Truths (not so) and (some) Myths about Spain
Oct 17th, 2010, 08:54 AM
#43
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Amusing this thread. I'll add a few more. Remember I live in the South.
- The rain in Spain: actually, the place where it rains more liters per sq.mt. per year is...Grazalema, one of the white towns.
- The Mediterranean coast is quite heavily built up, though the best preserved coast line is Cabo de Gata, Almeria.
- Tapas is a variable subject: in Granada and Almeria, they are offered for free with each drink. In Malaga you have to order, a small portion of whatever. In Madrid you can order pinchos, but the ones in Basque countries (spelled pintxos after their particular language) I recall bigger.
- Pleases and thankyous WAS part of politeness here, but education and good manners is disappearing, as mostly elsewhere.
- The actual banning of spanish in cataluña is stupid and hard to believe, but it is a fact.
- The rain in Spain: actually, the place where it rains more liters per sq.mt. per year is...Grazalema, one of the white towns.
- The Mediterranean coast is quite heavily built up, though the best preserved coast line is Cabo de Gata, Almeria.
- Tapas is a variable subject: in Granada and Almeria, they are offered for free with each drink. In Malaga you have to order, a small portion of whatever. In Madrid you can order pinchos, but the ones in Basque countries (spelled pintxos after their particular language) I recall bigger.
- Pleases and thankyous WAS part of politeness here, but education and good manners is disappearing, as mostly elsewhere.
- The actual banning of spanish in cataluña is stupid and hard to believe, but it is a fact.
Oct 17th, 2010, 11:30 AM
#44
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Thank you for your interesting remarks. I don´t pretend to be right on everything, so they are very welcome...it´s just another subjective point of view. I agree on most, yes, paella is NOT eaten everywhere and there are not two paellas alike. Supposedly, the best ones are from the Valencia / Levante region. And the banning of Spanish in Catalonia...well, just returned from five days there and didn´t have any problems speaking Spanish. I reckon that this is a very conflictive subject...
- We don´t celebrate Halloween or Thanksgiving, although H´een is becoming increasingly popular.
- Labour day is on May 1st.
- Father´s day is on March 19.
- Mother´s day is on the first Sunday of May.
- Christmas is also on Dec 25th, but it lasts longer than in the US. Our children get their presents from the 3 Magic Kings on Jan 6.
- Basque children get their presents from the Olentzero (a coal maker from the woods) on Dec 25, AND from the Three Kings also. Spanish kids are gradually also getting presents from Papá Noël on Dec 25.
- We work more days and hours than the rest of Europeans (except the British, I think), but our productivity is much lower.
- Pintxos and tapas should be eaten with your hands (except those haute cuisine ones)
- Spain is the biggest producer of olive oil in the world. Much is exported to Italy, where it´s bottled and sold as Italian, so they can sell it more expensive.
- ...
- We don´t celebrate Halloween or Thanksgiving, although H´een is becoming increasingly popular.
- Labour day is on May 1st.
- Father´s day is on March 19.
- Mother´s day is on the first Sunday of May.
- Christmas is also on Dec 25th, but it lasts longer than in the US. Our children get their presents from the 3 Magic Kings on Jan 6.
- Basque children get their presents from the Olentzero (a coal maker from the woods) on Dec 25, AND from the Three Kings also. Spanish kids are gradually also getting presents from Papá Noël on Dec 25.
- We work more days and hours than the rest of Europeans (except the British, I think), but our productivity is much lower.
- Pintxos and tapas should be eaten with your hands (except those haute cuisine ones)
- Spain is the biggest producer of olive oil in the world. Much is exported to Italy, where it´s bottled and sold as Italian, so they can sell it more expensive.
- ...
Oct 17th, 2010, 11:59 AM
#45
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Many Americans live and die by Italian oil. They have no idea how good Spanish olive oil is.
On the other hand, at least in NYC, one of the food trends of the past five years has been tapas. The influence of Ferran Adria has been limited to the expensive restaurants. Tapas and small plates have become to so popular that other cuisines use the word tapas.
There are many reasons why tapas are not eaten as a meal in the US. First, we do not have clusters of tapas bars. ANd we have no tradition of eating in the tapas style and all the tgangential activities that surround tapas as described above.
The Chinese have a long tradition of dim sum, which is also varied small plates and they usually comprise a whole meal. And there are now a number of Italian restaurants that serve small plates.
On the other hand, at least in NYC, one of the food trends of the past five years has been tapas. The influence of Ferran Adria has been limited to the expensive restaurants. Tapas and small plates have become to so popular that other cuisines use the word tapas.
There are many reasons why tapas are not eaten as a meal in the US. First, we do not have clusters of tapas bars. ANd we have no tradition of eating in the tapas style and all the tgangential activities that surround tapas as described above.
The Chinese have a long tradition of dim sum, which is also varied small plates and they usually comprise a whole meal. And there are now a number of Italian restaurants that serve small plates.
Oct 17th, 2010, 12:51 PM
#46
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mikelg
Spanish/castellano is not banned in Catalonia. I was referring to street signs, directions, and other offical type of communication only, not the the spoken language.
