Reina Sofia

Once again, we got a really late start.  But it's not really phasing us so much, since all the daytime businesses are open until 8 PM.  Today, we moseyed out around 3 PM to the Reina Sofia, one of the other must-see museums in Madrid.

In the Glass Elevator at the Reina Sophia

The Reina Sofia's claim-to-fame is a great collection of Picassos, including the famous Guernica painting. Guernica was painted in the time leading up to World War II, during the Spanish Civil War.  it depicts the bombing of the city of Guernica by the Nationalistas - the eventual winners of the war and the party of Franco. It's a huge mural in black and white, and it was banned from Spain while Franco was in power. It's also powerful, and in spite of the cubist style, it really showcases the horrors of war.  It may be the most important art piece in all of Spain.

World War II is a constant theme in the Reina Sofia.  Especially cool were some of the war propaganda posters on display.  I suggested to the kids that they make their own propaganda posters, and here's what they came up with:

Bryce thinks he needs more time playing on the iPad

Laurel just wants something to protest. Note the bloody knife.

The museum had some famous Dali paintings as well. including the one called the Great Master Baiter.  Fortunately, the kids didn't ask too many questions.