Untame mismo en España

 The following piece of writing on Spain has been a different experience. I never had the opportunity to walk on the stone-paved, narrow, high-walled roads in Spain, nor had the resources to get myself exotically sun-soaked at some wild beach nor even experienced flamencos before my eyes. 

I was asked to introduce the country in front of an American audience who would be all-geared up to visit Spain after reading my travel composition on Spain. I don't know if this write-up ever stimulated any American or any person of other nations to go for an untamed ride to Spain. However, while I was gathering information to write this piece and trying to understand and experience the country through the many travel articles, I felt much love for this country. It has to be in my must-visit list of countries. This is my first ever travel composition on a country or on any place for that matter. It introduces the many happy sale-able facets  of the country, takes you to its popular cities and motivates you to explore the rest.

Note: I personally do not believe that any country can be described, more so in 700 words. It probably can just bring a few hues of the place in front is. However, when you want to sell a place, tag lines like 'Incredible India' work, much to  our criticism.

The sun-soaked wild beaches to the stone-paved roads lined up with relaxed 'restaurantes', solitary towering castles in medieval towns to flamenco bailaors swirling to the colors of music; the carefree, composed, and spontaneous Spaniards savoring life’s little pleasures to emerald mountains disappearing into the blue Atlantic Ocean and to experiencing Gaudi on the buildings of Barcelona; this passionate nation offers more than you can embrace. From the time you set your footsteps on the Spanish soil, a sudden zest for life runs in your body, and you get ready to experience the hedonistic vibe while being soaked in the pleasures of Spanish closely-knit family culture.

The history walks with you

Once a leading world power, Spain has evolved a distinctive culture, attributed to the assimilation of classical Greek learning, rich intellectual inheritances from Middle East and North Africa, Jewish practices, and French influences. Moorish Muslims from North Africa had ruled Spain till it was restored by the unification of Christian kingdoms of Castile and Aragon in the 15th century leading to the foundation for the modern Spain. However, a series of French invasions in the 18th and 19th century followed by Spanish Civil War in 20th century devastated the beautiful country and weakened its political stability. The Spanish transition of democracy in late 1970s opened up the windows of a socially repressed and conservative society, and made way for a relaxed, energetic, intense culture that believes in ‘fiesta and fiesta’ all round the year.

The best time to visit Spain depends on what you are after in this warm untamed country. If you want to just eat, drink, and be merry on the Mediterranean beaches like all Spaniards, December to February is the ideal time to soak yourself. Summer in Spain is hot and is the best time to go trekking in the Picos de Europa Mountains, and if you are a history enthusiast and want to study the architecture marvels, the month of September is a good time to visit Spain, when the weather is pleasant and gives you ample time while sitting amidst the ruins in Ronda or Toledo to imagine yourself a warrior struggling to protect your kingdom from Muslim invasion before the sun calls it a day.

Spain’s two most fascinating cities, Madrid and Barcelona are the focal points of the country’s thriving economy, culture, media, fashion, and entertainment. Being the capital of Spain, Madrid has a modern and cosmopolitan look but has brilliantly preserved the look of historic buildings and streets. Madrid’s significant landmarks include the Royal Palace, the Puerta de Alcala, the Australian District, the Retiro Park, the Prado Museum, and the Thyssen- Bornemisza Museum. A few miles south of Madrid is a small Spanish city, Toledo that carries an artistic legacy through synagogues, churches, mosques, and palaces. It boasts of preserving three cultures, Arabs, Jews, and Christians through La Mancha, Santo Tome – a 13th century cathedral, and Santa Maria la Blanca Synagogue.

Before moving to Barcelona, the Monastery of El Escorial, located 30 miles northwest of Madrid, is a significant historical monument, and it is completely unlike any man-made structure. It is overwhelming.  It has 16 inner courtyards, 86 staircases, 1,200 doors and over 2,500 windows. Some 300 miles northeast to Madrid is the beautiful city of Barcelona with an amazingly rich cultural heritage. The place is known for architectural works of Anotoni Gaudi and Montane, flamenco shows, wine cellars, and delicious tapas. Some of the city’s important tourist landmarks include the Parc Guell, the Picasso Museum, La Sagrada Familia, and Tour Montjuic. The nearby Caves of Codorniu are considered the biggest wine cellars in the world, covering 30km and five levels.

Toledo located deep center is beautiful, and fills one with wonder

Down south, deeply traditional yet ready to embrace the modern world, Andalucía is a place of typical Spanish experiences including flamenco, bullfighting tapas, fabulous local liquor, and the guitar. The country’s most pristine beaches are located here along with lesser known fabulous cathedrals, mosques, and palaces. Andalucíans are known to have an amazing zest for life; they are fun loving and live life to the fullest; they are family-oriented and their fiestas are the most colorful and nosiest. Spending a few days in Andalucía is sure to help you catch up with the fun-loving fever that will stay on even after you have returned home.

About the journeys

How do you see a place when you visit it? Do you take a tour of the 'places to see' and eat at famous joints and shop the natives' manufactures and thus, in a nutshell, try to unravel the place and what it offers? Do you explore the people, watch their daily travails, listen to them as they walk-by you during your strolls in the neighbourhood after dinner? As tourists we most often to go sightseeing and as it gets over, we pack our bags towards home. In my small and ordinary life of 27 years, I did the same. I have travelled to a lot many places than my fellow ordinary beings of this age (by ordinary I mean you are normally educated like any other average person and have worked your skills out for a penny and do not have a rich father to bring the world in front of you) and every time, we were on a mission to cover the popular places-to-see and consequently, we exhausted ourselves but on after-thoughts, we realised we kind-of enjoyed it too. 

There is so much to see, so many fun things to do in this one small but magnified life; a plenty of untold speeches to hear of, that will make you inspired at times; a multitude of stimulating conversations to be a part of; so much to read and live those characters and make yourself high-spirited through people and food; and certainly so much to write for some pleasurable smoke in this very life! 

Just a trip to complete all places-to-see doesn't necessarily lead to the life that I talked above. The place I travel to, fortunately, sometimes, gets inside me, so much so, that I feel feverish with its way of life as a disease from which I certainly don't feel like to come out unless the next place I visit sets in my body and mind. I travel to live multiple lives with countless shades and colours like a chameleon changes according to its milieu. Sometimes, I perceive and experience the place and its people by becoming one of them and sometimes I return to myself and observe them from a window and thus, detached myself. But then, some traces remain to make life unfortunate or beautiful, depending on how you understand the place.

So my travel guide would necessarily include people and conversations over some good food and a smooth drink, all of them are as intoxicating as Pablo's poetry. The journeys happen to be the genesis of my writings, fictional or otherwise. Hence, you will not find a list of posh restaurants here, how to book your seat in an air-conditioned bus, how to travel from one point of the city to the other, what to shop and what not to shop, etcetera. I’m awful in these things. 

I will start with my home, the overcrowded, sweaty, egoistic, city of joy, Calcutta that still carries the legacy of colonialism through buildings, language, temperament, street names and many more.

Of course, it’s easier for me to sketch a travel guide of a place that I have experienced in and out.