Location
Spain covers an area of 505,955 square kilometers, which places it amongst the fifty largest countries in the world.

The largest part of the territory is located in the Iberian Peninsula, the remainder, approximately 12,500 square kilometers, are islands, -Balearics and the Canary Islands- plus 32 square kilometers that are accounted for by the cities of Ceuta and Melilla, situated on the coast of Africa. The situation of the Iberian Peninsula in the extreme south west of Europe and only 14 kilometers away from the African continent, endows Spain with a great strategic value: projecting into the Mediterranean on one side and acting as an intersection on the path to Africa and America on the other. The fact that a large part of Spain is peninsular also explains the length of its coastline, which runs along the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. As a result of its position, between 36 and 43 degrees North latitude, the climate ranges from the mild oceanic climate in the North, to the continental Mediterranean in the centre and the Mediterranean in the East and South, factors which combine to create a wet Spain in the North and mountainous areas, green Spain with luxuriant forests and a dry Spain in the Mediterranean.

Language
Spanish           

Population
Spain has a population of 41 million

Currency
The new monetary currency is the Euro which is divided as follows: bills of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500; coins of 1, 2, 5, 10 Euros, 20 and 50 cents.

Time
The peninsular territory and Balearic Islands go by the Greenwich Meridian time zone (GTM), plus 1 hour in the winter, and 2 hours in the summer. In the Canary Islands the time zone is that of the Greenwich Meridian, plus 1 hour in the summer, always one hour behind peninsular Spain.

Electricity
The electrical current in Spain is AC - the cycle is 50Hz 220 V. A tourist carrying electrical appliances to Spain should have a transformer, either obtained before leaving your country or bought at an electrical appliance shop in Spain. Plugs have round prongs, not flat, therefore an adapter plug is needed.

Water
There is plenty of water of an excellent drinking standard.

Climate
Spain is one of the warmest countries in Europe. Spain's predominant climate is Mediterranean-temperate, with dry summers, and pretty constant temperatures during the winter. In Spain, you will enjoy more than three thousand hours of sunlight. Therefore, it is hardly surprising that this region is one of the warmest in Europe.
In this sense, we should mention the Canary Islands. Because of its peculiar location, in front of the African coastline, these islands enjoy a mild climate, with generous temperatures (the annual average on the coasts being 22ºC), without a major difference in weather between daytime and nighttime.
However, the main characteristic of Spanish climate is its variety, due in part to Spain's geographical diversity.  This way, if we travel north to the Cantabrian coast we will find a humid, temperate climate, with mild winters, and gentle summers that rarely go over 25º C.  In the higher areas of the country, the climate gets rougher, and snow is frequent from the beginning of winter to the end of spring. Such is the case in the Pyrenees, Sierra Nevada, the Central Mountains, the Iberian Mountains, the Cantabrian Mountains, etc

Communication
The region is very well developed in terms of IT networks and telephone communications. The international access code is 34

Transportation
The roads in Spain vary from very poor to very good, the latter especially since Spain joined the EU and has benefited from the funding from other countries over the last 20 years. The main connecting roads are generally excellent. Roads are classified thus, and they can be easily clarified on a road map.

Please note that the speeds are somewhat less for various classes of vehicles including towed trailers/caravans.

A valid US driver's license is sufficient. The legal driving age in Spain is 18 years. An international driver's license is not required for U.S. citizens. You are also required to carry the vehicle's registration document, and the current insurance certificate (a green card is not mandatory but remains internationally recognized and helpful). Also, a nationally plate or sticker is required. Car rental agencies will providetheir customers with all these necessary documents.

Dining
We think Spanish cooking is reason enough for a trip to Spain. Part of the pleasure of dining on the Iberian Peninsula is variety - each region has a distinctive style. Galicia is known for its wonderful seafood (octopus is one of our favorites); the Basque Country for its bacalao (a preserved salt cod that tastes better than it sounds); Castile for its cheese, grilled meats and cochinillo (roast suckling pig); Extremadura for Iberian or Serrano ham (a dry-cured spiced ham similar to Italy's Prosciutto di Parma); Navarra for trout and chorizo (a spicy sausage); Andalusia for gazpacho (a delicious chilled tomato soup) and tapas; Catalonia for grilled rabbit, romesco (a sweet pepper sauce traditionally eaten with grilled spring onions) and butifarra (blood sausage). Paella (a delicious saffron-flavored rice dish with pimiento, peas, fish and shellfish) is found throughout Spain, but the most authentic version comes from Valencia, where the dish originated.

Other dishes to try include sopa de pescado (fish soup), parrillada (a mixture of various fried fish and shellfish) and grilled lamb and rabbit. Cocido (pronounced co-THEE-do) is a traditional Madrileno dish made from sausage, bacon, garbanzo beans, cabbage and boiled meat - it's especially popular in winter. Desserts include flan (baked egg custard), turron (marzipan, chocolate or nougat), crema Catalana (egg custard with a crunchy glazed top) and pijamas (a silky combination of peaches, flan and whipped cream).

One of the best ways to sample Spanish cooking is at a tapas bar. Tapas are small portions of just about anything: cheese, olives, squid, smoked shrimp, sausage, fried potatoes in a paprika sauce (patas bravas) and marinated vegetables, just to name a few. Order enough little plates, and you will have a meal.

Of course, no meal is complete without a bottle of good Spanish wine - and both red and white wines are a bargain. Rioja is considered the best wine-growing region. Sherry, a fortified white wine, comes from the Andalusian city of Jerez. Cava, a bubbly wine similar to champagne, comes from Catalonia (it is best sampled in one of the champagne bars, which range from expensive to downright homey).

Coffee is another favorite, and it comes in several different ways: espresso, cortado (an espresso with a drop of milk), cafe con leche (an espresso with a lot of milk) or carajillo (an espresso with a shot of rum). At the outdoor cafes, you may think that an awful lot of people are drinking milk. It's probably horchata, a cool, refreshing nonalcoholic beverage made from a sweet root.

In Spain, lunch starts at 1:30 pm and dinner often begins at 9 pm or later, especially in summer.

Activities

Spain's varied geography and climate allow for a wide ride range of outdoor pursuits.

Cycling
is extremely popular in Spain.

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