SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

There are a number of Social activities that one can enjoy in Spain and below is some information about a few of them:- 

            Restaurants
            Food 
            Tipping
            Market Days
 

RESTAURANTS

On average you should expect to pay around 12 € for a good meal (Menu of the Day).

It is normally possible to walk into most restaurants without booking, however, if you want to eat at one particular restaurant or it is the height of the season it would be wise to book beforehand.

FOOD

The Spanish eat much later than we do: breakfast often doesn't start until 9am, lunch is normally eaten from 2pm and dinner is rarely served before 8.30pm.

Breakfast:  The ‘Continental’ breakfast in the larger hotels is normally: coffee, toast (perhaps cakes), butter and jam accompanied by freshly squeezed orange juice.  Many Spaniards breakfast on pan and olive oil, maybe with garlic and certainly in Catalonia, with tomato.

Lunch & Dinner:  The daily set meal 'el menu de dia’is normally available at both lunch and dinner although you may have to ask for it as waiters often present you with the a la carte menu only.  It tends to be great value and will often have fresher ingredients. Many restaurants serve only a la carte at weekends.

Tapas:  Tapas are small plates of hot or cold food served with an aperitif before lunch or dinner.  It is an essential part of eating out in Spain. It could be a plate of olives, meat balls,  cheese, fried fish... portions vary as does the choice. It is a delicious way to try out local specialities. 

The Spanish are not yet very vegetarian-conscious.  Vegetables rarely appear and when they do they are often boiled beyond recognition or swimming in oil. So do as the locals do and increase the salad and fruit intake to compensate.  Tea in Spain is normally served without milk. Ask for it con leche if you like it with milk or con limon or a slice of lemon if you prefer.  Bars nearly always serve camomile tea (manzanilla) it can be a useful evening drink because coffee is nearly always very strong.

TIPPING 

Leaving a tip is normal in Spain.  In bars you are given your change on a small saucer so leave a couple of small coins.  For lunch or dinner 5-10% is fine but you would rarely be made to feel embarrassed if you don’t tip.  Taxi drivers don’t all expect a tip.

WEEKLY MARKETS