20:33
Madrid, Spain
The Prado museum was just amazing. They allow free entry from 6-8pm (we got in line about 20 'till), though they do make you rent a locker for €1 if you have a bag--however they give you the €1 back when you pick up your bag! At least, my locker did. I don't know if it was supposed to or not, but I was pleaently surprised.
Anyway, back to the museum--I'm nor sure if I was more amazed by the size of some of those canvases, or the size of the building that holds them. I've been to a few museums before, but I don't think I've ever seen 15th, 16th, & 17th century canvas oil paintings that were...well, larger than most walls. Some of those paintings had to be 20'x30'. Just amazing. I took this picture of one of the smaller paintings with a person in the forefront to give you an idea of perspective (I took this picture before they came over and told us to stop taking pictures.
The perspective may not be as easy to see as I'd hoped, but this painting was at least six feet tall.
And the beauty and magesty of the works. Wow. I'm not the most artistic person--or the most knowledgable about the subject, so I my not have gotten out of it what some might, but I was certainly amazed and impressed. None of my previous trips to Europe afforded me the opportunity to see any of the amazing art museums, so this trip I certainly plan to.
I'll have to pace myself, though. This museum was pretty well obvious as to the layout, but it was somewhat labrynth-like. And the sheer volume. Dozens of giant rooms over three floors. I never even got all the way through the first floor. And half the paintings didn't have enlish plaques, so I didn't stop to read them all like I would've normally. I wonder how I'm going ever get through the louvre if I can't even make it through these three floors. Admittedly, I've had maybe three hours of fitful sleep over the last two days, so I've been pretty tired to begin with. Hopefully tonight I'll get a good full night's sleep so I'll be better able to do more tomorrow.
Anyway, if you ever get to Madrid, I highly recommend the Museo de Prado. 6-8pm for free--and it's easily worth twice that!
-- Post From My iPhone
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