Thoughts on Spain

Photo by Patrick Jones. Tile map at Alcázar de Segovia.

We are now back from the trip to Spain, adjusting slowly to the time difference and change of pace after eight days over there. My previous trip to Madrid had been on a layover in March 2016. Madrid has a great vibe and I felt very much at home. I wish I could trace my Hispanic branches of the tree back to their original locations in Spain.

Driving north of Madrid to Segovia and Ribera del Duero reminded me a lot of driving in Santa Barbara County and other parts of Southern California. The land has a similar feel, much of the area between Segovia and Ribera is farmland, small old villages and castles. An example of one such place is below. Moraleja de Cuéllar is a tiny village of 38 people on SG-V-2231 that we passed through on the way to Quintanilla de Onésimo. There really was no reason for us to have driven through the village, but that was the route we were given by Google Maps. Perhaps it was another example of Google knowing what I wanted to see, as many of the homes in the village have walls that were painted by local artist Marcelino Garciá Arranz. We were surprised to see these in the village and it made for a nice stop on the way to Ribera del Duero.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Mural by Marcelino Garciá Arranz.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Murals in Moraleja de Cuéllar, Spain. 15 May 2017.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Mural by Marcelino Garciá Arranz.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Murals in Moraleja de Cuéllar, 15 May 2017.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Leaving Olivares de Duero to Quintanilla de Onésimo.

I will have more posts on the visit to wine country, Segovia and murals in Madrid. We had a lovely time in Spain. Great food and wine, friendly people, historic sites, it really had so much to offer. Spain is very affordable too. Wine was cheaper than Coca-Cola.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Segovia, Spain. 15 May 2017.

After seeing Madrid and parts of Castile and León, I definitely want to go back at see other regions. I have a meeting in Barcelona next year. I will have to look for another opportunity to go back so that I can work in a visit to Basque Country and Galicia in the north and Southern Spain as well.

Visit to the Sorolla Museum

Photo by Patrick Jones. Sorolla Museum. 14 May 2017.

On Sunday afternoon we had an opportunity to visit the Museo Sorolla in Madrid. It was a free visit day, and we were pleasantly surprised at how nice and extensive the museum was. Museo Sorolla is located in the artist's former home, a beautiful villa with gardens. I have featured several of Sorolla's paintings in previous posts (see here and here).

Photo by A. Jones. Sorolla's paint brushes.

Photo by A. Jones. Sorolla's studio. 14 May 2017.

Sorolla's studio is now a bright exhibition space. The walls are covered with his paintings, as they were when he was working there in the early 1900s. His beach scenes are prominently featured, along with paintings of his family.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Clotilde Garcia de Sorollla.

Photo by A. Jones. In Sorolla's studio. 14 May 2017.

The museum does not prevent taking of photos without flash, and we were able to see many of his famous works. The one below was fitting for Mothers Day.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Painting by Joaquin Sorolla.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Under the Awning, 1905.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Painting by Joaquin Sorolla.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Sorolla Museum. 14 May 2017.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Sorolla Museum, Madrid. 14 May 2017.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Painting by Joaquin Sorolla.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Tiles at the Sorolla Museum.

 

Refugees Welcome

Photo by Patrick Jones. Plaza de Cibeles, Madrid. 14 May 2017.

Around Madrid

Photo by Patrick Jones. Cerveceria near Sol. Madrid, 11 May 2017.

Here are a few photos from an afternoon walk around Madrid on Thursday. Interesting tile work, a fountain monument to Don Quixote, Paseo del Prado and Plaza Mayor.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Paseo del Prado, Madrid.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Plaza Mayor, Madrid. 11 May 2017.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Cerveceria near Sol.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Cerveceria near Sol.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Monument at Plaza España.

Scenes from the Prado

Photo by Patrick Jones. Prado Museum, Madrid. 12 May 2017.

We're in Madrid while I attend meetings. Last night and again today we were fortunate to visit the Museo del Prado. The collection is amazing, and our visit overlapped with the exhibition of the Treasures of the Hispanic Society of America. I was able to snap a few photos, see below.

Antonio Muñoz Degrain, Before the Wedding, 1882.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Dance of the Maenads, 120-140.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Segovia Aqueduct.

A highlight for me were the paintings by Goya and Sorolla. The Hispanic Society of America exhibition included Sorolla's outstanding After the Bath. I could not snap a photo but I do include an image below via Columbia University.

Joaquin Sorolla, 1908. Source: Columbia University.