Begin Grand Circle Tours Pre-trip in Bilboa on May 26, 2014

Our travelling companions, Tom and Nancy Sommers, Marilyn and I begin a wonderful trip to northern Spain:

The video below starts our trip off with pictures and video of our pre-trip to Bilbao (May 25-28, 2014) in northeast Spain and part of the Basque Country.  Bilbao is now internationally famous because of the Guggenheim Museum, designed by Frank Geary (Frank Goldberg), which is similar in architecture to the Geary designed Disney Hall in Los Angeles. The following is a video of pictures taken during our visit to the Guggenheim Museum and side trip to Vitoria's 13 century medieval quarter, Plaza Virgin Blance, Palacio de E. Esquibel, Los Arquillos arcade and Plaza de Espana, finishing off with a ride on Bilbao's funicular to Mt. Iqueldo where Geary used its height as a vantage point to locate the museum on a point of the river. Click on the arrow in the middle of the screen to open and view the video.  Turn your computer speakers on to hear the music:

Along with the group of 15 on the pre-trip and our traveling companions Tom and Nancy Sommers, we rode by tour bus to the town of San Sebastian, Bilbao's neighbor to the south and on the coast, stopping first at the fort overlooking San Sebastian, followed by a tour of the very special central market, then followed with a lunch at one of the many tappas bars where Tom and I gourged ourselves with fried calamari.  Double click to enlarge image:

We then flew from Bilbao to Madrid on May 28, 2014 and joined up with the full group (41) from may 28 to June 1, 2014.  We then embarked on the city tour bus to view the Temple of Debod, a 2000 year old Egyptian monument, old town, Plaza Mayor, Royal Palace, Bullring (no bull fights- just a staged display- see next video), 3 hours at the Museo del Prado (Goya, El Greco, Velasquez etc.), La Concha Promenade and Gran Via with all its high end stores:

Bull Fight Students showing their moves:

Trip to Toledo Old Town,  Jewish-Christian-Moslem church, Church of Santo Tome (El Greco painting of the Burial of Count of Orgaz and Gothic Cathedral:

Madrid City Tour:

May 31, 2014 Flamingo Guitar Demonstration Video:

GCT members join in the dance:

June 1, 2014 visit to Cuenca and home visit and lunch:

Nuria and Rodrigo preparing the Flan Dessert

June 2, Arrive Valencia and drive by City of Art and Science and walk through Mercado de Colon market:

View from the top of the Valencia Cathedral

Walk through the Silk Exchange, Ceramics Factory and Rail Station:

Visit Falkro Museum to view representatives of last 80 years of the annual Las Fallas Festival and late dinner:

Museum video on history of Las Fallas:

June 5-9, 2014 Barcelona

First video is that of Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar Catalan Gothic:

Palau Guell House designed by Gaudi.  Wagner is playing in both videos.  The first was taken by my video camera and the second video is a series of digital pictures:

Marching Bands in Port area of Barcelona:

Sagrada Familia Videos and Pictures taken on June 8, 2014.  Both videos are sharp enough so that you can double click on the image to enlarge the screen view:

Farewell Dinner - June 8, 2014