A Trip to Spain: Geography, Economy, and Culture

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Geography of Spain
Spain’s economy
Spain’s education
Spain’s healthcare
Food
Economic activities
Festivals
Conclusion
Works Cited

Introduction

The population of Spain has steadily grown by half a million over the past year. According to publications, the rise has been attributed to foreigners inhabiting the country. The number of immigrants in the country is approximated at 15% of the countries total population. Consequently, the number of male immigrants is slightly higher than the number of their female counterparts but the total population indicates that the number of women is generally a bit higher as compared to men by a margin of 1%. Nevertheless, there has been a marked reduction in the number of immigrants entering the country in the current year as compared to the previous year. The main immigrants present in Spain are Romanians who are the leading followed by the Moroccans, Ecuadorians, Bolivians and finally, Argentineans. EU citizens are recorded to be the highest immigrants overly in the whole country with the regions where foreign population having remarkably affected being Catalonia, Andalucía and Madrid (News from Spain, par. 2).

Geography of Spain

Surprisingly, Spain as a country has a very low fertility count and in the western American states it’s recorded as the country with the lowest expenditure on family support. Allegedly, the current rise infertility is attributed to the immigrants present in the country. By estimation more than a million British are estimated to permanently reside in Spain and also Germans.

Spain’s economy

Spain’s economy has been increasing progressively since the Spanish civil war that ended in 1939 and which devastated the country’s economy greatly. The currency in use in Spain is the Euro and transactions can be carried out using credit cards. The economy has transformed gradually in the previous three decades that have seen a marked improvement in its economy. In the past Spain was known as a backward country which specialized in agriculture but now it has a reputation of having a diverse economy with an established manufacturing and service sector. Interestingly, its economy has improved and soured to higher heights so that its economy is currently the fifth in Europe. It trades mainly with France and Italy for its imports and Germany for its exports. The main industrial regions in Spain are Basque and Catalonia. The country’s most important economic industries include tourism, food/beverages and heavy industries among others. It’s also the largest olive oil producer but in recent years drought has proven to be a major setback to the farmers and the economy at large (Quintero Par 1).

Spain’s education

There is a growth in the number of international schools in Spain which use the British curriculum. Though demands for such schools are usually high, an advantageous point is that the fees for day students are lower in Spain as compared to those in the U.K. There are also international schools that specialize on other curriculums such as French, Germany among others but Spanish is also taught in bits no matter the style of education offered. There are other schools where bilingual programmes are assimilated. In the case of Spanish schools, primary and secondary schools can be found in the same institution. The school year runs from mid September to around the last week of June with the exception of mid terms unless the child is in an international British school. However, there are holidays which wholly depend on the geographical location of the school. Home education is possible though one can meet some resistance in some areas from the authorities (Pine Apples Travel par 3).

Spain’s healthcare

The health care in Spain is excellent with modern hospitals that are well equipped with excellently trained pediatricians and doctors who will ensure that you get the best medical attention that can be received in Spain. The biggest difference that is encountered in Spanish hospitals as compared to what people are used to in Britain is that their nurses, though efficient and adequately trained, do not perform personal services such as feeding patients. Such an activity is left for family members, to see to the personal needs of the patient. A family member s allowed to sit with the patient for 24 hours while other visitors have varied visitation periods. It’s of great help to remember that though the doctors are efficient, a good number of them may not know how to speak English so it’s better if you can contact an interpreter. On applying for a European Health Insurance Card prior to moving to Spain, one is entitled to emergency health-care treatments such as full maternity attention free of charge. Dentists also provide treatment freely to those registered to the social security system. Most drugs not sold over the counter in Britain are readily sold over the counter in chemists in Spain (Guide to Spain Par 2)

Food

For the Spanish people, food is more than just a way of sustenance. For them it’s a way of life. Dinner in Spain is normally taken later than 9 pm. Therefore, visiting a restaurant at 9 pm will be a little too early and probably you will be the only diner in the restaurant so it’s much advisable for a person new to Spain to ready themselves to adjust their dinner taking time to around 11-12pm. Their breakfast might include fish rolls, bread, and their coffee is served while still fresh and a bit too strong and many tourists find that a mixture of Spanish coffee and milk quite strong for their tastes. Salads are not consumed in large quantities as in other European countries but most of their vegetables are eaten in form of soups and cooked dishes. Garlic is a favorite among the Spanish and it is practically used in almost all their dishes. If you are a fun of meat then Spain is the country to visit because they use meat in almost all their dishes. Their meat ranges from chicken, pork, rabbit and fish to just mention a few. Their wine is also a part you would not like to miss during your stay in Spain (Indigo Guide, par. 4).

Economic activities

Spain is among the largest countries in Europe with a wide diversity in geography and culture. For those who love beaches then the Mediterranean beaches are the places to visit. The superb terrain is amazingly diverse and a visit to one of the national parks will give you an experience of a lifetime and a general overview of Spain’s splendor. Madrid is Spain’s capital with a selection of museums. Andalucía is mountainous and an important centre for the production of olives and citrus fruits. Seville is among the largest cities in the country and forms a romantic site in the country with a collection of art. Cordoba is termed as the most splendid city while Granada has outstanding monuments. Get dramatic views of ravines and twisting mountain roads in Sierra Nevada and attractive stretches of beaches in Costa de la Luz which is still quite undeveloped despite the numerous number of tourists visiting the city. Galicia is a mountainous region with a spread of beautiful gorges and various sandy bays on its coastline. Large tracts of forests can also be found in Asturias and Cantabria forms an ideal site for skiing and a variety of other winter sports. Barcelona, the Costa Dorada and The Costa Brava are cities to visit to just mention but a few (iExplore Par 4).

Festivals

There are various festivals in Spain such as the La Tomatina which is the world’s largest food fights. Other festivals include the Viana do Bolo Flour Festival, Christmas festivals in Catalina, The Arab Roots of the Flame among others with these being just a few of the many festivals celebrated in Spain. A visit to Spain will guaranty you a stay full of intriguing festivals and events which display a rich culture that has been preserved by the Spanish people (Guide to Spain, par. 3).

Conclusion

In summary a visit to Spain would leave you with a wide selection of things to see and remember ranging from the geographical scenery made up of exotic flora and fauna. The climate is also a puzzle because it varies from one region of the country to another. The population enables you to interact with a wide variety of people from different walks of life due to the large number of immigrants in the country. The economy of the country enables you to have different goods from other countries such as Italy and Germany. The education system allows for continued study as they offer different systems of learning and the healthcare does not leave room for doubt as to the excellence of medical attention offered in the country. The food is superb and the many cities with all sorts of tourist attraction sites which leave little to be desired after a trip around the country.

Works Cited

Guide to Spain. Healthcare in Spain. Sep. 2009.Web.

iExplore. Where to Go in Spain. 2009. Web.

Indigo Guide. Spanish Food and Drink-Cuisine of Spain. (n.d) 2009. Web.

News from Spain. Population statistics in Spain 2009. Web.

Pineapples Travel. The Education System in Spain.2006. Web.

Quintero, Josephine. Business and Economy-Overview of Economy. (n.d). 2009. Web.

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