In the City of Lights

The obvious, the Louvre Museum.

The stunning, Palais Garnier and Henry IV.

The unexpected, signs of the Camino de Santiago including a Salvador Dali scallop shell sundial.

The surprising, inner city indoor markets and fancy water fountains.

The historical, once the residence and meeting place for Pablo Picasso.

The significant, Basilique du Sacré-Cœur and Le Moulin de la Galette.

The artistic, Bourse de Commerce and Andrea Roggi’s “Apeiron” at Place de la Madeleine.

The honorific, tombs of Chopin and Jim Morrison at Père-Lachaise Cemetery.

The heartening, Place du Tertre.

The gastronomic, yummies.

The alarming, a work by Mr Byste and Marcel Aymé’s character Dutilleul, the passer-through-walls.

The amusing, fanciest Starbucks ever and Gregos faces.

The inspiring, Le mur des je t’aime or wall of love.

The emboldening, the Medici Fountain, depicting the story of Acis and Galatea and Montaigne’s well-rubbed foot.

The contrasting, classic versus modern stained-glass in the Church of Saint-Séverin.

The commonplace, Musée de Cluny and flypast practice for Bastille Day.

The unanticipated, the Olympic Cauldron.

The obligatory, Notre Dame and a French bulldog in Paris.

Madly Madrid

Guernica, larger than life and just so Pablo Picasso.

I don’t plan to post every work of art I saw by Picasso, just a few favorites like Weeping Woman and Figure by the Sea.

The same for Salvador Dalí, just Figure at the Window and Face of the Great Masturbator.

It was Texas hot in Madrid so I resolved to head for cooler temps cutting my time in Madrid to nothing. I decided to wander about to view the majors but only enter one. The Reina Sofía was the obvious choice for me. Had I been indecisive, one glance at Brushstroke by American pop artist, Roy Lichtenstein, and I would have chosen the same. (The Royal Palace wasn’t even a contender.)

Between the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum and Museo del Prado, I likely would have gone with the former but plans for tapas in La Latina with pals took priority.

I admired some murals along the way. The play on Matisse’s Dance with cats and fruit by Ever Siempre made me laugh. The stamp also got a giggle as it reminded me of my misadventures with Correos.

As they say, all good things must come to an end. I’ve had an amazing time in Spain and wanted to explore more but the first day of summer brought 100 degree weather so I’m out of here.

Moving Onward

Today I arrived in Espinho, Portugal.

To do some… surfing! Being in Finisterre and Muxía inspired me to have more beach time.

So, I found a surf camp in this lovely beach town, where I expect I will soon be eating salt cod.

I’m excited about this next adventure!