So the last week or so has been about revisiting places in Madrid, with a few new places thrown in. Highlights include La Musa with a fellow Kiwi Lesa where I injected cheese into a weird-donut style savory ball thing (from the amount of descriptive words you can see I have no idea what it was). Points for decor and inventiveness, however I preferred the avocado tempura! Yum.
One place I didn't get to go when I was here last (lies - you were here for a year, more like too lazy or your social agenda was too jam packed, pick one*) was the Museo del Traje (translation: Museum of Costumes/Clothing). In lectures they always go on about progression through a building and the importance of how you enter the building. I think this building was built to show architecture students the meaning of that. Its situated in a knoll (not sure that this is the right word but it sounds right) and you come to it from above. It is elevated off of the ground and to enter the museum you have to pass 'under' the building and you come out into a central courtyard. Then up the stairs to the main entrance. It started snowing (a rare occurrence in Madrid) between when I walked under the building and got into the courtyard, which I think made it a little more exciting than normal.
The other building I rather like is the Caixa Forum on the Paseo del Prado, which is also elevated and has an awesome plant wall beside the front courtyard. Its a bit more contemporary and I absolutely love the textures in the building. My only criticism would be the the first level. I have never really been a fan of exposed service wires and pipes. Granted they have tried to modernize it with crisscrossing fluorescent lamps which could work but its all reflected in the metal floor. Funnily enough I have no qualms with the complete change in materials between the two areas. Maybe because entering in the stairwell is a bit of a relief from the sterile first floor.
Well I must be off. Plane to catch to Lisbon. I'm hoping there will be cool markets in Portugal as I'm wanting to buy a leather belt and rucksack. Sadly I missed out on the Rastro this weekend due to my spontaneous trip to the Guggenheim! I will do a post when I get to Portugal if I time and I promise to add some photos of Madrid!
A. xx
*Do you remember those Goosebumps books where you could choose which page you wanted to go to and so made up your own story? I used to think they were so cool.
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