Goya, Velaszquez and Palaces

At the Prado

Madrid, Tuesday, October 9, 2017.   We spent a good part of the day at the Prado, the National Art Museum, exploring the Velazquez and Goya rooms, with the side benefit of seeing a portrait of King Philip III of Spain that has only recently been shown to be Velazquez's work.  Velazquez managed to capture the facial expressions of 17th century Spaniards beautifully (although he never met Phillip III).  Goya, on the other hand, 18th century to early 19th century, painted not only royal and common figures but transferred some of his own thoughts to canvas and frescos.  Among these are an entire room full of his "black paintings" of horribly distorted humans and inhuman actions.

We had a fine light lunch at a small sidewalk restaurant at the edge of the royal botanical gardens.  We took a small walk through them (how could we resist at 50 cents per [old] person?), and enjoyed seeing some magnificent flowers and trees.   

Purchased tickets to go to Toledo tomorrow to see El Greco's home, and enjoy a 20 or so minute ride on the high speed train.

The Royal Grand Staircase

The Royal View

Yesterday we did the Royal Palace, not inhabited by the royal family since the early 20th century, but full of brilliant rococo and baroque decoration.   We realized we have seen many royal palaces now from Hampton Court to the Thai royal palace in Bangkok.  The Spanish version is huge.

Because we seemed to arrive at churches as Masses were finishing we managed to get inside a major church of a convent and enjoyed the first, and only, so far, religious person we've seen on the street--a monk.  

By the time we got home last night, and tonight too, we were walked-out, so to speak.  Yesterday we enjoyed fusion Asian cuisine at the Pink Monkey in the neighborhood as we enjoyed long conversation with our host Tim.