From Prado to Prada (Friday)

We started the day with our usual leisure breakfast. Stacy is missing his morning smoothies now so he is trying to get creative with what we’ve got. Somehow having a scrambled egg sandwich made it different than his usual eggs with a pastry. It’s the little things.

And then we were off on the City Bus Tour. Stacy was the unofficial front captain and our guides kept the rear guard. When it became evident that we would not be able to all get on same bus, we decided to split up. We were told it was only 3 stops to our destination but I got a map anyway (besides, I love reading maps and figuring out where I’m going).

<City Tour bus pics>

 

 

I quickly assessed that it was going to take more than 3 stops to get there. Our small group couldn’t get on the upper deck but the next group enjoyed that prized view. We all arrived safely and began the Prado museum tour. 

Our guides had provided a pdf of some selected paintings with some interesting perspectives. I really appreciated that because we had limited time and there was way too much to see. A few highlights (If you like art - you might want to check some of these out online): 

“A Perspective View of a Roman Amphitheater” which provided vivid imagery of how gruesome so-called “entertainment” has infiltrated society for decades.

One of the most popular paintings is from Bosch entitled “The Garden of Delights” - and it was WEIRD!! His interpretation of the Garden of Eden, the result of the fall into sin and finally hell was nothing short of mind boggling. Maybe it makes sense after a few glasses of wine with one eye closed but it has been considered a masterpiece for centuries.

“David Victor of Goliath” by Caravaggio was so lifelike - I could see the dirt under David’s toes as he stood over Goliath’s giant head with his stone wound clearly evident. I got a picture this and then learned the photos were NOT allowed - whoops! My bootleg pics will not be included here to avoid copyright infringements.

Don’t we look museum ready?

After a brisk museum tour, we made the trek to a quaint little pizzeria. Unlike past restaurants, service was slow water was scarce. But the time with friends was priceless. And the pizza was superb. Surprisingly, I liked Stacy’s Pear Gorgonzola one better - even though it had fruit on it.

<Pizzart pics>

 

 

Will walk for gelato!

While en route back to hotel, we stopped by a gelato shop <pic> and then we found the mecca  of all shopping in Spain. I had been seeing many Primark bags while people watching this week but had not seen the actual store. With some very willing sisters, we embarked on this shopping adventure. <Primark store> 

By the time we re-emerged, we had missed our window to do a night lights city tour and there was only time for a rooftop night cap! Besides, Stacy’s ‘quick nap’ had already turned into ‘down for the count’!