B and I slept in, then toddled over to the Atocha station to scope out exactly how to get to "the train to the plane" and grab a bit of breakfast. There is a lovely atrium in the Atocha station where we sat and enjoyed our cafe con leche, chocolate Neapolitan, and orange juice. Have I mentioned how tough it's going to be to give up these eating habits??
At about 10 we started the stroll up to the Prado Museum, which is Spain's national art museum, full of treasures in painting and sculpture. Some of the marble busts dated from the first century and slightly earlier! Simply astounding and wonderful to see all those canvasses from the one art history class I took, up close and personal enough to reach out and touch. Goya, Velasquez, Raphael, Ruebens, Duerer, Tintoretto, Carravaggio, Rembrandt, even a Gainsborough (although not one I knew), and special exhibits of Georges de la Tour and, just opened and crazy crowded, a thorough exhibition of the works of Hieronymus Bosch! As a huge fan of Orff's "Carmina Burana", which Bosch's weird and fantastical pieces are often used to illustrate, the exhibit was a real treat! Unfortunately, of course, no photography was permitted in the Prado, but I'm sure their website can give you an idea. If you're a local Anacortesian and really need to see the Prado Guide to EVERYTHING, I schlepped one home, see me.
I did snap one photo, of a painter working on a copy, hoped that wasn't breaking too many rules. :-)
It was a gorgeous morning - high 60's
After about 4 hours our backs and feet had had enough of standing and admiring, need several mornings for this museum. We found a spot of lunch; a ham, cheese and tomato bocadillo for B and fresh fruit salad for me, chased with clara (beer cut with lemon soda, if I haven't mentioned it, very refreshing!)
Then a stroll across town to the main center square of Madrid, the Puerto del Sol (I'd liken it to Times Square only less dense and more green).
As in any major city, we saw our share of Mickey D's, Burger King and KFC, but Starbucks has captured the Madrid outdoor cafe ambiance
This little shop attracted much attention, especially from folks of a certain age -
And on to the Palacio Real and its adjacent Catedral de la Almudena, which I am guessing is Madrid's major church, but there are A LOT of beautiful, large churches!
Inside view of main altar -
There were several extraordinary side altars -
One side of the cross part, big view
And closer up.
We admired the Palacio Real from outside, but didn't have the umph to pay to go in and admire more art and finery. Truly, two weeks in Madrid are now firmly on this girl's bucket list !! There was a Wyeth exhibit at another museum, and we didn't make time for the modern art (Picasso!!!!) at the Reina Sofia.
As we walked back the way we came, I saw the sign for this Mercado de San Miguel, and, thinking something like the mercado in Santiago or Pike Market, decided to tour in - what a surprise!! We do not have photos to do this place justice, but it's a whole market devoted to small exquisite bites of anything you can imagine. Baked sweets and candies, sushi, olives and other pickled vegetables, meats, cheeses, yogurts, fish and shellfish and caviar and o my gosh it's amazing.........!
Fortunately or unfortunately, we didn't stay to snack 'cause I had my heart set on a last dose of chocolate con churros, and I wanted to visit a choclateria that has been in business continuously since 1894!
Chocolate was yummy! Time for the stroll back home to blog and check in with the rest of the world.
(Actually, this is where we got the news that our BA flight out of Madrid was canceled and BA left it in our laps to fix it. The rest of the afternoon was spent on phones and online, but we will make our London-Vancouver flight tomorrow).
Strolled out for a last Spanish dinner at about 8:00.
Ensalata mixta,
Esparragos con jamon,
And a shared piece of cheesecake.
Early day tomorrow, and last post.
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do you wish you could sample the food again???
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