home › Apartments for rent › Spanish manners. Features of etiquette in Spain. Business meeting etiquette

Spanish manners. Features of etiquette in Spain. Business meeting etiquette

Send your good work in the knowledge base is simple. Use the form below

Students, graduate students, young scientists who use the knowledge base in their studies and work will be very grateful to you.

Posted on http://www.allbest.ru/

Features of etiquette in Spain

National features of Spain

Spaniards have a great respect for pride and individualism. They compete for wealth and public position. Great importance has an image, in particular, appearance. Origin and reputation matter. Modesty is valued more than self-confidence. Connections are very important. It is not customary to flaunt superiority, intelligence and ability here.

The family in Spain is the basic economic and social unit and the pillar of the individual. Traditionally, it is believed that a man should be strong and courageous, and a woman - feminine and patient, but times have changed. The post-Franco generation emphasizes the equality of women and men. Usually a young couple is required to receive a parental blessing. The crisis of the system of traditional authorities has led to the fact that the family, church and state have entered a phase of change.

Meet & Greet

At business and social events, shake hands with everyone present during the greeting. Farewell is also accompanied by a handshake. The handshake should be firm and you should look the person straight in the eye. Hugs and kisses are only accepted between friends.

Names and titles

Until your Spanish partners or colleagues offer to address them by their first names, use their last names and appropriate titles (or ranks) when addressing them. The full surname is a combination of the father's surname and the mother's maiden name.

In conversation and letters, call the Spaniard only by the name of the father. Women who are married keep their maiden name.

Language

In Spain, there are official documents in four languages: Castilian (this is the official state Spanish, is used everywhere and can be understood everywhere), Catalan (it is used by 17% of citizens predominantly living in the northeast), Galician (7% of citizens living predominantly in northwestern Spain) and Basque (2% of citizens predominantly from the north of the country).

Spaniards are pleased with any attempt by a foreigner to speak their native language. English is spoken most often in tourist areas.

Sign language

Usually the Spaniards tend to stand as close to the interlocutor as possible. Spaniards publicly display affection for their friends and loved ones. Men can hug when meeting if they are friends or relatives.

Don't hug, pat on the back, or touch an unfamiliar Spaniard at all.

When meeting women, it is permissible to hug and kiss each other on the cheek. Visual contact between a Spaniard and a Spaniard can be seen as a sign of interest, but gazing at foreigners is common and doesn't really matter.

The Spaniards actively gesticulate when talking. Don't try to imitate them.

Foodand drinks

The food of the Spaniards is not hot and spicy. The staple foods include meat, eggs, chicken, fish, vegetables and fruits. Olive oil is used for frying.

Jdrez (sherry - sherry in English). This is the national drink. 90% of the population of southern Spain drink sherry.

Sangria is a drink popular among the Spaniards.

Vino (wine) - Red, white and rosé wines are served for both lunch and dinner.

In Northern Spain, the majority drink not only wine, but also cerveza (beer). The Spaniards are not offended if their guests do not drink alcohol.

toasts

Salud [salud] means "be healthy." Serves both formal and informal toast. Salud is also said if someone sneezes.

Toasts can be made at any time, but be brief. After the owner has risen, said his word and raised his glass, everyone stands up and says Salud. In a small company, getting up is not necessary.

A woman can also make a toast.

Good manners

Women and elders are seated first. The guest of honor is seated next to the host, the guest of honor is seated next to the hostess.

A fruit knife and fork and other dessert utensils are often placed at the far end of the plate.

There are no special plates for bread and butter. Bread is placed directly on the table.

Butter is served with bread only for breakfast.

In restaurants, bread is usually served in portions.

When eating, keep your hands on the table, not on your lap. In this case, the elbows should not touch the table.

Compliments and friendly conversations with the waiters are quite appropriate.

At dinner, say friendly words to the hostess, waiter, etc.

Spaniards don't throw away food. It is better to refuse this or that dish than to leave half-eaten on a plate.

After finishing the meal, leave the knife and fork on the plate parallel to each other, slightly turning the handles to the right.

Don't leave before the guest of honor.

The Spaniard's home is his purely personal territory. Do not ask to visit, wait until you are invited.

clothing

In Spain, appearance plays a very important role. Dress conservatively, avoid bright, flashy colors. Shoes are the most important piece of clothing. Worn shoes can ruin the best outfit. Spaniards are always dressed elegantly, even in informal settings. The city needs fashion clothes especially in good restaurants.

