Study Tour in Southern Europe

Main countries visited: Spain, Lisbon in Portugal, and Paris in France. Since we also had business, we passed through Belgium and northern France.

Mode of travel: We booked a private tour for three through a travel agency, recommended by a friend. It was a European travel agency specializing in high-end curated tours. Overall the experience was good, but the price was high. The tour cost over 120,000 RMB for three people, excluding round-trip airfare from China to Europe and meals. Private car transport cost 6,550 euros, plus an additional 1,150 euros for the driver’s meals and accommodation. The experience was fine, but we felt we could have done it independently, as many city attractions are close to each other, though you need to know English.

1. Documents: Visa and flight tickets (booked one month in advance), passport, hotel reservations, flight itineraries, etc.

(We used the travel agency because we had trouble getting the visa on our own; the agency handled it quickly.)

2. Clothing: Check the weather in advance. We went on September 27 this year. Spain was very hot, around 27°C, so summer clothes were needed, but mornings and evenings were cooler. France was relatively cooler but still summer attire.

3. Photography equipment: If bringing a drone, you need an EU driver’s license, and check other requirements yourself. I didn’t have an EU license, and my filming experience wasn’t great, so I didn’t bring one. A pity.

4. Phone apps: Download Google Play Store in advance (some attraction audio guides are electronic and require downloading an app from Google Play). Google Maps (Baidu Maps can also show European maps), translation apps. If traveling independently, download hotel booking apps.

5. European standard plug adapter: European sockets differ from those in China.

6. European SIM card for internet access.

7. Toiletries: Many hotels in Europe don’t provide disposable items for environmental reasons.

8. If you need hot water, bring a thermos. If you can’t get used to Western food, bring a pot to cook your own meals.

We were on a tour, and the accommodation provided was at least three-star, overall very clean and good, averaging around 200 euros per night. Hotels included breakfast. Note: For environmental reasons, many hotels in Europe do not provide disposable items like toothbrushes, toothpaste, or slippers, but they usually have shower gel and shampoo.

Hotel breakfast was typically Western-style. During this trip to Europe, I fell in love with butter.

The machines are very convenient, offering various coffees, milk, water, and more.

Europeans mainly eat Western food, but there are slight differences between countries. In Spain, food portions are generally huge (for a southerner like me; northern Chinese might adapt better). A steak is equivalent to two portions in China (based on southern Chinese restaurants) and is very thick. Spain and Portugal are the cheapest among developed European countries. A meal costs about 10-20 euros per person. In France, portions are relatively smaller and prices higher, around 20-30 euros per person.

There are also Chinese restaurants in Europe, generally more expensive than comparable Western restaurants. However, there are few high-end Chinese restaurants, while there are many high-end Western ones, so high-end Western restaurants are the most expensive. Fast food like McDonald’s and Pizza Hut is cheap, 4-10 euros per meal; airports are a bit pricier, like 10-plus euros for a combo at Barcelona Airport. Buying bread at the supermarket is even cheaper; in Madrid’s city center, a loaf costs a few cents or 1 euro.

Costs: Due to exchange rates, traveling in Europe is certainly expensive. The tour for three cost over 120,000 RMB. Because we booked flights late, round-trip tickets cost 50,000 RMB. Miscellaneous expenses like meals totaled 12,000 RMB.

Spain covers over 500,000 square kilometers with a population of 48.2 million (over 50 million tourists visit Spain each year). Spain is located on the Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe, part of Southern Europe. It borders Portugal to the west and France to the north. It is surrounded by sea on three sides. The terrain is mainly plateaus. The climate is predominantly temperate continental and temperate oceanic. We went on September 27 this year; Spain was very hot, around 27°C.

The official language of Spain is Spanish. Spaniards are passionate and outgoing, love bullfighting, are keen on flamenco, and it’s the land of the guitar.

Spain is rich in products, especially olives. Along the way, we saw endless olive trees everywhere.

Being surrounded by sea on three sides, it also abounds in seafood. Signature dishes include ham, paella, tapas, and sherry.

In prehistoric times, according to archaeological speculation, it is believed that Africans chasing prey crossed the Strait of Gibraltar to reach Spain. Later, there were continuous invasions by outsiders, primarily Romans, Moors (Muslims, mainly Berbers, Arabs, and Jews), who ruled for a long time. During the height of Moorish rule, the Caliphate of Córdoba split into several kingdoms. The Christian Romans fought back and recaptured Toledo. The marriage of Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon formally united the Kingdom of Spain.

In 1492, Isabella I sponsored Columbus’s voyage, leading to the discovery of the New World. Subsequently, Spain began conquering and colonizing Latin America, becoming a maritime power in the 15th and early 16th centuries. In the late 16th and 17th centuries, due to repeated defeats by England and France, Spain gradually declined. In 1700, Maria Theresa of Spain married Louis XIV’s grandson Philip V, who became king of Spain, transferring power to the French House of Bourbon. Philip V fought wars with France and Austria over the throne, resulting in the loss of much Spanish territory. Later, Napoleon invaded Spain, causing Spain to lose most of its overseas colonies. After the Spanish-American War, Spain lost all its remaining overseas colonies.

