agency, is located a quarter of a century. Contact him at (561) 694-9696 or
tourism of the Basque government, was the heroine that at Mirasol Town Square, 11360 North Jog Road, Building Aussie@PBGTravel.com.
changed the image of Bilbao. She did it by sponsoring A, Suite 102-6, Palm Beach Gardens. The agency has been
international competitions that brought in world- serving the travel needs of the South Florida area for over Photos by Don Kiselewski
renowned architects to give the city a new look. Norman
Foster designed the underground and in 1991 Frank O.
Gehry designed the Guggenheim Museum. What the “Service is our number one priority”
Opera House does for Sydney, the Guggenheim does for
Bilbao – establishes its identity. 561-743-0070
Even though the Guggenheim creates a love/hate
relationship for its viewers, there is no doubt that it has www.palmspoolservices.com
put Bilbao on the map. It is built of titanium (not steel),
granite and glass. The building explodes like a futuristic
vessel on the bank of the river. Its highly reflective
surfaces capture the objects and lights of the city. Another
of its unusual features is the activity on the moat adjacent
to the building. Perhaps the world’s most unique way
of telling time occurs each hour when steam is released
and then floats on top of the water, and no, it doesn’t tell
minutes or seconds. But that’s okay, you’ll get plenty of
love from the 50-foot flower-covered “Puppy,” which is
the mascot of the museum and guards the entrance. There
are five Guggenheim museums: New York, Venice, Berlin,
Las Vegas and Bilbao. $750 million has been committed
for Frank O. Gehry’s next Guggenheim Museum to be
located in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Expires 9/30/21.
On the right bank of the river, in the “Old Part” as it
is called, is the heartbeat of Bilbao. Standing just over State Licensed & Insured
the original bridge to the city is Santiago Cathedral. Serving Palm Beach County CPC # 1457468 • LPG#30099
This 14 century building was originally coupled with a
th
fortification that protected the old town. Many of the city’s
most important buildings have been constructed along
the banks of the river, including the Town Hall, Deusto
University and the Society of Jesus. These locations,
although making monumental settings, fell victim to the
1983 flood that devastated a major portion of the city. Palm Beach Beauty Salon
If you haven’t already visited Bilbao, put it on your
“must see” list. It’s an interesting area of the world.
Don Kiselewski writes from his personal experiences,
having traveled in 122 countries and cruised the oceans,
seas and rivers of the world. Palm Beach Gardens Travel 10%

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PGA Residents

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