The Great Geographic Discovery around 1500 A.D. raised the curtain on the history of dialog and competition between different countries. It was not the economic and cultural centers of Europe at that time that raised the curtain on human history, but two small countries, Portugal and Spain, living in the southwestern corner of the continent.
Based on my travelogue, I will take you on an in-depth tour of these two important countries in world history.
The itinerary is as follows:
Beijing-Munich-Lisbon
Cape da Roca-Casica-Lisbon-Badajoz
Badajoz-Seville
Seville-Ronda-Mijas-Granada
Granada-Toledo-Madrid
Grand Palace of Madrid
Andrés Segovia
Barcelona
Barcelona: Sagrada Familia Cathedral Bartholomew's House
Barcelona Roca Shopping Village
Barcelona-Frankfurt-Beijing
DAY1Beijing-Munich-Lisbon
This time, I took Lufthansa. After a 10 hours flight, I finally arrived at Munich airport in Germany. Because of the connecting flight, I have to go through the security check again in the German airport. After the security check, the airport is duty free.
Looking out the window, all the cabs are Mercedes. I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to get a good deal on this, but I'm sure I'll be able to get a good deal on this.
How can Germany not have German beer?
For the fans, there is no shortage of Bayern memorabilia.
Another 3 hour transfer and it was after 10pm when I arrived in Lisbon, Portugal. I quickly went to bed, still jet-lagged.
DAY2Cape Roca-Cascais-Lisbon-Badajoz
It gets dark late in Portugal, and it's only light at 8:00am;
Lisbon is a small city that basically consists of seven small hills. Walking around it feels more like a big country. There are basically no tricabs on the road, they are all two cars;
The first stop in Lisbon is the famous Cabo da Roca, which is located at the westernmost point of Portugal and the westernmost point of Eurasia. People built a lighthouse and a cross facing the ocean on the cliffs of Cape Roca. On the monument is a famous quote in Portuguese: "The land stops here, the sea begins here" (Onde a terra a caba eomar come). The landing point has been recognized by the Internet as one of the "50 best places to visit in the world". Cabo da Roca is close to the Atlantic Ocean and across the sea from the east coast of the United States.
Next stop, take a bus to the town of Iss in Kasika, the birthplace of the James Bond novels. With its big waves, it's a summer surfing mecca;
During World War II, it was a famous spy's lair and a place where spies from all over the world exchanged information. It is a mecca for Bond fans, the birthplace of the James Bond novels, and the location of the first James Bond movie, Casino Royale. It is also home to some of Portugal's best bathing beaches and is a popular vacation spot for tourists from all over the world.
A special and quiet town;
Seabirds are not afraid of people, they walk right beside you;
At noon went to the biggest shopping mall in Lisbon, a two-story mall. Lisbonians should come to Beijing to see what a shopping center is. Ate the so-called authentic Portuguese meal. All I can say is that it was really. The flavor was not bad, but the last four egg tarts were really ugly.
How can you not eat the most authentic Portuguese egg tarts? After lunch, we went to a 100 year old egg tart store in the center of Lisbon. This store has never opened a branch and there are long lines every day. This egg tart is very different from Delicious and KFC. For one thing, the milk flavor is not as heavy, and the tart crust is very crispy and much sweeter than the ones in Beijing.
Lisbon's cathedral;
Found a car with a very high chassis, and finally realized it was amphibious.
The Tower of Belém is a five-story fortification built between 1514 and 1520 under Manuel I to defend the port of Torre de Belém and the nearby Monastery of S?o Jerome. The Tower of Belém, along with the monastery, is on the World Heritage List.
Cross the square towards the Maritime Monument;
The Portuguese Maritime Monument, built in 1960, is located near the Tower of Belém in Lisbon and stands in a square by the sea. It has become a symbol of Portugal. The monument was built to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Prince Henry's death. It looks like a ship with huge sails. The monument has statues of Henry and 80 other sailors. Henry stands at the bow of the ship, followed by his assistant Gamma. On either side are some of the navigators who set out with them, as well as famous generals, missionaries and scientists from Portuguese history. It's quite an impressive monument commemorating Portugal's illustrious 300-year history of ocean exploration. Behind the monument is a large cross. European buildings often combine religious beliefs with art in their architectural design, even monuments. Carved into the ground in front of the monument is a map of the world with the date of the discovery of the New World.
The 4.25 Bridge in Lisbon, Portugal, is the sister bridge to the Golden Gate Bridge (San Francisco, USA). At the other end of the bridge is the patron saint of navigation that has been in place for centuries. A statue of Christ with open arms stands high on the hill. A company built the sister bridge to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Lisbonians call it the 425 Bridge, commemorating the April 25, 1974 overthrow of the dictatorship.
