3 Destinations for a Summer Trip to Spain | Easy Spanish Podcast 204

Hello people! Welcome to another video podcast. This means that if you are listening to this podcast, you can also watch us while you listen to us on YouTube. Or if you are now on YouTube and you want to listen to it simply as a podcast while you go to work or while you clean your house, you can go to EasySpanish.fm And today I'm here with David. Hello David. Hello, how are you? What luck, what a pleasure to be here with you, Pau. How are you? Very well. I like to do video podcasts with other members of Easy Spanish. And for those who don't know David, David has participated with us in the Easy Spanish school. And lately he is more in the videos. And this is your first podcast, right David? Yes, it's true. It's a new experience in Easy Spanish. Well, you're going to help me a lot because today's topic came from a Discord question where we were asked where to go in the summer in Spain. And I don't know, so you're going to have to help me, David. Yes, in fact, it's something I think about sometimes, that even though I'm Spanish, I don't know Spain that well. I know some parts, but I'm sure we don't do justice when we mention some cities or places and not others. But, well, we're going to try to do our best. Well, some places, because you've traveled a bit within Spain. I imagine that it's like, for me, that there's always a new place to discover in Mexico. But you've traveled a bit, so can you tell us about some places you've visited? Because I think a lot of people go to the same places, right? Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, Granada. And I imagine there are other very charming places. Sure, and since it's summer, and a bit following what you said, that there are places that are very typical and that everyone knows. Well, of course, Barcelona, even Valencia. There are others, right? But we, well, I've thought of some places that are a bit less known, but very good, also in summer. For example, in summer, I think a lot of people in Spain, or people who travel to Spain, have the idea of a beach. So, as far as a good beach place, I've thought of Menorca. Do you know Menorca, Pau? I don't know many places in Spain, so I'm sure you're going to mention a lot of new things. Where is Menorca? Well, Menorca is in the Mediterranean, it's one of the Balearic Islands. It's the second largest, because, of course, Mallorca, that's why it's called Mallorca, because it's the largest, and Menorca, of course, is smaller. And it's close, it's close to Mallorca. Yes, exactly, and that's very interesting. It's one in front of the other. So, how can you get to this place? What is a city that takes you to the island, or what would be the route? Well, let's see, there are many flights from several places in Spain, but you can also go by boat, right? Now, for example, we're seeing that flights are very polluting, and it's probably a good idea to think about this option, especially if you live near the island, right? In Barcelona, in Valencia... From there, you can take a small boat. Yes, exactly. How long do you think it takes, a boat? More or less, a boat can take you, I think, I haven't experienced it myself, in my flesh, but I think it's about 8 or 10 hours. In my flesh. I like this expression. Like 8 hours? Yes, I think in 8 or 10 hours, something like that, I would say. You have to investigate, but I would like to take a long boat trip to get to an island, an incredible area, I've never done it, so I like the idea. So, are there flights, or are there ways to get there by boat as well? Well, there are people who go by car, and then they put the car on the ferry, and it takes them to the island, and you can be there with your car, or you rent the car on the island. And can you tell me a little bit about this island? I've never been there, I can't imagine anything. What's so charming about this place? How is it? Yes, well, in fact, Menorca is a very green, very virgin island. It doesn't have a lot of construction. And can you make, for example, a camp? Can you go camping, or are there simple places where you can be? Exactly, good question, because there's also a route, which is called the Horse Route, which goes all over the island, and you can do it by walking, or by bike, obviously. Or by horse. How nice, I love it. And when you say it's green, it's a place with a forest, in a way, but on the beach. Exactly. You have some paradisiacal beaches, which normally, you'll always find one that's not so crowded, and the forest is always very close, so it's perfect to walk and refresh yourself in the shade of a pine tree, for example. Sounds great, I think I'd like Menorca. I think so too. And another place to visit? Another place to visit? We've talked about the beach, so now what? Maybe we should talk about the mountains, right? Well, it's a different thing for people who want to go for a walk, or for people who don't really enjoy the beach. I love it, but it's for everyone's taste. So another option would be to go to the mountains, right? In Spain, there are many interesting mountain options, and one of them, which is close to my house, you can see that I'm sweeping the house, it's all very close. You're what? What was the expression you used, Ted? I'm sweeping, like