Highlights-Madrid
I went to the Museo Arqueológico Nacional by Retiro Metro station. This was my first visit, and I ran out of energy (and interest) before I ran out of things to see.
La Vaca Verónica
Veronica the Cow
That is not a barrel
It’s a table for your drink outside the bar
If you are sitting on an escalator …
you are not thinking, “I wonder if this is safe?”
Tough Job
Trying to get people to sell their gold in Puerta del Sol (all day in the sun)
Notable Items
The Museo Arqueológico Nacional by Retiro is packed with exhibits, videos, and display cases spread among 3 floors (maybe just two, but I never made it to the top floor). I spent most of my time in the pre-written history zone (cave paintings don’t count).
Archeologists have to do more guessing than usual when nothing is written. “We don’t know how they made fires, but it must have been really important.” My suspicion is that fire discovery either came from lightning strikes or creative rock bashing. 300,000 years ago, if people weren’t hunting or making babies, they must have been hitting rocks against each other to see what would happen (Hey, look at those flashes!).
I did a speed tour of the Roman Empire collection (lots of dinnerware, as usual). I plan to return to learn more, but next time I’ll start just after the “fire was a good thing” displays.
Another edition of my ongoing garment-stain chronicle: I donned my light blue wool polo shirt today and was horrified. There was a brown stain on the back. Did I mention it was a light blue shirt? How long was I walking around with a “I leaned against the wrong thing” mark the last time I wore it (shudder)?