Spain – SV Passage

August 3, 2012 – January 16, 2013

History

The Iberian Peninsula has been inhabited since the Stone Age – approximately 35,000 years ago. The Celts invaded the area that is now Spain in the 1^st millennium BC and mingled with the native Iberians. The Phoenicians and Greeks established colonies along the coasts, then the Carthaginians conquered Spain in the 3^rd century BC. The Romans expelled the Carthaginians around 200 BC.

As the Roman Empire declined, the Vandals and Visigoths assumed power in the 5^th century AD. Then the Moors from Northern Africa invaded in the 8^th century. Spain was gradually reconquered by the Christian kingdoms of Castile, Aragon, and Portugal. Spain was reunited in 1479 following the marriage of Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile.

The last Muslim kingdom of Granada was reconquered in 1492 – the same time that Columbus sailed to the new world and claimed it for Spain. Spain established a vast empire over the next century.

The 16^th century was the height of Spanish power, but that power slowly eroded during the 17^th century. In the 18^th century, Spain fought the War of Spanish Succession which resulted in the loss of many European possessions and sparked revolution in many of Spain’s American colonies. Then in the late 19^th century, Spain lost its remaining overseas possessions to the US in the Spanish-American War.

20^th Century

In 1923, a coup led by Primero de Rivera established a military dictatorship. However, republicanism continued to grow, and the monarchy was overthrown in 1931 when Spain became a republic. By 1936 Spain was embroiled in a civil war that ended three years later with the victory of the nationalists under General Francisco Franco. Franco ruled as dictator until his death in 1975. Franco’s successor, Juan Carlos, restored the monarchy and became King Juan Carlos I. He introduced a new constitution in 1978 which established a parliamentary monarchy. Spain joined NATO in 1982 and the European Union in 1986.

21^st Century

Spain slipped in to an economic recession in 2008, and their economy plummeted the following year. Their GDP fell while their unemployment, budget deficit, and bankruptcies soared. They instituted stimulus policies, but it has not been enough. Their economic crises continue to dominate their national agenda.

Spain Today

Geography

Spain is comprised of 195,364 square miles in southwest Europe. It shares borders with France, Andorra, Gibraltar, and Portugal. It has water borders on the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. It also has enclaves on the African continent bordering on Morocco. Spain’s territory includes the mainland, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, and the African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla.

Government

The government is a constitutional monarchy with two legislative houses. The king is the head of state, and the prime minister is the head of government. The capital is in Madrid.

Population

Spain’s population is approximately 40 million. They are 45% Spaniard, 28% Catalonian, 8% Galician, 6% Basque, 5% Aragonese, 2% Roma, and 6% other. Although there is no official religion, 77% are Catholic. A much lesser 2.5% are Muslim, 1% are Protestant, and 19.5% are ‘other’. Essentially all of the population speaks Castilian Spanish, but other languages and dialects are common. Catalan is the second major language with Galician and Basque slightly less so. The nationwide literacy rate is 97.9%.

Economy

Spain’s primary sources of income are agriculture, industry, services, and tourism. As already mentioned, their economy is in dire condition at present, and it is not certain what is on their horizon.

Our Time in Spain

For a cruising boat, Spain is readily grouped in to five areas that can be visited. These areas include the 1) north Atlantic coast, 2) Mediterranean coast, 3) Balearic Islands, 4) African enclaves, and 5) Canary Islands. Our plans include three of those areas – the Balearic Islands, the Mediterranean coast, and the Canary Islands. We did not visit the north Atlantic coast or the African enclaves.

We were in Spain’s Balearic Islands from August 3 to 14 We were on the mainland Mediterranean coast from August 14 till October 8. And we were in the Canary Islands from from October 12, 2012 until January 16, 2013.

Follow us to the Balearic Islands, mainland Spain, or the Canary Islands.

SV Passage