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‘Viva Espana,’ gushes Bageshree Vaze after a whirlwind trip of the country
 I have always thought that if I could choose any culture in the world (other than Indian, of course), I would want to be Spanish. Call it a romantic inclination, based on popular features associated with Spain – flowing flamenco skirts, Spanish wine, its sexy language and muscular and agile bullfighters (a few things which come to mind) – which prompted me to choose the country as a European vacation retreat over standard destinations like Britain, France or Italy.
A bustling country of 40 million, Spain is a kaleidoscope of some of the world’s finest museums, lively nightclubs, picturesque mountains and pristine beaches and I wanted to explore and experience it all. However, it is impossible to partake all of Spain’s points of interest in a 10-day span, the duration of my late autumn excursion and I had to set my sights on spending two days each in the capitol city of Madrid, Barcelona, Seville and the Balearic islands of Mallorca and Ibiza. For those who have more time on hand, other cities in Spain worth checking out are Valencia, Cordoba and Granada.
Apart from planning my whirlwind itinerary the other task on hand was learning a smattering of Spanish. My guidebook suggested a cursory knowledge of Spanish was almost necessary in the country, as English is not as widely spoken as one might expect, and locals prefer and encourage tourists to speak their language. For weeks before my trip, I listened religiously to Spanish language cassettes, in an attempt to learn at least basic words which might come in handy: ‘Donde esta…’ (where is…?), ‘Como esta?’ (how are you?), ‘Cuánto cuesta?’ (how much is it?), and ‘Vino?’ (wine?) were some phrases that I’d mastered.
I arrived at the Hotel Mayorazgo, conveniently located near the Plaza Espan-a, a central area of downtown Madrid, just walking distance from the Palacio Real, the 18th century palace, which has some of the most elaborately-decorated walls and ceilings imaginable. A true monument to Spain’s acquisition of wealth over the centuries, the palace has remarkable chandeliers in every room, a fine selection of Goya paintings, and ornate tapestries.
Just steps away from the palace is the animated Plaza de Oriente, where you can stroll down cobblestone streets and pop into one of the many cafes for paella, the famous Spanish rice dish. If you’re a true art lover, you will love Madrid as its museums are among Europe’s finest. The most famous one is the Prado, which houses collections of three of the Spanish greats, Goya, Velázquez and El Greco, and you can spend several hours glancing at their masterpieces.
The homeland of explorer Christopher Columbus, Spain has had a long history of conquests and invasions. Spaniards are descended from the many races of people who have settled in the nation over the past ten centuries: Iberians, Celts, Romans, Jews, Visigoths, Berbers and Arabs. Under Muslim (Moorish) rule in the 8th Century, the arts and agriculture prospered, and many of the buildings, palaces and cathedrals which still exist in southern Spain (also known as Andalusia, the Muslim stronghold) have the influence of minarets and mosque-like architecture.
Once I’d taken in some of Spanish culture, I was ready to experience it. For many Spaniards, the day begins after nine p.m., the time that many restaurants and bars open to the public and most bars and discos don’t get hopping until one a.m. I headed for the epicentre of Madrid’s nightlife, the Santa Ana-Calle de las Huertas area. “Life in Spain is about going out. People go out till the wee hours on any night and there are as many places as you can wish for to go out,” says Rafael Kotcherha, an American I met at one of the popular tourist hangouts. Leather wine bags line the walls of many joints, and local Cerveza (beer) is akin to Kingfisher.
While Spain is a relatively inexpensive country to travel in as cost of food, drinks, hotels and tourist attractions are more travel-friendly than in France or Switzerland, if you truly want to enjoy yourself checking out historic sites and happening nightlife, the wallet has to be well stocked. Two days go by quickly (especially if you’re awake until five a.m.!) and my next stop was the city of Seville in southern Spain, where an annual flamenco feria (fair) was taking place. Spain is known for its festive atmosphere, made popular by its feisty flamenco music and dance, and remnants of its gypsy culture (there is
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