The morning of the first Thursday August 2008 AD started as usual: getting up, getting dressed, wash face and get downstairs within 5 minutes. Amazing how easily I can do that, although I had again the clock ticking against me: trying to make pictures of stuff before the sun brightens the earth to much!
First stop today was again Plaza Mayor because the stage for the classical concert was gone! I think it was removed overnight: excellent.
The real reason why I woke up early, however, was to shoot the Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas. It’s where bullfighting is going since 1929 in Madrid. So, it’s a rather new building, but nicely done. About the ‘sport’ itself, I’ll keep my opinions to myself.
Next thing on the agenda is going to checkout Picasso, Miró;, et al.. but I went first checking out this so called river around Madrid: Río Manzanares. But the Río ain’t a river no, it’s more like a stream! Maybe a kayak can float on it, but no bigger ship. I went to see it near the Puente de Segovia. There were lots of works going, apparently to make the banks more attractive, and build promenades of some sort. To my amazement the river does actually contain fish! I read that they introduced them together with ducks, and apparently they managed to survive. Not sure if their DNA is the same (remember Blinky?).
Around 10:30 I finally got around to buy a ticket for the Centro de Arte Reina Sofia. Long queues at the ticket office, but Metro line 1 was out of service, and I had to go around and walk a bit.
Aah, Miró, Magritte, Picasso, or the sculptures from Julio González, and much much more.. I’m no connoisseur, but I did really enjoy wondering around the surrealism, cubism, and sometimes childish paintings blowing we away; sculptures hitting my head. Gosh, I wish I could accomplish something like that..
There was also a very cool exposition about digital visual art. You really have to check that out! It’s called Máquinas & Almas and runs till end October 2008 in Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Madrid. Probably it will go on display elsewhere later.
Now off checking out some pubs, or something..