Truths (not so) and (some) Myths about Spain
Oct 15th, 2010, 09:29 AM
#21
On behalf of the uninformed, annoying people, thank you.
Who knew you could throw paper napkins on the floor? When my husband does this at home, I think of him as uninformed and annoying. I need to go to Spain with him again and test this out.
Meanwhile, does the rain in Spain stay mainly in the plain?
Who knew you could throw paper napkins on the floor? When my husband does this at home, I think of him as uninformed and annoying. I need to go to Spain with him again and test this out.
Meanwhile, does the rain in Spain stay mainly in the plain?
Oct 15th, 2010, 10:11 AM
#22
I was just looking at the pictures we took of the bars in San Sebastian and I commented that "it's too bad about all the paper napkins on the floor". Strange - I hadn't noticed while there until I looked at the pictures.
Sangria - The first bar we went to while pintxos hopping, because I saw a jug of Sangria, I asked for some and was given a huge glass of delicious very strong Sangria. I could hardly see straight after finishing this and noticed that everyone else was given a third of what I had. Couldn't continue the bar hopping so had to start over the next evening but made sure to point out how much I wanted.
Thanks for this Mikelg.
Sangria - The first bar we went to while pintxos hopping, because I saw a jug of Sangria, I asked for some and was given a huge glass of delicious very strong Sangria. I could hardly see straight after finishing this and noticed that everyone else was given a third of what I had. Couldn't continue the bar hopping so had to start over the next evening but made sure to point out how much I wanted.
Thanks for this Mikelg.
Oct 15th, 2010, 10:28 AM
#24
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"Everyone is uninformed to start with. I find your condescension annoying and insulting."
I ma glad you learned dollar is not the currency in Spain and Spanish people are not Mexicans.
And they have toilet paper in Europe ! Who knew?
Perhaps, it has to do with one's level of general education or simple ability to read.
I ma glad you learned dollar is not the currency in Spain and Spanish people are not Mexicans.
And they have toilet paper in Europe ! Who knew?
Perhaps, it has to do with one's level of general education or simple ability to read.
Oct 15th, 2010, 11:35 AM
#25
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Danon, don´t be too hard on me. I´m just collecting questions that visitors to Spain have actually asked me. Some of them (yes) are really stupid and I know that 99% of foreigners know about them. A bit of kidding is harmless, I think...Please don´t take this post too seriously.
Oct 15th, 2010, 12:47 PM
#28
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In short: a pintxo is mainly found in the Basque Country, you pick it with your hands (I hate the plate they give the tourists now to fill it up with pintxos, a rip-off) and it´s not free. A tapa is offered normally for free accompanying your drink, it´s not as sophisticated as a pintxo and you have it standing. A ración is eaten seated, you share it with other people, it´s normally hot and you pay for it.
Oct 15th, 2010, 10:32 PM
#31
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Some other general characteristics of the Spaniards that may be of interest to you. No patronizing intended, as a non-native English speaker the tone may not be the appropriate one.
- Eating schedules, breakfast as everywhere, lunch (main meal of the day) at around 2pm and dinner at around 9-10pm
- On weekends, it´s complicated to make a reservation on a restaurant before 0930pm, and that´s still early.
- If you can make a reservation before, you´re in a tourist bar or town
- Spaniards don´t usually have tapas or pintxos as their main meal. It´s just an appetizer before having lunch or dinner. And just one or two per bar.
- Siesta is done by our elders, young people is working. But we love siesta on weekends (how can´t we? ).
- The Menú del Día is a great option for lunch, cheap and complete, including table wine if you wish, for 10-12 euros approx.
- Our lunch has two main courses, a dessert (mainly fruit) and coffee. Dinner is lighter.
- Coffee in Spain is strong and served in china cups. Never on a polystirene cup.
- Spain has the best film dubbers in the world. The main cause for our lack of command of other languages.
- Topless is perfectly acceptable in any beach. Spanish society is extremely tolerant. Plenty of nude beaches as well.
- Nudity on TV is seen as something normal. That does NOT mean that people is constantly naked on TV.
- If you´re gay, you can get legally married in Spain. No big deal, live and let live is our motto.
- Our national sport is strolling hand in hand, lovers and families and kids, with no purpose at all. Idle walk.
