Lil485

Heading to Spain with mother in tow. Going to
Madrid -5/11-516 Sevigoia and Avila day trip 5/13
Seville- 5/16-5/19 5/19 Cordorba day trip
Granada- 5/19-5/22
Barcelona- 5/22-5/25 leave

I know about tbe pickpocketing and safety issues have been asked to death some by me, but aside from those topics I wanted to ask for anybody else who has been to Spain recently what are some vital tips you could recommend so we can have a comfortable time and not offend? Anything political wise we should say or not say or do or not do?

HappyTrvlr

Barcelona is in Catalonia and they consider themselves Catalan not Spanish. One shopkeeper in Barcelona was angry when someone asked if she had any bull statues in her shop. She said Catalonia has the horse as a symbol and if you want bulls go to Madrid! So, be aware of that sensitivity.

Robert2533

Just relax and enjoy yourself. May should be great! A Goldilocks month. Not too hot and not too cold.

Politics are seldom discussed when traveling abroad unless you're with some very good friends, then we laugh about how lame all politicians are.

spaarne

Since you have security covered I would say the next most important item is to get a map of the bars serving tapas.

nytraveler

Avoid discussing politics. You will find that many europeans have very different opinions than many people in the US and this simply shouldn't be a public topic of conversation. Also not a great idea to discuss religion. (But this is standard for any trip - even in the US.)

Off-hand can;t think of any potential issues as long as you have an open mind and are willing to adapt to local customs - esp times of meals.

ribeirasacra

No bulls in Catalunya? http://identityview.net/wp-content/u...ogo-design.jpg
Beside is it not a horse it is donkey they use.
http://bit.ly/buurocatalan

kimhe

You are in Madrid during the San Isidro festival, the major festival of the city, celebrating the patron saint San Isidro. Music, dance, processions, parades, concerts, bullfights, eating and drinking in streets and plazas. Majestic Plaza Mayor and the beautiful Vistillas Park are main venues. http://www.spain.info/en/reportajes/...en_madrid.html

You'll be visiting Córdoba during the famous Patio festival: http://www.andalucia.com/cities/cordoba/patios.htm

The annual Barcelona flamenco festival goes on up in the Mercat de les Flors theater complex when you are here, May 22-25. At the beginning of the climb up the wonderful Montjuic (Jewish mountain) hill: http://mercatflors.cat/en/ciclesifes...amenco-2014-3/

sparkchaser

<i>Since you have security covered I would say the next most important item is to get a map of the bars serving tapas.</i>

Unnecessary since pretty much all of them (except perhaps English/Irish pubs) serve will have tapas. I don't even think a map of bars is necessary, unless you have a list of bars that you feel you must visit.


<i>Avoid discussing politics. </i>

I disagree. If you have an open mind, hearing the about the perspective from an outsider can be quite valuable; after all, it was discussing politics with an Estonian that he just met that prompted Edward Snowden's transformation from obedient NSA servant to whistleblower.

bilboburgler

Surely one of the key the reasons to go abroad is to hear and understand other opinions cultural/political/religious. Given that there is no universal truth it should be fun looking for it.

So don't expect the usual, non-alcholic drinks can be more expensive than alcholic, saying good morning is often more important than doing business, time is not always the driver, shaking hands and kissing the air is useful, letting the maitre-de choose your meal might be a good idea, eating your supper at 11pm might be a good for you, sleeping in the middle of the day can make sense, doing less (and more slowly) can be more fun and Fox might be wrong in their opinions .

nytraveler

It all depends on your political views. There are a lot of americans whose political views would be considered more than strange by almost all europeans. Granted, many of these people are unlikely to leave the country, but I have heard a couple of american espousing views that were either just shockingly ignorant or extremely offensive to local residents.

(In one watering spot in Stockholm I heard two americans - I can only assume they were drunk - loudly proclaiming the local government consisted of communists and they were all controlled by Satan. And he seemed surprised that everyone was edging away from him.

Political discussion has become very ugly here in recent years and I hesitate to export that to countries where post people have different experiences/much more open thinking.

danon

In our many trips to Spain, my conversations were mostly with taxi drivers,
waiters, and hotel staff...( in Spanish.)
There was not much danger that topics of politics or religion would come .

sparkchaser

It's been my experience that taxi drivers are the great to talk politics with.


<i>There are a lot of americans whose political views would be considered more than strange by almost all europeans. </i>

That may be true but it is fun to listen to them explain themselves and why they believe what they believe.

IMDonehere

They have banned bull fighting in Catalunya, so it is sensitive subject.

Do not ask people in Barcelona, if they speak Spanish. They take great pride in speaking both Castilian and Catalan.

Feel free to try to your Spanish, the Spanish are very gracious about foreigners not speaking a perfect Spanish.

The main thing for an American is to learn the hours and the type of meals, they are very different from ours.

Tourism is a major industry in Spain and you are hitting the major tourist centers, so they are used to foreigners.

Not that you would mention it, but the Civil War CAN be a sensitive issue. In fact visiting The Valley of the Fallen ((El Valle de los Caidos) can be considered a political statement because it was built with slave labor. The followers of Franco consider it an honor to him and the Nationalists.

I think it is still open. However visiting El Escorial has no political implications at all.