In 1837, Isabella II passed a constitutional monarchy bill, officially merging the country into one, naming it "España" (meaning "wild rabbit"), ending more than 300 years of a composite monarchy. Although the monarchy was restored multiple times, Spain remains a constitutional monarchy today.

Spain is also a country rich in culture and art. In literature, there is Miguel de Cervantes, author of the world-famous Don Quixote; in architecture, Antoni Gaudí; in painting, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, Francisco Goya; and in sports, Rafael Nadal.

Nowadays, Spaniards are quite laid-back, considered the laziest in Europe. Their daily schedule is very relaxed: start work at 10 am, break from 2 to 5 pm for lunch, and finish at 8 pm. According to the tour guide, the average income of ordinary working-class Spaniards is around 1,000 euros, civil servants about 4,000, while blue-collar workers doing physical labor earn even more, e.g., bus drivers or truck drivers may earn over 6,000. However, the cost of living in Spain and Portugal is the lowest among developed European countries. Supermarket items generally cost just a few euros: cola for a few cents or 1 euro, bread for a few cents, vegetables 1-3 euros per kg, snacks and toiletries a few cents to 2-3 euros. Reportedly, an apartment in Madrid can be bought for over 100,000 euros. With such low prices, even earning 1,000 euros is enough, so people live comfortably and are therefore lazy—no need for intense competition or hard work.

Due to historical reasons, 96% of Spaniards are Catholic. Catholicism is one of the three major branches of Christianity (Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Protestantism). The division of Christianity arose from the split of the Roman Empire into Eastern and Western Empires, leading to Eastern Orthodoxy in the East and Catholicism in the West. The leader of Eastern Orthodoxy is the Patriarch, but this was rejected by the Pope, leading to a complete split between Eastern Orthodoxy and Catholicism. Later, the Reformation began, and Catholicism further split into new factions that removed some chapters from the Bible, known as Protestantism.

Most Christian churches in China today are Protestant. Protestantism is mainly in Northern Europe, Eastern Orthodoxy in Eastern Europe, and Catholicism has the most followers, mainly in Southern and Western Europe.

Recommended documentaries about Spain: BBC’s "The Art of Spain" and the book Don Quixote.

Brussels is the headquarters of the EU and NATO, and its airport is very busy.

In the suburbs, I loved the roadside houses, many of which were small villas, each unique and beautiful. The rural scenery was also lovely.

We had a meal at a hotel in Belgium. The pasta was delicious, the burgers were large but a bit salty. Generally, the food here is quite salty (I prefer light flavors).

The only Chinese text at Madrid Airport.

Lunch in Madrid was Western food. This fish was extremely fatty; one bite felt like pure oil.

We started touring on the afternoon of the second day. First stop: the Royal Palace of Madrid.

Royal Palace of Madrid (recommended visiting time: 1 day including guided tour)

The Royal Palace of Madrid is the third largest palace in Europe after the Palace of Versailles and the Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna.

In the 9th century, it was a fortress of Arab rulers. Later, it was retaken by Christians and became the residence of successive kings. However, a fire in 1734 burned down the castle. The current palace was rebuilt under Philip V, the first Bourbon king, completed in 1764. His son Charles III was the first monarch to live there. The first statue in the palace square is of Charles III.

The entire palace combines traditional Spanish royal architectural style with Baroque architecture. The interior decoration is mainly Italian style. Stepping inside, the resplendent palace is stunning and awe-inspiring. Unfortunately, photography is not allowed in most interior areas.

There are many rooms, with functions and decor similar to Versailles. I was particularly impressed by the banquet hall, reportedly where the king hosted foreign leaders. The banquet hall is entirely decorated with gold, gleaming throughout, exuding luxury. The guide said the irregularly shaped floor tiles were handcrafted and fitted together, a process complex even by modern standards. One room’s ceiling features a mural with a Chinese story.

In this photo, the four corners depict four goddesses representing earth, water, wind, and fire.

Almost every room’s decor—floors, walls, even ceilings—features intricate and detailed ornamentation. Ceilings typically have murals and plaster moldings; walls are mainly plaster and wainscoting, with gold applied to the surface. The bathrooms also have porcelain learned from China, shaping European-style decorative items using Chinese techniques.

The Royal Palace of Madrid is no longer the residence of the king, but it is still used occasionally to receive distinguished guests. When the king is present, a flag is flown on the roof.

Plaza de España is located in the center of Madrid, bustling with tourists and locals enjoying leisure activities. The most famous features are the statues of Cervantes and his characters Don Quixote and Sancho Panza. I only learned in Spain that "Don Quixote" is actually a title: "Don" is a Spanish honorific, and "Quixote" is his name, so the correct translation is "Lord/Master Quixote."

