dispatches from the new world of work

The Cultured Spanish and the Joy of Day #27!

The queue at the Prado in Madrid

Speaking in Madrid today for HSM one more time. You'll find 4 PPs. One is the "Long" version of the Keynote. Next, the Main Event keynote. Then, two shorter presentations for a couple of company presentations to Ferrovial [PPT] (infrastructure—including, God help us all, Heathrow) and Starcom [PPT] (a media-creative services giant). The 28-day trip ends Tuesday, with a little help from Lufthansa. Should be fun getting questioned by Immigration. Here will be my answer to "What countries did you visit?"

Boston
United Kingdom-England
Spain
Argentina
Germany
Switzerland
Germany
Italy
Belgium-Flanders
Spain-Catalonia
Portugal
Spain
Germany
Boston

Planned to "pop into" the Prado, my favorite museum in the world—my hotel room only 50 yards away. Line when I arrived Saturday was, I'd judge, almost a quarter-mile long, and I don't think I'm exaggerating. Sunday, my last chance, was the same by about 11 a.m. So, on the advice of the concierge, adding a little of my usual conservatism, I got in the queue at 8 a.m. Sunday for a 9 a.m. opening. I'd guess I was about #150. The problem was that it was colder (about 25°F, -4°C) in Madrid than in VT; but I persisted, despite totally inadequate clothes. I'm used to Madrid at 95°F, +35°C, its summer #. Net was, it was, as always, worth it. (I once flew from SF to Madrid and back to see one picture here—Brueghel's "The Triumph of Death." I'm sure that'll draw Comments. Never done anything comparable before or since.) At any rate, above and below are a couple of crowd pics at 6 p.m. Sunday, a mix of tourists, including a ton of Japanese, but mostly locals, including a heavy youth component. Hats off to the Spanish for Museo Del Prado's just-completed renovation and for the popularity of the museum.

("Public" thanks for getting me through "all this" to, especially, Abbey Bishop, Nancy Paul, Klair Sirianna, Ivy Gustafson, the inimitable Harry "He Da Man" Rhoads; and Cathy Mosca, Erik Hansen, and Shelley Dolley for keeping the Blog up to date. A special debt of gratitude to the Interpreters here, there, and everywhere, whose job when I'm racing and colloquial, approximately always, is much harder than mine!)

Another photo of the queue, Prado, Madrid

Tom Peters posted this on 11/19/07.

Comments

Talking of pictures, there's been some very good photographs from the TP digicam recently, especially the Venice ones. Well done! Will we be seeing a TP photo book in the near future: "Travels with Tom" or something of that ilk?

Posted by Mark JF at November 19, 2007 11:45 AM

My son had the same trouble traveling last year. Longed to see some galleries and museums but on a world wind tour just couldn't bear lines that required two hours waiting. If you fly trips to see a painting and you can afford it and no-one is going hungry or suffering because of the cost, then it's all good! :)

Posted by Susan Plunkett at November 19, 2007 1:20 PM

Hey Tom this is Jose from Madrid, i have to tell you that "Reimagine" has change my lifeÂ¡Â¡Â¡
It will be an honour for me to invite you for lunch/dinner. Your ideas has move my company into a new dimensionÂ¡Â¡Â¡
THANKSÂ¡Â¡

Posted by Jose Bonilla at November 19, 2007 5:39 PM

Tom - You said â€˜Iâ€™m sure thatâ€™ll draw commentsâ€™ â€¦. So here goes with my two â€˜pennyworthâ€™ or my 2 cents if you are American :-)

When I saw the title â€˜The Triumph of Deathâ€™ I thought of a completely different context.

Not knowing anything about art (I am a Manchester United fan after all as Mark will no doubt say) I decided to look up â€˜The Triumph of Deathâ€™ and it seems the artist may have been, among other possibilities, reflecting on the horrors of war. (Some might say not unlike the early 21st Century)

I donâ€™t want to take this discussion down a religious route because Iâ€™m pretty sure that is not a popular direction of travel on this Blog.

My faith tells me death is indeed the ultimate triumph.

I hasten to add in my case I hope not for another 50 years minimum. I aim to be captain of my own 5-a-side football team for the over 100's :-)

I expect lots of brickbats but sometimes one has to say it as one feels it.

Apologies if anyone is offended â€“ none intended - just a personal observationâ€¦ and you did invite comment Tom!

Posted by Trevor Gay at November 20, 2007 4:07 AM

hi tom.

unfortunately i could not go to the conference on monday (only today for tom kelley and chris anderson). such a shame.

i am glad that you enjoyed madrid and your hotel. - in summer the hotel garden is really nice and from there you fall right into the prado.

i am glad to hear that the prado is your favourite museum in the world. - mine too - and i am usually one who is much more for contemporary stuff (both art and architecture) but there is an atmosphere and intensity in the prado that is unrivalled.

not surprised at all that you like it that much. - after-all we also share a passion for henry minzberg if i remember correctly.

next time you are in madrid - you have to vistit my american wife's wonderful restaurant just 5 minutes walk away from the prado http://www.lagamella.com/ - we often have guests from the ritz over because we also open moderately early for dinner which is very much to the convenience and liking of international travellers.

best online viagra store thursday of course we have thanksgiving there.

hope to see you next time and we can go a little into the true powers of spanish innovation: food and wine.

all the best.
have a wonderful thanksgiving.

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Posted by jens at November 20, 2007 12:47 PM

p.s.

i forgot to say: we also have friends at the prado.
so next time you come we might be able to significantly shorten that line...

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Posted by jens at November 20, 2007 12:50 PM

p.p.s

and we can then also dance in the colors of rubens for example!
-
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Posted by jens at November 20, 2007 1:21 PM