Going to Barcelona - Are Americans Welcome?

We were welcomed enthusiastically in Barcelona, Madrid, Granada, Seville and Cordoba---especially when we said we're from California!

Absolutely no problems at all with US citizens anywhere in Spain. It's not you as persons... it's politics, and we discern both very clearly.

How is anyone except the hotel front desk staff going to know your nationality?

emphasized text * How is anyone except the hotel front desk staff going to know your nationality?*

By the way you dress, hair style, shoes, speech, etc. You can not hide.

I do not think that every American tourist stands out as an American tourist. And if they do, nothing is going to happen.

Pretty much everyone will know you’re a tourist although they may not know your nationality, How you behave and interact will determine how you’re treated.

In my opinion, the statement Diane made “ By the way you dress, hair style, shoes, speech, etc.” may have been accurate 20-30 years ago, but other than speech, not any longer. Even when speaking, your nationality may not necessarily be apparent.

I concur that Americans are not necessarily as easy to identify as in the past.

I remember when I was in Spain in the 1980's, and many Spanish asked why Americans wore tennis shoes/sneakers out and about, when they should really just be reserved for sports. Well, these days everyone everywhere wears them all the time!

This past Summer when I was in Madrid there were young people from around the world with very similar styles of dress--and considering how many different European and Asian countries there are, as well as American (North, Central and South), I would agree that looks alone will not give you away, unless you purposely wear something very obvious.

Of course if you only speak English, you may not understand all of the cultural nuances, but that is a different situation.
Many Spanish LOVE to discuss politics, so if they engage you, if may be because they are curious and eager to hear perspectives. Remember, it is YOU who will create the impression of an American tourist, so be courteous and amiable.

Well, I am off to Mexico and a few other Central American countries next week, so I will see if there is any feedback coming from our nearest neighbors. (I am bilingual, so I have no issues with communication. ) This Summer I will be back in Europe, and we will see what the situation is at that time! ¡Buen viaje!

Individual Americans will be OK, but America as a friend has been destroyed.

Even when speaking, your nationality may not necessarily be apparent.

Exactly. Many American citizens, such as myself, do not have a typical American accent.

edit: I probably give myself away but constantly carrying a water bottle though!

The Spanish know from their own history with Franco that the people visiting Spain from the U.S. do not represent the government of the U.S

This, too, shall pass.

Thank you for all your responses!!! Very helpful!

The Spanish know from their own history with Franco that the people visiting Spain from the U.S. do not represent the government of the U.S

Generally agree with the sentiments, however the difference is in Spain we did not freely vote for Franco in a election .

Very true, Carlos.

The first 2016 election, he actually lost the popular vote of the country. The electoral college is what installed him.
In last year’s election a plurality- not a majority of Americans— voted for this apocalypse.
The mind-numbing part is it was inflation that was at the top of voters’ minds.
Now, inflation may come roaring back and bring with it even more Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

When I was in Spain last month, when local people would ask me where I am from, I would answer "United States. I apologize for everything we have done recently." And they would laugh.

Everyone I met was very friendly.

They won't hold anything against you personally.

We haven't yet started to lynch Americans in public squares... You can come for now LOL!

As mentioned earlier, here in Europe, most people understand the difference between everyday citizens and politicians, so while there may be tension in certain circles, the vast majority have no issue with individual visitors, regardless of their origin, race, or religion. "Liberté, égalité, fraternité!" is a core value on our shores.

That said, MAGA die-hards might want to dial back the “enthusiasm” a bit when traveling through Europe... that'd be common sense and to prevent confrontational situations -and your potential embarrassment :)

Who knows??!!

I always get taken for a Latin American when I travel in Spain. No one ever believes that I was born and bred in New York.

I always get this: "OK, you live in NYC, but where were you born??'

Me: "New York".
Then: "oh, really, but then your parents were from...where???"

Me; New York.

Then (puzzled): "But your Spanish...where did you learn to speak like you do??"

Me: "Here and there.......I come to Spain a lot". .....

Europeans have guessed that I’m English and I’ve been told I sound Canadian, when I’ve never lived anywhere but the northeastern US and California. So it may be less obvious than you think which English-speaking country you are from.

When anyone asks where I’m from I usually say “California, near San Francisco.”

We'll be visiting Espana for the first time this October. I'm looking forward to responding, "We're from Nuevo Mexico". Will hopefully buy me a smile or two!

Thanks for providing the full translation! Gonna memorize that!

@ekscrunchy.... what you mention in that conversation it's not something "typical" in this side of the Atlantic. As a general rule of thumb, most Europeans don't have those stereotypes so ingrained.

If you have, say, almond-shaped eyes and very dark hair and a claim to be Swedish -and think here of the blonde blue-eyed Vikings so much stereotyped in the Hollywood movies-, few people if none, will question that or will inquire about your ancestors. It's something one accepts face value, among other things, because we tend to care little about where you (or your ancestors) came from, you're simply European (Swedish or national of wherever you live) now.

Again, I'm sure one can point to that particular case in which someone said to me "blah, blah..." but, contrary to the case in the US, it's not common here, it's not something that raises much interest. And don't take me wrong, this is not something to say we're better (or worse), it's simply a fact of everyday life.

And I've seen it many times while living in different parts of Europe. One might also consider it a bit of indifference, yes, most of the European societies are very mixed these days.

(And yes, I'm excluding the racist ones from this generalisation... those we also have a few, sadly)

Enric, very well said, I do not think for a moment that anyone cared about where my ancestors came from for any other reason but that they could not understand how a New Yorker with no Spanish or Latin American roots would speak the way I do. Maybe my Spanish is colloquial, I'm not sure.... Everyone was very kind and in no way were they intrusive or pushy about asking that question. I just think that some people were puzzled. And to be sure, no one stopped me on the street to ask these things. These were people I'd met before, be they hotel or hostel staff, in a place I spent many days at...or a few times, a waiter in a restaurant that I visit often when in Spain. So they were people I had developed some kind of friendly rapport with, before they asked anything like that.

And who knows(?) maybe they were just flattering me by saying, in a roundabout way, that my Spanish was ok...or that it is merely odd!

I do have blue eyes, though!

Yeah, @ekscrunchy — sorry if my last message came off that way. I didn’t mean to say this never happens. As you pointed out, there are specific situations where the question ‘...but where are you really from?’ can come up in a totally different way — like the example you gave.

ekscrunchy, great that you have some lnguage skills that give you a means to intereact as other than just a box ticking tourist. I am jealous.