Spain

No in the 60's but in the very early 70's. I don't recall the precise location I do remember it being very uncommercialised and nothing like it is these days.

I went in 1969/70. Majorca. Holidaying was just taking off. Was enjoyable - up to a point. We were probably too young. We went for late night beach swimming where locals took our clothes - we covered ourselves in (I think) sunflower oil and saw ‘ live’ markets which we couldn’t comprehend. Went on a few tourist trips and patiently waited for our friends who met local boys. The hotel in El Arenal was pretty basic and we had cockroaches and ants in our room. Oh to be 17 !

My family home was in Spain from late 70’s
first visited late 60’s.
Where we lived was then a fishing village, now it’s merged into the coastal tourist area.

I went to Torremolinos in 1980 if that counts. It was awful. Mass tourism was well under way but hotels and facilities hadn't really caught up.

We weren't really Torremolinos types (pseudo English pubs and bingo I mean) so I don't know why we thought it was a good idea.

I think it's all become more sophisticated since then though.

We’ve stayed all over Majorca but the first time we went we stayed in Cala Bona. That must be 20 years ago. An elderly neighbour told me he used to go there in the 50s when it was a fishing village and locals rode around on donkeys.

My first husband Jesus took me all over Spain. Second husband and our son lived there for 10 years. Benidorm has been booked for next summer. When we lived in the next village we were so busy working there was never time to visit Benidorm so next year we will stay in our favourite hotel, mainly Spanish occupancy and it’s right on the beach. Looking forward to being a tourist instead of a local. Thankfully we all speak Spanish which makes life easier. I worked and paid tax so have a full health card.

I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia several years ago, doctors think “triggered” by the birth of my last child just over 21 years ago. (I contracted a hospital infection, was isolated for 7 nights and on constant intravenous antibiotics). I worked throughout and retired in October 22, following the death of my mum in June of the same year.

I thought once I’d come to with her death, and that of my dad, a few years earlier, and adjusted to not working I’d be able to relax and enjoy my retirement.

Not to be, various adult child related issues later, I started to feel so fatigued, nauseas and unwell.

Finally I visited my GP earlier this year, only to be diagnosed with CFS/ME and Generalised Anxiety Disorder.

GP has been amazing and given me both support and practical help and I’m also having a homeopathic and nutritional assessment.

I’m feeling really low and weirdly a bit anger and bitter!

I know I should be grateful I’ve not got anything terminal, but I just feel so unwell every day and don’t sleep well.

Dear Gransnetters, any advice gratefully received please. Anyone else here with these conditions?

I’m trying to “get a grip” and “pull myself together” as this is normally how I deal with my own stresses, but failing currently.

So sorry! This was mean to be a post of its own, have contacted admin to remove! Brain freeze! Sorry!!!

All interesting. thanks
I am back now but naturally so much has changed. I kept repeating to the Spanish
‘Donde esta el Espaniol que recuerdo?
Where is the Spain that I remember?
Especially Jijona where there were only two main streets full of Spanish and one could smell the cooking with olives.
Now it is a town. While in 64 we stayed in San Juan which was a wild place with a few white villas and an old apartment block with two floors.
I will admit I do like the promenade they have now built and the convenient tram.
I will admit I loved Valencia

In the late 1960s I went to stay with Spanish family friends who had a beech side villa. It was in a small fishing village called El Arenal! A bit different now.
I flew in to a small airport, Palma and our friends drove up to the entrance to collect me.

Surely most countries have changed in the last 60 years.

Beach*
Indeed most countries have changed, The trick now is to find a holiday destination that fits the type of holiday you want.

cossy,it's not easy is it? Loss and poor health.
We know all the right things to do like exercise,socialise, don't dwell on negatives and so on.Not always simple to adhere to though.

Theexwife

Surely most countries have changed in the last 60 years.

I know. Who’d thought it. 60 odd years and things have changed 🤷‍♀️

My sister and I went to Sitges in August 1967 with our parents. Boy it was hot! First time we’d ever been abroad. No English spoken anywhere, or very little. Beach wear had to be well covered on leaving the beach. I think Franco still ruled and of course pesetas were the currency then. My father missed his daily newspaper fix! We went to Barcelona for the day. I was impressed by the smart policeman directing traffic at a busy junction wearing white gloves and blowing on a whistle. My parents also went to a bull fight. (Who minded us? We were both under 12y - Hotel staff I assume). Mum nearly fainted when a bloodied bull’s ear was thrown into the crowd and caught, wet and warm, by a Spaniard in the row in front of them. My sister and I bought wooden castanets to take back home and a lacy fan each.

