Memories of Madrid

Dentists-to-be, with their dummies.

A recent trip to Madrid included a lecture at the Universidad Europea de Madrid (which features, among other things, a dentistry school, at right). The best part was a short film that had been made before my arrival: a spoof in which an economics class at the university is taught freakonomics instead of economics (sorry, no translation available):

One of Antonio López’s giant baby heads.

There is of course much about Madrid to recommend, including the Prado and Thyssen-Bornemisza museums and even the Museo del Jamon (see photo below); a Real Madrid match; a day trip to Toledo; the turtles in the train station’s jungle waiting area and other public art there (photos at left); and of course browsing in bookstores.

The turtles in Madrid’s Puerta de Atocha.

The Museo del Jamon; the Spanish love their hams.

It was hard not to notice that Spanish book designers seem particularly fond of a particular pose, at least for male authors:

A very thoughtful nation, or so it would appear.