"Bienvenido a Espana - Welcome to Spain." Top 5 Page for this destination Spain by Beach_dog

Spain Travel Guide: 63,926 reviews and 129,579 photos

How I came to love Spain.

My first involvement with this country was as a child. I lived here from 1969 until 1971, my father brought the family over from Wales during the period he was working here. Some years later in the mid 1990´s I started visiting Spain for vacations (often 2 or 3 times a year), my interest in the country was rekindled, often visiting places I had seen as a child and of which I had fond memories.

In June 2002 at the London VT meeting I met VT member Carmela71 (Carmen), to cut a long story short, in October 2003 I moved to Spain, where we both now live in Marbella.

I love to travel around the country and most months we fit in trips to other regions, cities or the countryside. I love the Spanish way of life, the food, the people, the culture and customs of the country fascinate me. I have this past year been learning the language, its not easy and I´m far from being perfect, but I manage to get by day to day.

Spains Geography and History.

One of Spains roadside bulls.

Geographically Spain occupies the larger part of the Iberian peninsula, the other part being Portugal to the west. The Peninsula being surrounded by Cantabrian Sea (Biscay) in the north, The Atlantic Ocean to the west and south west. Meditteranean Sea to the east and south. It is separated from France by the Pyranee mountains in the north east. Morocco is a close neighbour in the south across the Straights of Gibraltar. Spain has many mountain regions and its climate is quite varied across its regions, due to its geography. The Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands are also part of the country, so to are the cities of Melilla and Ceuta on the north coast of Africa.

Historically Spain has been influenced by succesive groups of peoples, Greeks, Phoenicians, Celts, Romans, Visigoths, and Moors . This in many ways explains the complex nature of the various regions and its people. These successive groups of peoples have all left there mark on the landscape, Spain has a rich heritage of sites representing every period of history from the Pre-historic to the present day. I will add tips to give an idea of the best of historic sites that may be worth visiting.

Spain Today.

Autonamous regions of Spain.

Since the mid 1970´s Spain has been a Parliamentary Monarchy governed from the capital of Madrid. It has been divided in 17 Autonomous Communities, who each have regional governments to regulate their internal affairs. Spain is no longer the poorer neighbour in Western Europe that it was seen as in the 50's and 60's. In the 1960´s tourists discovered the Spanish costas, bringing in much needed revenue, but also altering the coastlines greatly. Today with membership of the European Union it is a modern and economically strong country.

One of Spain's appeals are that it has managed to keep many of its older customs and traditions, especially so outside the cities, but modernity is encroaching. Let us hope that they can preserve this for a little longer. it.

Pros and Cons

Pros: Offers so much for the traveller, history, art, architecture and spectacular scenery.
Cons: Avoid package holidays to the costa's, if you want to see real Spain.
In a nutshell: Culturally very diverse, there is no such thing as 'typical Spain'.

Intro Updated Feb 2, 2005
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Reviews (78)

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Comments (93)

aussirose Oct 1, 2010 at 9:58 AM Report Abuse

Hi Stace. Looking forward to visiting Spain after the big Paris meet next year. Just started checking out pages and trying to work out a driving itinery. I'll be back to see more of your pages here. Hugs, Ann xx
Marisola Jul 11, 2010 at 3:43 PM Report Abuse

Felicidades España! Great Game! World Cup Champions!
blint Dec 6, 2007 at 6:08 AM Report Abuse

You forgot to mention the Spanish trait of naming their kids after themselves. Daddy Pablo , son Pablo for example!!! Long time no speak. Take care!
hotsauce28 May 19, 2007 at 10:15 AM Report Abuse

so.... now what?
fairy_dust Sep 7, 2006 at 4:36 PM Report Abuse

I love Spain, and will be returning this spring, hopefully for 2-3 months. I love your descriptions on the food (LOVE Spanish food!). Sevilla, here I come!
kymbanm Apr 4, 2006 at 1:57 AM Report Abuse

Well, I"ve met 3 out of 5 proposed candidates ...... they are more sweet pops than sugar daddies :)
funnybeee Feb 21, 2006 at 12:46 PM Report Abuse

Me too, green suits me well!!! Hahahahaaaa! Beee
jo104 Oct 26, 2005 at 1:34 AM Report Abuse

thanks for the ton of info you have on Spain, can't wait to meet the infamous / famous beachdog in Jan right here in the big smoke - Jo :-)
TinKan Jul 31, 2005 at 12:57 PM Report Abuse

GREAT page... I enjoy reading what you have written and the stories you put into the tips. Hope Spain is all you had hoped for. Enjoy life with all that it has to offer.
Bangkokjoe Jun 15, 2005 at 3:59 AM Report Abuse

I do appreciate all your "arch photos shots" and informative writing. Keep your head down on Trafalgar Day... Cheers, el gordo.