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Spoken throughout Catalonia by some 10 million people, Catalan is a full-fledged Romance language, not a dialect. Like Spanish, it developed as the Romans extended their empire across the Iberian Peninsula beginning around A.D. 200, their Latin mingling with the languages of the indigenous Celts and Iberians. But Catalan derived from a slightly later Latin and resembles Italian and French more than Spanish. For example, the early Latin comedere “to eat,” became comer in Spanish; but the later Latin manducare is reflected in the Catalan menjar, French manger, and Italian mangiare. Or the early fabulare, “to talk,” is the root of the Spanish hablar; whereas the later parabolare led to parlar in Catalan, parler in French, and parlare in Italian. Banned during the long Franco dictatorship, the Catalan language (and cultural identity) re-emerged with gusto in the 1980s and today it is the first language children learn at school. Catalan co-exists with castellano (Spanish) on the streets, in shops and restaurants, and on TV, especially in cities where growing numbers of immigrants, including many Latin Americans, now live. In smaller towns, Catalan predominates. You can get by here without knowing Catalan. If you speak Spanish you’ll be just fine, and many city people speak decent English. But if you are willing to try a little Catalan, your efforts will be warmly appreciated (after an initial look of surprise – it’s pretty rare for outsiders to know any Catalan at all). We provide our clients with a handy glossary of everyday words. |
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The secret to discovering the very best Spain has to offer is in finding the special places and experiences that will be most meaningful to you—whether top-rated luxury or rustic Spain is your style.
From wine tours to corporate cooking retreats, a honeymoon or a family reunion vacation, we’re what every practical traveler needs: a personal, insider guide to Spanish culture and cuisine.
Contact us to arrange a personalized trip for you or for a group.
We follow hot trends and find off-the-beaten-path pleasures in hopes of sharing the most extraordinary ones with our travelers. We love putting together days that allow visitors to enjoy the true rhythms of Spanish life. We want to hear about your interests. And when we plan with you, we share the personal relationships we’ve developed with hoteliers and property owners, food-loving guides and other specialists in various regions, restaurateurs, winemakers, artists, and artisans.
We start with a phone interview, which takes about a half hour. This consultation is free and is structured to help us get to know your vision for the trip.
If you’re starved for time and want a complete itinerary, we’ll help you select and reserve accommodations, decide where to eat, and what to explore each day. We can also arrange private guiding, excursions, classes, or other special events. If you just want help with that one special food adventure, or personalized recommendations and advice on choosing the best hotels and restaurants to suit your style and budget, that’s OK too.
Fees: $75/hour.
Your personalized itinerary and any special background information or maps you may require come in a neat package for you to take along on your trip (we can also e-mail most things).
Contact us to start planning your next trip to Spain. |
