Page 50 - Northern Spain & Portugal: Pilgrimage into the Past

Cuisine in Spain

>[LYT^S N`T^TYP NZY^T^_^ ZQ L R]PL_ aL]TP_d ZQ OT^SP^ bSTNS ^_PX Q]ZX OTʬP]PYNP^ TY RPZR]L[Sd
N`W_`]P LYO NWTXL_P 4_ T^ SPLaTWd TYʮ`PYNPO Md ^PLQZZO LaLTWLMWP Q]ZX _SP bL_P]^ _SL_ ^`]]Z`YO
_SP NZ`Y_]d LYO ]PʮPN_^ _SP NZ`Y_]dɪ^ 8POT_P]]LYPLY ]ZZ_^ >[LTYɪ^ Pc_PY^TaP ST^_Z]d bT_S
XLYd N`W_`]LW TYʮ`PYNP^ SL^ WPO _Z L `YT\`P N`T^TYP bT_S WT_P]LWWd _SZ`^LYO^ ZQ ]PNT[P^
LYO ʮLaZ]^

, ^TRYTʭNLY_ [Z]_TZY ZQ >[LYT^S N`T^TYP OP]TaP^ Q]ZX _SP 5PbT^S LYO 8ZZ]T^S _]LOT_TZY^ ?SP
8ZZ]^ bP]P L ^_]ZYR TYʮ`PYNP TY >[LTY QZ] XLYd NPY_`]TP^ LYO ^ZXP ZQ _SPT] QZZO T^ ^_TWW PL_PY
in Spain today. However, pork is popular and for centuries eating pork was a statement of
Christian ethnicity, because it was not eaten by Jews or Muslims.

The essential ingredient for real Spanish cooking is olive oil; Spain accounts for 44% of the
global production of olives. Even today, daily meals are still very often made traditionally
by hand, from fresh ingredients bought daily from the local market. This practice is more
common in the rural areas and less common in the large urban areas like Madrid, where
supermarkets are beginning to displace the open air markets. However, even in Madrid food
can be bought from the local shops, bread from the panadería, meat from the carnicería, etc.

One popular custom when going out is to be served tapas which are essentially snacks or
appetizers that can be combined to form a meal. Another traditional favorite is the churro with
a mug of thick hot chocolate for dipping. Churros are fried dough pastries and Churrerías, or
stores that serve churros, are quite common.

Hotel Courtesy

Spanish hotels do not allow food and beverages to be taken from their breakfast rooms, nor is
it courteous to eat or drink food or beverages purchased elsewhere in hotel common rooms.
In conformity with municipal laws to promote urban decorum, hotels do not allow hanging
laundry on room balconies. Travel clotheslines, used in your bathroom, are a more private and
PʬPN_TaP ^ZW`_TZY

Entertainment & Recreational Activities in Spain

Casino: There are two casinos in the Costa del Sol area. The main casino is in Benalmadena,
and it also features a nightclub and bar. The second casino is in Marbella, just in front of
“Puerto Banus.” This casino is about a one-hour drive from Torremolinos. Be sure to bring
your passport with you, as it is required for entrance into the casinos.

Bullfighting season: The season starts the end of March and lasts through October. Ticket
prices vary according to the seat’s location: near or farther back from the ring, and in the
shade or sun. Good seats in the shade run about $50. You do not need to make reservations in
LOaLYNP `YWP^^ _SP M`WWʭRS_P] ZQ _SP OLd T^ QLXZ`^

Getting Around in Spain

Taxi: Taxis are widely available in the area.

50