Took a day trip to El Escorial and Valle de los Caidos yesterday. El Escorial is a large palace commissioned by Felipe II, which took over twenty years to build during the 16th century. The palace, in fact, includes a Royal Pantheon, Museum of Art (Flemish, Spanish, and Italian works), a library, a monastery, a church, royal apartments, incredible architecture, a wealth of courtyards, among many other things. I like to think of it rather as a small city.
The Valle de los Caidos was awesome to experience. It is a monument that the Dictator Franco (which yes mom, he reminds me of "You've Got Mail") had constructed to remember the soldiers of Spain's Civil War. Although it is an incredible monument, it is very confrontational for most Spaniards because: (a) Franco built it (b) Franco is buried in it (by the altar in fact), along with Jose Antonio Primo de Riviera who was the founder of the Falange Espanola Party (c) it was built by prisoners of war (d) many of which died during its construction (e) it is somewhat the symbol of the old dictatorship (f) thousands of soldiers from each side of the Civil War are buried behind the walls. One can see why many think it is creepy. My apologies for the lack of pictures. I could not take pictures inside either one. Below are a few:
My tour guides hair:
he had a really deep voice, and loved to touch people (gender not important...or is it sex not important--I forget when to use which word these days).
Valley of the Fallen Monument
[the cross is 150m tall]
A little closer.
A little, little closer.
*below this, there is an entrance in the mountain leading to the Church and monastery.
David...
El Escorial
A few final remarks:
1) My friend Sondra pointed out when we were at Retiro Park how it is strange to hear people talk to dogs in another language. I agree with her.
2) One girl in my program said to her friends (when at the Valley of the Fallen) that it reminded her of that monument with the heads in the States. A friend responded, "You mean Rushmount?" Girl one replied, "Yeah, that's it!"...these were Americans :(
3) I still love flan.
4) Zit coming in on nose; a little self-conscious ahora (reoccurring theme?)
1) My friend Sondra pointed out when we were at Retiro Park how it is strange to hear people talk to dogs in another language. I agree with her.
2) One girl in my program said to her friends (when at the Valley of the Fallen) that it reminded her of that monument with the heads in the States. A friend responded, "You mean Rushmount?" Girl one replied, "Yeah, that's it!"...these were Americans :(
3) I still love flan.
4) Zit coming in on nose; a little self-conscious ahora (reoccurring theme?)
1 comment:
I think that sex or gender works, but I would use sex. Gender is what we either define ourselves as or what society has come to define us as. Sex. Def.
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