It's not as famous as the Golden Gate Bridge, but it doesn't lose any of its grandeur. The bridge used to be known as the Salazar Bridge. When the people of Lisbon overthrew his dictatorship, it was named the day before it was renamed the 425 Bridge.
After leaving the Marine Monument, we will head to the ancient town of Evora in Portugal. Evora is a historical town, founded in the third century AD during the reign of the Roman Empire. It covered less than 1 square kilometer at that time and was long a Roman army garrison.
Currently there are Roman temples, thermal baths, the ruins of the Roman walls, and the Arch of Dona Sabell. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Evora was successively occupied by Visigoths and Moors. During this period, the scale of the city began to expand, and the architectural style embodied the Gothic and Arabesque features.
The most unique feature of the San Francisco Cathedral in Evora, a city in south-central Portugal, is the Chapel of Human Bones. More than 30,000 graves appeared in the city as a result of the Black Death in the 14th century and wars in the 15th century.In the 16th century, priests began moving bones into the church and stacking them into pyramids. Because there were so many bones, some people simply used them as decorative material, and the Church of the Human Bones was born.
One of Portugal's great specialties is the oak tree. Everyone uses oak bark to make all kinds of cork products. The cork products we are most familiar with are wine corks.
Street scenes in towns and cities;
Streets in Europe are very narrow, so all kinds of scratches are common. I've seen a lot of cars with scarred mirrors along the way, but Europeans are really good at it. Do you have what it takes?
After the first day, I drove three hours into the Spanish border town of Badajoz, where I stayed overnight before heading to Seville the next day.
DAY3 Seville
Seville is a particularly beautiful city, with every building having its own style. Our first stop was Plaza de Espa?a, the famous place where the story of Carmen took place.
Of course there are no Jews left in Seville's ghetto now, but various buildings still retain their Jewish architectural style. Most of them are now used for commercial purposes. The famous Seville Cathedral can be reached through narrow alleys.
Seville Cathedral, very spectacular, it is said that Columbus's remains are hidden here;
Seville street scene
Good old cars;
Ruyen had a newlywed couple sitting in a carriage to greet us;
It's disgusting to look at it, don't have a picture taken.
I didn't wait for a beautiful Spanish girl, but I did wait for this "girl" and a lot of people to take pictures with him. We all said he must have lost Truth or Dare.
This is where Columbus' original charts are housed;
The Columbus Tower, which hides the gold, is the site of Columbus' great voyage from this river.
Seville bullring opposite the statue of Carmen, met a foreigner with such an advanced camera;
Evening went to Spain Carrefour shopping. There are many famous varieties of Spanish ham, but I can't bring it back.
Seville at 9pm, a beautiful sunset to end the day.
Day 4 4 Ronda - Mijas - Granada
As the home of the bullfighters, Ronda has the oldest bullfighting ring in Spain.
Tickets for the bullfighting arena are 6.5 euros each to enter the bullring;
It is a pity to miss it because I didn't catch the bullfighting show time;
The town of Ronda was born in the Roman Empire, and it was built on a cliff.
Is it a bullfight?
In the afternoon, we drove to Mijas, a town by the Mediterranean Sea, which is thousands of years old. Ancient white buildings stand on a Mediterranean mountain about 428 meters above sea level, and standing high above the town, you look down. Not only can you see the whole of the Mediterranean Sea, but you can also look across the sea to the African continent. Unfortunately, it's not particularly sunny and you can't see the Mediterranean in the distance.
The architecture of the town of Mijas is closer to the Greek style than that of other Spanish cities.
Arrive in Granada in the evening. Granada is a famous tourist city in Spain, incorporating many Renaissance buildings and Islamic-style palaces. The long history of towns and villages, music and theater festivals, and strong local traditions are perfectly reflected in the streets and monuments throughout the city;
This picture is not explained, nor can it be explained. I saw it by chance;
DAY5 Granada - Toledo - Madrid
Recuerdos de la Alhambra is a classic among classics as Spanish classical guitar music. You might as well follow me around here.
Recuerdos de la Alhambra
Andrés Segovia; Laurindo Almeida-Summer Guitar Series
The famous Spanish palace, the Alhambra, was the royal palace of the Kingdom of Granada, which was founded by the Moors of medieval Spain. "Alhambra" means "redoubt" in Arabic. It is the best of all the monuments preserved by the Moors in Spain, and is known as the "Palace City" and the "Wonder of the World". It was built in the 13th century during the reigns of King Achimar and his successors, and after the Moors were expelled from Spain in 492, the buildings began to fall into disuse.
