Day 15 - Art and Books

Today we went to the Prado around 9 o’clock, which was unfortunate because it didn’t open until 10. We walked around and looked at fountains (the Fuente de Neptuno, to be specific) for a few minutes, then spent the remaining time in line (“which was poorly marked, by the way”). We got in free because we’re minors/students. Yay! We saw many portraits by Diego Velázquez, who was a court painter for Felipe IV (who has come up in various places today, including museums and our hotel). Velázquez also painted Las meninas, which I studied in Spanish 3. We also saw paintings by el Greco, van Dyck, van Eyck, and Rembrandt, as well as a room for paintings influenced by Caravaggio (another shout-out to Dr. H-Dubbs).

A side entrance of the Prado.

Upon leaving the museum, we waded through the small children to reach el Parque del Buen Retiro, which is the largest park in Madrid. It was lovely and very green. We came across a memorial to the victims of the 2004 train bombings, which I did not know about until today (it was a big deal, but I was in fourth grade. Miel continues to be surprised at my ignorance). The park also had a marvelous rose garden featuring arches, fountains, and many types of roses. We found the book fair that I had happened across on the internet before our departure and browsed through the many stalls until it closed for the afternoon. We passed another small book fair on the way to the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia (which was closed. We’ll go back tomorrow). We then went to the bookstore that I had picked out, which turned out to be a bookstore/café. I found three books (two with poetry that I’ve read in Spanish class, and also the original Ender’s Game short story in Spanish). Miel read Artemis Fowl in Spanish (for the record, the Gnommish on the front of the first book (you know, the “Carry me always, carry me well…” bit) was translated into Spanish and then into Gnommish. It still rhymed).

Roses and arches and fountains, oh my! (Fountains not pictured.)

As we couldn’t go to the Reina Sofia, we walked up past many random fountains and plazas to see the Biblioteca Nacional and the Museo del Libro. The exhibit was on the history of written language – books and letters, and the restoration thereof. It was entirely in Spanish, which made it more complicated for Miel. They also had a temporary exhibit about da Vinci, featuring his sketches and writings found within the Madrid Codices.

Fuente de Apolo.

La Biblioteca Nacional de España.

We’ll have plenty to do tomorrow as it is our last Madrid day. Hopefully we will be able to right our schedule. I also hope to find flan, about the lack of which I am outraged, as it is a traditional Spanish dish. I know our DEAR READERS (at least my father) are sure to be equally distraught upon hearing this news. Wish us luck in our quest tomorrow!

-Sara & Miel

Their post office is cooler than our whole country.

P.S. Miel is letting me get away with this short and undetailed post only because she is so frustrated that I kept having to look things up and just wants to get this over with.