Terry Wogan & his wife honeymooned in Torremolinos.
😁

Playa de Palma in 1970 with my best friend I was 16 she was 18.It cost us around £30 for 10 days in a hotel on the front opposite the beach with breakfast and dinner included .We had a great time,my first time flying and in September it wasn't too hot.In those days even in flight meals were very good with smoked salmon on our way out as a starter and a cold meal on a tray left in our room when we arrived.We did the whole donkey ride through the hills thing and went to a medieval banquet.I came across the photographs quite recently,we looked very young,The hotel was The Riviera,

Urmstongran

Terry Wogan & his wife honeymooned in Torremolinos.
😁

Hope they had a better time than I did. Although I don't suppose they were there to see the cultural sights!

We decided a few years ago to start going somewhere warm at the beginning of the year and found ourselves in Nerja, on the south coast of Spain. And whilst it's fairly touristy, it's largely unspoilt by tourism, there aren't a gazillion English bars the locals are kind, grateful/impressed if you speak Spanish (I do) and allow you to try your best, even if you get it wrong. We found the same in Benalmadena last year. We went in early March which was a good time to go as it's when the Spaniards go. The food was made with Spaniards in mind (amazing salads, local delicacies etc) and were told if you go in summer the food is geared up for Brits, consisting of burgers and chips!

A few years ago I went to La Marina with my best friend to her Aunt's villa. Villa was lovely but very definitely little England by the sea. Lairy, annoying folk who couldn't even be bothered to say "please" and "thank you" in the lingo.

When I was 6 in the early 1960s my family and other relatives went on a package holiday to a place called San Antonio de Calonge on Costa Bravia. We went by train and I have pictures beside the Eiffel Tower where we changed trains.
We were put in a newly built house which we had to ourselves and we walked to a local pension for meals. We had eggs and bread and tomatoes for breakfast everyday. Most evenings we had meat which everyone was convinced it was horsemeat! For dessert we always had either a small dish of ice cream or an orange.
We were right on the beach and I loved it, my Mum and her sister made a mixture of olive oil and vinegar as a Sun lotion to get a tan - shocking.
I had my first taste of churros and came home with the obligatory sombrero and straw donkey.

I went in the mid sixties as a teenager with my older brother and his wife. We reached the Costa Brava and stayed in a youth hostel in one of the towns that have become a big resort now. It was not touristy, indeed the main street was just a dirt track and one day when we had rain it became a river with water pouring down it.
As an aside, we travelled there by bubble car, one of those with a front that lifted up and became the door. I don’t know how we did it. The three of us sat along the front bench seat and our small amount of luggage went in the back sort of cubby hole. It was painted yellow and all through France people waved at us! An exciting moment came on our return journey when one of the three wheels fell off! However, it was sorted and we returned home in it.
A further aside is that I was thrilled when John Peel read out this story on his Home Truths programme about strange journeys. It was one of his last.

Should have read 16! We were all quite thin then. I wish I was now.

Last night did anyone watch the programme with, was it Paul (sorry I can’t remember his name) travelling around Spain while enjoying the Spanish food?
I mention this because the paella he cooked seemed so like the delicious paella that the Senora (mother of the Spanish lady who I did an exchange visit with) cooked on a barbecue. Like last night she put all into it including the pig’s feet. I have never tasted one that beats what I had in 1966, when Spain was Spain with hardly any tourists.

Way back in 1957 went with my parents to Majorca. So exciting, first time on plane, first time abroad. My memory of that fortnight is wonderful. Became friendly with another couple of girls visiting from London, and the three of us flirted with the local lads and were out to the early hours of each morning dancing,
Can remember a lovely 'tourist' visit on boat trip to and through some local caves, and also to a winery. Still have photo of Dad and me on a donkey cart. With the arrogance of youth I drank the local water and remained hale and well. My poor Mum obeyed all the rules and was ill for most of the fortnight.