Spain from a Backpack

by Mark Pearson

Better than guidebooks, these first-person accounts paint vivid pictures of a traveler's experience in Spain. Like familiar music and favorite scents, they'll awaken a taste for adventure in those who have yet to travel, and bring back memories for those who have. Romance, surprise, discovery and wisdom all bubble through these authors' inviting pieces.Dive into Spain with these fresh storytellers and* Run with the bulls in Pamplona, or stumble across romance there instead* Trek 600 miles on the Camino de Santiago and discover your inner strength* Throw your share of 90,000 pounds of tomatoes in Europe's biggest food fight at Buñol* Lose your wallet, your passport, your entire pack--or maybe just your old ways of thinkingWhether it's dancing flamenco in Granada, sleeping beneath the stars on a Barcelona beach, or driving a stick-shift through Andalusia, this collection of youthful adventures (and misadventures) will keep aspiring and experienced travelers laughing, cringing, and turning the pages for more.

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2006

Reviews

[Neeraj · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like “Chicken Soup for the Backpacking-through-Spain Soul”!

[Daryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
A good book for your backpack!, February 25, 2007


I received a copy of this book recently from a friend who knows that it is one of my life's goals to visit Spain. Being that the book is small and an easy read, I bumped it to the top of my reading list.

Normally, when planning a trip to another country we buy a travel guide to aid us in finding those well known (and maybe not so well known) places that are must sees for you trip. This book, however, gives you first hand accounts from travelers to different areas of Spain. The topics cover trips to Barcelona, Pamplona, Madrid, Valencia and more. Some of my favorites include a tale of unexpected romance (Running For the Boy) in Pamplona; a horrifying yet funny trip to the beach (What I Learned About Coleoptra By Having a Few Climb Up My Shorts) in Andalusia; and using conversational English to aquire a free trip to a village outside of Madrid (Talking My Way Into Spain). The stories give you a view of Spain from the travelers that a travel guide will not.

I recommend this collection of stories for the would-be traveler as a supplement to the usual travel guides one tends to buy for their trips.

[Benjamin Elliott · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series presents short stories about different peoples experiences either while backpacking or studying abroad. The other two books (Europe and Italy) successfully cast the country(ies) in a positive light to inspire travel their for someone on the fence. However, I have no interest in ever going to Spain after reading this book. In fact, I'm much less likely to consider setting foot in the country now than I was before reading the book. Every other story is about being mugged, robbed, or otherwise assaulted.

[Charles Lantz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book a lot because it made me reminisce about my travels in Spain back in the fall of 2006, with a close friend of mine. I really wanted to head back there after reading this book, and have already started hatching new trip plans.

It contains a number of stories written by young travels about their experiences in different towns throughout the country. Its great for inspiring anyone to want to travel through Spain.

[Treesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful. Got me stoked for my trip!