中转马德里回家 – Layover in Madrid

2026年6月5-6日，星期五-六，2026北部意大利之旅的第十五和十六天

June 5–6, 2026, Friday–Saturday – Days 15 and 16 of Our Northern Italy Trip

星期五 – Friday

今天终于到了离开的日子，十四天的意大利北部之旅正式画上句号。我们的下一站是西班牙马德里，在那里停留一晚后再继续返程。早上，民宿帮我们预约的出租车9点15分准时到达门口。本以为二十分钟左右就能轻松抵达机场，没想到车子开出不到两分钟，就遇上了严重堵车。前方车辆完全停滞，一动不动。司机见状甚至下车帮忙指挥前面的车辆挪出一点空间，然后带着我们穿梭小巷试图绕行。可惜好景不长，开了几分钟后又陷入新的车阵里。这一次堵得更彻底。司机不断向路边经过的行人打听情况，最后得知是一辆电动车停在路中央无法移动，导致周边道路几乎全部瘫痪。我们坐在车里干着急，看着时间一点点流逝，开始担心会不会赶不上飞机。好在过了一段时间，警察终于赶到现场疏导交通，车流开始缓慢恢复。原本二十分钟左右的路程，硬生生开了五十多分钟才到机场。当然，车费竟然达到了70欧元，比我们从机场到民宿时的二十多欧元贵了三倍多。不过考虑到司机一路积极想办法绕路、下车协调交通，我们还是额外给了他5欧元小费。没想到到了机场才发现，我们的航班居然晚点了两个小时。刚才一路上的紧张和焦虑瞬间变得有些好笑，算是白白担心了一场。我在机场点了一份现做的意大利肉酱面做午餐。

Friday

Today was finally departure day, bringing our fourteen-day journey through Northern Italy to an official close. Our next stop was Madrid, Spain, where we would spend one night before continuing home.

The taxi arranged by our Airbnb arrived promptly at 9:15 a.m. We expected an easy twenty-minute ride to the airport, but less than two minutes after leaving, we ran into a massive traffic jam. The cars ahead were completely stopped. Seeing the situation, the driver even got out to help direct traffic, creating just enough space to squeeze through narrow side streets in an attempt to bypass the congestion.

Unfortunately, after only a few minutes, we became trapped in another traffic jam, this one even worse. The driver repeatedly asked passing pedestrians what was happening and eventually learned that an electric vehicle had become stranded in the middle of the road, bringing much of the surrounding area to a standstill.

We sat anxiously in the taxi, watching the minutes tick by and worrying that we might miss our flight. After some time, the police finally arrived to direct traffic, and the roads slowly began moving again. What should have been a twenty-minute trip ended up taking almost an hour.

The fare came to €70—more than three times the little over €20 we had paid for the ride from the airport to our Airbnb. Still, considering how hard the driver worked to find alternate routes and even got out to help manage traffic, we gave him an additional €5 tip.

Ironically, when we arrived at the airport, we discovered that our flight had been delayed by two hours. All the stress and anxiety from the taxi ride suddenly seemed rather funny – we had worried for nothing.

For lunch at the airport, I ordered a freshly made plate of Italian Bolognese pasta.

经过两个小时的飞行，我们顺利抵达马德里机场。随后搭乘出租车前往酒店，大约半个多小时便到达了市区。马德里的机场出租车实行统一收费政策，从机场前往市区范围内固定收费33欧元，无论具体目的地在哪里。相比Uber，这个价格相当有竞争力，而且机场的运营和管理也十分规范，整个乘车过程都很顺畅。

安顿好行李后，我们来到酒店附近的一个小广场觅食，终于又一次吃上了西班牙小菜（Tapas）。说来有趣，前几次来西班牙时，我对Tapas一直没有太多好感，总觉得每家店卖的都是差不多的东西，吃来吃去有些重复。但这一次终于遇到了几道不一样的菜，每一道都很有特色，味道也相当不错，让我对西班牙小菜有了新的认识。傍晚的小广场格外热闹，餐桌几乎摆满了露天区域，人们聊天、喝酒、享受晚餐，空气中充满了轻松愉快的气息。我们坐在那里慢慢吃着晚饭，看着来来往往的人群，感受着马德里夜晚的活力。虽然已经离开了意大利，但那种属于欧洲的悠闲与热闹依然没有改变，一时之间，竟没有已经到了另一个国家的感觉。

After a two-hour flight, we arrived safely at Madrid Airport. We then took a taxi to our hotel, reaching the city center in just over half an hour. Madrid’s airport taxis operate under a flat-rate system, charging a fixed fare of €33 for trips from the airport to anywhere within the city center. Compared with Uber, the price is quite competitive, and the airport transportation system is very well organized, making the entire journey smooth and hassle-free.

