There are 2 absolutely different Spains as far as I am concerned. You have the coastal strip where the tourists rendezvous, universally known as the 'Costas'. The other Spain is actually the whole of the rest of Spain. The 1st is really terrible, the rest completely interesting and undoubtedly engaging.
Admittedly I know very little about places like the Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca, and I can't ever see that changing. There have however in times gone been times where my trip to the south coast had to be made on the coast of the Mediterranean. Unhappily it was in peak season, and the traffic was unbelievable, at less than ten miles an hour geginning to end. The only sight I had of Barcelona was flats and factories, although I am certain it must have lovely parts to it. Hundreds of miles south on the Costa del Sol, places like Torremolinos are just my idea of hell on earth with not the best of beaches completely filled with folks. Towering over them are miles of almost identical bars and cafes offering virtually identical food catering to tastes from all over Europe with not a real Spanish dish in sight. The old town, well it lies about hidden under acres and acres of high rise concrete.
The real Spain can be found not so far away. Thanks to some magnificent roads it is easy to journey from north to south in Spain in around 10 hours, with hardly a car in sight even in Aug. Just stay clear of the coast, and do your research. Find a Spain where life still stops at dinner time and does not begin again until sundown, as the afternoon siesta still commands absolutely. No shops open, just a few cafeterias, no hustle, no bustle, just calm and tranquility. Add to this no Sunday megastore opening, barely even a little shop unless you are sufficiently fortunate to come upon one in one of the hundreds of unspoiled miniscule whitewashed towns you may be staying near.
A life in fact little changed over the last thirty years. Yes there may be one or two UK expats enjoying the climate and the peaceful surroundings, satisfied in the understanding that they chose the right spot to put down roots. No hideous urbanisations where you reside cheek by jowl with others you share a typical language with. What is the point in being English in Spain and living next to other English people. It becomes like suburbia in a better climate, and you most likely don't learn Spanish because you do not have to.
How much more fun it is to hire a finca in the country, than a villa on a tiny plot. It's challenging to make yourself accepted in a local shop which has fruit and vegetables to die for, and succeeed in making an exchange and then discovering that Spain inland away from the crowds is still cheap. Get a large bag of shell on gambas and pay only little change, then if you have to visit a town on the coast discover you are coughing up less than half of the visitors there are paying.
The other Spain is beautiful, and is just waiting to be discovered. I love my Caribbean Vacation Spots but inland Spain runs it a close 2nd.
Admittedly I know very little about places like the Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca, and I can't ever see that changing. There have however in times gone been times where my trip to the south coast had to be made on the coast of the Mediterranean. Unhappily it was in peak season, and the traffic was unbelievable, at less than ten miles an hour geginning to end. The only sight I had of Barcelona was flats and factories, although I am certain it must have lovely parts to it. Hundreds of miles south on the Costa del Sol, places like Torremolinos are just my idea of hell on earth with not the best of beaches completely filled with folks. Towering over them are miles of almost identical bars and cafes offering virtually identical food catering to tastes from all over Europe with not a real Spanish dish in sight. The old town, well it lies about hidden under acres and acres of high rise concrete.
The real Spain can be found not so far away. Thanks to some magnificent roads it is easy to journey from north to south in Spain in around 10 hours, with hardly a car in sight even in Aug. Just stay clear of the coast, and do your research. Find a Spain where life still stops at dinner time and does not begin again until sundown, as the afternoon siesta still commands absolutely. No shops open, just a few cafeterias, no hustle, no bustle, just calm and tranquility. Add to this no Sunday megastore opening, barely even a little shop unless you are sufficiently fortunate to come upon one in one of the hundreds of unspoiled miniscule whitewashed towns you may be staying near.
A life in fact little changed over the last thirty years. Yes there may be one or two UK expats enjoying the climate and the peaceful surroundings, satisfied in the understanding that they chose the right spot to put down roots. No hideous urbanisations where you reside cheek by jowl with others you share a typical language with. What is the point in being English in Spain and living next to other English people. It becomes like suburbia in a better climate, and you most likely don't learn Spanish because you do not have to.
How much more fun it is to hire a finca in the country, than a villa on a tiny plot. It's challenging to make yourself accepted in a local shop which has fruit and vegetables to die for, and succeeed in making an exchange and then discovering that Spain inland away from the crowds is still cheap. Get a large bag of shell on gambas and pay only little change, then if you have to visit a town on the coast discover you are coughing up less than half of the visitors there are paying.
The other Spain is beautiful, and is just waiting to be discovered. I love my Caribbean Vacation Spots but inland Spain runs it a close 2nd.
About the Author:
Ian Smith the author writes about vacation spots all over the world. He at present is working on Caribbean Holiday Spots, and Worldwide vacation Spots
No comments:
Post a Comment