My personal experience
I recently had the opportunity to visit Andalusia, a region where I have some acquaintances from my time as a student in Madrid and also from my work as a salesman in those lands. Because of this, my affection towards this area is spontaneous. But what happened to me in the hotel dining room left me thinking. Suddenly an Andalusian couple sat down next to us and naturally we struck up a conversation. They quickly learned that we were Catalan. And we, likewise, learned that they had relatives who reside in the Principality. The talk was very friendly, although there were some moments of tension due to wanting to be independent or commenting on Barça and Madrid. So far, nothing strange. But the next day, when we had breakfast, we met again! And then the deal was no longer the same. Even the man in the couple looked at us and without even greeting us, he said: “Aw… aw… aw…”, quite loud and very rude. As if wanting to say that the Catalans are nothing more than a submissive colony of the Spanish! It made me very angry, because this shows the misrepresentation that exists in the whole neighboring State! Feeling this strong animosity towards the Catalans… I think that the rejection in the field of poorly educated or ignorant people is so great that moving away from them would be the best solution for us. It is very clear that we must continue to fight to achieve our freedom.
Andalusia, a land of contrasts
Andalusia is an autonomous community that has great geographical, cultural and historical diversity. From the Sierra Nevada mountains to the beaches of the Costa del Sol, passing through monumental cities such as Seville, Granada or Córdoba, Andalusia offers a wide range of possibilities for visitors. Its gastronomy, its music, its art and its folklore are elements that make it unique and singular. Andalusia has a population of more than eight million inhabitants, who mainly speak Spanish, but also other languages such as Catalan, Basque or Galician, thanks to immigration and the influence of other regions. Andalusia has a very rich and complex history, marked by the presence of different peoples and cultures, such as the Phoenicians, the Romans, the Visigoths, the Muslims, the Jews, the Christians and the Gypsies. This diversity has left a big mark on its heritage, its architecture and its idiosyncrasy. Andalusia is a land of contrasts, where tradition and modernity coexist, poverty and wealth, tolerance and conflict. Andalusia is a land that enchants, surprises and challenges.