I'm with Chica! Expat, sounds VERY fishy, guide books or no! Logic sounds to me like they would at least take you in to fill out a report. But, there are crooked people everywhere, so maybe you were targeted BECAUSE you were a tourist! :o Still sounds weird!
Chica, first time I've ever heard of having to have a translation. That's what the International license is for, its in several different languages! So I don't know about that one! I've heard from friends that getting your license over there is a real bear! Good luck! And let me know how you do! I'm going to have to do that too! :o I envy my cousins, when I was younger, they came to visit and my dad taught them to drive, and they eventually got their licenses here and were able to get them in Spain easily... but that was quite some time ago when it was easy to do (and CHEAP! That's why so many people were doing it!) But now because they think Americans only drive automatic...
Buena suerte!
P.S. I had a friend fail the pratical 6 (yes, 6!) times and all because he felt comfortable enough to use some common sense and judgement. If you have to take the road test, I suggest you go STRICTLY by the book! Which may be hard, especially having driven for years and having to go through it all over again!