🇪🇸 Spain

Hej! I’m sharing a glimpse of my experience visiting resplendent Spain. I was there in the summer of 2013. Below are some notes on what I tasted, saw and listened to.
Important: I only share my own experience and recommend the things I personally tried and liked. Therefore, everything written below is extremely subjective, and does not cover all the wonderful local features and places ☺️.

🗺 Places: Barcelona, Salou, Monistrol de Montserrat.

🏛 Top sights visited:

1. Barcelona
   • Basilica de la Sagrada Familia (Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família)
   • Park Güell (Parc Güell)
   • La Rambla Street (La Rambla)
   • Plaça de Catalunya (Plaça de Catalunya)
2. Salou
   • PortAventura (PortAventura)
   • Ponent Beach (Platja de Ponent)
   • The Ornamental Fountains (Las Fuentes Ornamentales)
3. Monistrol de Montserrat
   • Montserrat Mountain Natural Park (Parque Natural de la Montaña de Montserrat)
   • Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey (Abadía de Santa María de Montserrat)
   • Our Lady of Montserrat (Mare de Déu de Montserrat)
   • Funicular Aeri de Montserrat (Funicular Aeri de Montserrat)

🎧 Local musicians:

• 🇪🇸 Enrique Iglesias (singer). Genre: pop
• 🇪🇸 Los del Río (duo). Genre: pop
• 🇺🇳 David Tavarre (singer). Genre: pop
• 🇺🇳 Dr. Kucho! (DJ). Genre: house
• 🇺🇳 Sak Noel (DJ). Genre: pop

🎚️ Contribution to EDM:

• Balearic House. Originated: late 1980s
• Balearic Trance. Originated: early 1990s

🥘 Local food & drinks:

• Tapas-Style Snacks (Tapas)
  • Jamon Serrano Tapas (Jamón Serrano)
  • Jamon Ibérico Tapas (Jamón Ibérico)
  • Chorizo Tapas (Chorizo)
  • Salchichon Tapas (Salchichón)
• Paella (Paella)
• Spanish Omelette (Tortilla)
• Churro (Churro)
• Catalonia (Regional Special): Catalan Creme (Crema Catalana / Crema de Sant Josep)
• Catalonia (Regional Special): Pa amb Tomàquet (Pan con Tomate / Pa amb Tomàquet)

🎬 Local movies:

• The Invisible Guest (Contratiempo). Year: 2016. Genre: thriller / crime
• The Body (El cuerpo). Year: 2012. Genre: thriller / crime
• Klaus (Klaus). Year: 2019. Genre: adventure / comedy
• Under Therapy (Bajo terapia). Year: 2023. Genre: drama

🪔 Authentic features:

• Authentic Principle: Hispanidad (Hispanidad)
• The Siesta Nap (Siesta)
• The Flamenco Art Form (Flamenco)
• Spanish Bullfighting (Corrida)
• The Mudéjar Architecture (Arte Mudéjar)
• Spanish Cars (Brand: “SEAT”)
• Authentic Musical Instrument: Castanets (Castañuelas)
• Authentic Garb: Mantilla and Traje de Luces (Mantilla y Traje de Luces)
• The Legacy of Iberians (Iberos / Ἴβηρες)
• The Heritage of the Spanish Empire (Imperio Español / Imperium Hispanicum)
• Catalonia (Regional Special): The Culture of Catalans (Catalanes / Catalans)
  • Catalonia (Regional Special): Authentic Principle: Seny (Seny / Seny)
  • Catalonia (Regional Special): Catalan Rumba Dance (Rumba Catalana / Rumba Catalana)
  • Catalonia (Regional Special): Catalan Human Towers (Castell / Castell)
  • Catalonia (Regional Special): Catalan Art Nouveau Architecture (Modernisme / Modernisme)
  • Catalonia (Regional Special): Authentic Musical Instrument: Flabiol (Flabiol / Flabiol)

💐 National flower: Red Carnation (Clavel Rojo)

• Catalonia (Regional Special): Weaver’s Broom (Retama / Ginesta)

🦉 Local wisdom: “Aunque la mona se vista de seda, mona se queda.” / “Even if a monkey dresses in silk, it remains a monkey." — Spanish proverb

👨‍🎓 The oldest university: The University of Salamanca (Universidad de Salamanca), Salamanca, est. 1218.