SPAIN - Europe by Eurail 2015: Touring Europe by Train - page 472

SPAIN
Spain is a delightful dichotomy—futuristic in many ways, yet respectful of its rich his-
tory and tradition. Spain is among the most popular tourist destinations in the world.
From the delicato music of flamenco to swashbuckling matadors, Spain's culture
and tradition are as widely varied as its geography. Flamenco is a genuine southern
Spanish art form influenced by diverse cultures throughout Spain's history, including
the Gypsies, the legendary Tartessos, and the Muslims.
Spain shares the Iberian Peninsula with its neighbor to the west, Portugal.
France and the tiny country of Andorra lie to the north. Castilian Spanish is spoken
throughout Spain, but Catalan, Valencian, Basque, and Galician are still spoken in
their respective autonomous regions.
One social custom that visitors will notice immediately is that Spaniards get up
later in the morning and usually stay out later at night than other Europeans. If you
want to dance until dawn, you're visiting the right country. The nightlife in Spain is
intensely zealous, with bars and discotheques remaining open until the wee hours
of the morning, especially in the larger, more cosmopolitan cities of Barcelona and
Madrid.
Arriving from North America, our base city Madrid is the primary gateway, with
Barcelona being second. During summer, however, there are some direct flights to
Malaga on the Mediterranean Sea.
For more information about Spain, contact the Tourist Offices of Spain in North
America ( www.okspain.org ).
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