Traveling to Spain was one of the best trips to Europe yet
This is my fifth trip to Europe. This time, I'm traveling to Spain baby. However, "the country of Spain" doesn’t exist as most people tend to think. Several countries are within Spain and have their own cultures and languages. I went to Catalonia and the Basque region, and in this small country, people are happy. Why is everybody so happy in Spain?
Itinerary of our trip: land in Barcelona, rent a car, and drive and sleep in Otxandio, continue to Bilbao, and finally to San Sebastian and back to Barcelona.
The map displays the Kingdom of Spain on the Iberian Peninsula, indicating its 17 autonomous communities, two autonomous cities, and the locations, boundaries, and capitals of its fifty provinces. Wow! I never knew that. Most people think of Spain is just Spain, but there is much more.
There are four official languages in Spain. While most people are familiar with Castilian Spanish, it is fun to learn that other official languages are spoken throughout Spain:Â Catalan, Basque (Euskera), and Galician. Additionally, there are other unique languages widely spoken in the remote regions.
It’s Monday evening in Barcelona, and everyone is out dining, eating pintxos, and drinking wine. The restaurants are filled with people, young and old, many tourists but mostly locals. Everyone was talking lively and having fun as if there was a town celebration. But every day is like a party in Barcelona. Everyone is living their life, not just thinking about work and money.
This is not intended to be another article bashing America, America's favorite pastime. But I compiled a few items I think are precious for social living, and I wonder why America couldn’t be more like that.
Spain excels in various dimensions of well-being compared to other countries in the Better Life Index, outperforming the average in work-life balance, health, social connections, and safety. I'll get into that at the end, for now let me tell you about my trip to Spain.
Arriving in Barcelona
Flying into Barcelona is quite of a dramatic landing. We fly over the entire country until we get to the east coast, all the way into the Mediteranea sea, then the plane turns around and return to land in the beautiful city of Barcelona.
I tried to get an Uber to our apartment, but my son told me that in Barcelona there is no Uber. And yes, I noticed the long line of cars waiting to pick us up at the curb. I've asked the taxi driver why there were no Uber drivers. He told me that the city of Barcelona wouldn't allow the corporate takeover of Uber. I've asked, how did they do it, he replied, they simply scrambled the app. In other words, they hacked the app and prevented it from working.
Right there, you get the ideal that Spain is a socialized country. They protect the taxi working class by not allowing unfair competition, something the US can't even understand.
I recommend traveling to Spain in the spring, fall or winter. If you go in the summer, you'll risk getting roasted by the heat and trampled by tourists. In fact, that is a rule of thumb for traveling these anywhere days, avoid summers at all costs.
First trip to Barcelona and we have to see the grandstand places. Antoni Gaudà Sagrada Familia, Park Guell and Casa Batlló and all the museums. Everything in Barcelona leads to Gaudi. Top 20 What to do in Barcelona. Don't miss the Hospital de Sant Pau. For modern art visit the Moco Museum. Don't miss the Picasso Museum.
But in addition to the great touristic attractions there is a world of wonders in Barcelona, you just have to get lost in the city and find out. Don't miss going to the beach. Or go to the old town with all its small shops and restaurants. Just pay attention to your surroundings. There is some pickpocket action, but I didn't find to be very aggressive and more like an opportunistic type of activity. Lots of gypsy scams. If somebody approaches you and try to engage with a story, just walk away and don't talk to them.
We went visiting Mount Montserrat. The Benedictine monastery stands on Mount Montserrat, a unique natural setting. Its origins can be traced back to the late 19th century when a small chapel was built near the place where, according to legend, a group of shepherds found an image of Our Lady of Montserrat, the patron saint of Catalonia since 1881.
Leaving for Bilbao
Time to rent a car. I always use Sixt when in Europe; they give you great deals. Just remember one thing when renting a car. Make sure you get the exact location where you must return the car. It is not always in the place where you drove off. It took some excruciating round-the-block routine to find the right place.
We get out of the city quickly, and the roads around Barcelona are excellent and well-marked. The traffic in Barcelona is not too bad at all. We soon reach triple-digit temperatures, but the desert is dry and doesn't feel so bad. But as we enter the Basque region there is the relief of being in a higher elevation. Being hungry was not a problem. Even the side of the road eatery is a fantastic gourmet experience.
The oldest European language, Euskara, is spoken in the Basque Country. It's a language isolate, meaning it's unrelated to any other known language. Euskara is unique and complex, with its own unique words and grammar. Don't even try.
Stopping at Otxandio for the night
We veered off the road and went to this tiny town in the middle of nowhere. Otxandio. It was a small medieval town, so small that when we arrived, some dogs came barking at us as if we were arriving at somebody's home. A town filled with history. But what is not filled with history in Europe? Get a bite to eat and drink beer at the Danoena Taberna. The owner, Javier is also the mayor and owns most of the houses in town and rented us his Air B&B.
There are lots of things to see nearby. We went to see the Otzarreta Beech Forest, don't miss it. We also went on a mild hike por las calzadas de Otxandio.
Bilbao
The following day, we continued our way up to Bilbao. I typically don't do much research before I go to new places, and I just let things happen in their own unique way; I have no expectations. Bilbao blew me away. Welcome to the wonderful world of pintxos, the Basque version of tapas. Bilbao is a port city located just a few kilometers from the Bay of Biscay.