After settling into our hotel, we headed to a small square nearby to find something to eat and finally enjoyed Spanish tapas once again. Interestingly, during my previous visits to Spain, I had never been particularly fond of tapas. It always seemed that every restaurant served more or less the same dishes, making the experience feel repetitive. This time, however, we discovered several different specialties, each with its own unique character and excellent flavor, giving me a whole new appreciation for Spanish tapas.

The little square was especially lively in the evening, with outdoor tables nearly full as people chatted, drank, and enjoyed dinner. The atmosphere was relaxed and full of energy. We lingered over our meal, watching the crowds pass by and soaking in the vibrant nightlife of Madrid. Although we had already left Italy, the easygoing pace and lively spirit that define so much of Europe remained unchanged. For a moment, it hardly felt like we had entered a different country at all.

左边是吞拿鱼番茄沙拉，这是我上次在巴塞罗那吃过后一直念念不忘的一道菜。这次终于又吃到了，依旧是新鲜的番茄配上鲜美的吞拿鱼，简单却非常美味。右边是烤洋蓟配火腿，这是一道让我颇为惊喜的菜。整颗洋蓟都可以食用，经过烘烤后带着浓郁的焦香和淡淡的甜味，再搭配火腿的咸香，层次丰富，非常好吃。

On the left is a tuna and tomato salad, a dish I had been craving ever since I first tried it in Barcelona. I was delighted to find it again on this trip. The fresh tomatoes paired with flavorful tuna create a simple yet incredibly delicious combination.

On the right is roasted artichoke with ham, a dish that pleasantly surprised me. The entire artichoke is edible, and roasting brings out its rich, smoky flavor along with a subtle sweetness. Paired with the savory ham, it creates a wonderfully balanced and deeply satisfying dish.

左边是番茄牛油果沙拉，上面覆盖着一层会流动的浓郁芝士，对我来说芝士味太重了。右边是煎鸡蛋配土豆、幼鳗和虾。在西班牙美食文化中，这种食材被称为安古拉斯（Angulas），是真鳗鲡幼鱼，因野生资源极其稀缺、捕捞困难，价格甚至可与鱼子酱和松露相提并论。现在许多餐厅使用的是由鱼糜制成的替代品，看起来几乎一模一样。非常美味，鸡蛋、土豆、海鲜和蒜香融合在一起，是一道很有西班牙特色的小菜。

On the left is a tomato and avocado salad topped with a layer of rich, gooey cheese. For my taste, the cheese flavor was a bit too strong.

On the right is a dish of fried egg with potatoes, baby eels, and shrimp. In Spanish cuisine, these tiny eels are known as angulas—the juvenile form of the European eel. Because wild angulas are extremely scarce and difficult to harvest, they can be as expensive as caviar or truffles. Today, many restaurants serve a substitute made from fish paste that looks almost identical. Regardless, the dish was absolutely delicious. The combination of egg, potatoes, seafood, and garlic created a flavorful tapa that felt distinctly Spanish.

星期六 – Saturday

昨天入住时，酒店工作人员提醒我们，由于教皇即将到访马德里，今天市区部分道路会实行交通管制，建议提前出发，并搭乘地铁前往机场。于是早上8点，我们便拖着行李离开市区。从酒店出发，需要先乘坐10号线，再换乘8号线前往机场，票价5欧元每人，外加2.5欧元的机场线附加费。30多分钟便抵达了机场。如今机场的出入境流程基本都已实现自助化，过海关时大多使用自助闸机和人脸识别系统。不过有些机器的反应速度实在不敢恭维，排队时眼看着前面的人站在那里等待机器“思考”，感觉还有不少提升空间。完成值机、安检和出境手续后，我们终于可以放松下来，坐进西班牙国家航空的贵宾休息室。连续十多天的旅行即将接近尾声，此刻终于有种真正踏上回家路的感觉。

When we checked in yesterday, the hotel staff warned us that the Pope would be visiting Madrid today and that parts of the city would be closed to traffic. They recommended leaving early and taking the metro to the airport instead. So at 8:00 a.m., we dragged our sleepy asses and luggage out of the hotel. From the hotel, we took Metro Line 10 and then transferred to Line 8 for the airport. The fare was €5 per person, plus a €2.50 airport surcharge. In just over 30 minutes, we arrived at the terminal.

Nowadays, most airport immigration procedures have become self-service, relying on automated gates and facial recognition technology. However, some of the machines leave a lot to be desired. While waiting in line, we watched passengers standing motionless as the machines seemed to “think” for what felt like forever, making it clear that there is still plenty of room for improvement.

After completing check-in, security, and exit immigration, we were finally able to relax and settle into the Iberia lounge. After more than 15 days of traveling, our journey was drawing to a close, and for the first time, it truly felt like we were on our way home.