Spain - 'following the purist trail'
It used to be said that Europe ended at the Pyrenees and, while that might not be strictly true these days, the Iberian Peninsula is still home to an exotic, exciting and passionate attitude that is certainly more akin to Africa than to France.

Even at only four times the size of England, Spain is Europe’s most geographically diverse country. It is the second highest on the continent (after Switzerland) and while there are plains that still bring to mind the African savannah, there are other areas that are much more like the Peruvian deserts, the Norwegian fjords or even icy Andean slopes. The South American Pantanal, complete with flamingos and wildcats, can be found here…alongside the Australian Outback and the Russian steppes.

Whether you travel on a strictly timetabled schedule or just decide to go with the flow, even a short skirmish off the tourist trail is likely to provide you with startling insights into a way of life that has long been forgotten elsewhere on the continent.

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