I couldn't believe how unfriendly Spain was! I lived in Costa Rica and Mexico for 7 years and speak Spanish fluently. My husband and I visited Spain and travelled there for 3 weeks. We encountered such glum people everywhere. It was nothing like the warmth that I experienced living in Latin America. The hotel staff, waiters, and store clerks were so cold. The only exception was in the north of Spain in Galicia. The people were somehow different and more cheerful. Unfortunately, we only spent two days there. Had I known, we would have stayed the whole time there.<BR>My husband has a French Canadian background and speaks French so we venture into Southern France. I must say that those people were so incredibley nice. They got a kick out of my husbands accent. By contrast everyone seemed so pleasant and kind. In Spain, on the other hand, the people did not seem to care for my Mexican accent at all. The only place in Spain that I would return to is Galicia. It really was beautiful and the food was good. The rest of the country is for the birds!

I do not know what your problem was--I have been to Madrid and Barecelona and found people were very nice overall-especially cab drivers and people in hotels. I know people that go every year. Nobody I know has ever complained about the people. I conclude it must be you!!

I'm just curious. Why did you speak Spanish with a Mexican accent?

Ilived in Costa Rica for two years and then in Mexico for five. Its just the accent that I addopted and is one that comes naturally. Often the Spaniards would laugh and say" Ay la mexicana! But in an annoying and obnoxious way.

This has to be a troll, or an overly sensitive whiner. How could anyone who actually lived in Mexico and Costa Rica for 7 years be ignorant enough to expect people in Spain to be similar, just because they share a common language? Nor would someone with that type of expatriate experience be so hypersensitive about having their accent noticed.

No, I dont think this is a troll because a similar situation happened to me. I lived in Argentina for 5years and then went to Spain. The Spaniards are very touchy about their Spanish and did make comments about my accent as well. I didnt take it as being obnoxious but I would frequently hear people comment on certain word usage that I had. As far as the people go they are ok I guess but not as friendly as the Latin Americans by any means. I did come across some rude folks in the service industry especially but I also had some great conversations with other people there.

Someone told me recently that many of the Spaniards pronounce words differently because one of the kings spoke with a lisp. So as not to embarrass the king, the Spaniards pronounced certain words as he did. I don't recall which king, and this story was told to me recently, as I intend to go to Spain next year. This may explain the reason in pronounciations from country to country, even with the same language.

I think it is a troll. This is the third such post in two days. Besides it's so: who cares. Who cares if Laura likes the Spanish or doesn't. What does this have to do with travel. She clearly has no imagination. <BR><BR>It's like the girl on the U.S. forum who moved from Oklahoma to Boston and didn't like the people in Boston because they weren't like the ones at home. It's insipid. There are over 40 million people in Spain and Laura finds them and their country "for the birds." Who the f cares what Laura thinks. She's a nobody.

I traveled through Spain and Portugal and I agree with Laura. Especially in Madrid. Portugal was so welcoming and friendly but Spain was so cold and un-friendly it was like night and day!<BR><BR>As an exemple: We went to the tourist information bureau in Madrid to get help finding a hotel. The lady literally threw the book on the counter and said "here, choose it yourself" In Portugal, the lady suggested locations and hotels and was extremely helpful. I will never go back to Spain for sure. Portugal depend a lot on tourism and are very happy to see tourists. Spain, on the other end don't need tourism so much and are probably fed up with seing them all over the place.<BR><BR>

Laura, I was in Spain 3 years ago with my friend, Christina, who is from Los Angeles. Christina's parents are from El Salvador and she speaks Spanish with a Mexican or Central American accent. Because she doesn't pronounce her "s's" and "z's" like "th," many Spaniards would cut her off when she would speak Spanish. They would then continue to talk to her in English, I guess because they didn't like her accent. This was very annoying to Christina.<BR><BR>In Barcelona, where the people speak Catalan, not Spanish, it was even worse for Christina. There was sometimes outright hostility towards her when she tried to speak Spanish. She also told me that by the tone of people's speaking voices all over Spain that people were not animated, ie conservative, when they conversed.<BR><BR>I didn't notice any hostility, but I probably wouldn't have noticed because I didn't understand the nuances of the Spanish language.<BR><BR>I must say, however, that I couldn't believe how incredibly honest the Spanish people were when I overpaid many time in pesetes.

Having lived both in Latin America & Spain, I never have found the Spanish in general to be "unfriendly" and many millions of tourists I'm sure will agree with me! Of course every nationality has some people who "get out of the wrong side of the bed in the morning"!<BR>Also remember that one's attitude , even though they are speaking the same language,can cause a negative reaction.<BR>If one finds so many people acting "coldly", perhaps he/she really has a problem. Also don't expect europeans to act as "peones" or humble servants as typically seen in Latin America!

Angel, if you had read Laura's post more carefully, you would have seen that she was not criticizing the whole country at all. She said that she had met some nice people in Galicia.<BR>I was raised bilingually and was educated in both languages. My Spanish is Colombian which is considered the most pure and best form of Spanish in the world. I do not totally agree but it is a very good Spanish. I do like Spain, however, I have been "corrected" on several occasions on word usage as well. You see, I give it right back at them. I'll correct them!!!!They seem to respect you more if you do. The Spanish are very aloof on the surface but if you joke with them a bit, they loosen up. Actually, they are great people. Its up to you to make the first step.

I get a kick out of the posters who claim that when locals are rude to you (as in this situation) is is the fault of the traveler, not the rude local.<BR><BR>I to found people in Spain to be rude and cold. Though this is the case in Italy and Paris also. In general in Europe people are brought up to be cold to stangers but are warmer than typical in America to family and friends.<BR><BR>Thanks for your observations Laura!