Present

If you are invited to visit, be sure to bring a small, properly wrapped gift for the hostess. Also bring a gift for the children. Treat this gift with special attention. If the hosts give you a return gift, it should be unwrapped immediately upon delivery and thanked for your attention.

Give: a bottle of wine, confectionery, cakes, chocolate, flowers (preferably red roses). The number of flowers in the bouquet must be odd.

Do not give: chrysanthemums, dahlias, bouquets of 13 flowers (unlucky number).

business offerings

Usually, gifts are not exchanged at business meetings, but if negotiations are successful, small gifts may be quite appropriate. It is convenient, but not necessary, to give a Spanish colleague a gift for Christmas.

Give: Desk accessories, books, music, art.

Do Not Give: Expensive gifts that may suggest bribery.

Helpful Hints

behavior greeting business spain

Do it like this

Adjust to the Spanish notions of personal space. Spaniards usually become very close to the interlocutor.

When speaking, be prepared to be interrupted.

Be patient. Don't do anything in a hurry.

Bullfighting is serious business. Bullfighting in Spain is regarded more as an art than a sport. When in a bullfight, follow protocol.

Realize that not all Spaniards are bullfighters. Some don't even like going to bullfights.

Take the invitation as a compliment. The Spaniards rarely invite to their place.

It is assumed that the taxi driver, in addition to the fare, should pay for each piece of luggage.

Let the Spaniard tell you about his family.

Beware of the gypsies. They often approach unsuspecting tourists with a flower or some kind of gift in their hand, then demand money.

Don't do it

Don't mistake Spanish dignity and self-confidence for bigotry. The Spaniards are a very proud people.

If you are driving in the city, refrain from horns, horn only as a last resort.

When parking your car on the street, do not leave objects that are attractive to prying eyes in it.

Do not carry packages and bags in your hand facing the roadway.

Punctuality

The Spaniards are frivolous about meeting the deadlines for social and business meetings.

They expect punctuality from foreigners and appreciate it.

In Southern Spain it is considered normal and decent to be 30 minutes late for a meeting, in Northern Spain it is 15 minutes late.

Never be late for a bullfight.

Corporate culture

Companies are run by executives through orders passed down through the chain of command. The boss bears full responsibility, asserts his authority and resolves problems that arise. Resoluteness and firmness are expected from him.

Non-one-man decision-making is seen as a sign of weakness.

Spaniards are accustomed to the remarks of the boss, but, as a rule, take offense at criticism from colleagues or strangers. It is not uncommon for the person who has been reprimanded not to admit his mistakes.

The company structure is not functional. Often people who are on the third or fourth step of the managerial hierarchy have more real power than those on the top.

Spain has no tradition of holding meetings. They are held as needed to save time or to give directions. When negotiating, be prepared to make concessions, but do not quarrel.

Most large companies English and Spanish are used as working languages, but Spanish dominates the business community. Be prepared to encounter an environment where no English is spoken. Ask in advance if an interpreter is needed. Most Spaniards will not mind if you come to their house on an important matter.

Keep in mind

Don't put anyone in an uncomfortable position. Pride and honor are very serious things.

Be prepared to face delays.

Loyalty here is shown in relation to specific people, not institutions.

The country's business elite are bankers, but in recent years entrepreneurs have become highly valued.

Spaniards' distrust of rules and laws creates a persistent climate of crisis.

Corporate parties

Business breakfasts are perceived normally, but not liked.

An important element of business are business lunches / dinners that serve to establish contacts.

At dinner, you can start a business conversation at any time, but at the same time follow the example of the owner.

Corporate parties usually take place in restaurants. AT last days negotiations, you can also be invited to visit.

Secular communication outside of work usually takes place between people of the same level working in different companies.

Wives may be invited to business dinners, but this is not always the case.

Especially for women

Foreign women are accepted into the Spanish business community, but they need to immediately inform their colleagues about their competence and connections.

In Spain, the traditional attitude towards women, known as machismo (i.e. male chauvinism), has been preserved. However, everything is changing, women are gaining ground among professionals and in the business community, but shifts in this area are slow.

Traditionally, young Spaniards married and left the labor market forever in their 20s and 30s. Most working women these days maternity leave returns to work. They are assisted in the care of their children by parents or other relatives, nannies and kindergartens.

