Madrid, Spain

This past July, I was fortunate enough to visit Madrid, Spain where my screenplay was an official selection in the Madrid International Film Festival. Madrid is the capital of Spain and the third largest city in the European Union.

Truthfully, I was a little nervous of traveling to Madrid. I only knew a little Spanish and also had heard horror stories of being pick-pocketed. I'm glad to say I was completely wrong. Madrid is an amazing city both historically and culturally.

Madrid is a huge city. It is a great walking city where you can take in the atmosphere that is Madrid. Also, if you become tired, it's easy to take a taxi (taxi fares are reasonable).

Plaza Major. The first of many plazas that I explored in Madrid.

King Phillip III's Bronze Statue created by Jean Boulogne and Pietro Tacca in 1616.

Traditional Flamenco Costumes on display in the Plaza Major.

So, that is what I did for the first few days in Madrid. Just walking and exploring. There is truth in the saying that you have to walk through a city to know it. You can feel the energy and love of life that the people in Madrid have.

Puerto de Alcalá, a neoclassical monument, in Plaza de la Independenicia. Around 1774, it was commissioned by King Charles III. Francesco Sabatini constructed the gate in the city wall through which an expanded road to the city of Alcalá was to pass, replacing an older, smaller, gate which stood nearby. It was inaugurated in 1778.

After a couple of days exploring the city and overcoming jet-lag, I decided to visit one of the many art museums that Madrid has to offer.

The Prado is one of the three famous (Prado, Reina Sofia, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza) art museums in Madrid. These three museums are known for their extensive art collections and masterpieces by famous artists such as Picasso, Goya, and Titian just to name a few.

The entrance to the Prado.

Guidebooks recommend to keep a half day open to explore each museum. They weren't kidding. I spent four hours in the Prado alone. 

The museum doesn't allow photos which I personally like. This made it easier to take time to appreciate and enjoy the artwork.  

I was also able to see the Reina Sophia while I was in Madrid. The Reina Sophia houses an extensive art collection, including Guernica by Picasso.  

The next day I visited Retiro Park. Originally owned by the Spanish Monarchy, it became a public park in the 19th century. The park is filled with statues, fountains, museums, and a large lake where you can paddle boat.

One of the statues in the park.

Statues lining each side.

Seriously, this park is huge.

The Crystal Palace. One of the free museums in the park.

In the Crystal Palace, there was a Bedouin Tent Display. It was so colorful.

One of the Fountains

     

The pretty lake were you can rent paddle boats. 

Behind a waterfall in the park.

I loved exploring the park. Like Central Park in New York City, it's amazing to see so much greenery in a stone and brick city. 

The next day I went to Toledo which is about 30-40 minutes by train. It used to be the original capital of Spain before it moved to Madrid. I'm not going to go into any more detail about Toledo here because the next blog post will be dedicated to the day trip there. Here's a sneak preview:

The City of Toledo

The day after visiting Toledo, I continued my site-seeing around Madrid. My first stop was the Palace. The Royal Palace is the official home of the Spanish Royal Family but is now only used for state ceremonies. King Juan Carlos, the father of the current king, brought Democracy to Spain after dismantling the Francoist regime. The Palace is now owned by the Spanish State, and rooms are open to the public for viewing. 

The Royal Palace

From the oriel: a balcony that overlooks the main staircase inside the palace.

Baroque Vaulted Ceiling painted by Corrado Giaquinto in 1759 on the theme of: The Triumph of Religion and the Church.

The main staircase was the only area where pictures were allowed. These pictures only give a glimpse of the magnificence the palace has to offer. For example, there is a room made entirely of porcelain. 

My next stop was the Temple of Debod. The Temple of Debod is an ancient Egyptian temple that was dismantled and relocated to Spain as a sign of gratitude for Spain's help in saving the temples of Abu Simbel.

As a fan of Egyptology and never having visited Egypt, I had to see this. 

The following day, I attempted to find the famous nuns who sell their baked goods. Unfortunately, by the time I found the entrance, the nuns had closed for prayer. However, I purchased some of their baked goods from a nearby store. 

My next stop was the infamous bullfighting bar, La Torre del Oro. The bar is decorated with pictures and memorabilia from bullfights. Some of the pictures are shocking since several show matadors being gored by bulls.

The interior of La Torre del Oro

After visiting the bar, I decided to see the bullfighting ring itself. The controversial bull fights still continue on Sundays at the ring. Whether you support bullfighting or not, it is an important part of Spanish history.    

Outside the ring.