- We love to go well dressed.
- In restaurants, if in doubt, ask for the house wine. It´ll have the best ratio quality-price.
- There are thousands of banks and ATM´s, anywhere. A great and reliable banking system.
- Women always keep their maiden name when they marry. We use both surnames, our father´s and our mother´s.
- Spain is the most heterogeneous country in Europe, IMO.
- Eating schedules, breakfast as everywhere, lunch (main meal of the day) at around 2pm and dinner at around 9-10pm
- On weekends, it´s complicated to make a reservation on a restaurant before 0930pm, and that´s still early.
- If you can make a reservation before, you´re in a tourist bar or town
- Spaniards don´t usually have tapas or pintxos as their main meal. It´s just an appetizer before having lunch or dinner. And just one or two per bar.
- Siesta is done by our elders, young people is working. But we love siesta on weekends (how can´t we? ).
- The Menú del Día is a great option for lunch, cheap and complete, including table wine if you wish, for 10-12 euros approx.
- Our lunch has two main courses, a dessert (mainly fruit) and coffee. Dinner is lighter.
- Coffee in Spain is strong and served in china cups. Never on a polystirene cup.
- Spain has the best film dubbers in the world. The main cause for our lack of command of other languages.
- Topless is perfectly acceptable in any beach. Spanish society is extremely tolerant. Plenty of nude beaches as well.
- Nudity on TV is seen as something normal. That does NOT mean that people is constantly naked on TV.
- If you´re gay, you can get legally married in Spain. No big deal, live and let live is our motto.
- Our national sport is strolling hand in hand, lovers and families and kids, with no purpose at all. Idle walk.
- We love to go well dressed.
- In restaurants, if in doubt, ask for the house wine. It´ll have the best ratio quality-price.
- There are thousands of banks and ATM´s, anywhere. A great and reliable banking system.
- Women always keep their maiden name when they marry. We use both surnames, our father´s and our mother´s.
- Spain is the most heterogeneous country in Europe, IMO.
Oct 16th, 2010, 07:07 AM
#32
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mike,
I visited Spain for the first time almost twenty year ago:
Madrid, Toledo, Cordoba, Seville, Cadiz, Granada - in AUGUST!
It took "some years" before I could travel outside the summer months ...
We visited every year for the last four years ( already
have tickets for next April - Semana Santa in Seville- and plans for Sept. in Barcelona and ??? )
Although my Spanish is not fluent, I am pleased to have made an effort to learn the language of my favorite destination .
I envy you!
I visited Spain for the first time almost twenty year ago:
Madrid, Toledo, Cordoba, Seville, Cadiz, Granada - in AUGUST!
It took "some years" before I could travel outside the summer months ...
We visited every year for the last four years ( already
have tickets for next April - Semana Santa in Seville- and plans for Sept. in Barcelona and ??? )
Although my Spanish is not fluent, I am pleased to have made an effort to learn the language of my favorite destination .
I envy you!
Oct 16th, 2010, 01:28 PM
#35
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Spain is the most heterogeneous country in Europe, IMO.
As someone who had visited Sapin for almost 40 years, and whose FIL was a gallego, I could not agree more.
The main misconception about Spain among Americans is that Southern Spain is Spain. This has been re-inforced by the popularity of the tour of pueblos blancos.
That sangria is a sophisticated dink. (Although my young Spanish cousins have started drinking sangria at bars.)
Spanish olive oil is ordinary.
That paella is the national dish of Spain.
That Velázquez was just another Spanish painter.
As someone who had visited Sapin for almost 40 years, and whose FIL was a gallego, I could not agree more.
The main misconception about Spain among Americans is that Southern Spain is Spain. This has been re-inforced by the popularity of the tour of pueblos blancos.
That sangria is a sophisticated dink. (Although my young Spanish cousins have started drinking sangria at bars.)
Spanish olive oil is ordinary.
That paella is the national dish of Spain.
That Velázquez was just another Spanish painter.
Oct 17th, 2010, 06:25 AM
#37
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Some of my observations on Mike’s brilliant stuff
- Yes, you can throw paper napkins to the floor on bars
<i>Plus all your other rubbish like cigarette butts and old chicken bones from tapas. </i>
- Pintxos are not Tapas and Tapas are not Raciones. And so, Pintxos are not Raciones.
