May 24 - Madrid: The 3 Museums in one day Madness

Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum 

This museum blew my mind, my heart, my soul! I wish I could live inside it for a year.

Degas

My legs feel like lead, my calves are in knots, but we did it. We started at the Thyssen (pronounced TEE-sen) and I feel as though I had a spiritual initiation standing before my forbears such as Matisse, Van Gogh, Cezanne, Emil Nolde, Max Beckmann, Maurice Vlaminck....and there was a single Berthe Morisot, a woman among all the men. They felt like my family, Matisse my grandpère, and all the rest like beloved uncles, aunt and cousins. I was moved to tears over and over. Private deeply interior soul connection and inspiration. A lineage.




Vlaminck

Vlaminck



Nolde



Emil Nolde

Papa Cezanne

Matisse

Prado

We moved on to the Prado next....and the Greats were all there, Goya (my sense was that he was a character as each of his portraits had twinkle), Rubens - and I don't think anyone surpasses his portraits - not nobody! Velasquez and his Infanta who spawned dozens of Picasso infantas, well the original was breathtaking. and I swear that that little infanta just knew she was all that, oh yes, take a close look and see what you think.

As for religious works, El Greco's were most powerful. Honestly there were so many rooms of lugubrious and excessive religious art it just weighed me down. Greco's were truly uplifting, even mystical.

Lunch

We took a much needed break and found a wonderful Mexican restaurant, oh yum, we sure were missing our burritos.

3rd Museum today - Reina Sofia

Somewhat revived after lunch but still with legs throbbing, we ventured over to the Reina Sofia, which beside the amazing Guernica was rather meh. Two entire floors were closed and many of the current exhibits as well. Election Day in Spain was the reason we were told. Btw, there are many more police visible on the streets than in the u.s. lots of protestors, too.

Tonight we went back to our little Mexican restaurant discovery with a few tour folks. A fun time was had by all, and man oh man, were those Margarita's a wonder! Madrid is very much alive at night!

Insomniacs beware...this place is noisy all night!
Xxx