I personally can't watch a bull being killed, but seeing the bullfighting ring was fascinating. It reminded me of the football stadiums we have in the United States.

That night I decided to go to Corral de la Moreria to eat dinner and watch the flamenco performers. Flamenco is a genre music and dance native to Southern Spain. There are over 50 different styles of Flamenco. 

The singers and the dancers

Pictures do not capture the energy and drama of the performers.

The Flamenco is a magical dance. Watching it, you are swept up in the singers' and dancers' energy. When I left that night, I was energized from the experience. It is definitely worth watching the Flamenco, whether in the famous Corral de la Moreria or at a Flamenco bar at 1 am. 

Usually, this is where I wrap up my entry about my adventure and then briefly show pictures of the great food I ate. However, I felt that this time I needed to write a preface.

Spanish cuisine is unique. With several different regions that have their own style of cooking, you're bound to gain a few pounds simply from indulging in everything. 

First up is Basque Cuisine. I went to Zalacain which specializes in Basque cuisine. The cuisine is influenced by the produce from the sea on one side and the Ebro valley on the other.

One of the samplers

A salad

Sole that practically melted in your mouth

One of the sample deserts they give you.

This one was filled with almonds.

I ordered the fresh strawberries with cream. So amazing.

Tapas are also common. Tapas are a wide variety of appetizers, or snacks in Spanish cuisine. They can be served hot or cold. Since dinner in Madrid isn't eaten until 9 at the earliest, tapas are light meals that keep you satisfied. Tapas are meant to encourage conversation between people since you aren't focused on an entire meal. Also, tapas crawls are common. It turns eating into a fun experience.

Croquettes are amazing and a common form of Spanish Tapas. The ones on the left were filled with salt cod, the ones in the center were filled with squid, and the ones on the right with ham. The cod and ham were great, the squid unfortunately wasn't my favorite.

Prawns wrapped in potato strings with Mango and Greek yogurt sauce. Yum!

Spain is known for its hams. In this tapas dish, I had a selection of Iberian ham, cured loin, chorizo, and sausage. The Iberian Ham lives up to its fame. It was delicious.

Iberian ham and cheese tapas.

The one the left had mozzarella and anchovies. I'm surprised to say that I am now a fan of anchovies. They are salty and yummy. 

Figs with blue cheese.

Finally, here are few more amazing foods/ drink I sampled while in Spain. Some were Spanish cuisine; some weren't. However, all were delicious.

One of the dishes I ordered at the Botin Restaurant, the oldest restaurant in the world.

Seafood Paella. They are several different versions in Spain. This one was delicious and filling. It's meant for at least 2 to 3 people.

After dinner, the waiter told me to drink a shot of each. The one on the right reminded me of limoncello while the one on the left had a chocolate taste. It was an interesting combination.

Salmon from the Corral de la Moreria

Spanish Omelette

In Spain, they drink Vermouth by itself. So, naturally I had to try it.

The Caipirinha is actually the national drink of Brazil. I've always wanted to drink it so when I found a restaurant that made them, I ordered one. It is made with cachaca, sugar, and lime.

Another drink I've wanted to try was the Brandy Alexander. It is a brandy-based cocktail consisting of cognac and creme de cacao. 

Madrid was an amazing experience, full of culture and history. Madrid is definitely worth visiting. Best of all, my trip ended with my script receiving an award at the Madrid International Film Festival!

Un-produced Script Award Winner

Stay tuned for my next post on Toledo!

~A.E. Keener

Want to learn more about my adventure? Follow the links below:

~Madrid International Film Festival:

http://filmfestinternational.com/madrid/

~Westin Palace Hotel:

http://www.westinpalacemadrid.com/en

~Prado Museum:

https://www.museodelprado.es/en/the-collection/ 

~The Reina Sofia Museum:

 http://www.museoreinasofia.es/en 

~Royal Palace of Madrid:
http://www.patrimonionacional.es 

~Bullfighting Ring:
http://lasventastour.com/en/ 

~La Torre del Oro:
 http://www.torredeloro.wellsoc.org 

~ Corral de la Moreria:
 http://www.corraldelamoreria.com/en/index.html 

~Botin Restaurant:
http://www.botin.es/?q=en

~Zalacain:
http://www.restaurantezalacain.com/ingles/Restaurante_Zalacain/menu.html

An Update of the Past Few Months Part 1

It's been a while since I last updated the blog. I've been finishing my writing season a.k.a completing/ editing a novel, completing a screenplay, and lengthening a pilot.  With all that writing, whenever I had a break, I was too exhausted to update the blog.

