Interview With an Olé Spain Traveler

 

Below is a list of questions recently asked by a potential client to one of our summer 2005 participants. Traveler Darrell Wiens’ responses are written below each question.

 

How many people were in your group?

There were thirteen.

 

Was there a range of ages and backgrounds?

Yes—one family had two children who were about 14 and 10. My own family included my two sons and the wife of one son, all in their late 20s. The rest of us were 50-something.

 

Did you find the group enjoyable?

Yes, it was a very interesting mix of people and all were interested in the history and culture of Spain.

 

Do you normally travel as part of a group tour?

No, it was the first time for us.

 

Was the amount of time in each town or area about right? Would you spend more time on your own in Sevilla or elsewhere?

For us, and I think for everyone in the group, the timing was about right. The tour leaders Josh and David have done this tour many times and they know what works. I wouldn’t change it. There were opportunities to do things on our own.

 

Can you describe a “normal” day on the tour?

I could hardly find a normal day to describe. All were new adventures. But frequent activities included walking tours where Josh or David described points of interest, buildings, geography, historical events or stories, etc; hikes, meals in varied and fine restaurants, shopping, bus rides, and visiting. The days were well-planned but not “over-planned.”

 

Did you find the level of information communicated to be about right for you? If not, why not? Did you know a lot about the region and the history of Spain and of Andalucia before your trip?

Yes, for me it was appropriate. I am a university professor but my area is biology, not European history or Spanish. I found Josh’s and David’s input to be very good, and they were always willing to answer our questions. We did not know Andalucia. My wife had lived in Spain 30+ years ago as a student for a year, and had toured around the country including Andalucia, but had not spent as much time there as we did this summer, and had not had a guide. Others in the group had not been there before.

 

How would you classify the accommodations? (As a point of reference, we typically stay in two or three star small hotels whenever we have the choice.) How about the meals and any entertainment included in the tour?

The hotels were first-rate, really, really nice. By American standards, rooms in Spanish hotels are small, but they are comfortable and nicely decorated. The hotel meals were great, and service was wonderful. The meals at restaurants were more than great. Some were outdoor and informal, but very good. Others were splendid feasts, absolutely sumptuous! The evening at the flamenco club was truly a highlight. I would do this tour again, and perhaps we will, if a good opportunity presents itself.

 

Could you share your thoughts about the guide or guides?

There were two, Josh and David. They were first-rate. It is their planning, experience, knowledge and love of Spain, attention to detail, and ability to sense the personality of their group (and each one in it) that make this tour wonderful.

 

The tour certainly is not cheap (at least not to us). Do you think it was worth the price? Did you feel constrained by the tour – that is, did you find yourself wanting to go off and do things of interest to you but found you could not because of the tour’s schedule?

Correct, it is expensive. If you have it, it is worth the price. We went as a family of five to celebrate the 30th annaversary of my wife and I. We felt that it was worthy of our once-in-a-lifetime occasion. We did not feel constrained by the tour at all. We found time to do things on our own, and we spent three days in Madrid on our own before and after the tour in Andalucia.

 

Anything else you would like to share about your experience – or about Spain, in general – would be appreciated.

Even though many of the places the tour will take you are tourist destinations, you will have the sense that you saw “real Spain”, and had the chance to learn much about its culture and history. I think this makes a Spanish holiday in a beach hotel or a resort seem like something cheap and ordinary. My advice is that if you can take this walking, historical tour of Andalucia, you owe it to yourselves to choose it over anything that might be empty of quality and content.

 
Darrell Wiens,Cedar Falls, Iowa
Olé Spain Traveler, Andalucía, 2005