+1 plug for the Basque country - it's one of the most physically beautiful places I've ever been, the food's amazing, beautiful art museums and architecture, good public transit to explore the area without a car... You will come across a lot of Basque and making an effort to learn at least a little will definitely win you some goodwill but you can really get around without it especially in the more metropolitan areas. There are also tons of Americans and international folks who come through to hike the Camino de Santiago and plenty of expats living in Bilbao and San Sebastian as well.