The square has performances and small shops selling food.

There is a building on Plaza de España that, it is said, Wang Jianlin once bought to build a Wanda project, but it faced strong opposition from Madrid residents, who held protests. He eventually sold it at a low price. This is because many European cities develop outward to the suburbs rather than destroying old city areas; people have deep emotional ties to the old town.

This is the busiest street in downtown Madrid.

Near Plaza de España is an ancient Egyptian temple in a park. Many people sit on the grass chatting and playing leisurely.

In the evening, we ate at a Chinese restaurant nearby. It cost 110 euros for four people, much more expensive than Western food.

Museo del Prado (recommended visiting time: 1-2 days including guided tour)

The Prado Museum can be considered Spain’s artistic temple. The museum is enormous, and the artworks are profoundly impressive. The museum’s masterpiece, "Las Meninas" (The Maids of Honour), is by Diego Velázquez. He pioneered a technique simulating the human eye’s perspective to realistically recreate the observed scene (sharp in the center, blurred at the edges). Moreover, the painter was supposed to paint the king, but instead painted the little princess from the king’s perspective, with the king and queen appearing in a mirror—a clever composition.

Another memorable work is Hieronymus Bosch’s "The Garden of Earthly Delights," illustrating humanity’s greed leading to its own downfall. Goya’s "The Naked Maja" boldly challenged asceticism. The woman in the painting was the wife of a wealthy merchant, who commissioned Goya to paint her portrait. Goya was stunned by her beauty and painted from memory after returning home. When the merchant found out, Goya quickly painted "The Clothed Maja" to avoid his wrath. Comparatively, "The Naked Maja" is more captivating.

In early times, especially the Middle Ages, art served religion, so many paintings had religious themes. Here we also learned some stories from Christianity. Common themes include the birth of Christ, the Annunciation (an angel telling Virgin Mary that God would place his son in her womb), the Trinity of the Father (God Jehovah), the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit (dove), and the Crucifixion of Christ. Art conveyed religious ideas. Photography is not allowed in the museum, so no photos.

The museum is huge; we had limited time, only two hours of guided tour, covering some important works. Additionally, we noticed that many European museums have groups of kindergarten children organized by school teachers to learn inside the museum. It is said that children are exposed to art from a young age. No wonder Europe is a temple of art.

There were also street performers at the museum entrance; there are many such performers across Europe.

Parque del Retiro (recommended visiting time: half a day)

The Retiro Park was built by Philip IV and was once a recreational area for royalty. Now it’s a public park. The park is beautiful and vast, with a Crystal Palace, an artificial lake, and so on. It’s perfect for half a day of leisure.

Plaza Mayor + Mercado de San Miguel (recommended visiting time: 3 hours including meals)

In the afternoon, we went to Plaza Mayor, which has many small shops and restaurants. We had a meal here. We ordered a steak medium-well, which was very good. The paella was a bit salty. We tried some local drinks and cola.

Cola in Europe usually comes with ice and lemon, very tasty. The meal cost 56 yuan.

Near Plaza Mayor is the Mercado de San Miguel.

We tried tapas there—bread topped with various ingredients, many flavors.

Puerta del Sol (recommended visiting time: 1 hour)

Puerta del Sol is semicircular. Viewed from above, streets radiate outward like a sun, hence the name. There is a clock tower; on New Year’s Eve, people gather to listen to the 12 midnight chimes and eat 12 grapes, symbolizing good luck for each month of the coming year.

There is a statue of Charles III.

The square also has the "Kilometer Zero" marker—all Spanish roads are measured from here, and house numbers in Madrid start from this point.

The statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree is the symbol of Madrid.

Toledo (recommended visiting time: 1 day)

Toledo has a history of over 2,000 years. It was once a city under the Roman Empire, the capital of the Visigothic Kingdom, a stronghold of the Caliphate of Córdoba, a frontline between Christian and Moorish forces, and the temporary seat of supreme power under Charles V in the 16th century. Toledo nurtured three distinct civilizations, with three major religions—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—coexisting in this land. Toledo was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986.

Viewed from a distant hill, Toledo is surrounded by a river. The ancients knew how to choose a location. Inside the city, streets and buildings are ancient and rustic. Most houses are made of brick and stone, and the ground is stone. No wonder they have survived for thousands of years. In contrast, Chinese architecture was mainly wooden, often burned down with dynastic changes—a pity.

This is also where Don Quixote set off. Many shops here sell related souvenirs.

Here also stands the high point of Gothic art: Toledo Cathedral. We happened to see a performance.

Consuegra Windmills (recommended visiting time: 0.5 hours)

This is a lesser-known spot, added by the guide as a bonus. Here is where Don Quixote fought the windmills.

These windmills were originally mills, using wind power to grind wheat.

We had lunch at the foot of the hill.

The steak was enormous, equivalent to two portions in China, and very thick.

In the evening, we arrived in Córdoba and checked into a local hotel. The hotel was quite nice.

