First full day in Madrid

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Our first full day in Madrid started at noon yesterday because we had slept 12 hours after our arrival! Travelling can be hard work! (i think the heat was a factor--30 degrees C after months of cold weather took its toll.)

So we just skipped breakfast and moved right on to lunch in a cute bakery near our hotel in the Gran Via, called Le Pain Quotidien (my love of French follows me everywhere!) I settled for a bowl of carrot soup and a hunk of organic bread, then a new kind of coffee to me--cortado. It's an espresso with a touch of milk, like a small capuccino (called a noisette in France). Just right when you don't want to spend a fortune on your coffee.

Next, we headed off to tackle the Prado. I say tackle because, like so many of the great museums of the world, it is daunting in size and magnificece of works displayed. I decided to look only at the Spanish paintings 1500 to 1920s. That took me about 2 hours with the help of an audio-guide (highly recommended).

I confess that I did take a peek at some Rembrandts and Rubens, and a few French Impressionists' paintings. I couldn't help myself...

I remembered some of my favourite works from my visit here in 1966-- The Infanta Margarita which was attributed to Velasquez but is now credited to his son-in-law, Mazo. The Goyas are memorable and Sorillos too.

As a contrast, our evening was a dinner-flamenco show. What fabulous dancing! I want one of those dresses, but also the figure to go with it!

Now, on our 2nd day in Madrd, I am up and keen at 7am. Typing this with 1 finger is a challenge, so forgive any typos.

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