Oh, I want to see that…
Getting ready for my trip to Spain, I have read several books on its history. I was especially interested in the city of Madrid. I found an inexpensive book on Amazon called something about literary voice giving the history of the city. It was a series by a British author published in 2018, but it was inexpensive, so I bought it. The first few chapters were the author’s summation of the rather unusual history of the city. Then, he began a collection of excerpts from letters, diaries, diplomatic reports, and news reports, each describing or commenting on something about the city. It was enjoyable reading, but madding.
In his history, the author would write detailed descriptions of some building created by a king or nobleman in the city. I would make a note to go and see it, only to have him report two pages later that it was destroyed in some other war years later. Drat, another note scratched out. Madrid has had quite a lot of war damage. However, why entice me to go see it when it has been gone for years!
When I complained about the missing buildings, my son sent me another book on the history of Madrid. It was more informative but was just as disappointing. The author mentioned many buildings in Madrid that have been destroyed, but at least, she bothered to include that in the same paragraph. She did point out many older buildings worth walking to see in the less popular areas of the city. However, since the temperature is hovering around 50 degrees Fahrenheit for the next week, we may save those for another trip.
My son sent me a multipage agenda of my trip with names of hotel and restaurants and museums we will be visiting. He even sent a funny text on Wednesday, February 28, suggesting that the next Wednesday would be an excellent day to visit the Prado Museum, Ah, anticipation! At least that is still there!
Picture credit: File: History of the Villa and Court of Madrid (1860) (14594305667).jpg — Wikimedia Commons
Madrid: A Traveller’s Reader Kindle Edition by Hugh Thomas
Madrid: A Cultural and Literary Companion by Elizabeth Nash