Great Mosque of Córdoba (recommended visiting time: 1 day including guided tour + town)

The Great Mosque of Córdoba is a UNESCO World Heritage site in Spain and the second largest mosque in the world. It was commissioned by the Moorish ruler Abd al-Rahman I. It mainly consists of the Courtyard of the Orange Trees and the mosque itself. After 1236, it was converted into a church by Catholics, adding Gothic and Renaissance styles to the original Moorish architecture. It took a total of 240 years to complete.

Inside, many structures have arches with round tops, columns below, and lighter upper parts. This was mainly to save space below for prayer.

Because religion holds a pivotal position in Western countries, temples and churches are often the wealthiest, and their buildings are more luxurious.

The streets of Córdoba: the scenery and architecture, likely influenced by Muslims, feature white walls, yellow decorations, and arched shapes, giving a distinct Muslim flair.

This is the Roman Bridge, also the entrance to the city.

Ronda (recommended visiting time: 1 day)

Ronda is described by Hemingway as "the best place to elope." The town sits on a cliff, very unique.

The Puente Nuevo (New Bridge) connects the old town of Ronda, standing above a deep gorge.

There is a path down to a lower point where you can photograph the new bridge.

We had dinner at McDonald’s in Ronda; the burgers were slightly larger than in China.

The Plaza de Toros in Ronda is the birthplace of bullfighting. Spanish bullfighting originated from ancient religious rituals: killing bulls as offerings to gods, later evolving into a performance. Today, Spain has over 300 bullrings, in almost every city.

The bullring is circular and can seat 5,000 spectators. Inside is a bullfighting museum with related costumes and cultural introductions. Although we didn’t see a bullfight—unfortunately—just reading about it felt bloody and cruel. I’m glad we missed it. It reminded me of ancient Chinese emperors hunting for entertainment, exercise, and conquest of nature.

Real Alcázar of Seville (recommended visiting time: half a day including guided tour)

The Alcázar of Seville, built under Pedro I in the 14th century, is also a filming location for the TV series Game of Thrones. We rented an audio guide, but it wasn’t very good. The palace is beautiful.

In Seville, many palm trees are planted.

At one point, my phone was almost lost, but a foreign girl picked it up. When I called, there was a language barrier. Fortunately, she met a Chinese person who helped translate, and the phone was returned. It was incredibly lucky.

Seville Cathedral (recommended visiting time: half a day including guided tour)

Seville Cathedral is one of the three largest churches in the world. It was originally a mosque, later converted into a Gothic Catholic church. The interior is also richly decorated, with many murals. The main altarpiece depicts 36 scenes of Jesus’ birth, passion, and death, extremely ornate.

The sacristy houses Goya’s great work "Saints Justa and Rufina," which is very precious. The work was once torn, and you can still see the stitching marks. The Giralda Tower is another highlight of Seville Cathedral, built during Moorish rule as a minaret. It is 98 meters high. Climbing the ramp to the top offers panoramic views of Seville. The ramps were designed for horses, so they are not stairs, making the ascent relatively easy.

There is also a bell at the top.

In the evening, we had oxtail nearby—it was good, similar to Chinese braised beef brisket with potatoes.

Ice cream from a trendy shop: many trendy spots in Europe are century-old shops. The ice cream was nice; the white milk flavor was delicious.

That evening, not far from the cathedral, we watched a flamenco dance performance. The word "flamenco" comes from Arabic for "fugitive peasant." It originated with the Gypsies (originally possibly from Iran, who loved wandering, so they have many names: Bohemians, Flamencos, etc.), who traveled from India to Spain. The dance was influenced by East Indian and Arabic dance. Since Gypsies wandered, they loved freedom, indulgence, and passion, which is reflected in the dance. Flamenco is also an improvisational performance, usually accompanied by guitar. The term "flamenco" is now also used to describe a life attitude: bohemian, free, and pleasure-seeking.

Seville is also the birthplace of flamenco. It was my first time watching it, but from the dance alone, you can feel the passion and straightforwardness of the Spanish. A striking feature is the forceful stomping of feet, somewhat like tap dancing, with large full-body movements and strong rhythm. On stage, there were three fixed performers: one singer, one guitarist, and one clapper. Three dancers (two women, one man) performed, all perfectly coordinated—hands, feet, music, song, all in sync. The swirling skirts were beautiful.

Metropol Parasol (recommended visiting time: 1 hour)

Metropol Parasol is a modern building, built in 2011. Its shape resembles an umbrella or a mushroom, known as "the umbrella of Plaza de la Encarnación." It is one of the largest wooden structures in the world.

Plaza de España in Seville (recommended visiting time: half a day or more)

This is the most beautiful square I’ve ever seen. Curved classical buildings, emerald green lakes, delicate and elegant arched bridges, vast woodlands, fountains, swans, ducks—absolutely gorgeous.

In the afternoon, we headed to Lisbon.

