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Spain
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__NOTOC__
{{infobox Country
|country = of Spain|language = Spanish, Catalan, Basque, Galician
|capital = [[Madrid]]
|map = <map lat='40' lng='-1.8' zoom='6' view='0'/>
}}
'''Spain''' is a member state of the European Union as well as the Schengen Agreement.
<gallery perrow="3" style= Road network =="float:right; width:200px; margin-left:20px;">[[File:Hitchhiking_in_Salamanca_Spain_2010-05CommunidadValenciana.JPG|thumb|right|Hilde hitchhiking to [[UserValencia]].File:2002_Dec_Hitch_hiking_in_Catalonia_SPAIN.jpg|Hitch-hiking in Catalonia. December 2002.File:MikaelGranada.jpg|Mikael]] hitchhiking Robino hitching from Valencia to [[SalamancaGranada]] to .File:HhPICT1975.jpg|Stop at Valencia, at the trip from [[ÁvilaGermany]] in to [[SpainPortugal]], May 2010.]]The north of Spain has a well developed system of ''Autopistas''. Autopistas are very similar File:2002-03 Trying to French ''Autoroutes'', and so similar rules can be applied when hitchhiking. Autopistas have two or more lanes hitchhike in each direction, accessed after passing through a ''peaje'' (tollgate) and have large rest stops along the way. When hitching at Peajes, usually people have great success, and can obtain long distance rides, even at night time. Usually the police and motorway staff do not interfere, but some stricter police may request that you leave. It is important Murcia to note that large peaje sections are usually split by a concrete wall; 2 or 3 lanes for cars, on the inside, and another 2 or 3 lanes for buses and trucks on the outsideSevilla. The concrete walls usually carry on some distance after the peaje, and end once the vehicles are traveling too fast jpg|2002 trip from Berlin to stopCádiz. It is up to the hitchhiker to decide which lanes to take, however sticking to the outside and waiting for a truck may attract less attention took only one day from the authorities than standing further inside waiting for a car. When hitching long distances it is a good idea Berlin to stick Barcelona but three days to large peaje sections or rest stops. Bring water and food, since these ''áreas de servicio'' are expensive. It should be noted that hitching at small peaje sections, on motorway exits, is not recommended, as often there is one peaje for both directions, automatically ruling out many vehicles as possible rides. In the Southern regions, the motorways are smaller and the petrol stations are usually further away get from the road. It is best Murcia to be patient at these placesCádiz. Be careful when people promise you South of Spain: Very difficult to drop you at a "very busy" petrol stationhitchhike. Often But the small petrol stations are deserted, it's possible that you won't see a single "non-local" car for an hour or two or three.flowers did help! == Carpooling ==Carpooling (''compartir coche'') is an alternative. The website [httpFile://wwwP1000787.viajamosjuntos.com/ ¿viajamosjuntos.com?] gives the opportunity to the driver to post their journey JPG| Night hithhiking in search of passenger to share the cost of the ride. [http://www.blablacar.es/ Blablacar[Murcia]] is another popular ridesharing website. == Squatting ==Despite many houses have been shut down lately, Spain has a very active squatting scene. It’s quite easy to find a place to crash by asking around for a ''casa okupada''. == Maps ==From any tourist-info around country, you can find good roadmap of the region and</or the autonomous area for free of charge.gallery>
== Cities ==
* [[Zaragoza]]
== More Pictures Road network ==<gallery perrowThe north of Spain has a well developed system of ''Autopistas''. Autopistas are very similar to French ''autoroutes'', and so similar rules can be applied when hitchhiking. ''Autopistas'' have two or more lanes in each direction, accessed after passing through a ''peaje'' (tollgate) and have large rest stops along the way. When hitching at ''peajes'', usually people have great success, and can obtain long distance rides, even at night time. Usually the police and motorway staff do not interfere, but some stricter police may request that you leave. It is important to note that large ''peaje'' sections are usually split by a concrete wall; 2 or 3 lanes for cars, on the inside, and another 2 or 3 lanes for buses and trucks on the outside. The concrete walls usually carry on some distance after the peaje, and end once the vehicles are travelling too fast to stop. It is up to the hitchhiker to decide which lanes to take, however sticking to the outside and waiting for a truck may attract less attention from the authorities than standing further inside waiting for a car. When hitching long distances it is a good idea to stick to large ''peaje'' sections or rest stops. Bring water and food, since these ''áreas de servicio'' are expensive. It should be noted that hitching at small ''peaje'' sections, on motorway exits, is not recommended, as often there is one peaje for both directions, automatically ruling out many vehicles as possible rides. In the south of Spain, and parts of the center and the North, the motorways are smaller and the petrol stations are usually further away from the road; this system is called ''autovia''. [http://motorways-exitlists.com/europe/e/spain.htm This website] shows exits and also service areas for some ''autovias'', as well as ''autopistas.'' It is best to be patient at these places. Be careful when people promise you to drop you off at a "very busy" petrol station, as it might turn out to be deserted. It is better in these cases to find direct lifts from one town to another (use a sign when thumbing). == Border crossing ==When entering the country from [[France]] you should try to get a lift as close to your destination as possible. On the Mediterranean side, a good place for this is La Jonquera, one of the biggest truck stops in Europe. You’ll find plenty of international truck drivers all over the country, because Spain is a centre of the fruit industry, exporting