For now - bye, bye Madrid. You left us hungry for more and we hope to return again.
Location:Madrid, Spain
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Madrid - Day Six : Farewell Madrid
Today - we conclude our time in Madrid. With the help of docents (Almu and Andrea) from Context Travel (Lily), introductions via Facebook friends (Isabela, Edu, Jordi), and the friendly staff at ME Reina Hotel (Jose Pato), - it has been a terrific vacation. I am always amazed how traveling & technology continue to intersect and evolve. I am already looking foward to our next experience - Prague.
For now - bye, bye Madrid. You left us hungry for more and we hope to return again.
For now - bye, bye Madrid. You left us hungry for more and we hope to return again.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Madrid - Day Five : Last Meal
For our last dinner in Madrid - we stumbled into Huerta Uno Taberna at Las Huertas, 1. Billed as a Serbian restaurant - it serves up Mediterranean and Spanish dishes. We were pleasantly surprised after reading a varied mix of reviews. The restaurant is a stone throw from the ME Reina Madrid and Plaza Santa Maria. Our service was prompt and friendly. Food was tasty. We left satisfied.
Location:Madrid, Spain
Madrid - Day Five : Market
Mercado de San Miguel is a modern, lively spot for locals and tourist alike. Grab a drink and select a tapas from one of the many vendors before joining friends. It is a lot of fun - while locals complain about the high prices - it didn't dent our wallets too badly. If you are looking for cheaper treats and more locals head south for three blocks. Here you will find plenty of choices and friendly locals enjoying less expensive drinks & eats.
Location:Madrid, Spain
Madrid - Day Five - Egypt
Every town should have its own 2,200 year old Egyptian temple. Templo de Debod, dedicated to the gods of Amum and Isis, was donated to Spain for its help in rescusing the temples of Adu Simbel in Nubia. It was rebuilt in Madrid in 1972 in Parque del Oeste. The park is beautiful and offers some terrific views. The temple is surprisingly large with several rooms and two stories inside. It is also in fantastic condition. If you want to be close to some Egyptian artifacts - and I mean within touch - visit this spot. I cannot resist them.
Location:Madrid, Spain
Madrid - Day Five - Santa Maria Almudena
You would be surprised to see the many faces of S.I. Catedral de Santa Maria la real de la Almudena (that is, Holy Mother Virgin Mary, for us Americans). Each of the facades has a different architectural style. Below is my favorite. The Cathedral wasn't highly recommended by our guide - who by the way is named after Mary, Almudena. Still we found the interior to be interesting especially the modern stainglass windows. If you have an extra 20 minutes after the Royal Palace - it is worth a quick stroll.
Location:Madrid, Spain
Madrid - Day Five - Royals
Palacio Real is huge with only 25 (or so) rooms of nearly 3,000 are open to the public. Still - it will leave you exhausted. The armory and pharmacy are really unique. Luckily I grabbed a few photos before being informed that none are allowed. Enjoy!
Location:Madrid, Spain
Madrid - Day Five : Refueling
A quick refueling stop at La Botilleria del Cafe de Oriente outside the Royal Palace.
Location:Madrid, Spain
Madrid - Day Five : Palacio Real
It was immediately apparent that the locals have an interesting relationship with the Royal family in Spain. Unemployment rate of 25 percent probably didn't help. The Royal Palace dominates the western edge of the city center. Reconstructed in 1734 after fires destroyed the original 9th century castle - it is worth a stop for foreign visitors - especially the armory.
Location:Madrid, Spain
Madrid - Day Five : Goya
After you have finished viewing everyone's collections of Goya's masterpieces and find yourself hungry for more - you have to visit La Ermita de San Antonio de la Florida. This small church located outside the city center is home the Goya's frescos and is also his final resting place. The site was recommended by our art historian docent from Context Travel and well worth the 6€ taxi from our hotel. Free to the public and only open in the mornings - I echo Andrea's recommendation for any visitor to Madrid.
Location:Madrid, Spain
Monday, May 28, 2012
Madrid - Day Four : Dining
There are literally hundreds of restaurants to choose from in Madrid. I am not certain that we mastered the selection process but we had pretty good luck. Latrucha Restaurante is located just off Plaza Santa Ana on Manuel Fernandez Gonzales, 3. It was recommended for the best tapas in a recent article in Conde Nast Traveler. You have to try the ham when your in Spain. The finest comes from pigs that feed on acorns. Dining here is a late exercise with most restaurants seating after 10 pm. Dinner is a lighter affair - although you can find plenty of American-style portions.
Location:Madrid, Spain
Madrid - Day Four : Reina Sofia
A reformed hospital is now home to Madrid's modern art. You take the journey to this museum to see Guernuca (1937) by Picasso. The remaining works are interesting but not generally seen as masterpieces by the artist. Still overall the library of named artist is impressive even if the works are lesser. If you need to spend 6€ to see Guernuca then hang around to see the other works or the pleasant beer garden for a Mahou cerveza.
