fabulous -- I saw Twombly's Ah! The Peonies there and was carried away by them. This was an old "rustbelt" city that was completely redone by art and architecture. It is now a tourist destination for people who want to experience something very different, yet the same in terms of great Spanish art, food and wine.

We the family of 4, on our France trip 24 years ago, spent a couple of days in/around the Pays Basque, mostly in France. It's a fascinating place.

Thanks to Gehry and Sir Norman Foster you've got a whole new Basque capital...You will rave about the Guggenheim. Trust me.

dressed, polite people. You wouldn't know it by the photos we all see of the two running of the bulls on their way into the bullfighting arena, which look like real melees.