I’m on a pilgrimage to the Basque Country en route to France. I’ve stopped in Bilbao to inspect the Guggenheim museum, to see how it vibrates with my sense of architectural beauty. I’m also familiarising myself with the land to the east of Bilbao which is a unique biosphere of indigenous trees and coastal reserves. The Basque Country has its own unique sense of community, connection and co-creation rooted in its ancient culture and language. She is a proud province of Spain, and I am convinced that people thrive best in small de-centralised communities where they have ownership and agency in their unique sense of belonging. The local white Chacoli wine is also going down a treat, with the octopus and mashed potato tapas.