Traveling by train in Spain

In part because traveling by train is just not something I do in the States and in part because it's far more comfortable than traveling by airplane, even if it does take longer, I prefer to travel by train. What's more, these days it costs roughly the same to travel by plane as it does by train, especially if you need to check a bag and if you take into account the cost of getting from whatever airport to your destination's city center, whereas the train usually drops you off right in the midst of things.

That said, there are some tricks to traveling by train in Spain. Here are a few I've learned.

Carly & Sione on a train

Foreword
The key to buying a train ticket in Spain is patience and persistence. If patience and persistence are not your forte, I suggest you either travel by airplane or travel with someone who does possess these qualities and work out a deal with them where they do the ticket-buying in exchange for dinner. Or perhaps a nice shoulder rub, since they'll need it (and perhaps an aspirin) after navigating the system.