Things to Do in Madrid

From art to entertainment, the Spanish capital has something for everyone
馬德里必修學分 - 從藝術到娛樂，各式各樣的遊客都能在西班牙 首都馬德里嚐到旅遊之樂.

Look at a map of Spain and point at the center. You've located the country's capital and one of Europe's most beautiful cities: Madrid. This popular destination is considered a city of contrasts because it abounds with historic sites resting in the shadows of modern skyscrapers.

History
This city of over 3 million people boasts Western Europe's largest royal palace, and some consider it to be Madrid's most beautiful building.

Inside the Royal Palace 2,800 rooms are decorated in splendor, with museum-quality furniture and artwork. Tourists can tour 50 of these lavish rooms. In the Royal Palace Gardens, people can gaze on staues and sculptures or relax by the reflecting pond.

Art
The Internationally respected Prado Museum is the largest and most impressive art gallery in Spain. Opened in 1819, it is filled with works of art that feature the world's most comprehensive collection of Spanish paintings.

Shopping
Madrid has some of Europe's shopping, and potential buyers love to browse the stores looking for bargains. But for 500 years, shoppers have flocked to an immense outdoor flea market know as the Rastro, where they find everything from antiques to CDs.

A taste of Egypt
Visitors strolling through the Parque del Deste will come upon a little bit of Egypt in the heart of Spain - the Debot Temple. Originally located in southern Egypt, the structure was donated  to Spain in 1968, rebuilt and opened to the public in 1972.

Entertainment
No trip to Madrid is complete without seeing a performance of Spain's famous art form, flamenco. Every day, flamenco performers sing, dance or play the guitar in small cafe's and grand theaters alike. Over the years, famous celebrities have traveled to Madrid to see this famous folk art.

Food
Madrid has a wide assortment of restaurants, but because the Spanish typically eat late - around 9 or 10 p.m. - it's difficult to find good dinner food earlier. If you get hungry before then, the best solution is to try a tapas bar where light snacks are served. Be sure to try the jamon, dry-cured ham; Spain is famous for it.

Time for a break
After a day of touring, relax in 350-acre Retiro Park, with its beautiful gardens, fish pond and lake. It is the perfect place to reflect on all you've enjoyed in this marvelous Spanish city.

Grammar Gym:
"This city of over 3 million people boasts Western Europe's largest royal palace."
boasts - to talk with too much pride about something.
boast - how a certain place has something special or wonderful in that area, or something is famous about it.
*This restaurant boasts the best steaks in town.
*This amusement park boasts the scariest roller coaster rides.

Vocabulary Tips:
abound - a lot of something, full of it with something. God is abound in love.充满，充足。
*Rumors abound about the reason why the singer suddenly retired.
abound in - where has abound in something, where is place in the front of the sentence. 什么地方充满什么。要把地方先放在最前头，然后加abound in。
*Paris abounds in delicious restaurants and cafes.
splendor (n) - awesome and beautiful. impressive the beauty. splendid (adj)壮观，辉煌。
*The film reproduced the splendor of Ancient Greece.重现往日（旧时）的辉煌
*We sat on the beach admiring the splendor of the sunset.欣赏落日的余晖。
*Many visitors were amazed by the splendor of the cathedral. (by the splendor of the mountain.) 大教堂。
comprehensive -  included a lot of details, include majority of something, or cover the most of it.广泛的，无所不在的，无不包括的。全面性的。
*The patient needs a comprehensive physical exam.
*The author's guidebooks are the most comprehensive ones as far as I know.
immense - huge, big, very large, heavy amount....广大的， 浩瀚的。
*There's still immense work to be done to restore the town damaged by the bombing.庞大的工作要去完成。。
*Amanda gets immense joy by helping people in need.广大的乐趣。
contrast - very different.
in the shadows of something  - under something or someone's shadows.
someone is in the shadow of someone else.- someone else is someone's model.
stroll - take time to walk around, not in a hurry. 闲晃，漫步。（不及物动词+介系词+受词）
*We strolled down the street after lunch.
*While strolling in town, we found several interesting stores.
performer (n) - who is performing the work.表演者，表演的人。 perform (v) -表演。
*The circus performers all came from Russia.
performance (n) - 表演，演出。
*The dancers' outstanding performance won them the first prize.
assortment - varieties. many different things. 分类，类别，五花八门，形形色色，花色，品种，各式各样。
*The store offers a good assortment of ingredients for Italian cuisine.
assort (v) -整理，或分类，分配。
*Tanya's clothes are assorted by season.
marvelous - great, wonderful, splendid.非凡的，令人惊奇的，惊叹的。
marvel - wondering on something.
*The actor's marvelous interpretation of the character touched the entire audience.
*The result of the treatment is marvelous.
come upon ....- didn't expected but just happen to see or find out something... come upon a deer while I am taking a walk.
no something is complete without something.- you must see or do while you visit or your trip is not really complete.

Language Tips:
flea market -跳蚤市场，旧时买卖二手货的地方。最早起于法国的巴黎。名字由来是因为二手货旧东西，家具等大多藏有跳蚤之类的虫子。
bring and buy sale /  car boot sale -英国人对‘跳蚤市场’的称呼。美国则为truck,trunk boot sale.
trash and treasure markets. -澳洲人对‘跳蚤市场’的称呼。意思是在别人的废弃物中挑选自己想要的东西。在废弃物中寻宝贝。
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西班牙人因为晚餐吃的很晚，大多在晚上九，十点钟才吃。所以他们一天吃五餐，以少量多餐为主：
1：早上的咖啡点心。
2：11：30 分左右的上午点心。
3：下午二点左右的午餐。
4：傍晚6点左右的点心。
5：晚上九，十点钟的晚餐。






Notes taking of Studioclassroom