Of course you know by now that I have a true fascination for Spanish language and culture and Spain continues to one of my favourite destinations. Spain is a fascinating country, a modern Western European country, anchored in a long history that was shaped by many different cultures, first and foremost the Ancient Romans and the Moors.

This contrast between the modern and the traditional has always fascinated me and I thought I'd ask a local to give me a bit of an idea of what Spanish life and culture is really like today. So here is Karla, my expatriate friend from Ontario, providing us with her own personal and frank insights about life in Spain:

Hi Karla, nice to talk to you again and thanks for the opportunity to give us further insights into life in Spain.

1. Machismo is a Spanish term and most Latin countries are known for their male-dominated attitudes. Does machismo still exist in Spain and if so, how does it manifest itself? What is the role of modern women in Spain, what opportunities and hurdles do they face? What is today