Forget Costa Rica, keep Spain

Well after personally investigating Costa Rica, I'll keep my country, the DR. I'm not bashing it but I guess if you're a TICO/TICA then it definitely means something. The people are nice but I didn't find it to be particularly fascinating. It does have a lush green forest and the sites reminiscent of Jurassic Park are eye-opening BUT once you've done the "touristy" stuff, it's wonder dims with each passing day. I'll keep it on my list for future visits but not a place to relocate to by any stretch of the word.

Now, Spain is something else. Have been going there since I was a child so I am partial to it. Galicia is unbelievable and El Catedral de Santiago is without comparison. Toledo, Segovia, San Lorenzo del Escorial is unbelievable- I want it, LOL! I have put it to my mind to do El Camino de Santiago. I love the French Route, can't wait to cross the Pyrennes. Madrid is congested, like any major metropolitan city. Oh, love Velazquez's Las Meninas and Picasso's cubist rendition of it but am partial to the original obviously. I love El Greco's spirituality. It's wonderful to return to La Madre Patria and see where we all came from.

I may relocate there. It certainly has the elements I am looking for. Of course DR is my base and birthplace so don 't get lethal on me. I am not Ramfis Trujillo and his disdain for the DR and DR folk BUT Spain is unbelievable. This last trip I did was significant. King Phillip the II is my favorite King- a workaholic as myself and preferred to do it all himself. No need for clumsy self aggrandizing and nosy Validos.

I could go on BUT would like to hear other DR folks who have been to Spain to state their ideas, reflections, etc.

I went to Cuatro Caminos and found the Dominican neighborhood. I ate a simple Dominican meal, quite tasty obviously. I love Galician food above all, hearty portions and the softest, juiciest most tender meat you can eat. In the DR we do not have that quality of beef no matter how expensive you go. Sometimes, you can go to a high end steakhouse in the DR and you'll be served cardboad meat that mangy dogs will find offensive.

I love the DR BUT just stating the facts. So go Spain and we can shelve Costa Rica.

I went to Granada, Andalucia. I could not get into the Alhambra but I saw the Alhambra Gardens. The Arabic baths in partial ruins are a testament to their cleanliness, no? The Catholic Monarchs OTOH were not known for bathing regularly. I was told by a Professor that since they saw the Muslims bathing so often, that could not be a a godly thing to do. How ridiculous!

The Alhambra Gardens are beautiful. One could stay there the whole day in those cool surroundings and lush well manicured gardens. I'm partial to Galicia though. Were you ever up that way?

Montserrat is unforgettable. I forgot to mention that one.

AZB, it's like when I went to Cayman Islands. I loved the turtles and the stingrays BUT for the love of God, why would anyone want to live in that flatland. Prior to going there I had heard from friends how great it is BUT I failed to see this. The Caribbean, Central and South America is littered with such tourist traps. They're great as one hit wonders but repeats are dubious.

London_Calling said:

IMO - Spain is one of the most racist countries in Europe - though I am not a Dominican from what I have seen and heard of the treatment of Dominicans in this country I fail to understand why you recommend it.

The good thing is that Franco died and the country has been subsidised by the EU every since - which for almost the first time in its history has allowed a democracy to be established.

As for Philip II of Spain - I would have thought his greatest contribution to Latin America is misery.

As for Costa Rica - I totally agree with your comments!

Click to expand...

Where did you get your info on racism in Spain? Spain is a country run by law and order. You can't have Morrocans and Africans just walking into Spain and expecting that Spain will give them hugs and kisses.

King Phillip 2. IMO, was the greatest of the Hapsburgs. He ruled an Empire upon which the sun never set plus a very religious man.

Franco was a disaster for Spain, I agree.

Ricardo900 said:

It's not just Morrocans and Africans, it's also Dominicans and other Latin Americans. Sad but true Xenophobia in Spain is not a pretty sight, just like Xenophobia increasing in the US. Here's a quick video of a young girl from Ecuador being groped, cursed and even kicked in the face. YouTube - Racism in Metro of Barcelona (Spain)

It's probably not an everyday occurence but it does happen, Spain is not giving hugs and kisses to Dominicans either.

Click to expand...

That's a shame. That bully preying on that little girl. In any country immigrants have it hard. Being indigenous, mulatto it's hard in a country that is white like Spain. The good thing is that most Spaniards are tolerant and they have a NEED for immigrants to fund their social welfare programs.

That's nice Berzin but the DR has the same eco-tourism. I didn't really find the eco-tourism to be that much better than the DR. At least in the DR, you don't have to worry about scorpions biting you in the ass and sending you to an early grave or the many other nasty and lethal critters roaming around.