10 things to know before visiting or moving to Spain....

[Deleted member 43780]

some of you may enjoy this.

In the Garlic authors Valerie Collins and Theresa O'Shea share their top 10 tips on how life is really lived here in Spain.

http://www.expatica.com/es/insider-views/Ten-things-to-know-before-moving-to-Spain_101923.html

Slow down. Enjoy the people and food. Row with the current.

 

[JenCamino]

Tip 4: You will wait nine hours to get served at a restaurant, another nine hours for the food to arrive, plus two or three more before you get fed up waiting for the bill and do a 'sinpa' (ie. a runner, from sin pagar – without paying).

Oh I laughed out loud at that one!! Yes, I sometimes skipped having a coffee or a beer because I could not handle waiting 30mins to get my order in... then another half hour to pay for it. And that was not even in August... just regular "Spain speed." (Or maybe Euro speed? I had the same experience in France too! 45 mins to get served an espresso )

We speedy North Americans can go a little batty trying to adjust to the slower European timing. Even though we could probably benefit from slowing down. It doesn't mean we enjoy it! Lolololololol.

Waiting two hours to be given a menu then another two and a half hours to get served all of our supper nearly drove my companion nutty. In Vancouver restaurants, my partner and I are usually in and out again in half an hour. Vive la difference!!

 

[Deleted member 43780]

yep, the more you want it...the slower you get it.

 

[fraluchi]

and that's why people who know better stay at home

 

[OTH86]

The best part of travel is learning there are other ways of doing things than the way we were brought up. ...and maybe incorporating some aspects into our new, expanded lifestyle.

 

[SYates]

In a far and very distant past I have lived four years in Spain, and since then I have re-visited regularly. Saying that, I agree on the children, language and birthday points, but sorry and excuse my French, the other points are simply rubbish and untrue in my time limited experience. Buen Camino de la Vida, SY

 

[fraluchi]

SY between the two of us, your french is awfull
JenCamino: you must agree that the tapas in Spain are unique and the service rapidisimo. "speedy Northamericans" should slow down and discern Spain's qualities. Iced water hasn't replaced a glass of good red (yet) TG The "coffeemakers" you're used to produce Abwaschwasser. Excuse my German.

 

[Lynda t]

Chill, it's all mañana.

 

[stewartza]

Whilst walking the Camino Ingles recently my Spanish companion and I gave up waiting to be served in a restaurant in Betanzos, but he laughed at me for the rest of the camino for going up to the restauranteur and saying "yo hambre" in a very pleading voice.

 

[La Rubia]

My husband and I wound up making up a song (in Spanish) about the wait for the check. We can make each other laugh simply by crooning the first line: "Lo siento, la cuenta Se deseparacido...."

 

[stuwmson]

We always went to restaurants that served posted price pilgrim meals that were always excellent and served with out long waits. wine and gaseous made the wait seem even shorter