In one of the buildings at the gardens there was an exhibit about Ernest Shackleton and his failed expedition to the South-Pole. I was incredibly impressed by the courage and endurance that the men showed. A truly inspiring story!
The Peace Corner of the Botanical Gardens, where I read a lot of "For Whom the Bell Tolls"
My very first Madrid Fashion Shoot
From the gardens I made my way to the Renia Sofia Museum, the home of Picasso's Guernica and several other modern art classics. Including my ever favorite, the white canvas! No matter how many white canvases those modern artists produce they will never quite achieve the greatness of the blue canvas.
Guernica seriously impressed, but even more so was the exhibit in the next room, which showed the process of the creation of Guernica, from very basic sketches up through completion. I loved the behind the scenes peek at what Picasso went through to create such an enormous painting (it covers an entire large wall)
I enjoyed wandering around the museum for a few hours, making faces at the white and blue canvases, trying to make the museum docents crack a smile.
Back outside I ran right smack into a group of private school students in little navy blue uniforms playing soccer and runny wild in the square. I was instantly transported to my childhood. My life spun a little bit. Went blurry and came back into focus. There I was, in Ben Lomond CA, playing soccer with my best friends, not a care in the world. I had traveled across the world only to discover myself just as I was years and years ago, just as I felt then, just I feel now, just as I want to feel forever. Free, free, free.
My childhood
FREE
From the Renia to the Parque of Retiro where I wandered and read and watched people and enjoyed Spring showing up a bit early.
Sunset from Parque Retiro
New Life
Parque Retiro
Retiro
Cool trees, still in Retiro
Late evening in Madrid
From the Retiro to the Prado, another world class museum, this one classical. Statues and portraits dominated. Velazquez's crucifixion blew me away. I stood in absolute silent awe for a very long time. Rarely do paintings stir strong emotions within me. This one did. A potent mix of sadness and embarrassment. Sadness to see such suffering, embarrassed at my faith.
Leaving the Prado in the dark I promptly got lost and took a long time to locate myself. Once I did though I dined hard. Empanada's de Bonito, Jamon Iberico, Patatas Ali-Oli, and three pints of the wonderfully cheap Cruz Campo. Stuffed as could be I waddled slowly back to my hostel.
Madrid by Night
