Our Favorites Things in Madrid

Walking out of Retiro Metro Stop we found ourself in a 300 acre park with young and old enjoying the weekend life. This was the park of kings but more than 200 years ago “the good king” or “the best mayor of madrid” gave the park to the public…..And the locals are using the park. In the center is a pool eight to ten football fields wide, now people rent row boats and enjoy time on the water. Others are sun bathing but most stroll in the streets watching the free entertainment that sprouts up. The children, more than anywhere in Spain seemed happy here. If you have children you must venture to the Retiro Park.

We were lucky enough to catch the last night of “Carmen” preformed by the Compania Antonio Gades. It was a stirring performance by the dancers who received many ovations. The strong mature voice that rose above the flamingo caught my heart. There was no better place to see Carmen performed.

Our favorite was the Prado. This museum contains over 3000 works of art. There is no way to see the Prado in a day. We were fortunate enough to secure one of the most amazing teachers I have ever been aquatinted with for a private lesson. Hernan Satt, the owner of Madrid Museum Tours and a former professor of art history in Madrid, challenged and guided us through the art and through the history of the art. After two and a half hours we absorbed a semester of art and history of the Iberian Peninsula in a morning. We were very grateful for his expertise in making the art come alive from canvas. Among many new thoughts, I walk away with an appreciation for the contributions Diego Velasquez to the world of art and learned of the political risks he was willing to take to express himself.