Today we decided we would go to the store and buy some supplies. I needed razors and Cynthia needed contact lens solution. The store to buy ANYTHING in this town is El Corte Inglés.
When I say anything, I mean ANYTHING. The store occupies several buildings over several blocks right off the Peurta Del Sol. If you go in one door it’s electronics, another door it’s books and so on. It’s like a US mall but all the stores are one company.
We got what we needed, but will return just to have a look around. It’s always fascinating to me to wander a department or grocery store in a foreign country.
After dropping off our purchase in our hotel room we made our way to the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía
The Reina Sofia is a world renown modern art museum and houses many great paintings by Picasso and Salvador Dali just to name the big ones. We were there specifically to see Guernica, the piece done by Pablo Picasso depicting the Nazi German bombing of Guernica, Spain by twenty-four bombers on April 26, 1937 during the Spanish Civil War.
Image taken from The Elegant Variation
You read about this painting, you see it on TV or even in the occasional movie, but there’s nothing that compares to actually standing in front of it and gaping in slack-jawed awe at it’s larger-than-life magnificence.
As I’ve heard it said before: You know, I’m no art critic. But I know what I hate..
In many ways, my going to these art galleries is like cultural chemotherapy. Hopefully the exposure will have a positive and life enriching effect.
I did see some amazing things and there are more art galleries to come.
We’re back at the hotel now and it’s siesta time.
One last note, I wish I could have all my prescriptions filled here for the rest of my life…
The tile work is amazing…