These days, despite the fact that many Spanish women work, it is rare to find women making a fast-moving career. It is extremely rare to find female doctors and female lawyers. Educated women are gradually gaining some key positions (a modern phenomenon).

Follow your gaze. If you don't look away from a man's gaze, this can be seen as a sign of interest or flirting.

You can go to a restaurant or bar for lunch alone, but don't do it in the evening.

It is permissible for a business woman, a foreigner, to invite a Spaniard businessman to dinner. Be aware that it will be very difficult for you to insist on paying the bill. Spaniards are accustomed to paying themselves in a restaurant. In order not to aggravate the situation, agree in advance with the owner of the institution or with the waiter.

Weekends and holidays

Do not schedule business visits or make appointments for the following holidays. Check also the calendar of numerous regional and local holidays and holidays.

February - Carnival (these are not national holidays, but the time of several local festivals).

March/April - Holy Week. Easter (Thursday to Monday)

April/May - Ascension (40 days after Easter).

May/June - Trinity (Pentecost) and Spirits day (49 and 50 days after Easter).

June - Corpus Christi (60 days after Easter).

October 12 - National holiday of Spain (Hispanidad holiday - Day of Spanish Civilization).

Hosted on Allbest.ru

Manners

Etiquette

The fact that in ninety-eight cases out of a hundred no one is at such meetings is considered good form. Spaniards consider it a bad form not to listen to their interlocutor, whoever he is and whatever he is talking about.

And since the Spaniards are never in a hurry, they can tell you about their affairs for hours. And since interrupting the interlocutor or hinting to him that you have another meeting is considered indecent, then humble yourself and reassure yourself that the one with whom you had an appointment five hours ago is not waiting for you impatiently at the appointed place, because he himself listens to the endless stories of his friend, whom he, like you, also cannot interrupt and therefore has already missed three trains and two buses.

Since punctuality is a common trait among Spaniards, many married couples live in the happy belief that they will never have horns, because it is simply impossible to commit adultery in Spain.

The husband, of course, can rent a room for a fleeting rendezvous with his secretary, say, on Tuesday afternoon, while the wife is visiting an aunt who lives somewhere very far away, but this meeting is unlikely to take place, because:

1. On the way to the hotel, he can meet his classmate and invite her for a cup of coffee to remember his youth (three hours).

2. The secretary can be invited for coffee by another secretary to discuss whether she should go to a rendezvous (four hours).

3. A wife may not go to her aunt who lives far away, because at the station she can meet a very nice young man, who will invite her to a cup of coffee at the station buffet to tell her how much he likes her figure (two to three hours).

Queues

Of course, I can’t say that the queues in stores are an invention of the Spaniards, but breaking ahead in the store, and the rougher the better, is considered a matter of honor here. "Extranjeros" (foreigners) do not immediately learn the art of standing in lines, say, in a butcher's shop.

Strong sharp elbows and solid weight are a big advantage here; knowledge of what is happening in the butcher's family will not interfere, in order to give him a couple of tips over the heads of those who stand in front.

The butcher, or his wife, or his apprentice is so much above the fuss on the other side of the counter that they are serving not the one who stood in line, but the one who was in sight or told them the latest story.

If you have fresh gossip about a girl that your neighbor managed to "pick up" in the stash, then you can be sure that you will get your piece of pork without waiting in line.

It happens that foreigners are skipped ahead. Naive foreigners! They do not know that the reason for this is not politeness at all. The Spaniards give them such attention for the sole purpose of pushing them out of the store as quickly as possible in order to laugh a lot at their, say, funny straw hat.

Surf

Etiquette at the table in European countries differs significantly from our table traditions. Over the years, eating together has strengthened friendships and business contacts. If soon you have to travel to Europe and go to a restaurant, then you better learn about the rules of European table etiquette in advance.

In order to quickly and correctly understand European table etiquette, two factors must be taken into account, these are cultural traditions and the temperament of local residents. So that during a joint lunch or dinner you get to know your interlocutor better and do not hit the dirt in the face, do not forget about good manners and some national features.

