I did not expect yesterday to be nearly as amazing as it was. When I got on the bus at 8 a.m. after a less than ideal night’s sleep, I was anticipating a fun, but long and tiring day. However, one of my favorite things about travel is they myriad of views outside of the window on a road trip, so while most of the group spent the morning snoozing, I enjoyed the expansive mountain ranges and pueblitos we drove through. By the time we stopped at our first location, my excitement for the day had risen to its usual giddy level.
Our first stop was in Loyola, the home of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuit order. I was awestruck throughout the entirety of the tour of the Santa Casa, where Ignatius recovered from an injury from battle, and where he encountered God. Being in this place made my heart feel so incredibly full. The inside of the buildings were beautiful, as were the views outside.
After the tour we attended a mass at the basilica. Exiting the cathedral after having learned so much about Ignatius and seeing a clear blue sky and endless mountains was a genuinely overwhelming a spiritual experience for me, and certainly a highlight of my time in Spain thus far.
After this, we hopped back on the bus to head to Bilbao and the Museo Guggenheim. Bilbao is a gorgeous city, and the Guggenheim has found itself at the top of my list of art museums.
Outside the Museo Guggenheim
And after all of this, we returned to Pamplona to write essays and study for an exam!
Hasta la próxima,
Isabel
