Bison at the Berlin Zoo. . . with totem poles in background? And Pacific NW tribal art? Um, okay. Germany’s adoration of North American tribes is a complicated topic that I’m not even gonna try to wade into. I’ll just say that I find it fascinating. I had hoped to visit one of the Karl May inspired theme parks, but unfortunately didn’t have time.
After leaving Berlin we spent a few days in Madrid where I took a lousy photo of Guernica. This is a famous painting by Picasso with a long political history that delves into how the horrors of war are viewed by outsiders. Fascinating to see how people react to this painting today.
If you give a meaning to certain things in my paintings it may be very true, but it is not my idea to give this meaning. What ideas and conclusions you have got I obtained too, but instinctively, unconsciously. I make the painting for the painting. –Picasso
Vertical garden at CaxiaForum in Madrid. What an amazing work of art, like a living tapestry.
Why do hotel rooms push environmental messaging? Not only the consumables that supposedly save the planet, but also the requests to reuse towels, and the soaps/shampoos that claim to be organic and responsibly-sourced? This low-level eco-noise and subtle finger wagging is a sneaky way to tell guests that they should be resource conscious. They should not blast the AC, leave the water running, steal towels, throw the TV out the window, etc., etc.
Don Quixote making his way through the Grand Via, the shopping district in Madrid. Sancho Panza looks like me, whenever I’m dragged to the mall.
When life itself seems lunatic, who knows where madness lies? Perhaps to be too practical is madness. To surrender dreams — this may be madness. Too much sanity may be madness — and maddest of all: to see life as it is, and not as it should be! –Cervantes
In the Atocha train station in Madrid, we found the platform that leads to Jumanji.
We spent a few days in Vegas, communing with aliens. . . . here’s a lousy photo of the Sphere from the 27th floor of the Venetian Tower.
MORE SHOPPING AND DINING JUST AHEAD
Visited the Wishing Tree at the Venetian. The branches were bronze. The leaves were gold plated. Glass birds dotted the branches. Fake chirping was piped in. And I had to log into Instagram to make my wish. I like my chances!