<i>In Galicia, Asturias Tapas is only for tourists. </i>
- Most restaurants are also bars, most bars are also restaurants
<i>In these places you can also just have a cup of coffee too. </i>
- Smoking is banned almost everywhere now, the times they are a-changin´
<i>Eh? </i>
- Four star hotels are excellent
<i>Paradores can be over priced, but if you are in Spain it is part of the package. When staying in the countryside (campo) look for Casa Rurals. </i>
- We are not bullfighters and there´re a lot of people that don´t like bullfights
<i>It has been banned in two areas with others only having one or two rings. </i>
- Flamenco is sung in Southern Spain only, the rest is for tourists.
<i>In Galician and Asturias you will find a strong culture for bagpipes. </i>
- The sun in Spain falls mainly on the South and Center, the North is rainy and green
<i>It is still sunny, but chilly at night as I write is in October in Galicia. </i>
- We don´t drink sangría often, it´s mainly for tourists
<i>Try a wine which you can not buy back home. </i>
- It snows in winter and gets rrrrreally cold in many places
<i>It is colder in Madrid than inland Galicia, so don’t think it is cold up north and warm down south. </i>
- The Menú del Día is a great option for lunch, cheap and complete, including table wine if you wish, for 10-12 euros approx.
<i>This is even cheaper in some places. Prices do not dictate quality. It is the amount of people eating that is a sign of quality. </i>
- Our lunch has two main courses, a dessert (mainly fruit) and coffee. Dinner is lighter.
<i>Not in Galicia. However with Menu del Dia most desserts will not be home made. </i>
- Our national sport is strolling hand in hand, lovers and families and kids, with no purpose at all. Idle walk.
<i>You know I thought this year it was football, tennis and maybe even Formula 1! </i>
- In restaurants, if in doubt, ask for the house wine. It´ll have the best ratio quality-price.
<i>With MdD it is usually included. </i>
I will add a few.
- Spain is in general a safe country, despite what Fox news tells you.
- It does not always rain in Galicia. If it did we could not have several good wine regions.
- Some parts of central Spain are unbelievable flat.
- The Mediterranean coast is quite heavily built up. The most natural coast line is along the Northern between the Basque country and Galicia.
- The coast above Barcelona is not the Northern coast of Spain, it is the Northeast. This title belongs to the coast between The Basque country and Galicia.
- The Spanish some times seem to have a magnet in the car as they drive so close to you without pushing you off the road.
- Spanish drivers are quite patient for example; they will wait for you to reverse into your parking spot.
- Do not use a GPS if you want to find country roads and locations. They don’t exists in the system.
- Do not expect a lot of pleases and thankyous. That is not part of politeness here.
- Do not expect a Spanish waiter/ess to smile all the time.
- A rail pass is a waste of money book on line to save on train fares directly with the RENFE website (see below)
- The RENFE website seems to have a mind of its own. Ensure you understand the procedure, you have the correct credit cards and your CC has been informed that you are planning to use it in Spain.
- Spain is a huge country do not try and tick the I have got the Spanish experience box in one visit
Maybe I will think of more later.
- Yes, you can throw paper napkins to the floor on bars
<i>Plus all your other rubbish like cigarette butts and old chicken bones from tapas. </i>
- Pintxos are not Tapas and Tapas are not Raciones. And so, Pintxos are not Raciones.
<i>In Galicia, Asturias Tapas is only for tourists. </i>
- Most restaurants are also bars, most bars are also restaurants
<i>In these places you can also just have a cup of coffee too. </i>
- Smoking is banned almost everywhere now, the times they are a-changin´
<i>Eh? </i>
- Four star hotels are excellent
<i>Paradores can be over priced, but if you are in Spain it is part of the package. When staying in the countryside (campo) look for Casa Rurals. </i>
- We are not bullfighters and there´re a lot of people that don´t like bullfights
<i>It has been banned in two areas with others only having one or two rings. </i>
- Flamenco is sung in Southern Spain only, the rest is for tourists.
