Royal Madrid

In a week in Madrid, half of the time was spent easing the tension and arranging the schedule, but I still couldn't resist being a tourist and visited the Royal Palace of Madrid, which combines neoclassical and baroque styles. It is the third largest royal palace in Europe, but its collection is not as rich and diverse as the Hofburg. Instead of marveling at the grandeur of the architecture, I found myself wondering what it feels like for Princess Leonor, who is only 18 years old and the future first heir, and what kind of life she is living. The hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus has two routes: historical sites and modern attractions. The Chinese audio guide in the headphones mentioned many names, summarizing the history of the Royal Palace, City Hall, and how the culture of museums and art galleries laid the foundation for Madrid, as well as how the opera house, embassies, boutique shopping streets, and the 80,000-seat Bernabéu Stadium are leading the city's transformation. Unfortunately, I didn't get tickets to a Real Madrid match this time, maybe next time. After listening to the guide, I decided to check out Madrid's Xinyi District. The five skyscrapers in the commercial area bear the logos of KPMG and PwC. Adjacent to the office buildings is a long, narrow shopping street, outdoor restaurants, and green corridors. Adults dine and drink while children play in the sand and water. The environment is cleverly and comfortably planned, tightly integrating living and working spaces without feeling crowded. It was a great decision to wander around from the office area. Taking advantage of the late sunset, I strolled around the streets near the hotel. I discovered a summer outdoor film festival in the nearby square, and tonight's screening was Despicable Me 4. I immediately bought tickets online and happily arrived half an hour early to get a good seat... but it was already full. It turned out I forgot to adjust my phone's time zone, and the movie had already started half an hour ago. I put on the headphones with the English version and squeezed into a central seat. The Minions were as cute as ever, and unexpected surprises are always the best part of traveling. The hostel in Madrid had front and back doors. On the day I arrived, I stood at the back door with a puzzled look, dragging my luggage. A Slovak girl kindly opened the door for me and said, "Oh really? You're from Taiwan? My tutor is Taiwanese, and I want to find an internship in Taipei after I graduate next year!" I responded with surprise and a bit of regret for not leaving my contact information. Three days later, at the same door, I helped an Israeli girl open the door and said, "I really want to visit Israel. I hope your country is safe." She excitedly responded that she knew Taiwan and wanted to come surfing. Do many people really know different aspects of Taiwan? Curious about where locals travel, I mustered the courage to chat with a girl from southern Italy in my room, who always asked if I was hot in my jacket. She enthusiastically told me to open my notebook and listed all the tourist spots in Italy from top to bottom, and what flavors to try in each city. She even switched to voice mode because typing was too slow. "Let me tell you, ask the locals when you get there. We Italians are super passionate!" I believed her, thank you. In summary, Madrid is a city where locals are generally fit and tanned, the melon with ham is delicious but churros are average, Spanish dance music plays with a lively rhythm, and the air is mixed with the smell of smoke and garbage. But why are there flies everywhere in Spain, from the capital to every small town?