Adios Madrid

The last day in Madrid was spent near the Prado on the museum side of the city. The shaded boulevard in front of the museum and by Buen Retiro Park were good places to escape the sun's rays. In the afternoon we went to the Museo Arqueologico Nacional, whose collection includes metal and terra cotta ex-votos from antiquity. Seeing these forms akin to the beeswax ones I had left at different places along the trail was a perfect way to end our stay in Madrid and Camino Tres.

A statue of Diego Velasquez sits at the helm of the Prado's west side, which is currently being renovated and under cover, literally. Velasquez sits with his painting palette and brush in hand. 

The south entrance honors painter Bartolome Esteban Murillo and is mainly used for school groups. 

While walking around the beautiful Royal Botanical Gardens on July 8 we remembered Aunt Ginny.

Virginia Linnea Charn Olson Seeder, 3/2/1920 - 7/8/2010

The impressive renovation of the archeology museum was completed in 2014 and incorporates the original structure.

On display were 3rd-2nd B.C.E. bronze and silver ex-votos from the Shrine of Collado de los Jardines in the province of Jaen in the Andalusia region. Numerous votive objects have been found at this shrine site.  

Also displayed were a few ampullae, which typically contained holy water or oil and were bought by medieval pilgrims as souvenirs or used for healing. Above are 13th-14th c. bronze ones that depict the Last Judgement (on the left) and Agnus Dei (on the right). Iconography for Agnus Dei (Latin for the Lamb of God) depicts a lamb holding a Christian banner. 

Violinists in the Metro filled the station with music.

Police on horseback patrolled the museum area & Buen Retiro Park, which translates as "Park of the Pleasant Retreat." It was established in the 17th c. and encompasses 350 acres.

Boats can be rented to row around the park's lake. In the background is a monument to Spain's King Alfonso XII that was installed in 1922. It's topped with an equestrian statue of the king who reigned during the 19th c. 

Early evening shadows marked the end of the day at Buen Retiro Park and the end of our stay in Madrid. Tomorrow we fly back to San Diego. In the weeks to come I'll post concluding thoughts plus reshape and add info to the blog. 

Hasta luego and Ultreia!

** Camino 2015 has ended but the Pilgrim Pouch is continuing its journey...next to Michigan and Chicago the end of July.