MOMENTS FROM MADRID

October 27th, 2009

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Sunday noon… I land in Madrid… the sun is shining and the sky is blue. The new airport of Barajas is spectacular and I feel very happy. I am staying at the Palace Hotel, where I am the guest of Telva, the leading fashion magazine in Spain. Every year Telva gives a huge party and two awards, one to a national designer,  and one to an International one. Angel Schlesser and I are the lucky recipients this year.

I decide to go out and enjoy the day. On my way to the Prado, one of my favorite museums in the world, my memory takes me back to when I was 17 and living in Madrid. It was a different Spain then, Franco was in power and the country was very held back compared to the rest of Europe. I had enrolled myself in a Spanish course at the Facultad de Filosofia y Lettras but the country was in turmoil and the University was often closed because of strikes.  At the Prado, I see my favorite, Goya’s El Coloso as well as an exhibition on a lesser known Spanish master, Juan Bautista Maino. I salute Velasquez on the way out and decide to go to the contemporary art Museum of Reina Sofia. Unfortunately it is closed and I choose to walk through the botanical garden before hitting the Thyssen Foundation. On the way there, I walk by singers and mimes…one of them, Neptune, all painted in blue catches my attention. I go back to give him some money… he is totally immobile but he thanks me with his eyes. I feel good…only two blocks to the Thyssen. But by the time I get there my wallet has mysteriously disappeared!! You always hear of pickpockets, but you think it will never happen to you…well, guess what? My cash and my credit cards are gone, but fortunately I am OK!

Monday morning… Isabel, my Spanish representative picks me up to bring me to the DVF shop in Madrid, 14 calle del Coelho. My team is there as well as many journalists and TV people. I do interviews, the last one with El Pais.  At El Alkalde, a typical Spanish tavern,  I delight myself with Tortilla de patatas, Gambas alla Plancha and Jamon Espagnol.  The weather is extraordinary…very warm so Tatiana Blatnik and I go and change shoes to go on a walk at El Retiro Park. Tatiana is a beautiful young woman who works in the DVF PR office in London… I used to date her Dad!!

Monday night… the big night has arrived… Black tie dinner in a theater… all of Madrid is there. I choose a long gold dress and try to hide my jetlag behind makeup. I notice that the women are very beautiful and the crowd  is very excited… Her Royal Highness, the Infanta Elena is coming, as well as many important dignitaries. The Infanta looks radiant and I am honored to sit at her right. The show begins and Nieves Fontana, head of Telva presents the awards. I go on stage, moved and a bit nervous, thank the audience in Spanish. It is already 1 in the morning when we leave the theater to go to El Chicote, the old famous Havana bar where Hemingway and Ava Gardner used to hang out. I stay only a little… I am too exhausted!

Tuesday …I leave for Moscow !!

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