Tell me abut spain?

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I, Clavdivs

I'm from Spain, so obviously I'll not to say you anything bad about my country, but I will try to be as independent as I could.

Spain is a country with very different backgrounds and cultures which are connected by a common fact, the language. Although some regions in Spain have their own languages as mother tongues, 99% of the population can speak spanish (only a few old people from little towns of the northside can't speak the national language correctly).

Around the world, the most knowleged culture in Spain is andalusian culture, which is commonly considered "tipically spanish" by foreigners. Sevillanas, flamenco, Semana Santa's processons, olive oil, gazpacho and bullfighting are only a little part of one of the happiest and richest cultures in Europe.

Castile is the biggest region in Spain, and the expansion of spanish (castilian) through the iberian peninsula is due to that region ruled Spain since the spanish unification. Bullfighting was originated in the north of Castile, and Quijote "was born" in the south of this region. Madrid, Spain's capital, is in the middle of the region. Castile is an internal region and its winters are very cold, so traditionally food is very caloric and tasty (but my preferred!) Architecture there (Salamanca, Madrid, Toledo, Soria...) is historical an amazing.

Galicia (Galiza) and Asturias (Asturies) are two regions very similar, full of forests and green meadows. It's a region with celt heritage. Bagpipe is the traditional musical instrument and they have their own languages: Galego and Bable. Some people from there want the independence for their country.

Basque country (Euskadi), like Navarre (Nafarroa), have its own culture and language. Basques are the ancient people in Europe, who talk the same language (with modiffications, obviously) since milleniums before christ. The region pertains to the called "green Spain", and most knowed things of Euskadi are "pintxos" (like tapas), zortziko and aurresku (regional dances), the Guggenheim museum (on Bilbao, Basque country) and San FermÃn (IruÃ±ea, Navarre). Unfortunately, basque lands are knowed too by the terrorism of ETA, who wants the independence of all Euskal Herria (with Navarre and the french basque country).

Catalonia is a region in the east of Spain which have the most strong and conserved culture and language (except in cosmopolitan Barcelona). Its culture, like the cuisine, is a mix of the pyrennean and the mediterranean. Catalan is spoken as a mother tongue by the majority of catalans (except in Barcelona and industrial areas, where castilian is often more spoken). Towns in the pyrennees are simply lovely, and coastline villages are maybe the nicest in the mediterranean sea. The typiccal folk music, played with "dolÃ§aina" and "gralla", encourage "castellers" (human towers) tournaments. The region has a very strong (but non violent) nationalist movement.

Other regions are:

Murcia, dry little region where is located the capital, Murcia city, and the beautiful mediterranean town of Cartagena.

Canarias islands, near Africa, very knowed by their carnivals, beaches, and national parks.

Extremadura, where is located Merida, an ancient roman city (it's its capital), the historical city of CÃ¡ceres and the MonfragÃ¼e national park.

Balearic islands, very knowed by their beaches, climate, beautiful coastline villages and party. Sobrasada and ensaimada are typical food from there. They speak catalan, too.

Valencia, land of fire, very knowed by "Las Fallas" and "La Tomatina", where catalan is spoken too.

La Rioja, which has the best wines in Spain and beautiful landscapes in "Picos de UrbiÃ³n".

AragÃ³n, a rural region with dry deserts and green mountains, where it's spoken spanish, catalan and fabla and folk music is related to the catalan in the pyrennees but in the south they dance the "jota".

Cantabria, a rural region in the green Spain near the Atlantic ocean, where is located the beautiful city of Santander and the "Picos de Europa", very nice landscape.

Â¡Saludos! Sorry for my terrible english :)

SUE

Hey, know what?

Spanish food CAN be full of calories, but it IS among the healthiest food in the world...lots of monounsaturated fats, and it's SOOOOO much fresher and more natural than you find in the US. None of those toxic trans fats and high fructose corn syrups and stuff I've been learning about.

As for your ACTUAL question. email me. What do you want to know?

I lived in Sevilla many years ago...just back last year...somethings have changed. some remain totally the same. (in an absolutely GOOD way!) Spain is one of the warmest, most welcoming countries you will find. I think of it as a second home, even though I haven't been able to get back as much as I would like, the warm feelings are still there from the year spent at school there. If you are in the slightest bit interested in living or traveling in Spain, go for it!

For personal opinions, which is what you are looking for, there is history EVERYWHERE, great art, great architecture, the climate is beautiful, the people are wonderful! (even though it turned out most of the people I was coming in contact with ewere foreigners, even THEY were wonderful!) If you just try to speak a little Spanish, they will compliment you for how well you speak it, and bend over backwards to help your stay be great. I Looooove the south for its romance. If you have any interest in the Spain that you think of from books and movies, thatÂ´s where you want to go. If you are interested in more modern art and a very cosmopolitan scene, Barcelona is the place, and if you want the big city atmosphere of the capital, then go to Madrid. The resort areas are among the best in Europe, and people are always raving about the clubs in Ibiza, Costa del Sol, (not my thing, so I canÂ´t give any first-hand reports).

There are a couple of places you might want to avoid, depending on your personal preferences, but mostly, just a really pretty, nice place.

Salva

Melissa L: people from the South aren't nice??? and, W.T.F.? Spanish food is full of calories??? Spanish food is among the healthiest of the world!!! From which country are you from??
I don't think you really have visited Spain...

wet26

It's raining in Madrid at the moment.

Spain is cool, I've been living here for almost 10 months, plan to stay for at least another 18 months or so. So I like it. It's a beautiful country and the people are friendly. I grow tired of Spanish food though. The language is difficult but I try my best. I could tell you more, but your question is so general.

F@N Dâ‚¬ BoNâ‚¬$

We are the best in Europe...xD

IÂ´m Spanish

juju

Craig B

I gotta agree with Salva, and Melissa im afraid you could not be more wrong. It is unfortunate about your friend but Spain is overall VERY safe. I live in England and have been to the USA and i have to admit that every part of Spain ive been to ( Seville, Malaga, Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, Bilbao) i feel comfortable walking alone, anytime of the day or night and have never had any problems. Where as if you asked me if i would do this in London or New York......... i would have to say NO.

As for food.......... you are outta your mind lol rice, fresh fish, vegetables and fruit are common all over Spain....... and these are full of calories?? Im afraid your answer is very poor, and i feel sorry for you that you have had such bad experiences :- /

The people in every City ive been to are extremely welcoming and friendly, and throw in a bit of Spanish when speaking and they really do acknowledge and appreciate this!! Ive never experienced any rudeness in any of these beautiful cities, so id imagine the people in the smaller towns and villages are even more pleasant ^_^

Then let me see.......... you have beautiful weather, great beaches and water sports, Aqua/Water Parks all over the place, a much easier/relaxed attitude towards life, great cluture and history!!

For me Spain is the only country ive been to that i could see myself one day relocating to.

So i hope you do visit this amazing country, you will have a great time ^_^

Patrick H

take a look at http://www.spain-info-finder.co.uk

Melissa L

I have lived there for 3 years, what do you want to know? The people are not to nice depending where you go, north and middle they are nice, south, no! Food is good but full of calories, atmosphere is very lovely, again though in the south on the costa it can be dangerous. My firend was mugging and beated a few days ago for her handbag at 2 in the afternoon. Not the first time here really. Weather is great. Area is lovely, as a country and place lovely.

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