Driving in Spain and the Trouble with Spanish Drivers

Driving in Spain is a lot of the time pleasurable, smooth new roads with few fellow drivers to look out for, allowing one to take in the beautiful, changing countryside, but at other times it can also be a nerve racking experience, navigating bone shaking routes where you try not to blink in case you cause irreparable damage to body and machinery!
In recent times the Spanish have invested heavily on new toll motorways with the intention of removing traffic from the heavily congested national routes that seem to run through every town no matter where you are heading.
Unfortunately, it seems that the average Spanish motorist resents having to pay for his driving pleasures and continues to use the national routes therefore, allowing the more affluent to benefit from the faster, smoother and obviously emptier toll roads thus avoiding a lot of the Spanish drivers.
Spanish drivers are by no means the worst in the world but they do have many habits and mannerisms that will make you both cringe and chuckle; they possess the same love of the horn embraced by so many other nations' drivers, (the Italians spring to mind). But their use of the horn doesn't seem to be for notifying another driver of a serious driving infringement but instead to remind people that they are sitting at a red light or that Real Madrid or Barcelona or whoever they have pledged their allegiance to, has just scored a goal!
I think most drivers would agree that round-a-bouts are quite simple to use, but they seem to be a complete mystery to many Spanish drivers, on many occasions, a happy- go- lucky Spaniard in the right hand lane will decide that he is turning left, often with no indication, the result of this being the screeching of quickly applied foot brakes from vehicles travelling in the left hand lane with the intention of carrying straight on.
Amazingly though, this type of manoeuvre, as mentioned earlier, is apparently deemed quite acceptable by the average Spanish motorist and the barrage of horns one would expect is never heard.
The Spanish have rather a crazy way of overtaking also, or at least the speed merchants amongst them do.
Many of the major roads in Spain are dual carriageways and at times you will need to overtake slower traffic. It is at this time that you are likely to encounter the presence of 'loco' driver. You will go through your overtaking procedure - mirror, indicate, manoeuvre -and then, as if by magic, a quick look in your rear view mirror reveals that you have a car practically riding your bumper with its left indicator flashing like there's no tomorrow.
My advice, pull in as soon as humanly possible and let the lunatic past!
Strangely enough this is also deemed acceptable practise!
I would say on the whole though, having driven in the UK, driving in Spain is vastly more enjoyable with far fewer vehicles and far less road rage and once you get used to the quirkiness of the Spanish driver (for want of a better description) it is a lot safer as well.
http://www.irregularspanishverbs.com

Holiday in Spain

Are you planning a European vacation? If your time is limited and you want to visit a country with a lot in the way of culture, sights, history and entertainment then Spain is a must. This country is brimming with sights and activities for tourists so consider it alone or as part of a European holiday.
First off, you'll need to research where and what you want to visit. Pick up a detailed map of Spain in a book store or find one on the internet. A map will help you orientate yourself with the geography and typography of the country. You will be able to determine where to go for the beach and where mountain retreats are located.
No matter where you decide to go in Spain you are sure to have an amazing time and enjoy the Spanish culture. There is something for everyone. If you're traveling alone then there is plenty to keep you busy and the Spanish people are warm and inviting. If you're traveling with a family then there are things to keep everyone entertained. You can golf at one of the many coastal golf courses while the rest of the family has fun at the beach.
The climate is moderate so you can have an enjoyable holiday in Spain no matter what time of year it is. The south of Spain is especially nice; it's not exceptionally warm in winter but it is pleasant and is much warmer than other Western European regions. Even when it's cold, the large cities will keep you busy with indoor and outdoor sights.
While the Euro is strong, Spain is reasonable compared to other Western European countries so a holiday here can be affordable. There are many good deals available especially if you're willing to travel in off peak and non-holiday times of year. Even deeper discounts can be found if you're traveling with a group and rent an apartment in a large city or one of the many coastal cities.
Packages are available that include hotel, air and transfers. There are also ones that include excursions, sightseeing, meals and car rentals. These packages are generally less expensive than booking everything separately.
To book your Spanish holiday you have a few options. Use the internet to research destinations and available packages. Find maps of Alicante and other cities to visit and explore. There are many online tools to help you find the lowest hotel and air fares available during your desired travel time. Travel agents are also useful and can tailor make your holiday to fit your interests. Many travel agents have first hand experience with the packages they sell so they can recommend the best holiday for you.