I stopped by Rota a few times coming and going back in the arly '70s but never had the opportunity to leave the base. It was nice and sunny but also hot and dusty. My most vivid memory of the place is the purchase of two pairs of elegant leather boots which, sadly, ended up being a size too small.
Years later, I still love Spain, having hit Barcelona and Valencia a few times by sea and Barcelona by rail. We visited Spain about four years ago and started out in the south (a week in a beautiful RCI timeshare in Torremolinas) where we visited Seville, Cordoba, Segovia, Malaga, Gibraltar, etc. but had the good sense to avoid the "lure" of the ferry to Morocco. I'm not keen on surrendering my passport to a tour captain named Abdul, thank you.
We then went north to Madrid, spent four days there and then on to points north where my wife had served as a missionary many moons ago. What a beautiful country filled with wonderful people. Great Semana Santa (Holy Week/Easter) processions and a wonderful rail system. A clean country, too, overall.
But I never could understand why their seemed to be an ongoing competition for the national title of "The Filthiest Public Restroom in Spain." The winner hands down was an otherwise awesome cathedral in central Madrid, with runners-up in many otherwise fine restaurants.
We'd like to see our adopted home-away-from-home before the Islamo-Spanish Civil War begins. Hell, the Muslims already are fixin' to rebuild the Grand Mosque in Segovia as a major step toward the Islamic "reclamation" of Spain.
We're going back for a week this year -- Allah willing (if'n ya git my drift) -- disguised as it were as a Greek and an Icelander and wearing amulets made from Spanish soap (Lavanda Puig) to ward of the gypsies which still plague the land after so many centuries.
In these troubled times I only wish that I could bring along my two German friends as well -- two very high-caliber gentlemen named Herr Heckler and Herr Koch. They don't eat much but can be very loud and assertive at times, but they do speak a universal language.
I wonder if the no-nonsense la Guardia Civil' still pack understated 9's....... 8~)