More Spain

  And the historical tour of Madrid:

First, the post office. This building was absolutely gorgeous!  Too bad we don't make our post offices in America as grand as this, it might be a better experience to use them...  As described to me by Kyle, the post office was built around 1900 and was a gateway to the outside world.  How amazing to be able to communicate with people so far away!  I guess they didn't have smart phones back then ;)

I went to a few cathedrals in Madrid, but the photos below were taken of the cathedral next to el Museo del Prado.  After a certain hour, attending the museum is actually free, so we got there, realized there was 15 minutes before that time and decided to take a walk for 15 minutes...  For some reason, even with all my creative and artistic mind, I have a lot of trouble appreciating "fine art." I LOVED the modern art in NYC's MOMA, but what's the point in seeing hundreds of paintings of royal people standing there? Thomas really wanted the experience of the Prado in Madrid, so we went.  And 20 minutes later, we were both done.  Bored.  I felt so uncultured admitting that I was done, but hey, at least it was free :)

One evening there, Kyle was so excited to show us this Egyptian temple.  He kept talking about how hundreds of people would be sitting there, socializing.  And how it's all lit up and beautiful.  Well, after much walking and several blisters, we made it there at 2am. And the area was empty.  No one was there.  And the temple wasn't even lit up.  He says "I'm sorry!  I thought you could've gotten some really cool photos of this, oh shoot."  And then I started taking pictures anyway... put a 6 second exposure on there, stabilized it on a wall... and this is what we ended up with.  I think it was absolutely beautiful!

La Guitarra

  In a land far, far away, called Austin Texas, I once knew a boy named Kyle.  Kyle was a happy kid, a source of energy and enthusiasm and always had a reason to smile and laugh.  He and I shared several music classes in high school, then he went to North Texas and I wen to BYU, both studying music.  This magical website called Facebook helped me get back in touch with him and discover that he moved to Madrid a year ago! Decided he was ready for something new, so he set off to explore the world.  I felt so lucky to have a tour guide and a translator there in Madrid and on top of all that, his music was amazing!

The first night Thomas and I were in Madrid, we went to an open-mic night in an Irish pub.  I happened to have my camera, so I snapped a few photos just for kicks.

 

Then we set up a more organized shoot to take pictures while Kyle was busking.  (Note - busking is a word I recently learned, it refers to street performers. Set up a guitar case for people to throw money into and then turn on the entertainment).  It was awesome to do these photos - a musician in his element, the passion of the music showing through, with people around and a very cool setting.

I played around a bit with the D800's video feature (first time doing video!) and here are a couple clips of Kyle performing in Puerta del Sol:

Clip # 1

and Clip #2

I wasn't able to get all the photos I wanted because we had to spend a large portion of the time trying to fix camera equipment... it was so stressful!  But I'll post about that tomorrow.  Here's my favorite shot from the night:

Madrid, Spain - Day 3

  I keep falling asleep (this has been an amazing trip, but working like crazy and my sleep schedule has suffered much), so this is a terrible time to write a blog post... rather dangerous if you factor in my sense of humor when I get tired (Ohhh, I think I'm really funny!)  So I will just post some more Madrid photos now and check back in Monday to fill in the text.

Madrid, Puerta del Sol.  Soooo many people.

Below is the symbol for madrid: el oso y el madroño.  It means bear and this specific type of tree.

 

This photo below and on the right is one of my favorites.  Not really sure why I like it so much, but it just feels... quaint.  Restaurante. Chairs and table sitting next to the street.

 

A Walk in the Park

  Madrid.  Some Park.  Not the big famous one called Ritiro, this is some other one.  I got lost one evening so decided to take an hour here just because I could. Spain has taught me to forget my schedule and my rush, just enjoy and appreciate what's around me.  Whether it's eating tapas on the street and waiting 30 minutes for the waiter to bring the check or sitting in the plaza just watching the people... I want to bring this lesson into my American life (which will be difficult, I know!) because I find my days more fulfilled when I apply it.  From today forward, I commit to stop and smell the roses.

When I take this time, I find an opportunity to see beauty when I may not have been looking.  I love the way the sun comes through the leaves and they way everything is so green after it rains.

 

Back in March I took a trip to Denver and rode the train on my way back.  I spent some time on the train with a National Geographic photographer who was working on many projects, but among them was a book of benches.  I've started to notice benches because in a way I can look at this photo and imagine myself sitting there, taking in the scenery.  And that makes the photo just a little more real to me.  More of a memory, and experience, and less of a picture.

Estamos en Espana!

  Day 1 in Madrid - Thomas and I got to the airport, and met up with a friend of mine from my music classes in High School.  Kyle has been living in Madrid for about a year, working as an au pair and teaching guitar and voice lessons (and he is an amazing musician!)  We bonded almost 10 years ago as the youngest students in an AP Music Theory course, then did choir and jazz band and several other fun activities together.  I was so excited when I found out he had moved to Madrid and that we'd be able to see him this trip.  Kyle is always smiling and fun to be around.  We walked around the Park Retiro (big famous park in Madrid) and practiced doing some pull-ups on the children's playground so I wouldn't lose my rock climbing muscles completely :)

Because my Spanish isn't fantastic, making friends and learning people's stories was much harder in Spain than in Ireland.  So I usually filled the void with a Nutella crepe each day.  And it was delicious indeed!  It was also fun to see the little scooters everywhere.  Very few people drove, most people rode the Metro, but there were all kinds of motorcycles and scooters around as well.  Just parked on the sidewalk.  Rather different that what I'm used to seeing.

 

Thomas playing with the G11 because he didn't want to carry around a second DSLR (I don't blame him.  The packs got really heavy and we did a lot of walking!)

And afternoon tapas.  You walk to this street, sit down at a table, someone may take your order within 15 or 20 minutes, the food arrives another 2o or 30 minutes later, and then you have to beg and plead for them to come back so you can pay when you're done.  I love this about the Spanish culture.  There is no rush.  You are there to talk, not just to eat.  You are there to feel the sun, enjoy the life, and SLOW DOWN.  I rather enjoyed the food as well.

We have almost an entire week in Madrid, then off to Holland for the wedding.  This is an adventure indeed!