The Guggenheim: Realizing a Dream at This Modern & Contemporary Art Museum in Bilbao, Spain by Sheri B Doyle

In 1997, the "Today" show featured a museum with such an exceptional design the world was stopping to take notice. As they showed the museum on television, I did, too. Completely in awe of the modern design, I decided I must see the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, within my lifetime. At the time I was just starting a career so Spain seemed like a land so far away. The dream seemed larger than me, so quietly I held on to it, adding it to every dream list I ever made, determined one day I would get there.

So 20 years later on a cloudy July day I stood, giddy as a little girl going to see Santa, in front of the incredible silver building. The architecture was just as phenomenal as I imagined. It beckoned from every direction, showing it to be a stunning and exceptional piece of art in itself. The metallic siding reflected the historical city surroundings, the slow flowing river and elegant bridges, making the brilliance of the design more impactful, exactly as intended.

Inside the museum, the stone and plaster walls, massive glass windows and ultra-modern lighting was just as phenomenal, and I basked in each detail, overwhelmed by emotion. Exploring the modern art exhibits was a reminder that I much prefer a different type of art, but it really wasn’t important – I was living my dream.

Walking through each floor of the building, admiring how each level gave a new perspective to the space, felt like walking through 20 years of goals I have achieved, things I have done and experiences I never thought possible to dream of. I took a few moments to stand in the enormity of my feelings: the awe I had for Bilbao, the beauty of the space, the beautiful sounds of the people passing by and the glorious feeling of accomplishing something I set out to do, no matter how long it took me to get there.

Read more about Bilbao, Spain, at SoOffWeGo. 

Note: 30Seconds is a participant in the Amazon affiliate advertising program and this post contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission or fees if you make a purchase via those links. 

Take 30 seconds and join the 30Seconds community, and follow us on Facebook to get inspiration in your newsfeed daily. Inspire and be inspired.