Reina Sofia and Salmon

Reina Sofia Museum

Sunday, October 15, 2017, Madrid--Saturday was a quiet day, so to speak, after the hectic activities of the past week.   We had a slow and leisurely breakfast then took the bus to the Reina Sofia Museum.  It's a modern art museum, almost exclusively from 1900 with a strong collection of Miro and other Spanish 20th century artists.  Probably it's most famous work is Picasso's Guernica, which cannot be photographed.  You forget how big it is.  It is probably 25 feet long and about 10 feet high.  The agony of the subject is overwhelming.

Arte Povera

We spent some time in an exhibit of post-World War II Italian art, known as "arte povera," or art of poverty.  Very well done and very simple, mostly, designed to show the simplicity of life before the industrialization (and dehumanization according to the artists) of Italian life after WW2.  

Olive trees in courtyard

Our last stop was the garden to see the Calder moving very slowly in the still air of the courtyard. 

Later yesterday afternoon we visited on of the local wine shop to explore Spanish wines with our friend Tim.   After he headed off to a party, we sat on the most exclusive shopping street of the city sipping French rosé and Spanish bierzo wines.  

Rosé from France

Bierzo from Spain

Dinner at home with much conversation over salmon, spinach salad, roasted tomatoes, potatoes and a lovely Gargalo godello 2016 white.  An excellent and reasonably priced bottle.

Today, off by bus to El Escorial.