Thing is, I enjoy getting to know a place and learning a little bit about it, which often means returning to the same places. Whistle-stop tours just never appealed. But that's just the way I personally feel. At the end of the day we must all do what floats our individual boats, it's a case of horses for courses when it comes to recreational activities, including travel. Some enjoy hot climates whilst others cannot abide by the heat. Some of us relish busy resorts or adventure holidays whilst others prefer peace and tranquillity. All of this determines where we choose to travel and, of course, when we choose to do so.

Those of us who enjoy Portugal will have long since realised that this country has so much to offer. It has everything from thriving tourist meccas to tranquil rural villages which are often surrounded by nought but terraced vineyards and olive groves. But having said that, Spain also has all of the above. This is why, these days, I see myself as being 'Ibe-curious' or even 'Euro-fluid'. Why not? It just means an aptitude for variety!

Spice of life

We've got the sharp wit of one Mr. Carl Munson of "Good Morning Portugal" to thank for all those colourful terminologies, such as Ibe-curious and Bi-berian. Having appeared on his daily Good Morning Portugal live-stream show (8:30 a.m. on YouTube), we've discussed the question of Bi-berian inclinations. By so doing, I've finally 'come out' as Bi-berian. You see, I'd always realised that I had a tendency not to look at things from a singularly Portuguese perspective. I always preferred to cast the net a little further afield in order to experience some of Spain as well. Gazing beyond that most ancient geopolitical border is actually great fun and, this way, variety definitely becomes the spice of life.

I often find myself somewhat humbled when I think of those great Iberian mariners and navigators of old. They'd clearly learned so much about their respective homelands that they decided to explore the possibility that there might be a whole 'new world' to be discovered beyond these vast Iberian horizons. Considering they were only hazarding what was no more than an educated guess about whether or not such new worlds actually existed beyond the realms of Iberia's setting sun - they really were incredibly brave souls. And it all probably started by being Ibe-curious. Clearly, it's a mindset that can lead us all to much greater things?

Having thoroughly enjoyed exploring nearly every corner of Britain and Ireland, those experiences allowed me to become conversant about my own patch. Finding new places to learn about in Spain and Portugal reawakened old wow factors such as the one I experienced when I first beheld the majestic Scottish Highlands or the beautiful Lakes of Killarney. OK those early explorations were hardly intrepid but they were, nevertheless, highly memorable especially when done with my young family in tow. Frankly, I'd been far too lazy to drag our young kids and babies onto flights abroad. To me, all that airport stuff is smacked of hard work opposed to a holiday!

Enlightening

When I'm over here, I do try to look at the whole of the Iberian Peninsula as being my oyster. Doing so automatically broadens horizons as we explore its countless hidden corners. Frankly, I think Ibe-curiousness is an enlightened mindset. It paves the way towards getting to know more about this vast peninsula rather than steadfastly sticking to certain corners of it.

Of course, Iberia is an absolutely vast land mass. It actually boasts far more than its fair share of Europe's landscape diversity. We've seen Iberian landscapes range from lofty snow-capped mountains to scantly populated rural villages, complete with free-roaming goats and cattle. There's even a semi-arid desert which is incredibly beautiful in its own unique way. All of this, without even mentioning the huge conurbations which are typical of Iberia's thriving towns and cities with their staggeringly ornate architectural marvels, wondrous art galleries and a range of fabulous museums which never fail to impress.

Cultural differences

Of course, there are enough cultural differences between Spain and Portugal to actually make the two Iberian territories 'feel' very different places on so many levels. By simply crossing the river Guadiana from VRSA to Ayamonte, you'll be immediately immersed by a totally Spanish vibe as soon as you step off the ferry and walk the short distance from the jetty to Plaza de Laguna (Ayamonte's central square). There are different sounds, it looks different and it actually even smells different to the Portuguese side because the foods aren't the same! I don't think I've been offered a Pastel de Nata in any of Ayamonte's cafés! Bars don't routinely sell Portuguese beers there either, nor will you find Portuguese coffee for that matter.

Even though Portugal is visible, just a few hundred yards away from Ayamonte (across the Guadiana), culturally you may as well be slap-bang in the middle of Seville! There's even a bit of Sevilla's somewhat ubiquitous flamenco and fans vibe going on! And it's wonderful! Flamenco dancers always look fabulous in their colorful dresses as they perform those famously wild moves. It certainly makes me feel like I've well and truly arrived in glorious Andalusia.

I was told that flamenco was first inspired by Andalusian gypsy culture. It communicates passion, love, sadness, despair, joy, and much more besides. Because flamenco has long become such an integral symbol of Spain's identity, it's always a joy to see. It's kind of strange to simply stroll onto a ferry in Portugal and find it so immediately in Ayamonte!

But I guess all this works the other way around too. Just as flamenco and its Spanish guitars embody the spirit of Spain, fado is the traditional musical vibe that resonates through many Portuguese backstreets including in the Algarve. Of course, fado hails from the Lisbon area. The wistful, melancholic (even fatalistic) songs can be about almost any subject. But the subject matter is all too often about the cruelty of the sea, or the hard lives (and toil) of the poorest people who once worked on the land or lived in traditional fishing communities where maritime tragedies (sadly) weren't all that uncommon. The wistful, mournful character of fado is best (but loosely) described by the Portuguese word 'saudade' which describes the heartbreak and longing which follows tragedy and loss. It's all rather different from flamenco, I think you'll agree.

As mentioned earlier, the Iberian peninsula is so vast, that cultural disparities vary not just between Spain and Portugal but they also exist between the many autonomous regions of Spain itself. In Portugal too, the Algarve is clearly very different from Lisbon and its conurbations. Northern Portugal is so different from the south and it's all to do with the land and the many differing challenges that the peoples of Iberia have conquered over generations.

So, I'm rather pleased to have discovered my Ibe-curious inclinations. Once again, I have no hesitation in coming out to publicly and happily declare (loud & proud) that I am indeed fully Bi-berian.



Author

Douglas Hughes is a UK-based writer producing general interest articles ranging from travel pieces to classic motoring. 

Douglas Hughes