Madrid (Spain)

June 13-16, 2012 We took the train to Madrid. Pulling into the train station I suddenly remembered that this was the same station where the terrorist attack took place just a few years ago that so many people had perished. I had a sudden urgency to get out of the station quickly and catch a cab to our hotel (Hotel De Vega Lope). That afternoon we visited the Arte Reina Sofia where the highlight was Picasso’s “Guernica”. Its scale and drama was incredibly impactful. There were a number of other works by Dali and a few photos by D. Arbus and Stieglitz that I enjoyed as well. The night ended with a number of gin and tonics at the “Gin-N-Tonic” bar. A contemporary bar with an attractive bartender mixing amazing drinks with gins from all over the world. I had a nice conversation with the owner who became friendly after I told him we had walked the Camino. He bought us several drinks, food and ran out and purchased a Lonely Planet guidebook of Spain. The fact that we were not the normal tourists and had walked the Camino was important to him. He was from Seville and was adamant that it was the best place in Spain to visit. The next day was spent at the Prado enjoying  the paintings of Bosch, Bruegal, Raphael, El Greco, Goya and my favorite for his use of light and shadow, Caravaggio. That evening we attended a Flamingo performance in a small intimate club. The three male singers, two guitar players and a male and female dancer were amazing. Powerful, emotional, brazen energy in their performance. There was one more art museum that we visited the next day that had a special exhibit of Edward Hopper s work,  but Chagall’s painting of a woman sitting on a rooster, Monet’s soft blue light shimmering on water and Degas’s ballerinas with blue skirts and orange highlights were fantastic. Madrid is a bustling city with great art and history, but a bit gritty. Journal: “I am on the flight home after six weeks. It seems like I have been gone for a very long time. Walking the Camino provided so much insight into my life. The simplicity of the daily routine of just walking all day allowed so much time for reflection. It had many emotional moments and sharing the last miles with Becky was so important. Her surviving cancer and remembering the family and friends who had died over the last two years brought to the forefront the importance of loved ones. A bit of wisdom passed on to me that from this point I will always keep close, “never wish for a day to end.”