The Wrap-Up, Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum

 I’m close to the end of the last day of my trip!

I saw this Edward Hopper painting at the Thyssen-Bornemisza museum today and I can relate!

My early morning was spent on logistics, doing some laundry (thankfully it dries quickly, even on a drying rack, here) and realizing I needed to schedule the delivery of my worldly goods in Seattle on Monday (I had the movers, just hadn’t requested an access time for them with the POD company — not an immediately obvious issue, not covered in their FAQ page and their need for a phone call created hours of low-grade stress waiting for the East coast of the US to wake up and answer their phones).

I’d considered making my last day a daytrip out of Madrid but decided instead to focus on the things I haven’t done here.  It is a little chilly so indoor activity made sense.  Top of the list was the Thyssen-Bornemisza museum.  My usual thoughts about crowds, tour groups and noise aside, it’s a beautiful collection and contained surprises of works I hadn’t seen before or expanded my understanding of artists I had some familiarity with.  I didn’t have room in my carryon to bring anything other than a tiny sketchbook, but I feel very inspired to get back to work once I set up my studio in Seattle.   It’ll be different — no impending show to get ready for and no immediate opportunity to show/sell work — and I hope that will be freeing!

In spite of the bright sunshine and warm-ish temperatures by early afternoon, I decided to head back to Perlora, the place I had lunch yesterday.  I wanted to love my last meal in Madrid and as much as I like the traditional foods I’ve had, the fresh seafood from Gallacia was too amazing not to have more of it.

Today I had grilled clams and a red mullet, along with salad and Cava.  The fish was too much for one person but after the waiter patiently filleted it for me and carefully worked on getting every last flavorful morsel from the fish, I did my best to eat it (still couldn’t finish it!).  

So I’m now just packing up.  I did score a business class seat for tomorrow’s 9 hour flight to Newark (which will be followed by customs and then a flight to DC - ugh - and then a Saturday flight to Seattle — double ugh).  After daily price checking, today the price dropped by $1000 and I figured what I’m paying to upgrade is going to pay off in longer term health than if I’d been in a regular seat for what’s going to be a total of 17 hours of flying in the next day and a half.

So, lessons from this trip!  I used card payment 99% of the time in Amsterdam and in Madrid and only spent the euros I’d had from home because I had them around.  I read that merchants at the flea market might want cash payment but I didn’t shop there.   I never went to an ATM and I only used a credit card that has no foreign transaction fees.  I loved where I stayed in Amsterdam - the Ambassade Hotel — and I loved the location of my Airbnb in Madrid. Thank you so much to friends who suggested the hotel and the location.  It’s a great thing to have a washing machine in your apartment 1/2 way through a 2 week trip with just a carryon bag.  I am still not a night owl in countries that are reputed to have quite a night life, so no advice there.

As for travel, this trip really challenged my non-stop-only goal, as I was unable to get nonstop flights in the off season.  Fingers crossed for the last leg tomorrow, but it was no big deal to change planes in Newark or in Frankfurt on the parts of the journey so far.  

Since I’ve got a big Seattle move coming up in two days, I’ll update the blog again as I get settled in.  Maybe share some pictures of my new place as it’s coming together and I’m reunited with my dog.  “See” you in Seattle!