Belém Tower & Monument to the Discoveries (recommended visiting time: 2 hours, can explore the surroundings or take a boat—boat requires reservation)

Belém Tower sits by the sea, witnessing countless ships’ departures and returns during Portugal's Age of Discovery. Built as a fortress in 1520, it later served as a customs house, telegraph station, and lighthouse.

The Monument to the Discoveries is very close to Belém Tower. You can take a boat by the sea, rest, and spend half a day. The monument was built to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the death of Prince Henry the Navigator. Its shape resembles a prow pointing toward the sea. Engraved on it are statues of Henry, Vasco da Gama, and 80 other sailors, including generals, missionaries, and scientists.

Here are also records of Portugal’s former glory. As shown on the map, Portugal was a maritime power in the 15th-16th centuries, an early empire on which the sun never set, with colonies worldwide, including former Macau in China. This map shows all its former colonies.

Portugal is only 92,000 square kilometers, but if you count its colonies, it was once larger than China. Such a small country, with a population of only about 10 million today, was once so powerful—truly admirable.

Portugal is also the home of pastéis de nata (egg tarts). There is a trendy century-old pastry shop nearby. We tried authentic Portuguese egg tarts.

It’s a shop from 1837. The egg tarts and other sweets were extremely sweet—twice as sweet as those in Hubei, I think. Even I, who loves egg tarts, found it hard to finish.

On the way, we passed a monastery.

Cabo da Roca (recommended visiting time: 0.5 hours)

Cabo da Roca is the westernmost point of mainland Europe. The inscription on the stone tablet reads, in the words of Portuguese poet Luís de Camões: "Where the land ends, the sea begins." Note: It’s very windy and a bit cold there.

On the return trip, we took another road along the coast to see the Atlantic Ocean. There were many seagulls.

The guide added an impromptu stop at a seaside town.

We tried ice cream at another trendy century-old shop—it was good.

Castelo de São Jorge (recommended visiting time: 2 hours)

Castelo de São Jorge is also an ancient building in Lisbon, the highest point in the Alfama district. It was a Moorish fortress during their occupation of Lisbon.

Today, the castle still has some old cannons. Overlooking Lisbon, it’s an excellent vantage point.

There are many peacocks here.

Rua Augusta (recommended visiting time: half a day)

This is a bustling street in Lisbon. The square is by the sea; walking inland takes you to a commercial street. There is also an elevator offering views of Lisbon.

We also experienced the historic Tram 28. Since our guide was inexperienced, this was the worst part of the trip. Note: You don’t need to board at the starting station; you can board at any stop. The starting station has at least an hour wait, but at any intermediate stop, there’s no queue. Also, you don’t need to ride from start to finish; the full route takes over 40 minutes, a waste of time. When we reached the terminus, we didn’t know how to get back. Including the round trip and waiting, it took 3 hours, we had no seats, no food, and were exhausted.

We flew directly from Lisbon to Barcelona, arriving at sunset. So we went up the hill to the Temple Expiatori del Sagrat Cor.

Temple Expiatori del Sagrat Cor (recommended visiting time: 0.5 hours)

This is a Catholic church on a hilltop, offering panoramic views of Barcelona. The sunset glow reflected on the church, making it shine golden and beautiful. It was closed when we arrived, so we couldn’t take the elevator to the top.

The hilltop is also a great place to watch the sunset.

Casa Batlló (recommended visiting time: 2 hours with audio guide)

Casa Batlló is an apartment building designed by Spain’s most famous architect, Antoni Gaudí. The entire building tells a story: a princess trapped in a castle by a dragon, and the Catalan hero Saint George fights and kills the dragon to save her; the dragon’s blood turns into a rose, which Saint George presents to the princess. The facade is covered with colorful ceramic tiles, resembling the dragon’s scales, with stained glass and uniquely designed balconies like masks.

The cross-shaped chimneys represent the hero’s scales; the arched roof is the dragon’s spine.

The interior design is also very creative: dragon-scale stairs, mushroom shapes, skin-like walls, and various curves—it feels like stepping into the battle of Saint George slaying the dragon.

Additionally, Gaudí was skilled in the use of light. He controlled the size of windows, with larger windows on lower floors and smaller ones on upper floors, ensuring equal lighting in every space.

The central courtyard, with its blue ceramic tiles, feels like entering the dragon’s lair under the sea.

This is La Rambla. Buildings line both sides, with a pedestrian promenade in the middle. There are kiosks, flower shops, and restaurants in a row.

Mercat de la Boqueria is also here. We had lunch there.

Black rice with squid—taste was average.

Monument a Colom (recommended visiting time: 1.5 hours including boat ride)

La Rambla leads to the Columbus Monument. Columbus was an Italian navigator who originally intended to go to India for pepper (which was extremely rare and precious in Europe, affordable only by the nobility). Queen Isabella I sponsored his voyage with her dowry, hoping to find pepper, jewels, and other goods. But he accidentally discovered the New World, rewriting world history. Because Columbus discovered the New World and brought back treasures, Spain began its expansion and became a maritime power. Therefore, Spaniards hold Columbus in high regard. In Seville Cathedral, Columbus’s coffin is carried by four kings; in Barcelona, we see a statue of Columbus. Both commemorate his contributions to Spain and the world. The monument was built in 1886 for the Universal Exposition.