Location:Madrid, Spain
Madrid - Day Four - Prado
The Prado houses an amazing collection of art. We started our tour with Andrea our docent from Context viewing works of the Flemish painters from the 15th century including Roger Van Weydem. Unfortunately, the Prado doesn't allow cameras.
We work our way from works of art mirroring the medieval passion plays or immitating sculpture including the famous triptic on virtues and vices by El Bosco. Alberto Duerto's Adam and Eve are classic sculpture paintings from 1507.
FYI - the Prado also has a Mona Lisa which was likely painted at the same time as the one housed on the Louvre.
It is a delightful collection of art. Fra Angelico (1400 - 1455) works show some of the earliest use of perspective in painting. In the Grand Hall - Titian's work rules the walls. Famous and talented - Titian or Tiziano here is clearly a master of the brush.
Paintings move as we view them from various spots showing the keen use of perspective by the masters like Tintoretto ( 16th century Venetian painter).
We see El Greco's works. This talented Crete elongates his subjects and moves from traditional horizontal canvas to tall vertical dimensions needed for churches of the time. Little know sculptures by El Greco are on view in the salon.
Jose de Ribera who lived in Italy- both Rome and Naples - and a study of Caravaggio's work shows us his mastery of creating texture with paint. His mastery of capturing both suffering and the aging process in his work is remarkable.
The boy prodigy turned master Diego Velasquez (1599 - 1660) takes painting to new heights. The Topers - an inventive painting by the artist - won his position as court painter for King Philip IV. After befriending Rueben who encouraged him to study in Italy - Vulcan's Forge will demonstrate his skills.
Goya's painting Countessa Chinchion is filled with mystery. Married at a young age to the Queen's lover and Prime Minister - her innocence is quickly lost to a world of deceit. In the portrait she is 5 months pregnant and soon to be abandoned by her husband who sole reason for marrying is a dynastic alliance.
Goya (1746 - 1828) left Spain in 1823 for France. In his farm house nearly 40 years later were found his Black Paintings - a rare view into this side of his work. Controversial for both their suspicious origins (his grandson found them years later) and their content. You shouldn't miss seeing these paintings on plaster.
With Goya - we exit leave behind 1800s and rejoin the Madrid of 2012.
We work our way from works of art mirroring the medieval passion plays or immitating sculpture including the famous triptic on virtues and vices by El Bosco. Alberto Duerto's Adam and Eve are classic sculpture paintings from 1507.
FYI - the Prado also has a Mona Lisa which was likely painted at the same time as the one housed on the Louvre.
It is a delightful collection of art. Fra Angelico (1400 - 1455) works show some of the earliest use of perspective in painting. In the Grand Hall - Titian's work rules the walls. Famous and talented - Titian or Tiziano here is clearly a master of the brush.
Paintings move as we view them from various spots showing the keen use of perspective by the masters like Tintoretto ( 16th century Venetian painter).
We see El Greco's works. This talented Crete elongates his subjects and moves from traditional horizontal canvas to tall vertical dimensions needed for churches of the time. Little know sculptures by El Greco are on view in the salon.
Jose de Ribera who lived in Italy- both Rome and Naples - and a study of Caravaggio's work shows us his mastery of creating texture with paint. His mastery of capturing both suffering and the aging process in his work is remarkable.
The boy prodigy turned master Diego Velasquez (1599 - 1660) takes painting to new heights. The Topers - an inventive painting by the artist - won his position as court painter for King Philip IV. After befriending Rueben who encouraged him to study in Italy - Vulcan's Forge will demonstrate his skills.
Goya's painting Countessa Chinchion is filled with mystery. Married at a young age to the Queen's lover and Prime Minister - her innocence is quickly lost to a world of deceit. In the portrait she is 5 months pregnant and soon to be abandoned by her husband who sole reason for marrying is a dynastic alliance.
Goya (1746 - 1828) left Spain in 1823 for France. In his farm house nearly 40 years later were found his Black Paintings - a rare view into this side of his work. Controversial for both their suspicious origins (his grandson found them years later) and their content. You shouldn't miss seeing these paintings on plaster.
With Goya - we exit leave behind 1800s and rejoin the Madrid of 2012.
Location:Madrid, Spain
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Madrid - Day Three : Dining
So we broke down and had pizza at Piccolino Della Farfalla at Huertas, 6. This family run restaurant is full of drama. The food was passable but not the best. Still the dent in our wallet was not noticeable so we weren't too disappointed.
Location:Madrid, Spain
Madrid - Day Three
Calle de las Huertas is a wonderful boulevard from Plaza Santa Ana to the museum area. It is filled with bars and restaurants but no so many shops. During our trip to Madrid - it became almost a daily walk. Our 10 carte metro pass is going to waste.
Location:Madrid, Spain
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