their oranges and tomatoes. On the Atlantic side, there is another huge truck stop near Irun called Oyarzun (accessible in both directions). If you arrive by the ferry from [[Africa]] you should try to get a ride on the ferry or at the port. There are lots of people from [[Morocco]], who went to visit their families and now return. You’ll see number plates from many other European states. === Crossing Spain to get to Portugal ===If you just want to get to Portugal, you'll want to to keep your hitch journey in Spain as short and quick as possible. This will happen by sticking to the the main road (AP-1, A-62, mostly "3autovia">) from Bayonne/San Sebastian to Salamanca / Vilar Formoso (the portuguese border near Guarda). Even if you come from, say, Montpellier, it's recommended to hitch up to Bayonne and cross the basque country.File:2002_Dec_Hitch_hiking_in_Catalonia_SPAINA good technique is to stay in one of the last service stations on the A63 in France before the spanish border, and wait for someone who can take you all to way to Portugal. Portuguese plates (1/3 of portuguese nationals live outside Portugal) or tourists (20 million invaded Portugal in 2016) will pass there.jpg|Hitch Otherwise, don't let your drivers drop you at just any gas station along the way -hiking try your best to stick to busy ones (on the right side and near the highway, Repsol and Galp). If your ride is only taking you to somewhere near Vilar Formoso border and you want to go further in Portugal, you can stay at the last Cepsa gas station on the right side of the road, 5kms before the border. Gas is cheaper in Spain. == Language(s) ==As mentioned above, the Comunidades are not only administrative districts; many of the regions have their own culture, language and some even are reluctant about considering themselves as a part of Spain. For example the dominating language in [[Catalonia]] is Catalan, so be aware of that. December 2002Nevertheless, everyone speaks ''castellano'' (Spanish).FileAside from Spanish, other recognised spoken languages are Galician, Basque, Catalan, Aranese, Astur-leonese and Aragonese. Only the first three are legally official and have a considerable number of speakers. But don't panic! Everybody speaks perfect Spanish and won't feel uncomfortable talking to you. Younger Spaniards will easily understand you in English as well. Obviously, big co-official languages like Basque, Catalan and Galician are widely used in their respective regions, and learning a handful of words or at least showing your interest in local languages may make the driver loosen up. Also, you will find that some Catalan, Basque and Galician cities can appear in signs and maps with two names:Granadaone in its local language form and the other in Spanish.jpg||Robino hitching from Valencia For instance: Donostia (in Basque) is also known as San Sebastián (in Spanish), Lleida (in Catalan) is Lérida (in Spanish), Rianxo (in Galician) is Rianjo (in Spanish) etc. Whatever your map says and whichever language you are speaking —even if you are speaking in Spanish— , hitchwiki encourages you to use the local language form better than the Spanish one if possible, also in your sign, in order to not mess with politics. Spaniards all across Spain understand both forms. Note: Although the signs on the road and other kinds of key information (i.e: restaurant menus) are translated into Spanish in bilingual territories, you will definitely need help in small towns and non-touristy places in the Basque Country and Catalonia, especially because Basque is an isolated language that does not resemble anything you have heard before. In case of doubt, ask the locals. In Spanish ''Disculpe, ¿qué signfica...'' (Excuse me, what does ... mean?) works fine everywhere. [[GranadaUser:Mariam|Mariam]], who does not speak Basque, walked from a small town following a sign in Basque that she thought would guide her to the next town and ended up in a recycling plant.File:HhPICT1975=== Spanish for the Hitchhiker ===The Spanish phrase ''¡Hola! Vas a... ?'' (Hello, are you going to... ?) with a wide smile is an excellent starting point.jpg|Stop at ValenciaRemember most Spaniards actually meet the stereotype of being loud and friendly, at but aren't used to see hitchhikers on the road. Therefore, you'd better be extra familiar and polite by saying things like "¡Gracias, buen viaje!" (Thank you, have a nice trip from !) after your driver drops you off or when they make excuses to not pick you up (this way they will think twice the next time they bump into a hitchhiker). Check the Spanish section in the [[GermanyWestern Europe phrasebook|phrasebook]] for more basic words. In Spanish there are only five vowel sounds and, conversely to French or English, you should pronounce all the letters that you read as an independent sound. So say phonetically with a clear distinction of each sound "autopista" [ aw to 'pis ta ] (motorway), not ''ottopista'', or ''otpist'' . Other difficulties that foreigners usually face: The letter ''Ñ'' as in ''España'' and "mañana" (''morning'' or ''tomorrow''), which is the equivalent of the Portuguese digraph ''NH'' and Catalan ''NY''. If you struggle with it just pronounce it as an ''N'' and an ''I'' like when you say "Esto[[Portugalni]]a" — it is not the actual sound, but it will work for a tourist. The digraph "LL" as in "calle" (¨street) and "valle" (valley) is pronounced in most places as a strong "y". You would say "ka-yeh" and "ba-yeh". The digraph "CH" is always pronounced as in ''church'' in English.<There are other tricky sounds like the ''Z'' and ''C'', the double ''RR''... but you can get away with these brief tips pretty well. Spanish is easy! == Links == * [https:/gallery>/www.facebook.com/groups/174166089591892/ Facebook group for hitchhiking in Spain] == Personal Experiences == Pls add info == Nomadwiki & Trashwiki ==
{{hitchbase_country|177}}{{Template:Europe/countries}}{{IsIn|Southern Europenomadwiki}}
{{hitchbase_country|177}}
{{IsIn|Southern Europe}}
[[Category:Spain]]
[[Category:Europe]]