At this port, we took a boat ride on the Mediterranean Sea within Barcelona for an hour. It was my first time on such a cruise.

Basilica de la Sagrada Família (recommended visiting time: half a day with audio guide)

Construction of the Sagrada Família began in 1882. It is also a work of Gaudí. The Nativity Facade is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The basilica was not originally designed by Gaudí; another architect designed the crypt, but later Gaudí took over. However, he devoted his life to it without finishing it. Construction continues to this day. Fortunately, Gaudí left all the plans, and it is expected to be completed by 2026, the centenary of his death.

Currently, the Nativity Facade is visible, depicting many stories from the Bible. The opposite side is the Passion Facade. The Glory Facade is not yet finished; it will be the main entrance.

From outside to inside, it feels like walking into a forest, with a forest-like ceiling. Gaudí was again so imaginative—every work has a story and life.

Gaudí was also a master of using light. Different colored lights correspond to the sun’s position around the church.

Museu Picasso (recommended visiting time: half a day with audio guide)

The area where the Picasso Museum is located once housed nobles dating back to the 13th century, so it retains a strong medieval atmosphere: quiet courtyards, ornate walls.

The museum mainly collects Picasso’s early works from Barcelona and Paris. His masterpieces are mostly not here, but some other works are excellent. The most representative is his series inspired by Velázquez’s "Las Meninas," created in his own style.

Seeing so many works, I truly understood what my teacher once said: "Picasso innovated throughout his life." His style changed in every period. The value of art lies in continuous innovation, especially in thought.

This is Barcelona City Hall; across is the Provincial Council.

I heard that Barcelona, being relatively wealthy, has a strong independence movement. The flag on this building is the flag they designed for Barcelona.

The "Wall of Love": from close up, it’s not obvious; from afar, you can see it; even more so in photos.

Barcelona Cathedral: many people, both young and old, were drawing here—a rich artistic atmosphere.

We visited Plaza de España for a quick photo.

Barcelona Airport. It’s worth noting that even the airport reflects Europe’s development: self-service check-in, electronic boarding passes, automatic luggage wrapping, and minimal manual services. This reduces labor costs and improves efficiency.

Even restrooms show the difference: almost all restrooms in Europe, whether at airports or highways, have sensor faucets, sensor soap dispensers, hand dryers, toilet paper, and paper towels—full sets. We didn’t use a single pack of our own tissues.

Paris Airport’s restrooms felt even more stylish and upscale.

Paris Airport also has Chinese signs.

Arc de Triomphe (recommended visiting time: 0.5 hours)

The Arc de Triomphe was built to commemorate Napoleon’s victory at the Battle of Austerlitz in 1806. On the four facades, there are four large reliefs: "The Departure of the Volunteers" (also known as "La Marseillaise"), "The Triumph of 1810," "Peace," and "Resistance."

"The Departure of the Volunteers": The goddess of liberty points the sword forward, leading the people, to commemorate the insurrection of August 10, 1792, which was a milestone in the French Revolution leading to the end of the monarchy.

"The Triumph of 1810": Napoleon returning in victory, surrounded by the goddess of victory, placing an olive wreath on his head and playing celebratory music, recording his great achievements.

"Resistance": Commemorates the French resistance during the War of the Sixth Coalition.

There are many triumphal arches in Europe, but this is the most famous.

The Arc de Triomphe faces the famous Champs-Élysées.

Walking down this avenue leads to Place de la Concorde. Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were executed here. When we visited, it was closed for preparations for the Olympics.

Eiffel Tower (recommended visiting time: half a day; elevators have long queues)

The Eiffel Tower was built for the World’s Fair and the centennial of the French Revolution. Steel represented a nation’s strength, so this iron tower was constructed.

In front of the tower is a large square and lawn. Queuing to go up takes at least 1-2 hours, so we didn’t go up. There is an elevator.

Seine River Cruise (cruise time: 1 hour 20 minutes)

The Seine is the second largest river in France flowing through central Paris. Along its banks are the main commercial and political centers. From the boat, you can see the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Grand Palais, Petit Palais, Les Invalides, the Eiffel Tower, etc.

This is Pont Alexandre III, named after Russian Tsar Alexander III. It connects the Champs-Élysées and the Esplanade des Invalides (Napoleon’s tomb), symbolizing Franco-Russian friendship.

Musée d’Orsay (recommended visiting time: 1-2 days including guided tour)

Europe can be called a temple of art, and Paris is the brightest pearl in that temple. France’s artworks are so numerous that one museum cannot hold them all. Works from prehistory to 1848 are mainly in the Louvre; those from 1848 to 1912 are mainly in the Musée d’Orsay; and works after 1912 are in the Centre Pompidou. In addition, Paris has the Musée de l’Orangerie, Musée Picasso, Petit Palais, and many other museums of various types.

