Sometimes I wonder: is it just me? Or is life here in Spain really more colourful?
Maybe it’s because of my memories of the Netherlands. The grey days. People who’d rather hide their feelings than show them. Who only dare to dance once the music has been playing for a while — and after at least one glass of wine.
Here, things are different.
Spaniards live with more exuberance.
More rhythm. More expression.
Music plays. People move.
Whether you’re in a small village or a big city: music means dancing. No hesitation, no shame. Just go.
Have you heard of the Sardana — the traditional Catalan dance? When the music starts, people place their bags in the middle of the square, take each other’s hands — strangers or not — and form a circle.
Together. Just like that.
And not just on holidays or for folklore.
In summer, grandfathers dance with grandchildren. Couples dance at the beach. On the boulevard between Pineda and Calella, you’ll see people bringing their own radio, picking a spot — and simply starting. Together. No stage.
No audience.
It’s beautiful.
Warmth, in every sense of the word
You still see people walking hand in hand here. Holding each other. Pausing for a hug or kiss. Openly, affectionately.
That touches me. It’s something I missed in the Netherlands.
In towns like Santa Susanna, where hotel terraces host live music in the evening, people simply dance. Young and old, everyone together. The music sparks something — and people move. No hesitation. No shame.
Yes, it’s louder too
Of course, there’s a flip side.
Spaniards are more expressive. Which also means: louder conversations, quicker tempers.
In summer, when I have the doors open, I can hear people walking by — and yes, it can be loud. In restaurants, the volume rises fast as soon as more than two people gather at a table. And sometimes I hear neighbours having arguments in the street.
Sometimes even old furniture gets thrown.
But it’s all part of it.
This expressiveness isn’t just noise — it’s life.
And I embrace it.
For me, it’s part of home
Here in Catalonia, I feel more at home than I ever did in the Netherlands. Maybe because I didn’t grow up in the grey lowlands, but in southern France, among mountains and sunlight.
There’s something about the way people are present here.
In the moment. In the rhythm. In their connection with each other.
And yes — it’s louder. Looser. Lighter.
But that’s exactly what gives life here its colour.
Here, I don’t have to wait for someone else to start dancing.
I just join in.