Spain - The Costa del Sol
...editerranean Sea, in view of the Sierra Nevadas, which seem to disappear into the sea from afar. The mild climate and near guarantee of summer sunshine makes this sea stretch the Florida of Europe, a year-round attraction and place of retirement for much of the elderly population. Primarily because of its ideal climate, the economy of the Costa del Sol is dominated by tourism more so than any other region of Spain (Dunlop 285). In many ways, such domination has a negative effect on both the appearance and culture of the area. People come here from across the world to experience Spanish culture in a more comfortable, laid back environment than they would experience in Madrid or Sevilla. The comforts of home exist in the less cultured, built-up areas like Fuengirola, a city which is a mere jumble of high-rise hotels packed with shops, bars, and discos (Dunlop 285). Because of the desires of the sizeable tourist population, sports such as water skiing, windsurfing, and boating are popular. The Costa del Sol has more golf courses per head of population than anywhere in the world (Eames 236). The streets are littered with restaurants, shops, and many other services which cater to tourists. Because of the tourist-driven economy of the area, the Costa del Sol has visibly deteriorated. While built-up resort areas have integrated themselves into the environment, true Andalusian culture does not go unnoticed. This culture is demonstrated in everything about the lifestyles of the people who live there, especially in the areas of traditional food, drinks, dances, celebrations, and sports. Due to the tourism industry, the culture in the Costa del Sol is unmistakably different from the culture in other regions of Spain; however it is not different enough to tear many Andalusian people from their roots in tradition in the Costa del Sol. Until 1957, when the first two hotels were constructed in the Costa del Sol, the inhabitants of the area were residents of the small groups of peaceful fishing villages (Eames 235). This traditional lifestyle of the Costa del Sol native can be found in the small towns which are scattered throughout the mess of tourist centers. The tourist who wants to experience the true culture of the area can retreat to towns like Nerja, which frown upon the dominion of the tourism industry. Each town has a focus, a reason for its creation; if the focus is not on fish, it is most definitely on vineyards. Many of these towns retain their Spanish roots in that they stand more than a mile from the sea (Eames 236). They have well-kept, narrow downtown quarters with traffic-free areas for pedestrians (Eames 236). They have cobblestone streets, old factories, and quaint churches. The contrast between the Costa del Sol of yesterday and the Costa del Sol of today is a great one. One must experience both the fast-paced lifestyle of the tourist center and the leisurely lifestyle of the traditional village in order to understand the culture and traditions of the Costa del Sol. In addition to physical differences, Spanish natives refuse to let go of traditions that were developed in the Costa del Sol hundreds of years ago. The most emotional of these traditions is the Flamenco dance. This dance was created in the Costa del Sol in the early 16th century by the Gypsies, who developed it as a form of campfire entertainment (“Flamenco”). Each of their dances tells its own story, which can be about anything from love to history to politics. The unique element of Flamenco is that it combines dance with emotional acting, powerful expression, incessant movement, detailed costuming, and dramatic music (“Flamenco”). The tones and lyrics to traditional Flamenco performances were used to reflect the sufferings of the Gypsy people, and are far from those used today (“Flamenco”). No matter how different today’s performances are from those of the past, to watch a Flamenco performance is to catch a glimpse into someone’s inner self, to see their ideas, thoughts, and feelings. Another Spanish tradition that was developed in the Costa del Sol is the bullfight. The origins of bullfighting date back to 711 A.D., when a bullfight took place to honor the crowning of King Alfons VII (“Bullfighting”). The contemporary structure of bullfighting can be attributed to Francisco Romero, who was born and raised in Ronda, a city on the Costa del Sol (“Bullfighting Information”). After King...