In 1828, under the patronage of Ferdinand VII, the architect Jose Contreras and his sons and grandsons undertook a long program of restoration and reconstruction, followed by a return to the original style. The Alhambra, Heneralife and Albaicin districts of Granada were founded in the 8th century AD. They were historical political and cultural centers and were the provincial capitals of Granada.
A corner of the palace overlooks the city;
Toledo is located on a hill 71 kilometers southwest of Madrid, Spain.
It's a long elevator ride to enter this ancient city;
The city's roads are narrow and sloping, and the streets are crisscrossed and densely packed. There are no modern buildings here, it's all quaint houses, and the whole city looks elegant and quaint.
Famous specialties here include elegant Spanish porcelain and handmade 24-carat gold inlaid jewelry;
With more than 2,000 years of history and culture, especially more than 70 large-scale ancient buildings such as Gothic, Moorish, Baroque and neo-classical churches, monasteries, palaces, city walls, museums and so on. Well-preserved for nearly 400 years.
It's a mountain town. The Tahoe River winds through the east, south and west of the ancient city. The river is fast flowing and forms a natural barrier. There are two city walls in the north of the city, which is strategically located and easy to attack and difficult to defend. It is an ancient place of war.
DAY6 Madrid
Toledo's next stop is Madrid, the capital of Spain. Madrid is not only the largest city and economic center of China, but also a famous historical city in Europe. For fans, it is the home of their beloved Real Madrid team.
Arriving in Madrid, the first meal is the famous paella of the local ham museum.
Locals tend to just order a beer, a few slices of ham, and sit at the bar eating and chatting;
We went to the second floor, a table for four, to savor the most authentic paella;
Dessert was this baked apple. First time I've had an apple like this and it felt weird.
No, look at the picture. The orderlies, singing along, were having fun;
Plaza de Espa?a, built in 1815 to honor the great writer Cervantes. In the center of the monument is a statue of Cervantes. Beneath the statue, Don Quixote rides a tall, thin horse, waving a spear in front of him. Next to him, his devoted admirer Sancho rides a donkey as his mentor and disciple walk off into the sunset
The building behind this statue has been acquired by the Wanda Group. I wonder if it will be renamed Wanda Plaza?
Madrid, the capital of Spain, is a political, cultural and economic center. The city's modern high-rise buildings and ancient buildings complement each other. The well-preserved medieval buildings on both sides of Granvia Street can be seen in the scene known as "The Empire Never Fails";
Meanwhile, Granvia Street is also the busiest commercial street in Madrid;
Lowe is a famous Spanish luxury brand, which you can't miss when you come to Spain.
The local telecom building in Spain is equivalent to China Mobile or Unicom;
Plaza Columbus is located in the center of Madrid. The most important building in the square is the Columbus Monument, built in 1886.
Driving past the home stadium of Atletico Madrid;
Here is Real Madrid's most exciting home stadium, the Bernabeu. There happened to be a soccer match when I was there that day. One of the group members was a fan and had friends in the area. I figured out the time in advance, bought a ticket and was fortunate enough to watch a great game.
See my friend's pictures for a taste. Supposedly it was a 7-1 victory that day;
Last year, when my mom went to Spain, she had lunch at the stadium. Let's take a good look at the Bernabeu.
The British department store across the street from the Bernabeu is also a must-see for refunds;
The Grand Palace in Madrid is the third largest in Europe after Versailles and the Palais des Congrès in Vienna. Built in 1738 and completed in 26 years, it is one of the most complete and exquisite palaces in the world. Unfortunately, no photos are allowed inside, so you'll have a chance to see the style for yourself.
The weather is really great, under the blue sky and white clouds, the grandeur of the palace is more visible;
Artists at the entrance, this is quite fun; of course, the group photo is charged;
Eating in a restaurant opened by the Shandong people to eat Chinese food is particularly delicious, the first season of the flowers and the youth team also ate here; a lot of celebrities patronize the restaurant, which is presumed to be a famous local Chinese restaurant;
DAY7 Segovia
Segovia, located 100 kilometers northwest of Madrid, is Spain's most spectacular World Heritage city, including the ancient Roman diversion bridge, the prototype of Snow White's castle and the famous roasted suckling pig.
Segovia's ancient Roman aqueduct is one of the largest Roman remains in Spain. In the days when there were no cranes, the aqueducts were built by hand and piled with the most primitive stones. Pieces of granite were piled up to form the world-famous aqueduct, which is 28 meters high, 813 meters long, and consists of 128 double-arched columns. It has stood here for 2,000 years and is still well preserved. Have to admire the wisdom of the ancient Romans.
