- In Sevilla - looking at a three floor home that was being refurbished/restored and seeing maniquins on the lanais dressed in various construction garb and all wearing hard hats and holding construction & architecture implements (MM, if I knew how would love to share this photo)-
- The elderly couples walking arm in arm, with such dignity and love, through every park and plaza in Spain
- The incredible blue of the Spanish sky -
- The feeling of "I'm home again" that comes more strongly with each arrival ....

Wow! When I read the posts from people who are not in Spain right now I can sense the longing to return in their messages so much!

I'm English and have lived in Spain for fourteen years or so, but I'm glad to say I don't take life here for granted, for all the reasons given by everyone here and a lot more besides.

I feel privileged to be able to enjoy what you all yearn for. I hope you can come back soon and enjoy it too.

This is off-topic, but Puna I had to smile when I saw the word "lanais".

LOVE = cocido madrileño on a chilly grey Madrid afternoon.

LOVE = the HUGE christmas display on the back of El Corte Ingles in La puerta del sol. The entire building is decorated with elves scaling down the building and the whole thing is just lit up!

LOVE = sitting down and taking a break on one of the hundreds of thousands of park benches which can be found everywhere.

DISLIKE = Trying to get back to the apartment when you're tired and realized that you will have to walk 3 miles and negotiate 3 metro line changes and walk some more before you are back.

DISLIKE = Carrying everything on my person that I'll need for the day.

Leche

ILOVEMADRID - you know the old saying - you can take the girl/guy out of "da" islands but you can't take the islands out "a da" girl/guy! Glad you enjoyed!

I REALLY wish I was in Spain right now. Seeing that so many people have the same fond memories further confirms the trance that Spain has cast upon us. Without being too repetitive here are some of my likes:

- Seeing the sun set in San Sebastian or from Plaza San Nicholas in Granada

- Speaking to the friendly taxi drivers

- Sangria and Cafe con Leche (both worthy of repetition)

- watching a Real Madrid match in a local bar

- the overall feeling of bliss I had when I was on Spanish soil

- el paseo along the rio guadalquivir in Sevilla

- wandering through Parc Guell

- my "last meal" in Spain: gazpacho y merluza a la plancha

WOW! What a great thread. Here I go:

*Sunset on the beach in Cadiz, seeing the Atlantic from the OTHER side for the first time.

*Another sunset, this one in Ronda, from the courtyard of the Parador, and watching night settle in over the broad valley over which it looks.

*Feria de Abril in Sevilla, and a Spanish couple there who have a second cousin in Chicago, and so bought me fino and cervezas the whole night long.

*Fiesta de San Isidro in Madrid, a city-wide party.

* Small craftsman's shops in Sevilla and Cordoba.

*In Sevilla, strolling through the Jardines de Murillo after a night of flamenco, and smelling the huge, fragrant dentura flowers.

* Flower festooned balconies in every city.

*The fantastic fresh orange juice! (seriously!)

* Spanish people (of course)

(P.S.= The reason you eat more in Spain and LOSE weight is because the food in Spain is fresh, and not overly processed with added salt, fat, preservatives and other chemicals like here in the USA. =) )

About eating in Spain and not gaining weight--at least in Madrid, I always thought it was because of the exercise of climbing the many steps up and down to the Metro.
Cantabene

in all honesty cantabene, i haven't a clue as to what makes us lose weight in spain.i know when i was there for a month last year i ended up losing about 12lbs. rather odd phenomenon considering i certainly consumed far more high calorie/high fat food while there. all the vigourous walking, climbing, dancing and general "being on the move" certainly would spike anyone's metabolism. especailly for those who are used to drving to get from one place to another.

What I like of Spain? Family, food, Entertainment, Friends, clothes, Art, History, Smiles...
What I don't like? Terrorism, economy, Job situation...