You can still order a cortado and don't have to ask for a tallat if you don't want to. Most people in the restaurants or hotels seem to have Spanish as their first language anyway, at least to my limited experience. It's another thing in smaller stores like bakeries or similar. I have not found out yet how to tell which language is the other person's mother tongue (before they start talking). At least "Hola" is universal
When I was in Barcelona on Sep 13, the Catalonian memorial holiday, I was surprised that is was such a HUGE event with thousands of young and old people, families etc on the streets. Definetely more political than the folks dancing the sardana.
josele
Cabo de Gata is indeed (one of) the most impressive parts of Spain I've ever been to.
Spanish/castellano is not banned in Catalonia. I was referring to street signs, directions, and other offical type of communication only, not the the spoken language.
You can still order a cortado and don't have to ask for a tallat if you don't want to. Most people in the restaurants or hotels seem to have Spanish as their first language anyway, at least to my limited experience. It's another thing in smaller stores like bakeries or similar. I have not found out yet how to tell which language is the other person's mother tongue (before they start talking). At least "Hola" is universal
When I was in Barcelona on Sep 13, the Catalonian memorial holiday, I was surprised that is was such a HUGE event with thousands of young and old people, families etc on the streets. Definetely more political than the folks dancing the sardana.
josele
Cabo de Gata is indeed (one of) the most impressive parts of Spain I've ever been to.
Oct 17th, 2010, 11:34 PM
#50
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Cowboy 1968, as in many other things, the authorities go one way and the people other.
- Paella: here in Malaga and surroundings you cook and eat "a rice", un arroz, and more often than it seems. Some places they cook the rice and serve tapas from it. I knew of a place nearby that cooked the traditional paella in the flat pan, but closed.
- Paella: here in Malaga and surroundings you cook and eat "a rice", un arroz, and more often than it seems. Some places they cook the rice and serve tapas from it. I knew of a place nearby that cooked the traditional paella in the flat pan, but closed.
Oct 18th, 2010, 01:31 PM
#51
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Aduchamp: As usual, I cannot tell when people are kidding. I thought that YOU thought that Spanish oil was not good! I love Despana! I love Spain! I also am loving your current trip report, although maybe not as much as I love Spain!
My two dear friends will be spending about a week in the Cabo de Gata area soon; I will share with them the comments about that area here. Another place I have to put on my own list.
My two dear friends will be spending about a week in the Cabo de Gata area soon; I will share with them the comments about that area here. Another place I have to put on my own list.
Oct 24th, 2010, 12:03 PM
#52
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Basque names and surnames in http://www.blogseitb.us/basquetourism, for some rarities about us strange people that speak the devil´s tongue...
Oct 24th, 2010, 03:17 PM
#54
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Will be visiting Barcelona for the first time in a few weeks and would appreciate recommendations for the best places to find Menú del Día in the central part of the city. Quality of the food is more important than ambience.
Thank you for the information posted above and for your Menú del Día recommendations.
Thank you for the information posted above and for your Menú del Día recommendations.
Oct 24th, 2010, 05:01 PM
#55
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Mikelg, you are providing very important and useful information. I love Spain! Regarding:
“Eating schedules, breakfast as everywhere, lunch (main meal of the day) at around 2pm and dinner at around 9-10pm”
How does this schedule fit into most professional occupations? In the States most folks work approximately 9-5 with variations. Lunch is “on the run” and dinner is much earlier. What are typical work hours in Spain? Just wondering – how do parents, especially mothers of young children, work around these hours?
Again, thanks for posting...
“Eating schedules, breakfast as everywhere, lunch (main meal of the day) at around 2pm and dinner at around 9-10pm”
How does this schedule fit into most professional occupations? In the States most folks work approximately 9-5 with variations. Lunch is “on the run” and dinner is much earlier. What are typical work hours in Spain? Just wondering – how do parents, especially mothers of young children, work around these hours?
Again, thanks for posting...
Oct 24th, 2010, 07:39 PM
#56
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Latedaytraveler, our working schedules follow our eating schedules (or viceversa). We start working at 0830 more or less, stop at 1330, eat for one hour or one hour and a half, then back to work until 1830 and then home, where we will have our dinner not earlier than 2100. It´s quite easy for us. Kids go to school from 0900 to 1700 or 1730, they have a little snack and then they have dinner at 2100 or so. Shops open at 1000, close at 1330 or 1300, re-open at 1600 or 1630 and close at around 2000-2100.
Betsy, no recommendations needed, you´ll see the signs outside the restaurant indicating Menú del Día and the list of dishes to choose from.
Betsy, no recommendations needed, you´ll see the signs outside the restaurant indicating Menú del Día and the list of dishes to choose from.
Oct 24th, 2010, 10:09 PM
#57
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Ekscrunchy-no problem, this thread has too many double negatives.
Thank you for the compliment, another report in a day or teo.
When we return home, I will start a topic regarding the misconceptions Spainards have about Americans.
Thank you for the compliment, another report in a day or teo.
When we return home, I will start a topic regarding the misconceptions Spainards have about Americans.
Oct 25th, 2010, 12:02 AM
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Just eat hamburgers? No there is KFC too! or mums apple pie.
Just like all over the country the Spaniards dance flamenco and drink very cheap red wine and sell the better stuff at a high profit to the rest of the world.
Maybe we should also see one on each country that would be fun(?)
Just like all over the country the Spaniards dance flamenco and drink very cheap red wine and sell the better stuff at a high profit to the rest of the world.
Maybe we should also see one on each country that would be fun(?)