That being said, I still have had several interesting adventures.

Both in February and April, I traveled to California. On the first trip, I visited Pasadena, Huntington Gardens, Reagan Library, and the Getty Center.

Pasadena is a city about 20-40 minutes (depending on traffic) from L.A.

A view of one of Pasadena's main streets.

It is also home of the Rose Bowl. It was under construction when I visited, but we were still able to view it from a distance.

Besides the Rose Bowl, Pasadena is also known for the Huntington Library, Art Collection, and Botanical Gardens. The Huntington is a private, nonprofit institution founded in 1919 by Henry E. Huntington. Henry Huntington built a financial empire which included railroad companies, utilities,  and real estate holdings in Southern California. He married his uncle's widow in 1913. His wife's fascination with collecting art and his collection of books led to what the Huntington is today. The Huntington also houses 14 gardens as well. The grounds were so extensive that we didn't have time to explore all of them.

Huntington Mansion has been converted into an art gallery. 

A statue from the statue garden.

A shot of one of the rooms.

Another shot of the rooms.

The famous Pinkie. An oil painting by Thomas Lawrence. His idealized portrayal of childhood led to international fame and iconic status.

The famous Blue Boy. An oil painting by Thomas Gainsborough. It was Gainsborough's mastery of brushwork and paint that lead to its fame.

One view of the Japanese Garden. There is a plaque in the garden that reads: In honor of the visit of Their Majesties The Emperor and Empress of Japan (June 21, 1994).

A view of the bridge in the Japanese Garden. 

Another view of the bridge. I love the reflection in the water.

From the Bonsai garden.  A Prostrate Juniper.

Another Bonsai. This one is an Olive Tree.

A Bamboo Forest

The Australian Garden

Cactus Garden

Chinese Garden

From the library. An original Gutenberg Bible. 

A first printing of The Canterbury Tales

Sidereus nuncius by Galileo Galilei. The illustrations shown here are the first ever made of the moon under magnification. This publication only had 550 copies. 

Speaking of libraries,  I decided to revisit the Reagan Library, one of 13 libraries sanctioned by the NARA Presidential Library Office.

The Reagan Library explores the life of America's 40th President, Ronald Reagan. The Library also has special exhibits during certain times of the year. When I went, they were having an exhibit on spies.

OSS Officers carried a smatchet (Smashing Hatchet for close combat during WW2)

Welbike used to get away quickly after landing behind enemy lines via parachute.

Assassination Umbrella. Used to deliver poison.

Child's Train. This unassuming toy is a concealment for a microdot lens.

Who would think an iron would be related to spy work? This one was used by West German housewives spying for East Germany. It held one-time pads and communication schedules and could be used to incinerate evidence if the housewife thought she was in danger.

Invented in the 1970's by the CIA's Directorate of Science and Technology. It was the first miniaturized unmanned aerial vehicle.  

"Charlie" an unmanned underwater vehicle created by the CIA's Directorate of Science and Technology.

The final excursion of my February trip was the J. Paul Getty Museum. J. Paul Getty was an American Industrialist who created the Getty Oil Company. An avid collector of arts and antiquities, Getty founded the J. Paul Getty Museum. There were many beautiful works of art and antiquities. I've included pictures of some of my favorites below:

The Front of the Getty Museum

Irises by Vincent Van Gogh (1889)

Still Life with Flowers and Fruits by Claude Monet (1869)

Minerva sculpted by Joseph Nollekens (1775)

Dancer sculpted by Paolo Troubetzkoy (1912)

Bed circa 1775-1780. French. A grand bed meant for a deep niche in an important bedroom.

One of the rooms set up with furniture.

Planisphere Clock circa 1745-1749. It shows the astronomical knowledge of French scientists. The dials include the months and their zodiac signs, the days of the lunar month, and local times in various cities and parts of the world. Smaller dials show the phases of the moon, a tidal calendar for ports of northern France, the days of the week, and the eclipses of Io, one of the moons of Jupiter.

Even the gardens are artwork.

It was fun to go back to California again and explore some sites I never had a chance to visit. I'll continue with my second California adventure in my next blog.

~A.E. Keener

Interested in my adventure? Click on the links below to learn more:

Rose Bowl:

http://www.rosebowlstadium.com/

The Huntington Library, Art Collection, and Botanical Gardens:

http://www.huntington.org/

The Reagan Library:

http://www.reaganfoundation.org/index.aspx

The J. Paul Getty Museum:

http://www.getty.edu/museum/