Mont Saint Michel

My French friend, Anne told me this was

a “must see” and she was right.

An Abbey totally surrounded by water 

during high tide.

Many people like to walk in the sand 

outside the Abbey and town walls 

It is a very long walk from the beach 

to the top of the Abbey

But there are many interesting sights 

along the way 

A truly beautiful place!

Public Libraries in Madrid

1.  BIBLIOTECA UNED ESCUELA PIAS  

Calle Sombrerete 15, 28012

Walking in I was SHOCKED to see how beautiful it is! It is also QUIET!! Yeah! Here are some photos.

So, here’s the history of this particular library. It was built in 1597. In its earlier days it was El Hospital de Los Aragoneses. In 1734 Jose de Calsanz converted it into the Hermitage de Nuestro Senora del Pilar - an educational based school to provide faith and letters to impoverished and abandoned children. It reached its peak in 1797 with 1,568 students! It was finished in 1790 in neoclassical church style.

In 1936 the church, school and convent were looted and demolished. In 1950 - 1974 Lavapies Cinema was here. Then from 1979 to 1984 it was Lavapies Theatre.

From 2001 - 2004 Jose Ignacio Linazasoro restored this building to become the gorgeous library that it is today. Jose was able to keep the Piarist Shield above one of the major arches inside the library. This building is breathtaking!

This is the Piarist Shield.

Spectacular, isn’t it?

Pop Air Madrid - The Balloon Museum

When I saw the advertisement for this exhibit in the Metro (here in Madrid) I knew I had to go. I LOVE creative designs with balloons, and I wasn’t disappointed!

This is just the OUTSIDE of this one particular exhibit. Wait until you see the

INSIDE!

Inside of this exhibit is a maze. 

It was originally created 

for children with disabilities. It was 

not computer generated but created 

by hand! 

When you are inside you will see zippers and 

how the sections are

attached together. 

Pure Genius!

See the back of the head of the person walking through?

You walk through these tunnel mazes and experience 

a fantasy world of colors and shapes. 

Here is another exhibit. It is inside the main hall. 

You can stand in the center and

have the “aliens” stare

at you

Here is another “experiential” exhibit.

Here is an inside maze of colors and mirrors.

This is a light show in a sea

of bubbles!

You can walk through this “forest”

of balloons.

What an eerie futuristic feel.

This balloon seemed like it was breathing.

These balloon forms you could walk through.

These balloons you stick to the walls.

This was like a crowd of cartoon figures 

This exhibit, I feel, is a

MUST SEE!

You’ll love it!