My first visit to Spain was as part of a package holiday in 1989 to Salou, celebrating the end of our A-Levels. The big debate at that time was whether to pay extra for a flight or just stick with the basic package and take a coach all the way to the southern coast of Spain. What a choice. On one hand a more expensive but much quicker travel option, and on the other a gruelling two day road trip and ferry crossing.
Thankfully, common sense prevailed and we took the coach option. Why waste valuable beer money on a flight when you could drink all the way on the coach? Obviously really when you think about it. Two weeks in the resort of Salou, or more accurately ten days by the time the travel is deducted, wasn’t exactly the best introduction to Spanish culture one could’ve hoped for. It’s no exaggeration to say they there were more English in the town than locals. Bar a change in currency and improved weather there was little difference to being in England.
The second visit was a few years later as part of a month travelling around Europe by train. This time we headed to Pamplona from southern France to participate in the running of the bulls festival. A great plan, except we were a day late. I can’t recall if our journey took longer than planned or whether we just had the wrong date. I suspect the latter. Disheartened, we spent the day at the station chugging back Rioja, eventually catching a evening train to Barcelona, where we immediately changed trains and headed back into France. Actually it was probably for the best. I’d hate to think what might have happened if we had arrived on the day of the festival. Getting chased down streets by ill tempered animals would’ve ended badly for us I suspect. In actuality the worst that happened to us was a sore head from too much vino and a slight embarrassment from decorating the outside of the train carriage. Let’s move on…..
I did get another chance to visit Barcelona in 2003 when we visited for the weekend to celebrate a family birthday. It was a fleeting visit and not really enough time to do the city or country justice. Oh, and it rained almost the entire weekend with the sun coming out just as we headed back to the airport.
So this time we were going to do it properly and spend nearly two weeks travelling around and meeting up with friends (and local guides!)
And what a time we’ve had. From the moment we arrived into San Sebastián, to the final few hours in Madrid, Spain has put on a show; the glorious weather, (arguably too good) beautiful cities and delicious food, wine and beer. The fact that I speak virtually no Spanish didn’t seem to matter, not like in a neighbouring country I won’t name. Everyone seemed pleased to meet us and wanted to help us enjoy our visit.
It has certainly whet our appetite for the country and I am absolutely sure that we’ll be back - but maybe when the weather is not quite so hot! 40 degrees is a novelty at first but it soon becomes a challenge. Thank goodness for the slight coolness of the coastal resort of Cádiz.
But a return is for the future. For now we bid adiós to the Iberian peninsula and head for the cooler mountain air of Switzerland.….
Enjoy your trip
ReplyDelete