Some impressions by a tourist in Spain

Although I have been to Spain before - in the 1960s to Lekeitio, San Sebastian and Santander when Ocean Racing and then about 5 years ago to visit an old friend of Penny’s on the Costa Del Sol near Malaga I had never been to Barcelona and Madrid.

I find very few people speak Spanish even in the tourist industry (my two guides exceptions) but with little understanding one does get by and nowadays you can have an App on your IPhone which translates if needed.

The internet availability is excellent enabling rapid uploading of pictures. (my way of knowing how good the internet is). Also helpful in buying tickets and finding out how to get to places.(Google maps).

It seems every person has a smart phone - travelling on the Metro people are glued to their smart phones texting messages or playing music or games.

Spanish people seem somewhat abrupt and matter of fact but also helpful if one can understand.

The infrastructure (trains, metro, buses and roads) seem to be very modern. The Metro in Barcelona and Madrid is very easy to get around on and is extensive even though it may have originally been built at the beginning of the 20th Century or before. Maps of the Metro are available to assist with navigation.

 Although there seems to be a good bus system it was impossible to get a map of the routes inspite of efforts by my guides so I did not use it.

The high speed rail - between Barcelona and Madrid and to Toledo and Segovia are very modern, efficient and the stations recently modernised. Spanish history is fascinating and how Spain during different periods stimulated the arts and literature.

Spanish people keep different hours. Shops are open till about 9 pm. People eat dinner around 8 pm. There are crowds walking the streets at 8 pm.

It has helped to do a little research on the history of Spain before coming but then you get into focused history for each city and places like Montserrat, Toledo and Segovia.

I leave to come back to Canada in two days but wanted to record all this while it was still fresh in my aging brain.