Table etiquette in England

In England, table etiquette is the epitome of formality and rigor. For the inhabitants of Foggy Albion, the characteristic features of quality are equanimity, tolerance, correctness and politeness. Excessive emotionality, boasting, narcissism and even talking in a raised tone is a violation of etiquette. The rules of English table etiquette provide for complimenting your interlocutor, even if the owner does not like him. In order to please an Englishman during a meal, never put your hands on the table. To observe table etiquette in England, keep your hands on your knees. During lunch, never shift cutlery from hand to hand. Remember that the knife must be held in the right hand, the fork in the left, and their ends must be directed to the plate. If you were served meat along with vegetables, then according to the rules of etiquette at the table, first chop a small piece of meat on a fork, and put vegetables with a knife. If there are strangers at the dinner table before you are introduced, you should not talk to them, as this is bad form. If you want to observe table etiquette in England, then you need to remember that the locals never talk to individuals. When a guest or the head of the family is talking, everyone listens attentively and never stops.

Table etiquette in Italy

Table etiquette in Italy is a centuries-old table tradition that relates to national dishes and the way they are served. Many Europeans joke that Italians spend half their lives at the table. A meal can last from two to five hours. First comes the "appetizers", then the first course - a wide selection of pasta and rice dishes, then the second course - meat or fish with a side dish of vegetables, then cheese, and finishes the meal with espresso coffee. Table etiquette in Italy does not allow you to eat spaghetti with a spoon. In order to eat them properly, you need to wrap the pasta around the fork. This must be done very carefully so as not to stain your neighbors with sauce. Very often, polite waiters serve tourists a spoon. In order not to offend the owner, never sprinkle pasta with seafood with grated Parmesan cheese. Etiquette at the table in Italy provides for eating this cheese separately. At formal receptions, pizza is eaten with a fork and knife. But in a narrower circle, you can pick it up, but never bend it or sprinkle it with extra cheese. As a rule, pizza is served here with beer or juice. But for festive table you may be offered either water or red wine.

Table etiquette in Germany

German table etiquette in cafes, bars and restaurants has a number of national features. Coming to any establishment catering, the locals say “Malzeit!” to everyone present. which means "Bon appetit!". During a meal in Germany, they do not discuss work and do not conduct business negotiations. It is necessary to talk about business or solve other issues either before the start of lunch or at the end. To observe table etiquette in Germany, make sure that during the meal the knife is in the right hand and the fork in the left. If you are not eating, never put your elbows on the table. When visiting a German, remember that the oldest person sits at the table first, and the host, or the one who invited him to dinner, starts the meal. The Germans are very attentive to their health. Therefore, table etiquette in Germany allows burping and passing gases.

Table etiquette in Spain

Etiquette at the table in Spain is noisy and unpredictable fun. They care little about what others think of them, so they pay less attention to manners than other nations. This does not mean at all that table etiquette in Spain allows you to put your hands on the table or not to use cutlery. But when they see a delicious dish on the table, the locals will never wait for the hostess to offer it and steal it themselves on a plate. As a rule, Spaniards are never ashamed of their feelings. They can both praise the dinner and express their dissatisfaction with this or that dish. Table etiquette in Spain does not provide for punctuality. Local residents are always late for lunch by 15-20 minutes, and when they arrive on time, they will tell the same number of how they did it. Therefore, while the guests are eating cold gazpacho soup (tomatoes, cucumber, bread, garlic and olive oil), the hostess is preparing the national dish paella. Paella is a mixture of fried chicken, boiled fish, half-baked squid, raw shrimp, tomatoes, peas, red peppers, green peppers, saffron and rice. As a rule, all ingredients are prepared in advance and cooked together twenty minutes before serving.

Table etiquette in France

Etiquette at the table in France is a special refined manners. An aperitif of whiskey, wine or champagne will be served before dinner is served. Before inviting you for dinner, the hostess of the house will take an interest in your taste preferences. Table etiquette in France provides for a special seating arrangement for guests. According to local rules, when seating guests, gentlemen should alternate with ladies. This is done so that the man could take care of the lady and entertain her during lunch. All utensils are laid out on the table before dinner starts. But the dishes are taken out in order. You need to start eating with a device that lies at the farthest edge from the plate. Table etiquette in France allows you to put a piece of bread on the table, but biting it off while waiting for dinner is considered indecent.

Etiquette at the table in Greece provides for the owner to soil the tablecloth so that guests can relax and enjoy dinner. And here is the etiquette at the table in Turkey does not allow crossing your legs at the table, showing your interlocutor your soles. In addition, the Turks consider it offensive to eat with the left hand, as it is an unclean hand. Etiquette at the table in Portugal forbids asking a restaurant for a salt or pepper shaker. Local chefs believe that they prepare the perfect dishes, and the wishes of the client can greatly offend the owner or the chef. Etiquette at the table in Switzerland forbids clinking glasses. During a fun feast, well-mannered Swiss raise a glass to the top, but never come into contact with another.

