On March 5th the Spain study abroad group and I made our way to the Reina Sofia Museum for the first stop of our eventful day. The Reina Sofia Museum holds many impressive pieces of Spanish art by famous artists such as Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, and Joan Miró. I enjoyed being able to freely roam and explore the museum as I was able to see almost all the artwork. All the artwork in the museum was amazing to see, but the most interesting piece by far was Pablo Picasso’s Guernica.
Guernica is a response to the bombing of the Basque town of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War. It is now considered a symbol of suffering and a condemnation of violence. It was amazing to see this piece of art in person and to soak in its importance in Spain. The Reina Sofia Museum was one of my favorite stops on the whole trip and I am excited I got to see it on day two.
After the Reina Sofia museum we made our way to El Rastro Flea market. We went as a group but then split up at the flea market and had the rest of the day to ourselves to explore the market and do whatever else we wanted to. The flea market, which is held every Sunday, was incredible. There were thousands of people gathered to buy basically anything you could think of. I remember looking at jackets, shirts, sunglasses, and I even bought some bracelets and necklaces for a very good price. Most of the sellers were very friendly and kept honest prices even with us being tourists. It was a great experience overall and is something I recommend everybody who goes to Madrid to do.
After the flea market a couple friends and I walked to El Retiro Park. This park was one of the nicest places to walk around in Madrid. It had many scenic views and tons of beautiful greenery. We walked around the whole park which took us over an hour with many picture breaks. My favorite part was the lake at the heart of the park. An interesting fact about the park is that it was originally the gardens of the Buen Retiro Palace for King Phillip IV. Overall, I am happy I got to see and explore the park as it was a very breathtaking experience.
Lastly, after resting a little at the hotel, my friends and I went to see Plaza mayor. Plaza mayor is a major public space in the heart of Madrid and is in the center of the capital. The plaza was stunning in person. I really enjoyed walking in it and seeing all the different shops and restaurants. It was also nice that we went at night time when the whole plaza was lit up. My friends and I decided to get some gelato ice cream near plaza after which was delicious. All the food and sweets, especially the ice cream, in Madrid tasted fresh and delicious. Overall, our second day in Madrid was a very eventful and fun day with a lot of walking.