博客何飛：@Madrid

I just came back from my summer holiday in Madrid and whenever I talk to any friends about my recent trip, they all look baffled about my high frequency of travel to this city, as if, it were my second home. And that’s interestingly, true-whenever I have an international trip to make, I always find a way to drop by this city-either choosing it as a transit hub, if my final destination is Central or South America or pinning it as the departure city for returning home. I just love it.

But, “I just love it” doesn’t really seem to satisfy their curiosity about my taste, as if it were something too exotic, out of ordinary senses, perhaps a bit “mindless” or simply put it “not me”. In that regard, I decided to spend some time doing a meditation and trying to tune back onto a more mindful level, feeling less crazy and hoping that I’d be able to give a clearer answer about my love affair with Madrid. Fragments of moment started to come up on my mind as soon as I closed my eyes during this empty moment when I was supposed not to think of anything but the breath: History, Diversity, Museum, Cycling, Neighborhoods, Lake, Sun, Boating, The Green, Shopping, Metro, Creativity, Food, and Hola-it’s a nice collage.

Madrid is a city where residence of all sorts of background come together to form this vibrant city. It’s a lively and living city –a city whose urban planning and development aims to evolve with the residence’s needs, not the tourists; Tourists go there to enjoy and feel the unique fabric of the city, and that even the American tourists are of no exception-I overheard the American parents asking their children to speak Spanish to the lady at the kiosk nearby Paseo del Prado and I see a lot of tourists also go around the city with their bikes. In a moment or so, I can’t tell which one is local and which one isn’t. Though the economic crisis hit the country really hard but whenever there is a crisis, there is a new window of opportunity –and that’s what happening in Madrid. The city is in a process of restoration and transformation. It’s a European version of New York City, with unique ethnical neighborhoods and micro-societies such as Lavapies. And, just like Central Park, the Retiro Park in Madrid is a city retreat –for families, friends, couples, tourists, or simply solo; for picnic, bike tour, boating, or just resting on the green patches and reading a book in one of the sunny afternoons. Madrid is an open-minded city wherein a lot of experimenting projects are happening, from bringing a beach to a restaurant in Malasaña to turning the courtyard of Matadero Madrid Art Centre into a communal living room. And, Spanish design, for me, is thrilling, inspirational and of perspective. Passion and elegance are 2 common denominators I find in their unique design-and they excel with their seamless application on different objects and commercial products. I’m not sure if I can find any more choices of these unusual shapes and elements of design elsewhere.

The introduction of BiciMAD also gives birth to a new streets scene of the city and cyclists take over it with their own kinds of bike, at their own pace, commuting here and there with ease and freedom. But, even for those who still prefer taking public transportation, the Metro system of the city is world class and convenient. Otherwise, like New York City, Madrid is a walkable city and for someone like me who can’t live without being around the Sun, I find walking a real joy. And, it’s especially true if you plan the day for shopping, because you’d have missed out a lot of hidden treasures if you make yourself go underground, just travel from point A to B–and that’s exactly another thing about Madrid: it inspires people to live a more open and spontaneous life, encourage them from having a more adventurous spirit. And, the welcoming “Hola” people exchange with each other, just make the city looks even more socially inclusive and delighting.

As to Food, it is something we don’t even have to discuss for a city like Madrid. I say, Food, is because people don’t have to go to the famous, stars or fine-dining restaurants to enjoy the sumptuous meals. The “Mercado” culture is both popular and authentic; local tapas restaurants and Taverns are both atmospheric and full of life. All we need to worry is to have a decisive mind with us: should we go to Mesón del Champiñon or Stop Madrid? -it’s truly a mind-training and self-exploration exercise.

And, yesterday, I came across a television commercial featured an African sportsman. It narrates his global-trotting career success. In the end, the line goes: where you go is who you are-and I’d say, it is also about our art of living.