What sort of environments are in Spain?

Lidiya · Jun 24, 2012

I'm writing an adventure book that takes place in a Spanish speaking country (might as well make it Spain), and the main character has to find a certain object.

Since he needs some environment to roam around and cause havoc, what sort of them are there? Like deserts, forests etc. Abandoned castles?

Should I maybe make it take place in another country, like Peru or Colombia?
Thanks.

Cath · Jun 24, 2012

Lidiya, you might want to do some basic Googling on this first.

http://www.google.com/search?btnG=1&pws=0&q=spain+topography
http://www.google.com/#hl=en&gs_nf=1&cp=8&gs_id=x&xhr=t&q=Spain+geography
http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&q=forests+spain
http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&q=deserts+spain
http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&q=abandoned+castles+spain

Lidiya · Jun 24, 2012

Cath said:
Lidiya, you might want to do some basic Googling on this first.

http://www.google.com/search?btnG=1&pws=0&q=spain+topography
http://www.google.com/#hl=en&gs_nf=1&cp=8&gs_id=x&xhr=t&q=Spain+geography
http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&q=forests+spain
http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&q=deserts+spain
http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&q=abandoned+castles+spain

I guess I should have. I tried, but it was all...jumbled up? And since you lot here are experts, what better place to ask?
Thanks for the links

mirandashell · Jun 24, 2012

You also need to do some serious research on the fact that Spanish-speaking countries are not all the same. They each have a different economy, ecology and history.

Siri Kirpal · Jun 24, 2012

Sat Nam! (literally "Truth Name"--a Sikh greeting)

And where you set it matters too. Chile for instance has some of the driest, some of the wettest, some of the hottest and some of the coldest places on earth.

Blessings,

Siri Kirpal

thothguard51 · Jun 24, 2012

What time frame are you planning?

Also, please know this, if you plan on setting your story in a known country and you have not researched the culture, geography, or history, it will show in your work...

Peru has a far different culture than Spain and I know from experience that you never compare a Spaniard with a Central or South American. They are insulted...

Research, research, research...

mirandashell · Jun 24, 2012

Canarians don't much like being compared to the Spanish either. And they're a lot closer.

blacbird · Jun 24, 2012

I think you'd have more fictional fun cavorting about South America. Bigger, with vast contrasts in environments among Argentina, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela. Some places are mysterious and unique, like the tepuis of Venezuela or the Altiplano of the high Andes, or the otherworldly glacial mountain spires of southern Chile (google Cerro Torre for a look at one).

caw

Lidiya · Jun 24, 2012

blacbird said:
I think you'd have more fictional fun cavorting about South America. Bigger, with vast contrasts in environments among Argentina, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela. Some places are mysterious and unique, like the tepuis of Venezuela or the Altiplano of the high Andes, or the otherworldly glacial mountain spires of southern Chile (google Cerro Torre for a look at one).

caw

Yeah, I'm starting to think about using SA now. I have a lot of research to do, but that's fun so

Lidiya · Jun 24, 2012

thothguard51 said:
What time frame are you planning?

Also, please know this, if you plan on setting your story in a known country and you have not researched the culture, geography, or history, it will show in your work...

Peru has a far different culture than Spain and I know from experience that you never compare a Spaniard with a Central or South American. They are insulted...

Research, research, research...

Present day. I'd better get to Wikipedia before I annoy a dangerous Spaniard.

JMC2009 · Jun 26, 2012

Do you speak any Spanish? Do you know anyone from the area you're looking at having it set in? Online and book research is good, but there's nothing like
primary interviews with questions specific to your story to really add that extra layer of authenticity. I spent 8 years studying Spain and Spanish "culture" just to learn by talking to a good friend of mine (a spaniard) that a lot of what I thought I knew was so specific to one part of the country or was no longer applicable.

What sort of environments are in Spain?

Lidiya

Skimming galaxies

Cath

The mean one

Lidiya

Skimming galaxies

mirandashell

Siri Kirpal

Swan in Process

thothguard51

A Gentleman of a refined age...

mirandashell

blacbird

Lidiya

Skimming galaxies

Lidiya

Skimming galaxies

JMC2009

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