The Musée d’Orsay was originally the Orsay railway station, built for the 1900 Exposition Universelle. After the exposition, it was converted into a national museum. You can still see traces of the station; the former restaurant is preserved. The museum is also huge; a careful visit would take at least 1-2 days. We had a 2-hour guided tour, only seeing major works.

I had heard about Millet’s "The Angelus" and "The Gleaners" from my teacher. They take ordinary working people as subjects, reflecting Millet’s humanistic concern and realistic depiction of life.

This is "The Birth of Venus"; it’s less famous than Botticelli’s version, and the artist is less known. The guide said that famous masters today were obscure in their time. It is said that Venus was born from the sea foam after Zeus’s genitals were cast into the sea. Venus is the Roman goddess of love, equivalent to Aphrodite in Greek mythology, and mother of Cupid.

This work shows the causes of Rome’s decline: behind the building is past glory, but now it’s decadence. This is somewhat similar to the Chinese painting "The Night Revels of Han Xizai."

Manet’s "The Fifer": for the first time, a figure is painted without background or ground—we don’t know where he stands—opening a new dimension in painting.

Another important Manet work is "Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe" (The Luncheon on the Grass). It was controversial at first because it depicted ordinary nudity, but Manet intended to show the real face of society. Eventually, it was accepted and became a world-famous painting.

I had long heard of Monet as the founder of Impressionism. Looking at pictures, I never understood the beauty of Impressionism, but seeing the originals, I truly felt its power. I think the biggest feature of Impressionism is that up close, it looks like random spots; from afar, you see the subject. It leverages the human eye’s ability to focus and interpret, so when viewing, not only does the artist create the work, but the viewer’s eye also participates in creation. You must see the originals to understand. Monet is truly amazing. Additionally, Impressionism emphasizes light and shadow. Monet’s depiction of light and shadow is very realistic. Before Monet, many painted shadows as black, but Monet noticed that shadows aren’t always black; he used light blue to represent shadows, very true to life. Monet also deeply influenced Van Gogh.

Similar to Impressionism is Pointillism, which is more detailed. Honestly, I still prefer Monet’s works.

We saw Van Gogh’s "Starry Night Over the Rhône." At this time, Van Gogh’s mind was relatively calm, so the scene is beautiful and serene, completely different from "The Starry Night."

Palace of Versailles (recommended visiting time: at least 2 days including guided tour)

Versailles was built under Louis XIV. It is enormous, covering 1.1 million square meters (including the garden, the largest palace in the world). It is also one of the world’s five great palaces (the others: Forbidden City 720,000 sq m, Versailles, Buckingham Palace, White House, Kremlin). Here, we learned more about Louis XIV, the French monarch. He shared some similarities with Emperor Kangxi: he ascended the throne at age 5, reigned for 72 years, the longest of any sovereign in world history. Under his rule, he established an absolute monarchy that lasted until the French Revolution. His three major wars made him the hegemon of Western Europe, but the war burden lost him his reputation in his later years.

Because of his many achievements, the palace he built displays extreme luxury, wealth, and status. Versailles is even more magnificent than the Royal Palace of Madrid. The palace is huge, with grand and lavish interiors. The apartments of the queen, king, and others are almost entirely gilded, and even the gates are gold.

Versailles is mainly classical in architectural style; the interior decoration is primarily Louis XIV’s Baroque style, with some Louis XV Rococo elements.

Two princess rooms, the Grand Hall, the queen’s room all gilded.

We also saw painted Chinese scenes.

A small part of the garden. We used an audio guide for over 4 hours but didn’t finish. The garden is even larger; it might take a day to walk through. We estimate the garden could take 2 days, and the palace at least one day. Versailles also has restaurants where you can eat when tired.

At noon, we had authentic French cuisine at a century-old restaurant.

Foie gras: not to my taste.

Oysters: they were really raw; better with lemon, but still bitter without—not to my taste.

Snails: not to my taste.

Fish: very good, the best dish of the meal.

Mashed potatoes: okay.

French local wine.

I still prefer cola.

Dessert: crème brûlée, good.

Mille-feuille: okay.

In the afternoon, we went shopping for souvenirs, bought chocolates, etc.

Louvre Museum (recommended visiting time: at least 2 days including guided tour)

The Louvre is the world’s largest museum (along with the British Museum, the Hermitage, and the Metropolitan Museum). Built in 1204, it was originally a royal palace, one of the most precious examples of French classicism, now converted into a museum. The Louvre is also huge; the guide said a thorough visit would take a month.

First we visited less crowded galleries. This work shows Alexander the Great meeting the philosopher Diogenes. Alexander asked if he needed help; Diogenes replied, “Don’t block my sun.” Alexander was astonished and immediately stepped aside, showing the magnanimity of a great ruler. At the same time, this work uses the past to comment on the present, suggesting the king at the time was similarly gracious.

