We had to get out the rain coats and umbrellas as the rain started to fall and is expected to continue for several days. Not mainly in the plain either, but also to the north where we are heading next (which is actually where most of it falls, with no regard to Eliza Doolittle).
On Saturday we completed the third of the major art museums - the Centro de Arte Reina Sofia. The Reina Sofia is a museum of recent art including many Picasso and Dali works. The most famous, and the centrepiece of the whole museum, is Picasso's "Guernica". It shows the effects of the aerial bombing of Guernica in northern Spain by the German air force at the start of the Spanish civil war in 1936, and is considered to be a political / anti war statement. It's hugely significant as "art" as well as having historical importance for the Spanish people. Shamefully I had never even heard of it.
Much of the work on display was tough to understand, but a few "clicked". A favourite was "A World" by Angeles Santos. Incredilby she was only 18 when she painted it in 1929.
A quick late lunch of the famous Boccadillo Calamares (deep fried squid in a roll) and it was time to pack and move on to a different hotel to join the Northern Spain tour group. A new mind set required for the next 10 days as we'll need to fit in to the group plan...
Sunday was like being at home in Wellington - raining all day and about 12 degrees. Enjoyed a short city tour in the rain, including Madrid's Plaza de Torres or bullfighting ring (always reminds me of the Tom Lehrer song "In Old Mexico"). Enjoyed a short re visit to the Prado in the rain. Enjoyed a visit to Joaquin Sorolla's (famous Spanish artist!) house in the rain - now an art museum.
And then enjoyed a long walk in the rain to soak up the vibe in the Camberi district.
Apparently the Camberi really hums on a fine day, but today it was quiet. Fortunately the old Camberi metro station which has been turned into a metro museum was open so we went there. There was a queue to get in, but that didn't put us off. There were no paintings. All the work on display had been done by engineers. Good to have a change!
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