Speaking as a Brit, Spain is a nearby playground that beckons us with its promise of sunlit beaches. Since the early 1960's, thousands of us Brits and Germans too, have taken a Spain vacation on cheap package deals. Cheap beer and sun were always a winning combination.
More recently, Spain has been trying to attract a different sort of clientele to the usual gangs of young guys and gals hunting for sex, sun, and surf. Accommodation complexes are being built with families in mind, and more luxury apartments for older, middle class people who want to play tennis and golf on their Spain vacation.
On a recent Spain vacation, my husband and I were shocked to see the amount of construction going on. If they develop much further, there won't be any mountain left in some areas. It's almost impossible to take a photograph without a crane somewhere on the horizon.
For me, there are two types of Spain vacation, and they might as well be on different planets. In the popular coastal resorts, everything is geared up for the British visitor. The Brits can drink British beer in British theme pubs, follow their favorite soap operas, watch soccer matches from the English League on the pub TV, and eat traditional British food in the cafes. The only attempt to engage with Spanish culture is to eat a giant plateful of paella.
The other type of Spain vacation is the one that I can enthusiastically recommend. I call this the real Spain, the Spain that isn't ashamed to be Spanish and where each region proudly shows off its own particular cultural heritage.
The capital city Madrid is a good place to start for a Spain vacation. It's a modern city with a fascinating past and some of the best museums in the world. The region of Catalonia in the Northeast has its own distinct identity and language. Its jewel is Barcelona, where the feted architect Antoni Gaudi designed his wonderfully, eccentric buildings. If you are a fan of artist Salvador Dali, there is a superb museum dedicated to him in his hometown of Figueres.
Andalucia is another fascinating regional destination for a Spain vacation. In the Southwest of the country, the legacy of the Arabs who conquered the area is everywhere, leaving behind beautiful Islamic castles and palaces. The towns of Granada, Cordoba and Seville are enchanting.
Spain is an amazing country, especially when you go inland and start to explore. A Spain vacation has its modern attractions too, with excellent shopping, bars, and restaurants. Soccer is a passion, and fans of the sport will enjoy a tour of the Nou Stadium, where the Barcelona team play. There is a museum there that charts the history of the club. For me, it is the culture of the country that draws me back. In addition to Dali, Spain also produced Goya, Picasso and Miro. A Spain vacation will leave many memories of beautiful churches and cathedrals.
The Spanish food is pretty good, too. I don't want to eat British food when I go there. I don't want them to make me feel at home. I want to feel that I am in Spain. Otherwise, why did I go on a Spain vacation...
Author of this article is Glenn Low. For more articles visit the website: Travellers' Guidebook.
