Ah San Sebastian. One of the top destinations to visit in Spain. A place of Beautiful scenery, Gorgeous food and well....so many friendly, welcoming, faces. 
Or is it?
Now I understand that what I am about to write will cause a lot of polemic for those who don't agree with, or don't understand my experience....but frankly my dear, I don't give a damn.
For a long time the basques have been known for their angry disdain towards outsiders and their long rivalry with southern, or Andaluz spanish people. Those who are from other countries may know about racism or xenophobia, but few know about regional xenophobia, until they come to spain.
You see, Spain is divided by Autonomous Regions which all have distinct economies, cultures, languages and even races. The southern, or Andaluz are known to be a moorish mix(with darker arab features) whilst northerners are known for their fairer hair and eyes. The stark difference in regions sometimes leads to rivalry and other times to flat out rejection of their own countrymen.
Although I am "darker" and have been told that I look Andaluz,I've never had a problem when I visited other northern regions(Galicia, Asturias, Navarra, Cantabria) but here in San Sebastian...well, things are a little different.
It started on the train ride over here. Lady looks at me. Lady looks at me again, and again, and again. The train ride was five hours long, so you can imagine how crooned her neck was by the time we arrived.
"HMMM, she must be curious," I thought, choosing to give her the benefit of the doubt.
I'm no fool, I clearly recognise xenophobia when I see it, but I choose the benefit of the doubt so as not to let others' bad behaviour poison me.
Then it happened in the station upon arrival. Cab after cab swooshes past me.
"Hmmmm, im sure they didn't see me"
Then in the hotel: stand-offish, taking forever to serve me, giving priority to others etc.
Then the restaurant.
But when it finally happened on the Paseo Maritimo, I took no more. Dirty look, after dirty look, after dirty look after.... you get the idea.
Now I know a lot of people who handle racism in a very different way. They go from denial, to sadness, to self blame. Well this is exactly how racism works to put people down. I am lucky to have experienced both racism and total equality in my life, so I know when to put my foot down and call the situation out for what it is.
Whats more, after the box office hit Ocho Appellidos Vascos, a hilarious comedy which pokes fun at the Basques clear disdain for Andaluz people, it is no longer a mystery that something's rotten in San Sebass'. But its funny on the big screen, its not that funny when it happens to you.
So yes ladies and gents, I have been given the psychological boot for my darker, maditerranean features, to which I say: NOT COOL.
And whenever I am given this treatment for free, I take the exact same measures I always do, and encourage anyone who has been through this to do the same.
1. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT blame yourself. You have every right to the same equality and respect with which you treat others.
2. Do not waste your smiles and politeness on rude, unfair people. Greet them with the same standoffishness that they have given to you. Do not engage in eye contact, because they don't deserve your energy.
3. If you feel its right, don't give money to commerces in which you are treated poorly. Id rather eat a greasy kebab where I'm treated with Respect, than fine dining where I'm treated like sh*t.
4. Don't give your power away, stand up for yourself, but pick your battles wisely.
So after the fifteen hundredth dirty look I finally put my foot down. If your going to invade my privacy, then I'm going to invade yours right back. I pulled out my phone and snapped a couple pictures. I also did this because a lot of times when we talk racism and xenophobia, people just don't believe you, mostly because they haven't lived it and they see you as equal to them. I love them for that, but No! my blonde, light eyed, friends DON'T know what its like.
So don't take my word for it. Have a look at the many faces of racism(note the look on their faces was there BEFORE they saw me take a picture)
clearly, by the look on these peoples faces, I must be an Axe murderer! :)
..............Riiiight?
Toodles Friends and Remember:
Stand Up For Your Rights!!!
