The MattWilkie Videos

Horses for courses at the end of the day. What suits one person may not suit another and its as simple as that. We went and came back but over the years I've spent alot of time over there and really enjoyed it. Just didn't work out this time.

It is a coincidence for me in that our next family holiday will be going to Spain.
Just a quick flight and then playing in a swimming pool with our little ones.

It is a coincidence for me in that our next family holiday will be going to Spain.
Just a quick flight and then playing in a swimming pool with our little ones.

Which part of Spain?

Not sure yet.

I like Spain. There is a lot more to it than the costas.

I don't like the coast and really enjoy the interior much more.
The Spanish people are much more friendly inland.

I spent a couple of weeks inland near a place called Antequerra, in the province of Malaga, Andalusia, a few years ago. We hired a villa for that time with its own pool. It was a remarkable area. Teaming with wildlife. Eagles above. And some wonderful lakes in the area. We also used it as a springboard to visit the Alhambra palace and Ronda.

I worked for about a year in Spain when I was 21 y.o.. I was installing navigation transmitters all around the coasts except for the N.W. area.
It was wonderful to get up the mountains and hills and I was fortunate to see some beautiful scenery at the same time as working.

Years later I lived on the Costa del Sol whilst working in Saudi, but I don't have fond memories of Costa del Sol because I always think of the unfavourable attitude of the local people compared to Spanish speaking peoples of South America where I was for a year in 1979 and had an absolute blast. I learnt to speak reasonable Spanish, enough to get by in most situations, so I can converse with most people in a friendly, humorous way.
I did not make any friends on the coasts of Spain which was quite a shock.
The manner of people away from the coast is so much more relaxed. Of course Madrid and Barcelona are big metropolises so that brings other thoughts and issues.

I drove a few times to and from Spain to the UK and I couldn't believe how much more friendly "simpatico" the people were away from the coast.
You can see the friendliness in peoples' eyes. It is almost chalk and cheese between the coast and the hinterland.