This sculpture depicts a man who, ignoring advice, tried to split a tree with his bare hands and got his hand stuck, then was bitten by a lion—overreaching.

This is Napoleon, the great figure of France and Europe.

This is the Code of Hammurabi, somewhat similar to English common law: recording past cases as references for later generations.

This is cuneiform script, existing over 3,000 BCE, partially deciphered.

These are work tags indicating positions, etc.

This is the important Mesha Stele, recording the war between the Israelites and Moabites in the Bible. It was once discovered but mistakenly thought useless and smashed into pieces. Now reconstructed; fortunately, a rubbing of the text was made before the damage, preserving it.

This is a 7,000-year-old standing figure from the Mediterranean, on loan to the Louvre.

These are French royal jewels and treasures.

This is a sugar box, delicate—the figure carries sugarcane, because sugar comes from sugarcane.

This is impressive: the clock, globe, and solar system above can all rotate. An ancient timekeeping device—amazing.

These are porcelains learned from China but made in their own style.

This is a cross-legged scribe recording something. An ancient Egyptian artifact.

This is Akhenaten of ancient Egypt. He was unique, not liking conventional forms, so he had himself depicted this way.

Actually, he looked like this.

This hall is very luxurious, with many gold and jewels. The queen’s crown here, diamonds.

This work is Veronese’s "The Wedding at Cana," depicting Jesus and his disciples attending a wedding, where Jesus turned water into wine. Interestingly, the bride and groom sit in the lower left corner looking at us—not in the center, a secondary position, showing respect for the guests. The glowing figure in the center is Jesus.

The Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci is the museum’s masterpiece, a Renaissance representative. It was incredibly crowded; we couldn’t get close. I had learned that da Vinci broke the medieval tradition of painting only gods by depicting an ordinary woman, daring to paint below the abdomen for the first time, breaking old ideas and promoting attention to humanity. Also, the eyes are fascinating—wherever you stand, she seems to look at you.

This is Pygmalion: his statue came to life.

The Coronation of Napoleon: in the painting, Napoleon crowns himself, ignoring the Pope (sitting behind him), showing his power. The old woman in the center is his mother, but she was already dead; the painter included her to flatter Napoleon.

"Winged Victory of Samothrace": a marble sculpture from 200 BCE of the goddess Victory. The head and arms are missing, but the drapery is natural and realistic, representing the supreme art of ancient Greece.

"Venus de Milo" by Alexandros of Antioch: also an ancient Greek marble sculpture. It was discovered by a farmer; a Frenchman bribed the farmer and removed the statue, but the Turks fought for it, and in the struggle, the arms broke, resulting in its current form. In fact, many items in the Louvre were looted by France. However, some small places couldn’t preserve, excavate, or research their artifacts; France did preserve them properly. Regardless, they are the fruits of human wisdom, and whoever holds them should cherish and protect them.

This is a hermaphrodite: originally a couple, turned into one being by the gods.

The exterior of the Louvre. It’s huge. We only saw part of it with a 3-hour guided tour, already impressive. The glass pyramid is the work of the renowned Chinese-American architect I. M. Pei.

At lunch, we had steak and fish. The fish was good, the steak also good.

This trip was very rewarding. I learned about Western religion, art, culture, etc. It was truly eye-opening. Westerners’ emphasis on culture is something we should learn from, unlike our tendency to only memorize facts, with few creating true art. But I also noticed that the former glory seems to have slowed the pace of development in these developed countries. Perhaps because they are too wealthy, work and life are not as busy as ours. Life is more about pleasure and leisure. This seems to be a pattern, repeated through Chinese dynasties. Like the painting of ancient Rome, excessive indulgence in pleasure leads to decline.

Travelogue Directory:

1. Notes before departure

2. Day 1–3 (Business): Beijing → Brussels → Northern France → Madrid

3. Day 4: Madrid: Prado Museum → Retiro Park

4. Day 5: Toledo

5. Day 6: Córdoba: Great Mosque → Ronda

6. Day 7: Seville: Alcázar, Cathedral

7. Day 8: Seville: Metropol Parasol, Plaza de España → Lisbon: Belém Tower, Monument to the Discoveries

8. Day 9: Lisbon: Cabo da Roca → Rua Augusta → Castelo de São Jorge → Tram 28

9. Day 10: Barcelona: Temple Expiatori del Sagrat Cor

10. Day 11: Barcelona: Casa Batlló → La Rambla → Boqueria Market → Columbus Monument → Mediterranean cruise → Sagrada Família

11. Day 12: Barcelona: Picasso Museum → Paris

12. Day 13: Paris: Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées, Place de la Concorde, Eiffel Tower, Seine cruise, Musée d’Orsay

13. Day 14: Paris: Versailles, shopping

14. Day 15: Paris: Louvre

15. Summary

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