I also miss ita ! And I was glad to see her delete Hec's post last night.
ION, for all our fans of trepanation:
The Lost Civilizations That Pioneered Skull Surgery
The surgical procedure known as trepanation is arguably the oldest known medical operation in history, with the earliest known evidence for it found dating to about 12,000 BC in Morocco. A portion of the skull was removed for therapy or thaumaturgy — for instance, to reduce pressure within the skull, or to release evil spirits.
Scientists now reveal the Garamantians — a lost civilization in what is now southwest Libya — apparently practiced trepanation, the first time the operation has been seen in the Sahara. The Garamantians, named after their capital, Garama, flourished in the harsh central Sahara for nearly 1,500 years between 1,000 BC and 700 AD. They introduced key innovations to the region, including cities, irrigated farming, trade across the Sahara and a hierarchical, probably slave-owning society.
edit for typo....
Hmm, Prado is free about the time I get back from Toledo and near the station. Maybe I'll do a driveby. I've largely avoided museums on purpose.
I have heard from more than one reliable source that the Prado is more impressive than the Louvre.
sarameg, we totally did the free Prado evenings when I was in Madrid--two days of two hours each was a great way to do it. It's the Spanish royal collection, with art from 1400 to 1900, and it's just amazing. My niece's favorite part was the Greek & Roman statuary, but they also have a bunch of paintings from Goya's "Dark" period, which were simply astonishing.
Do try to hit the Prado, you won't regret it, and the line looks more intimidating than it is: it moves really quickly.
Also belong to the group that exclaimed ita ! when seeing David's post stomped.
I'm trying to work today but keep getting distracted.
I got so museumed-out back in the mid-90s, I still haven't recovered. I'll do it as a favor to visitors (and some are oddities enough they don't cry museum to me, like AVAM) but they still leave me cold.
My body won out over my mind. I want to wander more (oh, let's see, I made it all the way down to Palacio Real by no normal path- I honestly didn't know where I was at times, was inching far to the east, I think,) but my feet just can't take it. Because the weather is crappy (though finally clearing NOW) no good outside place to sit and insides were largely standing room and I needed to SIT NOW. I'll stick close for dinner in a couple hours (likely just tapas, though I'm in tourist central at Puerto del Sol, but eh. Is what it is) so as to save my feet for Toledo. What's left of them, anyway.
You can only do so much! (Why I don't think it's worth it to vacation by myself -- I would likely spend way too much time just sitting around, because I am LAZY.)
That said, I did do my errands, and have acquired cash, so that's good.
My favorite thing in the Prado was Hieronymous Bosch's "Garden of Earthly Delights." I was walking around with an American woman I'd met who was an art history major, and she told me all kinds of stuff about it. Like, there's a painting on the backside! If you peer around the edge, you can see a bit of it.
Since sarameg is off having wonderful Spain adventures, I'll hold down the "neighborhood loves carrots/Saturday busyness" post. Last night I went to sushi happy hour with two neighborfriends, and then went over to one of their houses for more drinks and long coversation. This morning Frankie and I went to Doggies and Donuts where we got our portrait done, then I went and picked up my Jazzfest ticket, got a huge haul from the farmer's market and now I'm getting ready to go to Jazzfest! WOO. I freaking love this town.
Yup, sign me up on the miss ita, but hope she's getting what she needs list.
boutma, Cash!
And in its own post... I miss ita !, too. If you're lurking, lady, we miss you! I'm thinking about you and sending whatever ~ma you need.
