American culture is everything available at all times everywhere, and if it isn't it is a tragedy.
American propaganda playing on wide screen TVs 24/7, social media fills in the gaps.
It really is easy to see but hard to pinpoint on a personal level unless you are affected by whatever is currently happening that is the disaster/crime/injustice.
Long answer short: enough of the people are comfy in their worlds to give 2 shits.
I am an American native, EU resident visiting family for the first time in 6 years and....it's overwhelming to me.
Madrid is great, but pricy!
Check out 'Cheers' downtown, it's an awesome karaoke bar!
Reina Sofía museum for culture fix, go check out the Picasso Guernica. Free on Tuesdays (I'm pretty sure) but get tickets in advance!
Valencia is OK right now, most of the flood damage was to the south/out of the central part of the city so there isn't any issues there, and it is a beautiful city with lots to see & visit.
Rusafa neighborhood is the young, cool part of town (Trinity Vintage is a shop run by an American expat if you need someone to help get you grounded).
Chinatown is great for cheap (but very nice) air bnb's....cheap because on the street level Chinatown looks ...meh.
And if you need a spicy food fix, there are hot pots!
Both of these are near (both) train stations.
Feel free to PM me, my son lives in Madrid and we live south of Valencia... however right now our son is flying back from the US and I fly back next week.
Fun story, had a NY couple in our restaurant and he was all 'hey, how 'bout NY???? Got a conviction against the asshole‽'
Apparently 'yeah, I mean NY could have done something about him 15 years ago and we, as a nation, wouldn't have to deal with his bullshit, but hey...thanks for the too little too late thing.' is not the correct response.
Fucking hilarious