Funny things about Spain and Spaniards.

These Holidays I will be travelling to Spain. My family lives there so every other year I am lucky to spend xmas in the wonderful city of Madrid. While I was in college, I used to spend summers there working and enjoying the life of Spaniards. During my stays in Madrid and the surrounding towns, I’ve come to learn a lot of interesting, weird and funny things about Spaniards and Spain.

Here are a few:

1.       Spaniards love to talk about royalty and every household has an “HOLA” magazine. It is like People magazine in the US and Principe Felipe and Princess Leticia are the equivalent gossip to Angelina Jolie and Brad Pit. 

2.   Spanish TV is terrible; however this might not be such a bad thing because maybe that’s why people in Madrid don’t watch nearly as much television as they do in the US. Everyone is always out and about. 

3.       Spaniards translate everything to Castilian Spanish. They change English word to Spanish words. For ex. Freak becomes frikki, CD becomes CEDE, Delete becomes deletea, Shrek becomes Esreq etc.… 

4.       No one parties like the Spanish- I always thought Latinos where by far the best partiers, but boy was I wrong. Spaniards ALWAYS have something social to do. EVERYONE has plans at ALL times and ALL ages.

5.  After a night of partying, young people tend to have breakfast before going to bed (at 8:30 am) and it usually consist of churros con chocolate. 

6. When you go to Spain your life will be shortened from second hand smoke and they sell cigarettes in vending machines

7.  Casual is not in the Spanish vocabulary. You’ll notice that everyone has put a lot of thought in their outfit. Wearing sweatpants (unless going to a gym) is a sin. It would be like wearing pajamas to a store.

8. Spaniards curse like sailors. Most Spaniard curse at least once every 10 minutes.

9.      The Spanish government is one of the most progressive and active when it comes to environmental laws, sustainability and green movements but that said, when it comes to animal treatment, all rules go out the window. Yep, Spaniards love their bullfights, their  hanging legs of ham (delicious), and just about every older lady walking on the street will be wearing a very nice fur coat. 

10.  If you go to Madrid, be sure to look down because just about every Spaniard owns a dog, but no one ever picks up the poop.

11. Thus, Fri and Sat night El metro (subway)is jam packed from 8pm -8am and alive with people. At 8AM it’s still hard to know who is going to work or just going home from “LA MARCHA”! (the nightlife) 

12.   Young people like to drink Calimocho which is red wine mixed with Coca Cola.

13.   You can buy prescription medication over the counter.

14.   They sell beer and gazpacho at McDonalds.

15.   The cross walks beeps really loud at you when the walk sign comes on. It’s for blind people. 

16.   Chinese liquor stores are open 24-7, not sure if legally, but they’re open

17.   When Spaniards speak, it sounds like they're yelling at you, but it’s really just excited chatter.

18. No one calls each other by their name. Everyone becomes tio, tia, chaval , nena, rubia,  etc. or some sort of a nickname. 

19. Every home has a rolling fabric collapsible grocery cart they take to the supermarket. 

20. Everyone plays the lottery. It‘s called “el Gordo” and it is the national Christmas lottery that people get obsessed with. 

21. Madrid has the BEST holiday sales. On January 6^th everything goes on sale for around 70% off!!!!! It is the best shopping ever!

22. Time has a different meaning in Spain. If you have a party that starts at 5pm, expect people to show up at 7pm or after. If you have hired a contractor, a plumber, electrician or some type of service, you should be happy they show up at all. 

23. Spain is GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!