From New to Old

 

KL to Madrid , leaving Malaysia on route to South America.

The wealth in the east is largely built on the Chinese ability to generate riches irrespective of the country of residence . Malaysia is just one of those . They also have the ability to splurge their hard won assets . Chinese New Year is the peak for just  such expenditure . 

Despite the new year being a month away , the opportunities for spending were exuding from our local upmarket shopping mall . Cherries at euro 40 per kilo 

..Or the ultimate gift of chocolate and alcohol :this one was so heavy that it needed its own wheels for transport : the cost euro 2000  !!!!

From new world to the old , the new showing conspicuous consumption ; the old riches built on those acquired elsewhere. Madrid was the centre of the Spanish Empire , the pinacle of which was the King . So he built himself a Palace to demonstrate his , and the country’s wealth . This was the welcoming staircase , unfortunately the only part of the palace we were allowed to photo . The rest was of the same opulence , but with the residual feeling for the visitor that it was truly a guided cage . The current members of the royal family must have shared that view as they have decamped to a new abode , leaving the Palace for the tourists .  

Previous governments , not wanting to be out done by their royalty , built Ministries on the same scale ; this one was agriculture . I can’t help wondering whether the peasants voluntarily paid for this ‘

The centre of Madrid has largely retained its’ refined character. This building managed to incorporate a green wall as a way of adding modernity 

On the other hand , the Sophia Museum ,  seems to have landed from outer space .

It  looks as though some of the travellers actually stayed . This Picasso was hanging inside. ET looking for his home?

 

The museum featured works from another Spanish artist , who also pushed the bounds of what could be considered art . Salvador Dali . In that competition , I am not sure who was the winner ?

Picasso or Dali ?

I cannot leave this museum without commenting on an unusual structural feature . The lift shaft glass walls were suspended on steel bars from the roof , and tensioned by giant springs at ground level. I think the architect must have been carried away by the paintings .

However , Madrid has more ‘conventional ‘ spaces , from the bonsai trees in the Botanical gardens…this tree was 20cm tall, and 70years old !

To the house of a ‘conventional painter : Sorolla

…and the ultimate wine bar, these are all wines and beers ‘on tap’. Despite this being the capital city , it is still Spain , with all at very reasonable prices.