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Tuesday, June 12, 2007
The Benefits of Cultural Exchange
I just got back from a trip to Spain, and I thought I'd share a few of the things that made it hard to come back. Or rather things that, were they also in America, it would have been much easier to come back.
- Fast Trains
Spain has very fast trains. Seems like the benefits are pretty self-explanatory, but I just thought I'd mention that being on an extremely fast train is really fun, all practicality aside.
- Holidays
Spain seems to have lots of holidays. By my count, there were two holidays during the week or so I was there. If I spoke better Spanish, I'd tell you what they were about, but I don't, so all I really know is that they got parades, concerts, lots of social events, and maybe even a day off work.
- No homelessness
I was in the biggest cities in Spain- Madrid, Seville, and Barcelona, and in total I saw two people sleeping on the street. I don't know how they did it, but it seems like the whole country's doing something right.
- Public social space.
Spanish cities have lots of big squares where everyone hangs out. Cafes have seating inside the squares, and stores are clustered around them, with big fountains or statues in the middle. Streets would be closed to car traffic, and people would get to walk through them at night. Beaches seemed like they were completely open to the public, and you didn't have to pay for them.
All of these things probably have something to do with public policy. They're basic quality of living issues, and they would seem to foster a greater sense of community. And they make Spain a nice place to take a vacation.
Posted by Matt Lewis
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