"The Clock Does Not "Rule" in Spain" Top 5 Page for this destination Spain by deecat

Spain Travel Guide: 64,310 reviews and 130,675 photos

View of gorge from our hotel in Ronda - Spain

Natural Zest For Life

I was so surprised after visiting Spain to realize how much diversity this wonderful country displays. For instance, it has both the Atlantic and the Mediterranean coastlines; unbelievably, there are four official languages spoken; there are 17 autonomous regions in Spain; and architecture which copies North African Moors, Gothic and Romanesque from France, and Renaissance from Italy. You might think you are in a new country as you move from region to region.

The Food is remarkable!

Fava Beans, Chorizo sausage, seafood, Paella (rice dish), Valencia oranges, El frite (fried lamb), olives, & the spice, saffron. Most interesting are the Tapas Bars where drinks & Tapas (single servings usually eaten standing at bar)are available. They are really small snacks such as olives, shrimp, Calamares fritos, Chorizo sausage, Albondigas (meatballs), garlic flavored chicken wings, & Jamon serrano (salt-cured ham to name a few.)

Before I visited Spain, I thought of it as a rural society. How wrong I was! The roads & bridges are excellent; the population is quite well educated; & automobiles are a way of life. Art abounds; in one art museum, I marveled at Picasso, Miro, & Dali
.
What I loved the most about Spain and the Spaniards is their pursuit of joy...unlike America where most people put work first & family & entertainment next, the Spaniards make time for leisure, for family, for friends. They are not lazy, just efficient. It seems that in the cities, people never sleep. It seems they work, take time to rest, work some more, take their nightly PASEO (stroll), eat, & then their night begins!

Spaniards are so friendly & quite helpful. They are naturally outgoing ,& the smiles they display are incredible.

I was also surprised that television played such a large role in the life of the Spanish. (Lots of sports on TV).

As I did expect, SOCCER rules.

Bullfighting is still popular, or popular again.

I loved the mountains, the coast (both the wild northern coast & the milder southern coast), the big cities, & the small villages. Most of all, I loved the attitude of the people....enjoy life...take time to rest, to make love, to have fun.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Breathtaking Coasts, Charming Villages, Genuine People
Cons:I didn't find any
In a nutshell:A Varied Country Yet A Common Thread: Highly Gregarious Population

Last visit to Spain: Apr 1999
Intro Updated May 26, 2007
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Reviews (82)

Sandy and Allan on "Balcony of Europe in Nerja - Spain

One week in Apartment in Nerja Favorites (11)

Photographs: 1. Sandy and Allan on Nerja's "Balcony of Europe" 2. Allan in garden of Paradore Nerja 3. Dee on walk back... more travel advice

A Former Cistercian Monastery in... Hotels (17)

Photos: 1. Monasterio De Piedra 2. Long hallways inside hotel 3. Allan in preserve with cascades 4. Dee in preserve... more travel advice

Modest Hotel in a Fantastic Location Hotels (17)

Photos: 1. Photo of Hotel Diana on the beach 2. Statue inside Hotel Diana [Artemis] 3. Little bar we used on the beach... more travel advice

Beautiful Spanish Children Favorites (11)

Both Allan and I were continually commenting on the beautiful children in Spain. We were in many different regions of... more travel advice

Local Customs (10)
See All Food-Related Customs in Spain
Restaurants (7)
See All Eating Patterns in Spain
Transportation (2)
See All We LEASED a Car For Use In Spain
Things to Do (15)
See All Madrid's Prado Museum
Sports & Outdoors (2)
See All Bullfighting in Spain

Comments (114)

hunterV Nov 16, 2011 at 8:14 AM Report Abuse

~ Hi, Dee! I have always enjoyed reading your pages! This one is my encyclopaedia on Spain indeed...! Thanks a lot.....
jillzi Apr 13, 2011 at 10:04 AM Report Abuse

What one can learn from your pages is really something!I hope others have taken the time to look at your extra photos..they are remarkable. Drooling over the restaurants and hotels. What an extraordinary trip.
xaver Oct 11, 2010 at 4:53 AM Report Abuse

Great page about Spain, the only fact that you start your tips with Garnica is enough to make this page worth more than one visit.
aussirose Oct 1, 2010 at 8:39 AM Report Abuse

Dee....Your pages here are awesome!! From golf to x's on the sheep to the great valencia orange story to the beautiful children!!... WoW!! Thank for the tips mate! This page is a vt gem!! Hugs, Ann xx
Yaqui Apr 26, 2010 at 2:35 PM Report Abuse

Holy Toledo Dee! Love this page and all the wonderful information you pack in every wonderful detailed tip. Photograhs are so lovely too!
morne Apr 14, 2010 at 2:10 PM Report Abuse

Hoping to go to Spain with my girlfriend next year thanks for all the great info
balhannah Feb 22, 2010 at 12:52 AM Report Abuse

What a wonderful view of the gorge from your Hotel, and I love the Crystal Palace. Excellent page so far, so much of interest in Spain!
misterrabbit Jan 29, 2010 at 12:17 PM Report Abuse

Incredible! You hit a home Run here. Hotels and restaurants are really excellent. Your hotels seem so nice. Expensive, I would assume. Great info about the culture, too. This must have been a trip of a lifetime.
Bwana_Brown Dec 20, 2009 at 9:29 AM Report Abuse

Wow Dee, you really made a great tour of Spain while you had the chance. Excellent tips and beautiful photos of this amazing country. The big bird you mention in your Alcaniz OTBP tip was likely a Stork. They migrate back and forth to Africa.
hopang Apr 21, 2009 at 4:02 AM Report Abuse

An excellent overview on Spain with superb general tips! You have certainly travelled widely in Spain. Seville, Madrid, Alicante and Costa Brava certainly look interesting for us to visit in the near future. ~ho & pang