- Like many other European countries:
- Tipping isn’t expected (they make more than in the United States). The servers don’t check on you. You need to ask if you need something and ask for the bill. It’s actually nice not to be interrupted when you are in conversation.
- When grocery shopping you need to weigh your fruit and vegetables yourself and put a sticker on them that gets used at checkout.
- Dogs go everywhere with their owners. In Spain, there is dog poop everywhere! We read that Madrid has tried to improve the issue by imposing regulations. If an owner is caught not picking up it up they need to spend a few days as a substitute street cleaner or face a $1,700 Euro fine.
- You need to get a ticket when you enter the post office and your number gets called when it’s your turn to be served. Post offices sell books, reading glasses, some even had iPhones for sale.
- We are always impressed at the multiple languages people speak. We can typically find someone (especially in larger cities) who speaks English.
- The wine prices are amazing – so many $2 bottle options! We’re not wine connoisseurs, but we know if a wine is just plain bad (spoiled) and the $2 bottles are perfectly fine.
- There are people in vests standing on street corners selling lottery tickets. Other corners may have a small kiosk with a person sitting inside selling tickets.
- Overall, it seems like the Spaniards dress nicer than the locals that we saw in Paris did (maybe it was just the area we were in).
- We really like Spanish tortillas (omelets) served at room temperature (filled with all kinds of options – we tried crab salad, tuna, potato & cheese, and of course jamon).
- Jamon is available everywhere, in all kinds of varieties and dishes.
- Since we like to eat dinner earlier than the Spaniards, we didn’t get to eat a traditional dinner at a restaurant.
- Grilled octopus is delicious!
- Love the family-oriented culture and the focus on the quality of life. One of the restaurant owners told us they don’t serve dinner on Mondays to allow the staff to rest.
- The culture honors pedestrians. Cars always stop when a pedestrian is waiting to cross the road (where a crosswalk exists and there is not a light).
- We saw at least one (many times more than one) person with a broken wrist every day in Getxo/Bilbao. We have never seen so many people with broken wrists.
- Basque country (Bilbao) is very different than the Madrid Region. The history, politics, language, and food are all very different.
- Bilbao signs are in local Basque language and Spanish.
- Tapas are called Pintxos in Bilbao.
- We love every area we’ve been in Spain over the past 20 years (Madrid, Toledo, Segovia, Avila, Valencia, Barcelona, Bilbao). We definitely will come back some day!
Observations from Spain
Reading Time: 2 minutes
3 responses to “Observations from Spain”
That was an awesome review. Did you happen to find out what the cause is for all the broken wrists? <3
We did not although we should have asked.
It was an awesome review. This makes for a great travel guide that I will absolutely reference whenever Jenn and I finally get there. Please do add any follow up info on wrist breaking. Definitely something I would like to avoid. But you two did so KUDOS!!!