There are a few photos from the Museo Raina Sofia. This was the only museum that I visited that allowed photography. However its collection is mostly crazy modern stuff. So I picked a few Picassos and Dalis here. Dali’s Girl at the Window is one of his best and is really worth the trip to the museum. Most people would visit it for Picasso’s Guernica – though I could not really find it  to be extra special. The Guernica is one painting they do not allow anyone to photograph. In the neighbouring room, there is a study of the Guernica (included in the gallery above) along with many other details from the grand picture.

Among the three museums, Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza was the one I liked best. Strangely, I found the collection of Carmen Thyssen to be the more interesting and nicer. The collection  of paintings range from the 13th to the 20th centuries. They had a special exhibit called Lagrimas de Eros (Tears of Love), which featured famous art pieces depicting love and death.

I had very little time after this for the biggie: Museo del Prado. The importance of this museum is stressed in the fact that all three museums are connected by one road called Paseo del Prado. It has a good collection of Spanish art including many by Velasquez and Goya. I especially liked the painting called Las Melinas (The Young Girls), showing the daughters of the royal household.

Among other sights to be seen are Puerta del Sol (Gate of the Sun), Espana (where there is a memorial to Miguel de Cervantes – author of the Don Quixote story), some churches (Madrid Cathedral, San Francisco and San Andrea are in the gallery). Thanks to the extreme cold, I did not venture out into each of these places. I did brave the freezing conditions to get some snaps taken here and there. Was I ever happy to get back into the taxi and warm clothes then!

Right in the heart of the city is an Egyptian temple – Debod – taken out brick by brick and reassembled in Madrid. It was offered to Madrid by the Egyptian government as the temple would have been destroyed under the lake created by the Aswan Dam. Around the temple are some nice walkways (file away for a later visit in better weather) and a breathtaking view over some forests and the city.

For another trip to Spain, there is much to explore in Madrid. There are also the other cities like Barcelona and historical sites such as Alhambra to be seen. Till then…

Here’s the link to the photoset.

In my mind the one thing that stands out is feeling cold everywhere. My nose and ears, hands, feet. At one point I took some snow in my hands to play with it and regretted it immediately as it froze my hands. The other thing about taking photographs is that you really don’t have the chance to change lenses when each such change requires getting exposed to the weather. All photos on this trip was made using the kit 18-55mm lens. Nevertheless, I am happy with the pictures. They have come out well exposed and sharp, a testament to the abilities of this simple and cheap lens. Perhaps a better all-round zoom may have made it a little more easier to get some of the more difficult shots (dusk / night / from the airplane).

Anyone who enjoyed this should also see his documentary Home, which is distributed freely. The original movie in French is voiced by Arthus-Bertrand. It is a must see for all wildlife and nature enrhusiasts.

For those still planning to catch the exhibit, it is on till the 8th of this month.