Not All Who Wander Are Lost
Museum lovers, rejoice, because this tour has you covered! Day six was an art extravaganza, with visits to two of Madrid's world-class museums. First stop: the Prado National Museum, an institution in Madrid since it first opened its doors in 1819 as the Royal Museum of Painting and Sculpture. And thanks to being a member of the Rick Steves tour, we got into an expedited entrance line...yay! Our next stop was the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, where we had the chance to view Picasso's masterpiece, Guernica, as part of a major temporary exhibition on view at the museum (the museum offers an incredible online exhibition component if you're interested in learning more about this landmark artwork). This disorienting but incredibly moving piece still resonates in our global society today in so many ways. Since real art is a bit out of my budget at the moment, I decided to collect bookmarks with my favorite paintings from each museum....a good way to get rid of loose change and the perfect souvenirs for a bookworm like me! In the gallery below I included a few photos of pieces that caught my eye during our travels back in time through art.
Finally the time came to branch off on our own. My mom and I grabbed a quick, yummy bite to eat at a small Italian place across the street from the museum, then set off for an afternoon of yet more walking, wandering, and getting a bit lost (we love to get lost while traveling because that's usually when we make our best discoveries). I know I've mentioned this before, but I'm a complete bookworm and obsessed with books, bookstores, and reading in general. So, I knew I had to visit the outdoor bookstalls on Cuesta de Moyano (Moyano’s Hill) in Madrid's fantastic El Retiro park (otherwise known as the Parque del Buen Retiro, literally "Park of the Pleasant Retreat"). Since 1925, these stalls have been open every day, selling their literature to park-goers. I found a cheap English copy of a classic feminist text to take home with me - another perfect (and inexpensive) souvenir! We spent most of the rest of the afternoon exploring El Retiro park, which was full of wonderful surprises (including an evocative social justice-themed art exhibition and the incredible Palacio de Cristal), and searching for a store which might carry the proper batteries for my Canon Rebel DSLR camera - losing battery power was pretty much a mini crisis for my avid photographer self. Thank goodness for the Spanish department store El Corte Inglés, which eventually saved the day and restored power to my camera.
A busy day in Madrid wasn't enough for us; we couldn't pass up an opportunity to see a live flamenco performance! That night, we joined Frederico and many our of fellow Rick Steves travelers for a night of music and incredible dancing (pictures below). Flamenco originated in southern Spain, but reflects the influence of cultures from across the world, including Cuban, Latin, and Jewish traditions. It involves singing, dancing, and guitar music, and is vibrant, energizing, and physically demanding. It was the perfect end to a pretty perfect day in Madrid.
Finally the time came to branch off on our own. My mom and I grabbed a quick, yummy bite to eat at a small Italian place across the street from the museum, then set off for an afternoon of yet more walking, wandering, and getting a bit lost (we love to get lost while traveling because that's usually when we make our best discoveries). I know I've mentioned this before, but I'm a complete bookworm and obsessed with books, bookstores, and reading in general. So, I knew I had to visit the outdoor bookstalls on Cuesta de Moyano (Moyano’s Hill) in Madrid's fantastic El Retiro park (otherwise known as the Parque del Buen Retiro, literally "Park of the Pleasant Retreat"). Since 1925, these stalls have been open every day, selling their literature to park-goers. I found a cheap English copy of a classic feminist text to take home with me - another perfect (and inexpensive) souvenir! We spent most of the rest of the afternoon exploring El Retiro park, which was full of wonderful surprises (including an evocative social justice-themed art exhibition and the incredible Palacio de Cristal), and searching for a store which might carry the proper batteries for my Canon Rebel DSLR camera - losing battery power was pretty much a mini crisis for my avid photographer self. Thank goodness for the Spanish department store El Corte Inglés, which eventually saved the day and restored power to my camera.
A busy day in Madrid wasn't enough for us; we couldn't pass up an opportunity to see a live flamenco performance! That night, we joined Frederico and many our of fellow Rick Steves travelers for a night of music and incredible dancing (pictures below). Flamenco originated in southern Spain, but reflects the influence of cultures from across the world, including Cuban, Latin, and Jewish traditions. It involves singing, dancing, and guitar music, and is vibrant, energizing, and physically demanding. It was the perfect end to a pretty perfect day in Madrid.