Bilbao is the capital of Bizkaia in Spain's Basque country, with a population of one million. A city that welcomes tourists with open arms. Prior to being a city in decline, it now experiences a vibrant and lively comeback filled with contemporary architecture, busy street life, great restaurants, and nightlife. The opening of the Guggenheim Museum was a big part of lifting Bilbao to a new era of prosperity.
Heading to San Sebastian
From Bilbao to San Sebastian is about one hour and ten minutes by car. A pleasant drive filled with great vistas. San Sebastian is certainly a heavy mass tourism destination. But unlike Barcelona, the town thrives with it and seems to be well adapted to assimilate them in a positive way, if that is at all possible.
Without planning we happily arrived in San Sebastian in August during the Semana Grande. And because of that there was a most spectacular firework shows I've ever seen. We patiently waited for some time at a crowded Pza. Carlos Blasco de Imaz right by the The San Sebastián Aquarium-Palacio del Mar, by the way not to be missed. You are shoulder to shoulder with young and old and a happy crowd from just about everywhere on the planet. The feeling was great, and I'm not particularly fond of large crowds, but somehow it passed my test. Because everything is so crazy interesting in Spain.
We just got lost in the streets of San Sebastian and it seems everywhere you look is like being in a street party. I'm not going to recommend any particular pintxo place because there are so many of them, one better than the other (no, I lied, I just forgot to note them down). Beside there are hundreds of listings for great places to eat in San Sebastian. But if you want to have a great outing in a nearby town, go to Tolosa, a 27 min. ride and also an interesting place to visit. The restaurant is called Casa Julian. If you love meat this place will leave nothing to desire.
Things I love about being in Spain
Safety
We walked everywhere at night, and it felt safe. The public doesn’t own guns like in the US. Spain ranks 103rd, and France ranks 26th according to the gun ownership research list. The US ranks number one. In Spain, for everyone hundred people, only 7.5 own guns. Compared to the United States, of 100 people, 120.5 own guns. More than one gun per person!
Some crucial places like the international airport have officers with machine guns. Unlike America, which lets criminals have machine guns. That’s plain stupid.
I’ve walked through the entire city of Barcelona and only saw a few homeless immigrants, and the remaining homeless were the town drunks. I’ve also visited Bilbao and San Sebastian. These cities are even better in all social markings.
A place like Barcelona gets a bad rap about street pickpockets and other street scammers. And that is true. There are lots of pickpockets walking around looking for an opportunity. But in my opinion, they were not the aggressive type. At no point was I approached aggressively. To fall for one of these scams, you have to really let them in. If you don't, they simply go away or decide you're not a good catch.
The roads and highways are fantastic. Well-paved and well-marked, we could fly in our rented BMW at 120 KM without apprehensions. The buses and trains are stunning and a pleasure to ride. They cover the entire city and come by frequently. Social services are well-implemented and intelligent, and we are well-cared for. But why are people so happy here?
Spain boasts a world-class healthcare system that is both accessible and affordable. The country provides universal coverage through a combination of public and private healthcare providers, with public healthcare funded by taxes and available to everyone who registers with the national health service. (source: International Living)
Spain cares about its citizens and protects its working classes. When you arrive in Barcelona, you reach for your phone to get an Uber but notice millions of taxis everywhere. The City of Barcelona scrambled the Uber app signals to protect the taxi class, showing how they protect their city workers from predatory corporate takeover. They don’t give a shit about Uber, but they care about their regulated and safe taxi class.
The garbage collection and recycling in Barcelona is extraordinary. Every city block has several large containers where people can deposit all their refuse. Paper, metal, plastics, and organics all go into separate containers. This was a pleasure to see and use.
You notice excellent city planning everywhere you look, and it is clear citizens are the priority. It is easy to see that taxes are all used for the benefit of the population. I could see that clearly because of the contrast I’m used to seeing in the U.S.
The U.S. has no public health care, education, or safety — an increasingly homeless population with severe drug and mental health problems. No safety and no gun control. And a string of dying cities with no one walking the streets and tall walls of bordered-up stores for lease. It is obvious why people in the US are not very happy.
We don’t see giant corporations in Spain. Instead of a Home Depot, we see several smaller companies filling the demand for home-building goods. Instead of Office Depot, we have an assemblage of different products, adding a broad palette of options to the consumer. It is the same for every other industry. And may I add a couple more things?
No prudish people here, either. In Spain, nudity and naked bodies are not considered sinful. I saw several half-naked people in public, and no one cared. I walked into a man’s bathroom and saw a lady changing her baby’s diaper right opposite where the man peed. I exited the bathroom, and the lady’s bathroom was on the other side. They could easily see all the men and the line of dicks peeing. No one cared; what a relief to see.
Lastly, there are privately owned pharmacies in almost every block. Outside the store there is a big giant-lit green cross, allowing you to see the following pharmacy in case you need it urgently. Even though this might not be a huge thing, it shows how well-planned and thoughtful the city is organized. But this is also seen all over Europe
I am returning to the States tomorrow, where half the population is eager and desperate to vote for authoritarianism and a criminal leader who will eradicate the last few social services they have and all their rights and freedoms. Oh, Lord. Only unhappy people will do something like that.
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