There’s no ‘Rain in Spain’, only sunshine, as I walk down the Paseo de la Castellana ‘on the street where I live’, in Madrid. I arrived here after midnight last night from Sydney, via Bangkok. And I was more than ready to stretch my legs and reacquaint myself with the area and get some exercise out in the autumn sunshine.
I find myself all the way down at the Prado and decide to go in and buy a ticket – only €7 for admission, with white hair. Then this lovely lady, Beatrice approaches me and offers her services . . . (as a private guide), which I gladly take up.
Straight to Velázquez and his paintings of the male form, musculature but covered because of fear of the Inquisition (there go those rabid right-wing Catholics again). Then across to Rubens with his female nudes including the famous ‘Three Graces’. And of course some wonderful Goya that includes his series of ‘black paintings’ done in the later period of his life.
My back is sore at the end of it all so I hop a cab back to the hotel for a late snack.
Photos to be uploaded later. Facebook photos in the meantime.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151846881993189.1073741860.546723188&type=1&l=929f14db47