SYA Mini Viaje -- Bilbao and San Sebastian

The week of Novebmer 8, SYA took 3 different groups on 'mini viajes' (trips) to various locations around Spain: the Basque Country, Madrid, and Salamanca. Parker joined SYA faculty, Marta Escartin and the Basque group on Wednesday as he and Ellen Wolff split the chaperoning time -- Ellen took the first part of the week, and Parker the latter. Parker visited some of the sites we had seen when Celia's Dad was visiting including Bilbao and San Sebastian. They also popped across the border to France for a brief visit. SYA families did not join this longer excursion.

Photos: SYA crew in front of Guggenheim in Bilbao. Marta is the spunky one on the far left in black in the top photo.


































Photo: Megan and Hannah Brewster, San Sebastian in background



The trip gave Parker the opportunity to bond with Marta and have a few laughs as well. The bus driver who drove the group around during week, Enrique mistakenly called Parker, "Jordan." Parker corrected him once but then gave up after Enrique continued to call him Jordan. Toward the end of the week, Marta told Enrique that Parker's name wasn't Jordan. Parker gave Marta a hard time, telling her that she 'spoiled the fun.' Even now, some of the SYA students still call Parker "Jordan."












Photo: Scenic San Sebastian











Photo: Parker with SYA group, San Sebastian in background

















Photo: Lovely Parador (Spain has a tradition of converting old castles and palaces into hostels and hotels)















On Thursday, the group visited, the Chillida-Leku Museum, a culmination of Eduardo Chillida's lifelong dream to create a space where his work could be on permanent display.



Photos: Chillida Leku Museum





Chillida-Leku is a beautiful outdoor setting that feels like a park and incorporates beech, oaks, and magnolias trees in about 30 acres. Impressed by the the outdoor sculptures and artwork, Chillida was one of Parker's favorites on this excursion.









“One day I dreamt of a utopia: finding a space where my sculptures could rest and where people could walk among them as if walking through the woods." -- Eduardo Chillida