Travel Tips to European Countries: Spain
About The Country
Spain is famous world wide for its flamenco dancers and bullfights. The architecture reflects the Moroccan style. Cave paintings, renaissance cathedrals, Moorish palaces prove the diversity of the country. Spring, fall and early summer are very pleasant here, though summers are hot.
Best Time To Visit May, June and September
Culture
Spanish is the regional language of Spain. English is also widely spoken here. Over the period of time, Spanish people have become modern in order to get with the changing times and are no longer conservative. But that hasn’t changed the values, traditions, manners and customs of the locals.
People here have two surnames; the first surname can be used to refer to the person. To greet someone, a handshake will do the job. Take a small gift along when visiting someone’s house. Save the flowers for special occasions. Dinner is generally taken very late in the night. People wear casuals most of the time. Men are expected to wear jackets at some restaurants. Swimsuits should be confined to the pools and beaches. Recently a ban has been applied on smoking in public places.
Experiences that should not be missed
· Exploring the amazing, whimsical architecture of Gaudi’s Parc Guell in Barcelona
· Bargain- hunting in El Rastro flea market in Madrid
· Partying through the night during Valencia’s Las Fallas
· Pouring over the fascinating Romanesque relics of medieval Aragon at Huesca and San Juan de la Pena
· Visiting the wonderful Museo Guggenheim in Bilbao
· Sipping summertime canas(beers) and enjoying the magnificent views to the Sierra de Guadarrama at Las Vistillas
· Driving around and getting lost in the alphine countryside of the Navarran Pyrenees
· Walking the Camino de Santiago to Santiago de Compostela
Shopping
Shops open quite early in the morning and stay open late in the evening. In the afternoon, they are closed for lunch or siesta. Porcelain and leather goods are famous and they will be good gifts for friends and family members back home. Bills are to be paid along with the service charges, so tipping is a matter of gratitude.
Try local delicacies:
Eat home-cooked paella, or fabada asturiana (a heavy white bean based stew) Drink red wine from the Ribera del Duero region or a Voll Damn beer
Further Pleasures:
To read: the 17th century novel Don Quijote de la Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes, or For Whom the Bell Tolls, a terse tale of civil war by Earnest Hemingway
To listen: Andres Segovia, who established classical guitar as a genre, or flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucia
To watch: Pedro Almodovar’s Todo Sobre Mi Madre (All About My Mother), which portrays the lives of an improbable collection of women
Electricity
Voltage is 220 volts and frequency is 50 Hz
Getting There
IBERIA is the national airline of Spain. Many other low-cost airlines offer services in the country. There are nearly thirty international airports in Spain, out of which Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante and Malaga are famous. Madrid located at 13km away from the city has a good bus service every fifteen minutes. Underground service also works to transport passengers to their destinations. Other facilities offered at this airport are duty free shops, bank, restaurant, tourism information, and hotel reservations.
Barcelona is very close to the city, situated at a distance of 3 km only. Buses are available every 15 minutes and trains are available every 20 minutes. Taxis are available throughout the day. Duty free shops, restaurants, bank, car hire and tourism information are available here.
There is a good network of roads connecting Spain north to south. Toll booths are installed in some parts of the country. Carrying few Euros will help smooth sailing at the toll booths. If driving one’s private car, it would be better if the travel insurance covers medical costs too. Carrying a medical kit can prove to be of some help.
Duty Free Items
1. 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos 50 cigars or 250g tobacco (300 cigarettes, 150 cigarillos, 70 cigars and 400g of tobacco for EU nationals) 2. 1litre of spirits if exceeding 22 per cent volume or 2 litres of alcoholic beverage not exceeding 22 per cent volume and 2 litres of wine (1.5 litre exceeding 22 per cent and 3 litres of up to 22 per cent and 5 litres of wine for EU nationals) 3. 250ml eau de toilette and 50g of perfume 4. 500g of coffee or 200g of coffee extract (1000g of coffee and 4000g of coffee extract for EU nationals) 5. 100g of tea or 40g of tea extract 6. Gifts up to the value of approximately €37.26.
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