Spain was stuck in the past during the Franco regime. After his death in 1975, it seems a lot of energy was released.

Most striking, IMHO, was the improvement in transportation--better trains and continuous improvement to the Madrid Metro.

Lots of new buildings, with the city always expanding beyound its previous borders. Lots more people.

Higher and higher prices, of course. When I first visited Madrid in 1956 a first class hotel room could be obtained dfor 75 pesetas a night (exchange rate 34 to the dollar at the time.

Less safety in the streets now. With democracy has come more freedom and more opportunity for criminals, too.

Americans loved Franco Spain. It was a police state, after all. But the other side of the coin is that a police state is very tough on criminals. For Americans it was a pleasant novelty to be able to walk on any street at any time of night or day and be safe from crimninal attack--so opposite the situation in any big American city. The Spaniards chafed at the repression, of course.

Tourism was not as highly developed then as now--when treatment of the tourist can be rather impersonal. Still, Spain remains a fascinating place with a colorful history anda congenial people.

It's always worth a visit. But every trip should be regarded a snapshot that begins to age as soon as it it taken. Change is constant--requiring one to visit again and a again to stay up to date. But visiting Spain is always a pleasant prospect.

Hmmm. What time does the next plane leave?
Cantabene