when you want to clean and sweep, I'm sweeping the house, like... Approaching. Exactly. I didn't know. Very Spanish, right? When you want to do it, like... you want something to go in your favor. Like approaching the house, right? Sweeping the house? Correct. I learned something new from you, David. Good, good luck, it's a pleasure. Okay, so, closer to home, what is there? Closer to home, we have in the north, border with France, we have the Pyrenees. That sounds good. Which is just the refuge for the heat, right? I think it's the perfect place where you wouldn't go in winter if you don't want to ski. And it's the freshest area, at least in Catalonia, in the Basque Country, in Aragon. Of course, that's why you mentioned the seasons, right? Because I was talking with Harry, that for me, the summer in Mexico is not that different. But I do know that there are good seasons to go to the beach, for example. And it's the same in Spain. There are places that get very hot, I imagine, like the south of Spain. And not everyone likes to be at 40 degrees. So, finding a midpoint, right? Exactly, I think it's the ideal. Even if, for example, you like to walk in the Pyrenees, there are many places to go on excursions, to camp. You can even go through the cold, if that's your goal. In summer, in Spain, I think it's possible. At night, but there's sun during the day, so it's nice too. Exactly, and everything is very green, because, of course, during the year, it has snowed, it has rained. And there's a lot of water, so everything is green. Exactly, exactly. I like it. And there are routes to walk that are long, for many hours. Yes, I mean, the Pyrenees are super long, so you have a thousand options. There's one in particular, there's a natural park. I think it's the only, or at least the main, natural park in Catalonia, in the region, which is Aigüestortas. What does that mean? Aigüestortas means like twisted waters. That would be the quick translation. How do you say water? Aigües, aigüe. Aigüe torta, or what? Aigüestortas. Aigüestortas. It makes me laugh because tortas for us is like a sandwich. It's true, it's true. Aigüestortas. In fact, in Spain, a torta can also be a hit, right? Your mother, if you do something that's wrong, when you're a kid, she gives you a torta. Ah, I didn't know. Yes, exactly. Because in some places, torta is also a cake. So, apparently there are several meanings of this word. And in Catalan, it's something completely different. Exactly. Yes, yes, I hadn't thought of it that way. So, this place, which is one of the main routes in the Pyrenees, have you been there, David? Yes, it's a place I've been with my family, and I think we even camped there once. And, well, what would you expect to find, Pau, in Aigüestortas? Water, right? Waterfalls, rivers, yes? Yes, yes, whatever you want, and more. Wow, I love it. I love this kind of vegetation. Because, well, I guess it reminds me of home. I also like where I live, which is like this. But I really like when you feel the presence of water while you're walking. And you can hear it, or you can even walk inside the river, between the stones, get a little wet, with very cold water, I imagine. Yes, absolutely. You've described it as if you had been there. Have you been there? Are you sure you haven't been to Aigüestortas? No, but I think it's a bit like Valle. That's where I live, and it's very close to a volcano, a very high mountain, and there's a lot of ice there, and somehow it reaches the waterfalls. So I think this kind of landscape, this kind of nature, is familiar to me. I imagine. It sounds great. In fact, it's also an area with a lot of animals. It's easy to find animals there, too. Oh, how nice! What kind of animals? Well, not very big. I think there are small foxes. It's curious how this happens, isn't it? That there's a vegetation that, although it's in a completely different place, like in Mexico, surely there are similar animals in this place than those in a place in Mexico with this vegetation. That's why I imagined it. In Valle there are armadillos, well, that kind of rodents. Well, I'm going to start saying weird things, that maybe aren't like slugs. Ghosts in the forest. Rats. Rats, too. But if animals, it means that it's a very quiet place, that it also feels quite virgin, right? Exactly. It feels virgin because, in a way, although it obviously attracts tourists, it's very well taken care of, right? Because it's a natural park. So, if you go there, you'll see that there's no garbage, and a lot of people, in fact, if you see some garbage there, you'll be surprised and you'll even want to pick it up, right? Of course. Oh, how nice! It also sounds good to me. Now I want to go more to Spain. Well, now we have the option of a beach, of a mountain, and what other recommendation? A good recommendation could be, in the summer, in Spain, Galicia. Galicia is an entire region, so I don't know if it's worth it. Do you accept it or not? Well, it's worth it because we already gave an option of a beach, another of a mountain, so we already gave a few more options of nature, but I imagine that there are people who want to go to places that are a little more populated, where there are also museums, or something that is more urban, bars, or meet more people. So, if you say something