RUDN University
Faculty of Philology
Social Psychology (Master's)
Presentation on the topic:
Features of business communication in Spain
Presentation author:
Khomutova Victoria Valerievna

Features of business communication in Spain

General information

The traditional ceremony of acquaintance at business meetings -
shaking hands and exchanging business cards.
From 13:30 to 16:30 - siesta. Best time for meetings from 10:00 to
12:30.
Spaniards are not particularly punctual. Business
meetings usually start fifteen minutes later
appointed time.
Commercial links with major Spanish firms are being built
according to the hierarchical principle - access to responsible
decision makers.
Much attention is paid to appearance (suit, clean
shoes)
Business communication in Spain varies by region and
provinces. Southerners are more open in the manifestation of feelings,
less formal in communication.

General information

Verbosity in negotiations. As a consequence, their
protracted nature. Thorough discussion of all issues.
Negotiations are not preceded by careful preparation and
planning. Spanish businessmen rely on fast
thinking and spontaneity.
Trust, mutual understanding and psychological compatibility -
primarily. Business proposals must be
thorough and practical.
The beginning of negotiations is accompanied by a discussion of the weather,
sports, attractions.
A clear distinction between personal and public.
There are topics of conversation that should be avoided
(bullying, religion, Franco regime, death)
The importance of having people occupying approximately
the same position in the business world.

Business Cards

Any acquaintance with businessmen
starts with a mandatory exchange
business cards. If in response to
outstretched business card You do not
give yours, then you should apologize,
explaining the reason and promising to send it
as soon as possible.
Businessman holding your business card
card, at the next meeting not
will treat you as absolutely
to a stranger

Present

If you are invited home to a business
partner, in this case it is customary to give flowers,
sweets, wine or champagne.
Expensive gifts should be avoided
which may be seen as a bribe.
The importance of constant
courtesy of those with whom you have ever met or negotiated
the occasion of certain celebrations, anniversaries,
holidays

business receptions

Many questions spanish businessmen
prefer to discuss in restaurants.
When contacting a business partner, you need to
be sure to use the title: "don" and
"donya".
Business cards should be in two languages: English
and Spanish.
Not accepted during the first meeting
talk about business.
Leadership style is conservative and
hierarchical. The younger generation is more
democratic in their behaviour.

business receptions

You can’t even show with a gesture that your partner
poorly prepared for the meeting, otherwise you risk
offend him. The honor of a man is more precious than an organization.
The guest's knowledge of the history and culture of Spain is very
valued by business partners.
The most suitable topics for the table
conversations - issues of culture, art,
literature, sights,
national traditions, sports, political
life. Condemn bullfighting in any case
it is forbidden!

Business Etiquette

If you are invited to a restaurant
partner, it is customary to take payment of all
spending on yourself
If the Spanish counterparty did not understand the essence
your beliefs, don't show yours
displeasure or surprise
try to explain exactly what you
want to.
It is important not to fall into self-criticism, scolding
Russia and Russians.

dinner parties

Be invited to a family dinner
business partner is considered a high honor.
Arrive for dinner should be a quarter of an hour
later than the appointed time.
Ability to use cutlery
Moderation in drinking
all variety of assortment.
Everyone is welcome at the table
enthusiastic comments about
food and drink quality
It is not customary to leave food on your plate

How to dress

At the negotiations they are greeted by clothes
Clothing must be dark
suit, white shirt, conservative
tie and black, well polished
boot.
Suits are recommended for men
blue or gray (but not
brown)
In the hot months, dress easier - in
trousers and a shirt with short sleeves.

Spaniards are noisy, disorganized and unpredictable people. They themselves do not know how they will behave in the next minute. Spaniards care little what others think of them. For the most part, Spaniards pay less attention to manners than other nations. They, of course, expect that their children will behave decently in public, but at the same time they are not scolded.

They are always late or just don't show up for appointments they make themselves and don't sleep except for siesta. Siesta - two hours of afternoon nap (15.00-17.00). This is the most beloved and "holy" occupation of the Spaniards. Anyone who is on his feet during a siesta is considered abnormal. During siesta hours it is almost impossible to find one open store, no people at all on the street. The country seems to freeze.

