I just finished dinner with my host brother, Gonzalo. We had Roscón de Reyes for dessert, the cake they serve at the Epiphany (Three Kings Day). I told them we have a similar cake in the U.S. during the holidays simply called fruit cake and nobody really likes it. He asked why it's a tradition then and I didn't have an answer. He's a pretty awesome kid only because he reminds me of my brother and we watch Futurama every day at lunch.
Man everyone and their mothers were at the movies Friday night. It's apparently the thing to do at 7:00, followed by a typical late round of tapas. Only afterwards at about 1 am can you go out to the club or bar. Also apparently there is assigned seating in movie theatres (much to our suprise and every single person in our row's disdain). Love in the Time of Cholera was good. I probably should've done my research going into it but I could've sworn it was a Spanish movie. Once I got used to the dubbing, it wasn't half bad.
I went to two fabulous things this weekend: El Templo de Debod and my first experience at El Prado. The Temple of Debod is an authentic 4th-century-BC Egyptian Temple sitting in the middle of a park in Madrid. In 1968, the temple was moved block by block to Madrid to save it from rising waters from Lake Nasser in Egypt. The blocks still had actual hieroglyphics on them. This morning was El Prado, one of Madrid's "Holy Trinity" of museums (the other two being the Thyssen-Bornemisza and the Reina Sofia). It's a little overwhelming inside (a word I couldn't figure out how to say when attempting to describe my experience to my host mother); there are over a hundred rooms, three floors, and a newly-constructed wing across the way that houses even more exhibits and paintings. We got through maybe half a floor before we decided to call it a day; after all, BU is paying for every single museum trip so why not go back five or six times?
It completely re-kindled my love of painting--both the act and the end result. One of the most magnificent works I've ever seen was "El entierro de san Sebastian." It was beyond inspiring (I was a little overcome with emotion when I saw it and felt a little guilty for not feeling the same way about the fifty depictions of the cruxifiction of Christ hanging around me). I also really enjoyed the statues of the seven muses: literature, mathematics, astronomy, NASCAR, etc. I've always had an affinity for Roman mythology and the artists that dabble in both that and Christianity.
We didn't even get to the Goya section of the museum which is the one reason to go to El Prado in the first place. The guy is pretty demented/talented. I did a Goya-inspired painting in high school and it really made me feel depressed just looking at it. I'm almost tempted to by some supplies here and paint something. I did that after seeing the Van Gogh exhibit at the Seattle Art Museum (which by the way I haven't been back to since they renovated it. I've heard the Asian Art section is even better!)
Rebecca and I (as in mi amiga mejor Rebecca who is studying in London) are already planning our spring break plans in eastern Europe: Sarajevo, Croatia... cheap but still beautiful. I'm definitely excited to see something contrasted to this metropolitan lifestyle. And I also love Rebecca with an undying passion.
Man everyone and their mothers were at the movies Friday night. It's apparently the thing to do at 7:00, followed by a typical late round of tapas. Only afterwards at about 1 am can you go out to the club or bar. Also apparently there is assigned seating in movie theatres (much to our suprise and every single person in our row's disdain). Love in the Time of Cholera was good. I probably should've done my research going into it but I could've sworn it was a Spanish movie. Once I got used to the dubbing, it wasn't half bad.
I went to two fabulous things this weekend: El Templo de Debod and my first experience at El Prado. The Temple of Debod is an authentic 4th-century-BC Egyptian Temple sitting in the middle of a park in Madrid. In 1968, the temple was moved block by block to Madrid to save it from rising waters from Lake Nasser in Egypt. The blocks still had actual hieroglyphics on them. This morning was El Prado, one of Madrid's "Holy Trinity" of museums (the other two being the Thyssen-Bornemisza and the Reina Sofia). It's a little overwhelming inside (a word I couldn't figure out how to say when attempting to describe my experience to my host mother); there are over a hundred rooms, three floors, and a newly-constructed wing across the way that houses even more exhibits and paintings. We got through maybe half a floor before we decided to call it a day; after all, BU is paying for every single museum trip so why not go back five or six times?
It completely re-kindled my love of painting--both the act and the end result. One of the most magnificent works I've ever seen was "El entierro de san Sebastian." It was beyond inspiring (I was a little overcome with emotion when I saw it and felt a little guilty for not feeling the same way about the fifty depictions of the cruxifiction of Christ hanging around me). I also really enjoyed the statues of the seven muses: literature, mathematics, astronomy, NASCAR, etc. I've always had an affinity for Roman mythology and the artists that dabble in both that and Christianity.
We didn't even get to the Goya section of the museum which is the one reason to go to El Prado in the first place. The guy is pretty demented/talented. I did a Goya-inspired painting in high school and it really made me feel depressed just looking at it. I'm almost tempted to by some supplies here and paint something. I did that after seeing the Van Gogh exhibit at the Seattle Art Museum (which by the way I haven't been back to since they renovated it. I've heard the Asian Art section is even better!)
Rebecca and I (as in mi amiga mejor Rebecca who is studying in London) are already planning our spring break plans in eastern Europe: Sarajevo, Croatia... cheap but still beautiful. I'm definitely excited to see something contrasted to this metropolitan lifestyle. And I also love Rebecca with an undying passion.
1 comment:
NASCAR over Jesus any day. Well, maybe not.
Def send me a message when you come to London.
Keep Posting,
Andrew
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