Spain

Visited: July 1992, August 1994, July 2004, July 2017

Duration of visit: 90 days

Capital city: Madrid

Population: 48 million (2023)

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

• Travelling throughout Europe with Interrail, visiting the cities of Sevilla, Barcelona, and Madrid along the way in 1992.
• Intensive Spanish learning in Alicante and staying with my friend Javier in 1994.
• Driving a car Renault 5 from Slovenia to Alicante in 1998.
• Business meetings in Oviedo and Galicia in 1999.
• Touring Segovia, Madrid, Barcelona and further south by car in 2004.
• Family trip to Alicante in 2017, culminating by slide down the adrenaline-full Verti-Go.

Spain holds a special position on my travel list. From the beginning of my backpacking experiences I was eager to visit Barcelona and Madrid. Eventually, I developed a friendship with Javier, a Spanish friend, who not only introduced me to the Spanish language but also welcomed me into his home in Alicante, providing me with a deeper understanding of Spanish culture.

Since that time, I have had the pleasure of visiting Spain on several occasions for business, cultural enrichment and leisure. The exquisite Mediterranean cuisine, the enchanting Flamenco music and dance, the picturesque sandy beaches, the custom of the midday siesta, the famous sports clubs from Madrid and Barcelona along with the numerous historical sites, contribute to Spain’s status as one of the few countries I frequently revisit, each time encountering new and remarkable experiences.

The location along Mediterranean coast, links with Africa and historical position as the conqueror of Latin America, put Spain in a special position, not only in Europe, but also worldwide. The position of superpowers has gone a long time ago, but there are still many superlatives Spain is known for.

After France, Spain is still the most visited tourist destination in the world. From royal family, Sagrada Familia, 47 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Moorish influence in the south, evergreen Canary Islands, which are closer to Africa than Spain, party island of Ibiza, relaxed and modern Barcelona to dynamic capital Madrid.

I love Spain and especially people, food and way of life. Probably my fluency in Spanish language has to do with my admiration for the country as well. Nevertheless, already during my first connection with locals, I found out that Spanish mentality and perception of life in general varies a lot from the general obsession for more in the Western World. Enjoying the moment with family and friends, extended holidays, eating good and sleeping well are some of simple rules that we should learn from Spain and try to apply them in our lives.

There are many other places that I visited in Spain, but I haven’t included them in my diaries, because Spain is not just about jumping from one landmark to another one. It is about enjoying the lifestyle and connecting with people.