Post: #1

I am thinking about a 3 week trip somewhere in December/January to where it's warm. The reason I'm thinking about the Basque Region is because it seems less tourist-infested compared to other parts of Spain. It seems to be overlooked, like a hidden gem.

Do the Basques have a positive or negative view of Americans? How are the beaches? The women? Airline? Accomodations? Anyone visit Bilbao? Anyone personally ever visited there at all?

I appreciate any information, thanks.

Post: #2

"I am thinking about a 3 week trip somewhere in December/January to where it's warm."

Euskadi is kind of cold in Jan/Dec.

If warm weather is a factor, I would avoid that time of year.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Sebasti%C3%A1n#Climate

I will be breaking down some Northern Spain Moves soon.

As far as beaches go, what do you think?





At night:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/luciojmarti.../lightbox/

Post: #3

G,

looking forward to your Northern Spain Report, especially if you visited Bilbao. I don't mind a little bit of cold as long as it isn't a Chicago-style blizzard every year.

I found this quote interesting about the Basques...

Quote:I think this is because most of Spain doesn't like Basque people. They think they are very violent.

Post: #4

They are really proud people, Ive been in Pamplona, Bilbao and San Sebastian. Amazing food if you have money.

In a few hours I post my thoughts, tjey could complement G's, he has more of a foreigner vision whereas I have more like a local.

Post: #5

blurb,

You should read a very accessible survey of the Basques and their land: "The Basque History of the World" by Mark Kurlansky. It will give you a good understanding of the nuances of the conflict between Basques and the other peoples of Iberia. Some chapters were dense, others breezy and general, as I recall, so you don't need to read the entire thing.

I don't know how fond Basques are of Americans, but from Kurlansky I learned that they admire the British. They based the red/green/white nationalist flag on the Union Jack.

Post: #6

San Sebastian is probably a good choice, there's a big university there.

If you go also check out Biarritz, across the border in the Northern (French) part of the Basque country.

It won't be a great time to visit. Biarritz is very lively in summer but I expect it to be fairly calm, if not completely dead, in winter.

Here's a piece on visiting there in winter: http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/48-h...97989.html

Post: #7

The Basque Country is a great place to visit, renowned for its excellent food. San Sebastián is incredibly beautiful (and expensive), and if you like surf you'll love it (but maybe not in winter, lol).

Spain is one of the less pro-American countries in Europe. However, this is related mostly to politics, and you won't have any problem here (specially if you let clear how much you dislike Bush). Anyway, Basques, as Catalans, dislike French above all other nations. I don't know why, maybe it's the "border effect".

You must be careful, however, talking about terrorism and Basque nationalism, as these are highly divisive issues and even Basques avoid talking about it. Any information you find is usually biased toward either of the sides.

Now comes the bad side: the girls. They're known in Spain for being very prude (social control) and somewhat ugly. Basque guys, however, are also known for having no game, so maybe you can stand out (my Basque brother-in-law told me his friends try to pick up girls talking about football).

It's also, after Navarre, the most religious place in Spain (Madrid and Barcelona are the least); I guess it has something to do with the attitudes in girls.