"Thank you for your advice, Your Highness," Princess Maria said with impeccable courtesy.
Prince Maxim waved a hand. "It was nothing. Next, let me introduce Rhine City to you."
"Rhine City's history is far shorter than that of Saint Petersburg in your Russia. It has only been built for a little over a decade, yet it is one of the fastest-growing cities in East Africa."
"Your Highness Alexei, how do you think Rhine City compares with Saint Petersburg in terms of urban construction?" Maxim asked Prince Alexei.
Prince Alexei said, "Saint Petersburg is more ancient and carries a profound historical heritage, while Rhine City looks very new. Its roads are broad, and it has more tall buildings than Saint Petersburg."
"Besides that, Rhine City's buildings seem uneven and varied, which differs greatly from Saint Petersburg's design. Many buildings in Saint Petersburg are more orderly and look rather cut from the same cloth."
Princess Maria said from the side, "Your Highness Maxim, Rhine City's construction is indeed distinctive, just as Alexei said. It differs from most cities we have seen before. I feel that East African cities seem to lie somewhere between Europe and America."
"Although I have never been to the United States, I have seen quite a few American pictures and films. New York in particular left a deep impression on me. It has many skyscrapers."
"European cities, meanwhile, appear more ancient and classical, lacking New York's striking impact. East African cities fall between the two, with traditional and modern buildings reflecting one another in splendor."
"Rhine City is like that. It has broken free of many stylistic constraints found in European urban architecture, yet it is not as bold as America."
Maxim said with a smile, "That is an excellent summary. East Africa's architectural characteristics have actually been