My wife and I, for two, find the politics of Catalunya and Spain interesting. When we travel we try to find out a little about the art, literature, culture, cuisine, and the current political situation of the country we are visiting. Even the slightest bit of knowledge is appreciated by the people of the country we are visiting. Especially because they think Americans are devoid of such curiosity.

Spain is different as we have family and friends there and have spent considerable time there, thus there is a personal aspect.

Robert..

Well, I must at least say that, for example, on the German media, the independence movement in Catalunya, the reactions from Madrid etc. got top press coverage. And also was an issue that ordinary people would talk about.
Much more than, for example, about any US issues.

Funny enough, compared with the movement in Scotland - which often focused more on quirky irrelavant side effects like 'will the Queen need a visa to visit Balmoral?' - Catalunya was regarded much more of a 'serious issue'.
One reason may be that the "rest" of Europe is much more connected with Catalunya than Scotland as many multi-national companies have their "Spanish" subsidiaries based in Catalunya. Also elsewhere in Spain, of course, but Catalunya plays a dominant role also for Spanish-EU economic relations.

"Nationalism is the bane of a true EU ever coming about."

It could be the other way round. The present restraint on the E.U. having more authority is opposition from the sovereign governments of the larger countries like the U.K. In the Scottish independence debate, one of the issues was if Scotland could remain part of the E.U. automatically, or if it would have to apply for entry, which would oblige it to join the euro and the Schengen agreement. There was no debate about Scotland enjoying independence from the E.U.

In British-speak, you are talking about the wrong kind of nationalism.

I think it is natural, that the more the EU speaks for people as one, there will be the opposite cry for more regional, individual, and national autonomy.

Catalunya does have the largest percentage impact on the Spanish economy, around 19%, but as an independent nation would be a minor player in the EU, more like one of the "eastern block" countries, being as dependent as it is on tourism.