I find Spain delightful. I am a Gringo that speaks Spanish and my wife is from Mexico. Language is not a problem. We do go to Madrid to the the magnificent museums. They are impressive and to just look at the architecture of that magnificent city and of course the Al-Hambra in Southern Spain and Toledo in central Spain.
However we mostly travel where the normal Spanish vacationers travel and stay. It is great and a lot cheaper. The locals much appreciate communicating to us in Spanish when not in an area of foreign tourists.
Last visit to Spain I spoke not one word of English except to my wife and more often than not it was in Spanish. Spain is a great place to visit, just stay away from the tourist areas.
I forgot to add this. I most highly recommend the region of Asturias in Northern Spain to visit. It is cheap if you stay in the hotels the locals use. To the North is the Ocean, to the South are mountains with snow. It is beautiful. Oddly this was where Christianity in Spain survived the Muslim conquest of Spain. King Peleo was the start of the reconquest of Spain by Christianity for Spain. Asturias was the last place they survived. Over the next several hundred years they pushed South and liberated Spain again for Christianity. Today there is a Cathedral in Covedanga up in the mountains where King Peleo was cornered by the Muslim troops. It was a cave where his troops hid. Today that cave is a shrine and the cathedral is below. According to legend a great rain storm swept the Muslim Army away and then King Peleo’s troops slayed the rest. This was the beginning of pushing the Muslims out of Spain.
Gringo in the meaning we think of it today is a Mexican term. Also, your wife is fine with it? Spanish people seem to often be rude about people speaking Mexican Spanish.
Spain IS delightful!
I got around OK with my 15-word Spanish vocabulary—mostly having to deal with food and wine...
;)
I’ve been to Spain five times over 30 years. With the exception of July/August heat...I think it’s best place to go and spend 10 to 14 days.
I would say that certain areas (Ibiza and Mallorca for example) that there’s a lot of negativity with locals that has suddenly appeared in the past 5 years. Some relates to non-Spaniards who moved in and triggered a housing crisis. Some relates to a cost of living problem. Some relates to drunk Brits or Germans.
I’ve been to Barcelona many many times , I even have an upcoming trip to Barcelona
I never had any issues , but I do sort of speak Spanish, at least I get by
Never had issues with any kind of problem
Barcelona is beautiful , but it does have a lot of traffic 😂