Are you crazy about Spain, but do you sometimes hesitate about how to do things so as not to look out of place? No worries, with this list of the most common beginner's mistakes and misconceptions, you will live your vacation like a true local.
You can thank me later!
- Judging a restaurant purely on its looks? Don't! Don't be fooled, Spaniards are primarily concerned with what's on their plate, and the most unattractive places can really surprise you gastronomically. Think of Billy's in Moraira with spectacularly delicious and original tapas, or Los Jazmines in Altea serving the tastiest paella in all of Altea. Both are located right on a busy road and the decor is not exactly great, but what's on the table is all the more so!
- Ordering a paella at night? Don't! It's pretty much the same as saying "I'm a tourist!". The Spanish eat paella in the afternoon, and there is a good reason for that; this heavy dish does not digest late at night.
- Long after-meal chats enjoying a good glass? Big yes! La sobremesa, the relaxed chat after a good meal, is a way of life in Spain. Especially on weekends, the gin & tonics follow after coffees and it is quite common not to leave the table until six o'clock in the afternoon. So keep that in mind when going out with Spanish friends or inviting them. La sobremesa is an institution and should not be missed.
- Something to celebrate with bubbles? Do! But do you know when? Because with the exception of cava region Catalonia, where you can confidently drink cava before, after and even during a meal, in the rest of Spain it's customary to have the bottle of bubbles only after the meal. Completely different from Northern Europe, where bubbles are often aperitifed. In Spain, however, cava is served along with dessert. The so-called brindis or toast is made and this is also the moment when presents are handed over and unwrapped in the presence of the entire party.
- Going to explore fun new places? You should, but not during the famous siesta. Anyone who goes somewhere between 1:30 and 5:30 in the summer will not only get very hot, but will probably find a sleepy town and miss the authentic, lively atmosphere that can be enjoyed at other times of the day. So do not make the mistake to return home sometime between five and six in the afternoon (yes, in Spain this is still afternoon, what we know as evening in Spain only begins at nine o'clock ...!), because just then the Spanish life slowly but surely restarts, it's when the afternoon coffee is drunk, when stores reopen and locals go back to work or go out and the streets are filled with people again. And that is exactly when you want to be there!
- Curious about the difference between Spanish and the local language of the region; Valencian? Above all, do not make the mistake of asking about the Valencian 'dialect' because there is no greater insult possible. Valencian is, in the eyes of those who speak it, a language in its own right alongside Spanish or so-called 'Castellano'. You are hereby warned!
- ¿Dos cervezas por favor? Especially do! You better order like the Spanish, twice in a row a small beer or so-called caña. Don't fall into the typical tourist trap of the larger pint or pinta. When it's hot, this half-liter glass gets lukewarm very quickly and tastes anything but refreshing. Although the free tapa is more something from the South, there are some bars where you get a small snack with your drink, another reason to order smaller drinks yet more rounds.
