What baffled me when I visited Spain was that everything was translated - for instance I went to a cinema and all the movies had voice doubling in Spanish, whereas in my country the norm is showing subtitles, but leaving the audio unaltered. And this happens at all levels; for instance cartoon characters that are called like Pedro Picapiedra instead of Fred Flinstone, or El Pato Lucas (or something) for Daffy Duck. Also the doubled voices are terribly bad. In all seriousness, movie makers should sue for copyright infringement.
My road took me through Barcelona and I couldn't get by with English. Maybe it was just my luck, however I met more people that understood some Romanian or Italian, rather than English.
In Italy, I happened to travel to Livorno, staying there for a whole month. Again, all movies are voice doubled. But at least in Italy educated or younger people seem to understand English a little and a couple of them spoke it fluently. However while I stayed there I found it easier to learn some Italian instead, instead of bothering with English.
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What baffled me when I visited Spain was that everything was translated - for instance I went to a cinema and all the movies had voice doubling in Spanish, whereas in my country the norm is showing subtitles, but leaving the audio unaltered. And this happens at all levels; for instance cartoon characters that are called like Pedro Picapiedra instead of Fred Flinstone, or El Pato Lucas (or something) for Daffy Duck. Also the doubled voices are terribly bad. In all seriousness, movie makers should sue for copyright infringement.
My road took me through Barcelona and I couldn't get by with English. Maybe it was just my luck, however I met more people that understood some Romanian or Italian, rather than English.
In Italy, I happened to travel to Livorno, staying there for a whole month. Again, all movies are voice doubled. But at least in Italy educated or younger people seem to understand English a little and a couple of them spoke it fluently. However while I stayed there I found it easier to learn some Italian instead, instead of bothering with English.
(I'm from Romania)