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Andy Stevens
Andy Makes Things

Spain

Andy Stevens 2005-09-16T00:00:00.000Z

My home from 2005 till 2006

A typical street in Madrid, just between Gran Via and Chueca. A typical sidestreet in Madrid, between Gran Via and Chueca. One of many theaters in Madrid, between Gran Via and Chueca. What made me take this picture, and I'm kicking myself for not zooming, was that in the third window (l to r) in the center of the building a guy all dressed up was posing in designer clothes and a couple guys were on the balcony underneath him telling him to look more sexy. Another typical street scene in Madrid, between Gran Via and Chueca. The main public library in Madrid. The Plaza de la Independencia near Parque Del Retiro, similar to the Arc de Triumphe in Paris I suppose...another war time arch. Not really accessible by foot. Near the center of the park. The Parque Del Retiro is the largest park in Madrid, and in terms of usability its much like Central park. Lots of open space, some sports fields, playgrounds, some places to buy food and drinks and, of course, tourists. Fountain in foreground in Parque Del Retiro, Calle de Alcalá in the middle ground, and an unnamed church in the background. Near the Retiro metro stop. Fountain in foreground in Parque Del Retiro, Calle de Alcalá in the middle ground, and an unnamed church in the background. Near the Retiro metro stop. Today was my first visit to the famed Rastro, one of, if not the biggest, open air markets in the world. Set up along the streets, vendors set up tents that seem to sprawl on forever in every direction. Today was my first visit to the famed Rastro, one of, if not the biggest, open air markets in the world. Set up along the streets, vendors set up tents that seem to sprawl on forever in every direction. UPDATE: My photo was selected to be included in Schmap Madrid Guide! Can be found here: <a href="http://www.schmap.com/madrid/events_lalatina/#r=none&amp;mapview=Map&amp;tab=Places&amp;p=28273&amp;topleft=40.4156,-3.71206&amp;bottomright=40.4078,-3.70607&amp;i=28273_2.jpg">www.schmap.com/madrid/events_lalatina/#r=none&amp;mapview...</a> Today was my first visit to the famed Rastro, one of, if not the biggest, open air markets in the world. Set up along the streets, vendors set up tents that seem to sprawl on forever in every direction. A picture of west madrid at night from above the metro stop Colombia. A picture of west madrid at night from above the metro stop Colombia. My parents are coming to visit so I decided to go take a look and see where Plaza de Espana actually is. I found it, and consequently found the Don Quixote and Cervantes statues that occupy the park. One of the coolest looking mime costumes I've seen lately, made to look like he's been blown away. Just off of the Puerta del Sol Saturday at La Puerta del Sol with the infamous Tio Pepe sign in the background. Teatro Calderos Plain and Simple, pt. 3 In La Plaza Mayor today a lady took the wind coming from a subway grate and turned it into a plaything for some nearby kids. This one particular painting stuck out to me today at the Prado for it's incredible surrealism. Obviously, the painting isn't a surrealist painting, however the way it's composed, with such vibrant colors and intensly smooth detailing, makes it seem almost dreamlike to me. Plain and Simple, pt. 2 Took this today at the Egyptian ruins that are in El Parque Oeste here in Madrid Plain and Simple This church is located next to El Palacio Real, or the Royal Palace, and has one of the most dramatic renderings of the Jesus on the cross I have seen. On the door to Nuestra Señora de la Almudena. The doors in general are covered in bronze reliefs, but this women/girl caught my eye especially. I suppose Don Quixote has always been one of the most recognizable figures in Spanish culture, but I would bet that only within the past year (the 400th anniversary of Don Quixote) has he become as infamous as he is now. Right outside Plaza Mayor, where there are quite a few old restaurants and cafés that claim to have served Hemingway. A tourist trap, for sure. The two buildings that make up Puerta de Europa are built at 135 degrees and 15 degrees, respectively, to signify the opening of a doorway to Europe. Unfortunately, the statue and the large cut of stone are not aligned with the buildings, so getting a really accurate sense of symmetry here is almost impossible. Although I'll add that there's no real excuse for not having a level picture. Plaza de Castillana, Madrid. Cerca de La Puerta del Sol La Catedral de Salamanca Taken in the wee hours of the morning hanging out in the pension in Slamanca. The full size is cool too. This man has been working on his version of El Greco's &quot;St. Andrew and St. Francis&quot; for weeks. Obviously, nobody beats the master, but he is doing a good job making a fair representation of the original. This man was doing this copy entirely by hand. The original is a Velazquez I believe, but I don't know the name. The Barber, possibly? Goya's St. John the Baptist as a Boy in the Wilderness. Goya's St. John the Baptist as a Boy in the Wilderness. I think this is supposed to be a war memorial with a sword, but it's now been reduced to a bar fight. Stop before the train arrived in Ávila today. Thought the contrast between old buildings, old people, graffiti and the mountains was interesting. To the left is the right wall of the cathedral of Ávila. The wall in the background is the wall at Ávila, the second largest city wall still intact in the world. Ávila Ávila Visual Ironies: Ávila The wall at Ávila, the second largest intact city wall in the world. View from the foot of the wall at Ávila, looking out onto Castile y León. Or at least, this is what I think of when I see this picture. This shot is stupid, and poorly composed, but I like the colors. So be it. Church doors. Salamanca, Spain. The Cathedral at Salamanca. The whole building is actually built off-center, with adornments to the structure being a full foot or so off at the top left. This is about as symetrical as I could get this shot. Plain and Simple, pt. 5 The view from my porch I sleep on the porch at night, this is the view from my bed looking out of the window. The porch from the living room. A Room with a View, pt. 4 Greg working hard, or hardly working?, in my cocinita Empty, in broad daylight. Every bar is tiled, it would seem. A long since neglected courtyard, and the unfortunate dog who was locked in. Quite a morbid shot, actually. Facing the Palacio Real. Nice day, really sharp lines on the building, but alas, a bad angle, the colors are off on the other buildings. But the sky was actually that blue. Spain by Bus Plaza Mayor, or parts around the outside of it, used to be jail cells. I'm not sure which buildings are jail cells, but I'd like to think this one is. - Uploaded with a demo version of <a href="http://connectedflow.com/flickrexport">FlickrExport 2</a>. Jamon and Manchego. Over-priced, won't be going back to this particular establishment. Every time I goto Sol with a camera in hand, I take a picture of this sign. Why do I do it? Because it would be a really good picture if I did it right. Still didn't get it though. Not exactly, but I did buy a new lens. Not that sharp, but at f/2.8 it's pretty fast for a big guy. Check out the mega-crop.
2005-09-16
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