like Galicia, I imagine that there are both options, right? Exactly. It's exactly that. It would perhaps be a mix of the two above, it would be like beautiful beaches like in Menorca, but also a cold climate like in the Pyrenees. There we would have everything, and adding what you said, also museums, a bit of city. And it's that Galicia, I think that, especially in summer, during the year, surely it's also very beautiful, but it rains a lot. So, it's a very special place for its beaches, in fact, there are rankings on the internet, and the beaches of Galicia are in the first positions in terms of beautiful. Wow! And what are the beaches like? Are they this type of beaches that have rocks, or is it sand? How is it? Well, I think there is everything. These, I mean, these that I'm talking about, the most famous, are white sand, it doesn't even look real. I've seen, you can see some photos of, for example, the beaches of the Islas Tíes, or there are others. Oh, how beautiful! Very beautiful, right? It's super beautiful. It is true that, well, you have to like cold water. When there is sun. If there is no sun, I don't like it. Exactly. If there is sun, it's better because, well, you get in and you feel the cold, but you can go out and recover the heat more easily. So, yes, I love it if there is sun. Sure, it's a bit like the sauna and the cold water, right? You change a little. I was just thinking of going to Galicia, not particularly because I heard about this, now I feel more like it, but my sister from Mexico is coming, and her family is from Galicia, and my nephews are coming, and they are going to do a car trip through Galicia and the Basque Country, and it sounds great. So maybe I'll join this trip and I can tell you about my experience. I'm not sure yet, but then I'll tell you if I go. I think it's a great plan. And in fact, it's good that you mention the car, because I think that for these places you need a car. It's something to keep in mind. Ah, yes, because we didn't talk about... Well, you mentioned where the Pyrenees are, which are close to France, but we didn't say how to get there, but which places do you have to look for to get to the Pyrenees? And then we'll go to Galicia again. Of course, to get to the Pyrenees, it depends on where you want to go. There's even a country between the Pyrenees, there's Andorra. Of course, there are buses that get there, but of course, they get to some places, maybe Aguas Tortas, Andorra, of course, but it depends on where you want to go. Aguas Tortas is still in Catalonia, you mentioned, right? Correct, exactly. And how would you go, for example, from Barcelona? Well, since I don't have a car, I would either rent a car or I would ask... I would go with a friend with a car. These friends are very useful. Of course. Yes, and as you mentioned, also for Galicia, I think there's a lot of charm in traveling by car because it gives you the opportunity to stop in different places, right? And, well, Spain is not that small, but it's not that big either, and I imagine you can go to a lot of places by car in a few days. So, going back to Galicia, I don't know which is the biggest city in Galicia. Good question. I'm doubting between Santiago, surely Santiago is, if not the first or the second, and Coruña. Coruña. But there are several big cities. Where can you go if you're traveling from another continent and from there rent a car and plan a trip to different places in Galicia? Well, in fact, they have several airports. Since they are big cities, in Spain we have many airports, almost in every city, and maybe too many, honestly. So you can get there by plane, but also, from my experience, I think there's a good system of buses, and even trains work well to get to Galicia. And then the buses to go to the small towns. And have you been to Galicia? Yes, in fact, I went with Harry a couple of years ago. A trip of friends, and the truth is that it was a total adventure. And in Galicia, well, another language is spoken, which is Galician, right? Exactly, yes, yes. Have you ever heard Galician? How does it sound? Yes, because my sister's family is from Galicia, so I've heard it. It sounds a bit like Portuguese to me, in a way. Yes, it's very cool. It's a language that sounds very good, in my opinion, too. And yes, definitely, it's similar to Portuguese, because between the Portuguese and Galicians, it seems that they understand each other when they speak. Do you understand a bit of Galician? No, I thought I did, but in a while, you know, it depends. Depending on the time, I understood. I guess, I don't know what it depended on, but sometimes I understood, sometimes I didn't. Well, thank you very much, David. We've already given you three other options to open up the panorama of Spain in the summer. And speaking of this issue of Galicia and Galician, I think it would be very interesting to talk about these different regions in Spain. So I'm sure we'll see each other soon to talk about this as well, David. Definitely. And thank you very much for the chat, although I've chatted more this time. It's okay, I talk a lot. As an expert, which I'm not, but, well, my opinion, right? Well, thank you very much, David. And goodbye, goodbye everyone. Thank you very much. Bye. Goodbye. Enjoy this summer, wherever you are.