As we travel in Southeast Asia, we meet a lot of Spanish speaking travelers such as Colombia, Argentina, Chile. And every time I met any of them, I start to bubble in Spanish. Not only I do want to show off with the great Spanish I acquired in South America but also because I miss speaking Spanish so much. I just love the language. I find it so romantic and poetic. Did you know that there are 329 million native Spanish speakers in the world and approximately 100 million people speak Spanish as a second language.? Now you do. Lately, in Cambodia, I keep meeting with slightly different Spanish accent and they turn out to be from Spain. Surprisingly, I could manage a whole full conversation with them and I understand everything that was told. After discussing with them what the country has to offer, I got even more carious about the idea of traveling in Spain.
Spain shares a border with Morocco, which one of my future dream destinations, and consequently, , I could definitely include it in this journey itinerary. I can already imagine myself walking the streets of Madrid and freely conversing with the locals and enjoying what this amazing country has to offer.
With a population of over 46 millions where 98% of it are Roman Catholic, here are few cool facts I had discover about Spain and Spanish.
- To begin with, you must know that the name Spain diverged from the word Ispania, which means the land of rabbits.
- There is no tooth fairy in Spain but rather a tooth mouse called Ratoncito Perez.
- Like I said, due to the fact the it shares a border with Morocco, Spain is the closest country to Africa.
- The Spaniards aren’t known for very many inventions…but they did invent the mop.
- Spain is the only country that has the sports bull fighting counted as a sport.
- Did you know there are more native Spanish speakers then English? It is estimated that in several decades, Spanish will be more spoken than English in….. USA!
- The name Madrid comes from the Arabic “magerit” which means ‘place of many streams’.
- The Canary islands is named after the dogs, not the birds.
- The capital Madrid is located directly in the center of the country. How cool!
- And the last fact but the least, in the name of world peace, Spain did not take part in neither world wars. How smart!
Keep in mind that Spain has so much to offer it visitor such as visiting Palacio Real, escaping the running bulls, enjoying La Concha in San Sebastian, getting impressed by the amazing architecture of Aqueduct of Segovia, and perhaps being awed by the medieval city which is built on the steep sides of a mountain, Cuenca. Whatever you chose to do or see, you have a great time. As for accommodations, Spain has much to offer everywhere. If you do visit Badajoz, you may want to check this great hostel inBadajoz. And when you are already there, here are few things for you to enjoy in Badajoz:
- Alcazaba – one of the best conserved walled Arab castles in the whole of Spain with various towers still intact
- Historical Quarter – stroll around the old part of the town to admire the old plazas (especially Plaza de San José, Plaza de España and La Plaza Alta) and churches. Look for the two towers
- flanking the old entrance to the city dating from the 16th century, Puerta de Palmas.
- Churches: Iglesia de Santa Domingo, Iglesia San Andrés, Iglesia San Agustín de la Concepción
- Cathedral: Catedral de San Juan – a very impressive building built between the 13th and 16th centuries. Predominantly gothic and romanic, with three aisles and twelve inner chapels.
- Puente de las Palmas: A bridge built in the 16th century and crossing the Guadiana river with 32 arches, 582m in length and 13m in height.
- Museums in Badajoz: MEIZC, Extremadura’s Iberoamerican Museum of Contemporary Art, Virgen de Guadalupe, 7. Impressive red brick building; Museo Arqueológico, Palacio de los
- Duques de la Roca, in the interior of the Alcazaba on the site of the old Mosque with many exhibits of prehistoric, Roman, Visigo and Arab objects; Museo Provincial de Bellas Artes, San German, 1, Art gallery.
So enjoy Spain and be safe!