<i>In Galician and Asturias you will find a strong culture for bagpipes. </i>
- The sun in Spain falls mainly on the South and Center, the North is rainy and green
<i>It is still sunny, but chilly at night as I write is in October in Galicia. </i>
- We don´t drink sangría often, it´s mainly for tourists
<i>Try a wine which you can not buy back home. </i>
- It snows in winter and gets rrrrreally cold in many places
<i>It is colder in Madrid than inland Galicia, so don’t think it is cold up north and warm down south. </i>
- The Menú del Día is a great option for lunch, cheap and complete, including table wine if you wish, for 10-12 euros approx.
<i>This is even cheaper in some places. Prices do not dictate quality. It is the amount of people eating that is a sign of quality. </i>
- Our lunch has two main courses, a dessert (mainly fruit) and coffee. Dinner is lighter.
<i>Not in Galicia. However with Menu del Dia most desserts will not be home made. </i>
- Our national sport is strolling hand in hand, lovers and families and kids, with no purpose at all. Idle walk.
<i>You know I thought this year it was football, tennis and maybe even Formula 1! </i>
- In restaurants, if in doubt, ask for the house wine. It´ll have the best ratio quality-price.
<i>With MdD it is usually included. </i>
I will add a few.
- Spain is in general a safe country, despite what Fox news tells you.
- It does not always rain in Galicia. If it did we could not have several good wine regions.
- Some parts of central Spain are unbelievable flat.
- The Mediterranean coast is quite heavily built up. The most natural coast line is along the Northern between the Basque country and Galicia.
- The coast above Barcelona is not the Northern coast of Spain, it is the Northeast. This title belongs to the coast between The Basque country and Galicia.
- The Spanish some times seem to have a magnet in the car as they drive so close to you without pushing you off the road.
- Spanish drivers are quite patient for example; they will wait for you to reverse into your parking spot.
- Do not use a GPS if you want to find country roads and locations. They don’t exists in the system.
- Do not expect a lot of pleases and thankyous. That is not part of politeness here.
- Do not expect a Spanish waiter/ess to smile all the time.
- A rail pass is a waste of money book on line to save on train fares directly with the RENFE website (see below)
- The RENFE website seems to have a mind of its own. Ensure you understand the procedure, you have the correct credit cards and your CC has been informed that you are planning to use it in Spain.
- Spain is a huge country do not try and tick the I have got the Spanish experience box in one visit
Maybe I will think of more later.
Oct 17th, 2010, 07:16 AM
#38
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If I may add just a small remark:
Spain may have one common language, but if you plan to drive your (rental) car in Catalunya, don't expect one traffic sign to be in "Spanish". This can get a bit tricky, when trying to decipher parking restrictions (When is "diumenge" and what is a "feiners"?) or driving on a road that is signalled to be "tancat" in 5kms (closed).
Spain may have one common language, but if you plan to drive your (rental) car in Catalunya, don't expect one traffic sign to be in "Spanish". This can get a bit tricky, when trying to decipher parking restrictions (When is "diumenge" and what is a "feiners"?) or driving on a road that is signalled to be "tancat" in 5kms (closed).
Oct 17th, 2010, 08:34 AM
#39
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Aduchamp: I have to put in a word for Spanish olive oils. Next time you need olive oil, look for a bottle of either Venta del Baron or Nunez de Prado, both from Andalucia, or any of the Fairway brand Spanish oils--I like the Baena and the Extremadura (especially the DOP Gata Hurdes) oils. I know that you do not live near Fairway but it is worth your while to go there just for a bottle of these oils. They are very well priced and fantastic and I make a trip just to buy them.
This is a great thread--very interesting.
This is a great thread--very interesting.
Oct 17th, 2010, 08:41 AM
#40
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Thnak you Ekscrunchy.
We also like a brand called Las Brisas, which has a deep pungent aroma and taste.
We go to Fairways once a month to stock up and you should try Despana on Broome Street. Besides importing high quality olive oils and cheeses they make the best chorizos this side of the Atlantic.
Since my wife is the daughter of Spaniard when someone asks her heritage and says she is Spanish, few Americans think of Spain.
We also like a brand called Las Brisas, which has a deep pungent aroma and taste.
We go to Fairways once a month to stock up and you should try Despana on Broome Street. Besides importing high quality olive oils and cheeses they make the best chorizos this side of the Atlantic.
Since my wife is the daughter of Spaniard when someone asks her heritage and says she is Spanish, few Americans think of Spain.