To any question of a personal nature, they only shrug their shoulders, because from their point of view it does not matter. At the same time, they have a passion for shameless moralizing, so don't be surprised.

“Sorry” or “thank you” are words rarely heard on the streets. No one expects you to say thank you or apologize for a minor transgression. The Spaniards believe that all this is affectation. They do not hide their pleasure, but they do not try to hide their displeasure either.

Spaniards addressing each other is probably the simplest in the whole world. In Spanish, the polite "you" coexists with the less formal "you", but once introduced, the Spanish completely forget about the polite "you". However, referring to "you" is unacceptable in relation to older ladies and important people. And addressing "you" uttered with a sneer can be a great insult. It makes it clear to the addressee that he is not behaving in the best way. In Spain, it is customary when meeting women not only to shake hands, but to kiss them on both cheeks.

The addresses "don" and "donia" added to the names are an expression of deep respect. These forms of address apply to academics, doctors, lawyers and other people with higher education, and are also a sign of noble birth.

Spaniards love to get to know each other, they love their friends, old and new, and therefore they make endless meetings in cafes, restaurants, bars, etc., to have breakfast, afternoon, lunch, coffee, dinner, coffee at night, another drink together. coffee at night and more coffee at night. The fact that in ninety-eight cases out of a hundred no one is at such meetings is considered the norm. Ignorance is common feature Spaniards.

The most important word in the Spanish lexicon is "manana" (usually accompanied by a shrug of the shoulders). One can only guess what meaning the Spaniard, who uttered this word, put into it. It can mean anything: "tomorrow", "sometime tomorrow", "the day after tomorrow", "next week", "in a week", "next month", "in next year”, “later”, “somehow”, “never” or “no way”.

Since the Spaniards are never in a hurry, they can tell you about their affairs for hours. An old Spanish tradition is an evening walk around the city in order to see friends, as well as its inevitable consequence - idle conversation. Spaniards indulge in conversations anywhere and anytime.

It is considered indecent to interrupt the interlocutor or hint to him that you have another meeting. Do not insult the Spaniards, otherwise the flow of curses will be unstoppable.

Features of Spanish cuisine

If you decide to have a dinner party, then invite your Spanish friends two hours before the start. Avoid hot dishes, because if your guests happen to arrive on time, they will talk at length about how they did it, and the hot dish will still turn cold.

Since the Spaniards do not like to talk about time and never plan anything, one can only guess about the hour of lunch or dinner. If you are invited to visit, bring a bouquet of flowers or something sweet with you.

In Spain, it is not customary to immediately accept an invitation to lunch or dinner. It is most likely a mere formality. Agree only after the third invitation, then you, for sure, are invited sincerely. It is also not customary to come at exactly the appointed time, you need to be late for 15-20 minutes. Spaniards usually have dinner starting at 21.00. Spanish restaurants never close before 3:00.

It is the unpunctuality of the Spaniards that underlies the fact that their national dish is paella - a mixture of fried chicken, boiled fish, half-baked squid, raw shrimp, tomatoes, peas, red pepper, green pepper, saffron and rice. No one knows what, in fact, paella should taste like. So no one complains if it suddenly turns out to be undercooked or overcooked.

All the necessary paella ingredients can be prepared in advance, and then lie in wait for guests. And when, finally, they show up, in some twenty minutes, while the guests are eating "gazpacho" (a cold soup of tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, bread, olive oil and garlic), you can have time to cook paella.

Spaniards consume great amount fried fish, shrimp, roast pork, fried squid, grilled sardines, grilled chicken, grilled peppers, grilled anchovies and grilled octopus, as well as smoked ham without sauce, which is not very popular here.

Usually the day starts with freshly baked bread, which the Spaniards dip in olive oil and garlic, and black coffee, often with a dash of brandy or anise tincture. Children usually have “churros” (pretzels) for breakfast, which they dip in thick hot chocolate.

For lunch (which is never before three o'clock), puzzles or french fries are usually served. This potato can also be called a national dish, precisely because it can be cooked in advance, and then only thrown into boiling olive oil when guests begin to complain of hunger. Potatoes are eaten with absolutely everything, including paella.

A common food is any snack from olives and mayonnaise-covered eggs to smoked sausage and roast goat meat served all day in most bars.

Spaniards start drinking at two o'clock in the morning and do it in nightclubs before the opening of most offices, that is, until 10.30 in the morning. Especially popular are ice beer, gin and tonic, cold white wine, ice red wine.

Popular in category: