Madrid

Posted byrkrontheroadPosted inart, Europe, Photography, Spain, TravelTags:, , , ,

Every few years, I’ve done an English immersion week in Spain or elsewhere in Europe. This June I returned (next post). I’ve taken some time off from blogging this summer and will again soon, as I leave for another trip. I hope to catch up during the winter months. Thanks for coming back to visit!

Spending a few days in Madrid before the program, I stayed in a quiet neighborhood with outdoor cafes just a few blocks walk away, feasting on Spanish versions of fresh seafood.

Visiting art museums with masterpieces that touched my heart, I took the easy subway to the Prado and the Reina Sofía. If you are not familiar with the paintings described here and are interested, images of them are easy to find on the net. (I don’t generally take photos inside museums.)

Entrance line to Prado
In front of the Prado

The incomparable Prado houses many famous paintings. There are countless fascinating details contained in Hieronymus Bosch’s The Garden of Earthly Delights, framed in three panels. And even more stories are told in the tall Las Meninas by Diego Velázquez, including his self-portrait. Francisco Goya’s The Third of May, wherein a terrified Spanish resistance rebel faces a firing squad, brought tears to my eyes. Goya’s striking Naked Maja and later Clothed Maja are also at the Prado.

I found a wonderful surprise as I wandered the basement floor. Leonardo da Vinci painted many early versions of the Mona Lisa, some of which may have been made by his students. Believed to be the last one created before the final, which I had seen at MOMA, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and now lives at the Louvre in Paris protected by bulletproof glass, hangs at the Prado. It’s said to be identical to the treasured last one, except for the background. With no one else around, I could get up close, face-to-face with that famous face.

Reina Sofía

Picasso’s massive Guernica, black and white mural of the Spanish Civil War, painted in 1937, is mounted in Museo Reina Sofía. It’s surrounded by his preparatory drawings and detailed explanations of its images of violence and suffering. I had seen it also many years ago when it lived at MOMA, in my art student days.

There was even art in the subway halls!

A parade danced down Paseo del Prado.

El Retiro Park

Sculpted cedar trees

Street scenes

And a few I photographed on previous trips to Madrid, on the way to earlier English immersion programs

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Published by rkrontheroad

Writer, photographer, traveler

34 thoughts on “Madrid”

  3. Beautiful! It’s been several years since I last visited Madrid, but it’s such a lovely capital city with an incredible food scene. Enjoy your time off from blogging; we’ll be here once you return!

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  4. I lived in Madrid for 3 years in the late 70’s, early 80’s. And have returned to visit several times. I love this city and you captured its essence beautifully. Thanks for sharing your beautiful photos.

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  7. What a colourful city you’ve shown Madrid to be! The parade looks great fun and I love those cedar trees – they remind me a bit of trees in Japan. The Prado sounds wonderful – I didn’t know there was an early version of the Mona Lisa there!

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  8. I love your photos of the details of Madrid, and the art on offer around every corner is truly spectacular. And it’s nice to see a post from you on my feed again – glad you had a wonderful summer and have more trips incoming 🙂

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  13. So many of your posts from Mexico (and now Spain) show the locals celebrating or simply enjoying life. I love that aspect of the cultures. It reminds me of the Italians (at least back in my college days) and their “La Dolce Vita” mentality. We Americans could use a dose of that perspective.

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    1. Plaza Mayor is the classic center of the city. It’s nice to wander around the narrow streets. It depends on what you are interested in. I’m always interested in the art museums. If you are, there is one other besides the two I mentioned, Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. And of course, you will enjoy the Spanish food. Have a good time!

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  15. Hi Ruth, What wonderful photos. I’m curious what you mean when you say “English language immersion” trip. BTW, my mom’s maiden name is Rosenfeld.

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    1. Hello Robin, Thanks so much for your visit and comment! It’s a week-long retreat with 10-16 Spaniards and the same number of native English speakers. It’s immersion for them because they must speak English all week; they must have a certain level of English to attend. We’re scheduled for an hour of conversation with each person and there are other activities. It’s fun and you get to meet some interesting people. Greetings to your mom!

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  16. Pingback: Barcelona – Ruth Rosenfeld

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