a morning of masterpieces
One of the major things that attracted me to this particular tour was the amount of art I would see. This morning was filled with some of the most incredible art in the world. The first museum we visited was the Prado. They did not allow pictures. If you visit their website, you can see some of the works in their permanent collection. Our guide, Federico, managed to get us first in line at the group entrance. We spent time seeing and learning about the works of El Greco, Goya, and Velázquez. I had another WOW moment while learning about Velázquez's Las Meninas. Federico's storytelling made the works come to life. It was nothing short of amazing.
From there, we walked to the Reina Sofia museum which houses a magnificent collection of modern artwork. I'm a big fan of modern art and was excited to visit. This is an excellent showcase of modern masterpieces. Picasso's Guernica is here on display but we were unable to take photos of it. I have included some pictures of other works on display. Modern art does not appeal to everyone but I believe this museum houses works that anyone can appreciate. They have an extensive amount of line drawings by Picasso as he was creating Guernica. Additionally, we viewed many works by Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso, and Joan Miró. Again, Federico's storytelling was outstanding, eliciting another WOW moment as we viewed Guernica. I know for a fact I would not have experienced the museums the same way without Federico... or, generally speaking, a Rick Steves guide. For me, this sealed the deal: the cost of the tour was well worth it. This might have been my first Rick Steves tour but it would certainly not be my last.
From there, we walked to the Reina Sofia museum which houses a magnificent collection of modern artwork. I'm a big fan of modern art and was excited to visit. This is an excellent showcase of modern masterpieces. Picasso's Guernica is here on display but we were unable to take photos of it. I have included some pictures of other works on display. Modern art does not appeal to everyone but I believe this museum houses works that anyone can appreciate. They have an extensive amount of line drawings by Picasso as he was creating Guernica. Additionally, we viewed many works by Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso, and Joan Miró. Again, Federico's storytelling was outstanding, eliciting another WOW moment as we viewed Guernica. I know for a fact I would not have experienced the museums the same way without Federico... or, generally speaking, a Rick Steves guide. For me, this sealed the deal: the cost of the tour was well worth it. This might have been my first Rick Steves tour but it would certainly not be my last.
free afternoon: strolling and shopping
I opted to stay at the Reina Sofia to spend more time with the art while others from our group went their separate ways. My afternoon was spent finding a post office to buy stamps for another round of postcards... and wandering the streets doing some shopping.
One of the best tips I can share for souvenir shopping is to visit a grocery store and a pharmacy. You can pick up local specialties for a very reasonable price. It can also be fun to see what type of food the locals are eating. Pharmacy trips can be helpful for personal care/grooming items as well as little odds and ends. I usually stop to get some bottled water and snacks for nights in the hotel room. It is much cheaper to buy bottled water at the grocery rather than an extra bottle at a cafe.
One of the best tips I can share for souvenir shopping is to visit a grocery store and a pharmacy. You can pick up local specialties for a very reasonable price. It can also be fun to see what type of food the locals are eating. Pharmacy trips can be helpful for personal care/grooming items as well as little odds and ends. I usually stop to get some bottled water and snacks for nights in the hotel room. It is much cheaper to buy bottled water at the grocery rather than an extra bottle at a cafe.
The photos above show you the streets of Madrid. I have no idea where I was when I took them but I tried to include photos that show a variety of building styles found in the city as well as the magnificent colors they are painted. Some reminded me of France.
chocolate and churros
After wandering the streets for what felt like a long while, I was ready for a break. Frederico mentioned that the BEST chocolate could be found at San Ginés so I decided to check it out. The chocolateria is located next to a church off of a quiet side street. I had a bit of a time trying to find it but I figured it out (with some patience and a map). I was able to find a spot on the heated terrace. It was nice to sit for a bit and relax. I ordered the churros with chocolate and a bottled water. This is no ordinary hot chocolate! It is a drinking chocolate... also a perfect dip for pieces of fried dough. It was delicious! It's no wonder it's popular and has been in business since 1894.
another beautiful evening
We met as a group in our hotel's lobby and headed to dinner. This time we were heading to a place too far to walk so we got a Madrid subway lesson! I thought it was really helpful to be with a local (our guide) and use the subway. The machines are easy to use and instructions are in several different languages. As opposed to other systems, in Madrid you tell the machine which stop you are going to and it changes varying prices based on your journey. The honor system comes into play but, if you get caught cheating the system, you pay a hefty fine.
The pictures below show some of the sights we saw that evening. I took these using my phone... I wasn't in the mood to drag my camera along with me that night. Dinner was so good I didn't even think to take pictures of it. I got lucky and was seated at the same table as Federico. It was nice to spend some time getting to know him. As you can see, Madrid is a beautiful and clean city. I was very glad to have a couple more nights left - I wasn't ready to go home yet!
The pictures below show some of the sights we saw that evening. I took these using my phone... I wasn't in the mood to drag my camera along with me that night. Dinner was so good I didn't even think to take pictures of it. I got lucky and was seated at the same table as Federico. It was nice to spend some time getting to know him. As you can see, Madrid is a beautiful and clean city. I was very glad to have a couple more nights left - I wasn't ready to go home yet!