Lifestyles in Spain

So, I figured that rather than just narrate every trip in Europe, I should write some some of the cultural differences that I have noticed as well.  People have been consistently asking similar questions, so here it goes.

1.  The Food

So far the food has been very interesting.  We eat at completely different times here.  Each morning breakfast is served from 8-10.  It is similar to the US.  We have cereal, fruit, pastries, and coffee.  One huge difference is the cafe.  It is plain espresso and people don't really drink what we are used to.  The closest I have found is an americano, which is espresso with water, (hence the name).  Lunch is the big meal of the day.  We eat around 1:30 and stop at 3:00.  It is usually pretty good.  It is usually a meat (a lot of pork), and a carb (like pasta or rice), and soup.  I haven't really gotten into the soup yet.  It is usually fishy or only vegetables.  Dinner seems the same as lunch in terms of what we eat, but it starts at 8:30.  It has been difficult to get used to this because I think about food all afternoon until dinner.  In Spain in general, there are several things I have noticed.  There is a place called Museo del Jamon that has pig legs hanging from the walls.  The legs are kept in caves for 1 or 2 years before they are ready to eat.  There is a picture in my Madrid photos.  Another thing is that there is a lot of seafood.  Toledo is smack dab in the middle, so I have been told most of the good seafood can only be found on the coast.  I mentioned the bad paella in my first entry.  This might be why it was so bad.

2.  The people

Like anywhere, I have had mixed emotions about the Spaniards.  Some of them, especially in Madrid, are very friendly.  I met two women on the train from Madrid and we talked for awhile.  I also met a group of people in Madrid who I talked politics with.  I had an easy time conversing with them and I didn't understand why.  Sometimes I can't even order food at a restaurant, and other times I fall into deep conversations.  In Toledo it is different.  I feel like the younger crowd can be friendly, but the older people are very snobby.  They aren't as willing to try to talk and won't even attempt to understand you.  Oh a perfect example.  There is no such thing as customer service here at small stores.  They have been very unfriendly, to the point that I would have left in the US.  But it makes more sense in a restaurant.  They don't want to interrupt you or disturb your meal, so they never come over unless you make them.  Last but not least, I miss free refills.  A lot.  The cups are about 8 ounces each..........

3.  The styles

All I can say is MULLET!!!  Mullets everywhere.  Up, down, left, right, mullets, mullets and more mullets.  The men also wear very tight pants.  It kind of feels like everyone here is very metrosexual and concerned about their looks.  The women tend to wear stylish clothing and boots galore.  Vickie's sister has an interesting hair style with a little bit clipped off on the top so it sticks straight up.  So....I'll try to get some pictures on here without seeming like a creepy tourist.

More later!

Andy