Segovia has a nickname "stone boat", the origin of this name is because of a castle. Every childish person who comes to Segovia will run to see the castle standing on the edge of the cliff. It's the prototype for Snow White's castle.
Segovia Cathedral, known as the "Lady of the Cathedrals", was the last Gothic cathedral built in Spain. At 88 meters high, it is the tallest bell tower in Spain. The greatest queen in Spanish history, Queen Isabella I of Castile, was crowned here.
Walking through the old city, there are traces of history everywhere;
The small stores on the streets have many interesting handmade products;
Back to the water area, there is the most important roast suckling pig dinner of the trip. Segovia is the birthplace of the Spanish roast suckling pig. Tasting this famous dish from Segovia is an essential item on the bucket list.
To get the most authentic roast suckling pig in Segovia, you have to go to the famous local restaurant Candido Messende, which has been in business since 1786 and has been around for over 200 years. It uses a unique recipe for its roast suckling pig and is known in Spain for its delicious flavor.
Our guests have included King Carlos and Queen of Spain, as well as many big names and celebrities. The restaurant is easy to find, right next to the ancient Roman aqueduct.
Besides the sizzling freshly roasted suckling pig, the other major attraction for us was watching the ancient and grand pig cutting ceremony.
Of course, not every diner is so lucky to witness this interesting ceremony. Usually only when a celebrity is present, the owner himself performs it as a sign of welcome. Our host is the owner's son.
The welcoming ceremony involves using a white porcelain plate with vegetables, traditionally used in restaurants, as a "tool" to cut the suckling pig. When it's done, the owner throws the plate, and the crackling sound of the plate on the floor proves that the roasted suckling pig is the real deal.
The cracking of the plate takes the place of the owner's "welcome" and the whole thing is done in 30 seconds, a unique Segovian welcoming ritual before the pig is roasted. It's very interesting. It's an interesting ritual that must be captured on video.
Shards of porcelain plate were flying out of my pants at the time and I thought they would cut my pants. I asked the guide if they weren't worried about the porcelain plates scratching tourists. The guide said that in general there were no problems, but one was a very weird one and the only scratch. The tour leader was a Muslim and shouldn't have come in. Because he was the leader, he joined the group. After watching this ceremony, the porcelain plate broke and it went right through his pants.
Every meal in Spain requires red wine. Enjoy a roast suckling pig from a century-old restaurant.
After enjoying the perfect taste, we headed back to Madrid to take the high speed train to Barcelona, the last stop on the trip. It's over 600 kilometers from Madrid to Barcelona. It takes at least a day to drive, whereas it only takes 3 hours to get there by high speed train. This train station is simply decorated as a tropical greenhouse;
DAY8 Barcelona - Finding Gaudi
Barcelona is located in the northeastern part of the Iberian Peninsula, bordering the Mediterranean Sea. It is the second largest city in Spain and has an important economic position in Spain. Barcelona is the port city of Catalonia, a world-famous Mediterranean scenic tourist destination, and a world-famous historical and cultural city. Barcelona is known as the "Pearl of the Iberian Peninsula" for its pleasant climate, beautiful scenery and numerous historical sites, and is the most famous tourist destination in Spain. Barcelona is the only region in Spain with a high degree of autonomy, with its own laws and license plates. One of the more popular events in the last few years has been the Catalan referendum, so you'll see the Catalan flag all over the streets.
The mention of Barcelona brings up the famous architect Gaudi, so today is Gaudi's day;
[1]Bartholomew's House
Famous for its peculiar shape, Casa Batllo (1904-1906) is one of the classics in the history of architectural design. Designed by Spanish architect Gaudi. Located in Barcelona, Spain, this apartment **** has 6 floors.
Tickets are 21 euros;
The interior design of the house follows Gaudi's usual style, with no angles, all soft waves. Gauzin said, "Art must come from nature, because nature creates the most unique and beautiful shapes for people." He believes that there are no straight lines in nature. Straight lines belong to humans and curves belong to God.
The main hall on the first floor is the best part of the house and where the Bettereau family lives. It has a separate entrance and staircase -, in typical Gaudi style. Handicrafts with a modern flavor are everywhere in the hall. The room is topped by a huge spiral shape, like a whirlpool of the sea, with an anemone-shaped overhead light at the center of the whirlpool.
Going up floor by floor, the color of the tiles deepens the closer you get to the top, from light blue to dark blue. It's hard to notice the change without looking closely. The watery glass on one side of the stairs reflects the blue color of the walls, making the house look like it's in the ocean again.
