Travel Guide to Spain: Finding Art, Shopping and More

This is the Spain where it is easy to play Red Rover on the beach, but hard not to shop. This is the country of siesta, cheap shoes and sangria that flows like a river. You must order your water like this: “aqua sin gaz,” which means still water. But this country is not still. Everything moves, and it moves to the rhythm of a Spanish guitar as you dance the night away meeting Spaniards and Brits who have had too much beer.

Almost anyone could recognize Spain, because Spain is that kind of country where all your expectations are fulfilled. Even Barcelona is the city where Olympic dreams come true.

The south of Spain is where I spent most of my time close to the water. I saw places like Costa del Sol, with my souvenir pen for proof. It doesn’t work anymore. I saw Torremolinos and the famous Rock of Gilbrator. I had to resist the urge to climb the rock in newly bought heels.

In the south of Spain it is also easy to see the tip of Africa, Morocco. A dingy of a boat can take a small group over for a nominal fee. The day I was supposed to see Morocco the water was choppy and the captain of the ship decided that we shouldn’t go, but this did not ruin my traveling experience.

Spain is a place where you can relax and enjoy the ever-present sunshine. It did not rain one day when I was there. Getting up early in the morning to shop and see the castles fo old, the whole country shuts in the early afternoon for siesta. Usually this takes place after the noon meal. Being a tourist, I preferred to my sleeping on a beach towel on top of the sand, rather than in my 5-star suite.

Shopping

Shopping is fantastic in Spain. This is the land that created the fashion outlet Zara and the clothes are feminine and form-fitting for the ladies, stylish and sleek for the men. In Barcelona, a good part of the Eixample is where you can find numerous select fashion shops and jewellery stores. On the Passeig de Gracia and in other parts of the Eixample, shopping arcades abound.