And when you look up one floor, you will find that the shape of the doors, windows and stairs are different on each floor of the building, and even the walls are selected and designed to match the shape of the doors and windows, making the application full of fun.
The "dragon's belly" on the roof is the attic, inside the dragon's spine. The main color of the interior is tooth-white, with delicate hanging chain-link arches.
This reflects Gaudi's naturalistic tendencies. --The arches are bionic structures. Interestingly, the structure mimics the giant reptile dinosaurs that once lived in the Mesozoic era.
A video explaining Gaudi's architectural concepts;
If you like Gaudi's work, you can buy a souvenir to take back with you;
Interruption: there's also a loewe flagship store right next to Bartholomew's apartment;
[2]Quail Park
Queen's Park is also a masterpiece of Gaudi. It was built in 1900-1914 and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You may have seen the photos of Quell Park countless times, but you can only be moved and amazed if you actually walk here;
[3]Cathedral of the Holy Family
The Cathedral of the Family is the lifelong masterpiece of Spanish architect Antonio Gaudi. It is located in the center of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. It was built in 1882 and is still under construction. It is expected to be officially completed in 2026. Although it is a bad building, it has become one of the most famous attractions in the world.
Gao arranged the "birth fa?ade" on the east side of the church. Every morning, the sun rises in the east and shines on the "Birth Facade," representing endless wonder.
Whether or not you're familiar with the biblical story, the lifelike sculptures and intricate details on the doors are breathtaking. Gaudi is said to have studied human bones in order to demand that the statue's poses and rhythms be exactly like those of a real person.
The interior of the Family Cathedral is even more spectacular, with an overall design inspired by nature such as caves, mountains, flowers and animals.
The "Resurrection Fa?ade", depicting the Last Supper of Jesus with his twelve disciples, and a huge sculpture with clean lines, were completed by Joseph Sabalacis in 1990.
I'm sorry I didn't have time to go to Barcelona.
Montserrat Monastery
Mount Montserrat, located on the outskirts of Barcelona, Spain, is the Holy Mountain of Catalonia, with the famous Church of Our Lady of the Black and the Monastery of Montserrat.
The Monastery of Montserrat has a height difference of 1,236 meters from the valley floor, making it the highest point in the Catalan lowlands. The Montserrat Monastery is the most important religious shrine in Catalonia and plays an important role in the cultural and spiritual life of Catalonia.
It is said that Gaudi used to sit in the first row of the monastery to pray. It was after seeing the beautiful silhouette of the mountains here that he was inspired to build the spire of the Church of the Holy Family. When you think about it, the two really do resemble each other!
It is said that by touching the ball in the hands of the black-faced Madonna and making a wish, the wish will soon come true;
Sitting in the front row of the convent, quietly listening to the hymns on the organ, perhaps I am sitting where Gaudi once sat.
When you come to Barcelona, you must try seafood. At night, the Internet introduced a lot of iron pot seafood buffet, which is said to be a Japanese-style seafood buffet run by the Chinese. Inside the clerk are from China, communication is completely free of obstacles. It seems to be 9.5 euros per person at noon and 14.5 euros per person at night.
DAY9 Barcelona Ole - Bogueria Market - Sitges
Take advantage of the Ole has just opened its doors, less people, hurry to shop; Nike and Burberry is very cheap;
Ramblas Street is Barcelona's most famous flower market, has now become a commercial street for tourists to visit and shop.
The people upstairs across the street have been imitating Marilyn Monroe, posing frequently and flying kisses;
Tickets for sale in Barcelona are not cheap;
Come to Barcelona - Bogoria market is absolutely necessary place! I mentioned it before when I introduced the Sanyuanli food market, so take a good look at it today.
Along with Gaudi and the Spirit of Barcelona, the Bogglia Market is the main "food basket" for Barcelonians and a mecca for tourists who want to enjoy good food.
It is located on Barcelona's Avenida de la Rambla, in the heart of the city, and attracts countless tourists every day.
The Gallia Market is the largest and most popular market in Europe. There is a wide variety of fruits, the freshest vegetables, food from all over the world, seafood fresh from the sea, Spanish ham and much more.
After half a day's shopping at the Bogelia Market, you won't be able to get enough of it!
Spain's most distinctive variety of olives;
Seafood extremely plentiful and fresh;
1 glass of freshly squeezed juice, a must;
This looks a little scary;
Plaza da Lunha next to Flower Street;
Ciches
In the afternoon went to the town of Ciches near Barcelona, which is known as the "City of the Arts," where art-loving middle-class