Ten Things You Didn't Know About Spain

For many people, Spain is a place they go to for their annual two-week holiday. However, if you can get past the sun, sand, sea and sangria, there is so much more to Spain and the Spanish than you could ever imagine.

1. Live to work, work to live.

First off let me lay to rest the widely held misconception that the Spanish are lazy by nature. This is one of those politically motivated myths promulgated by right-wing mainstream media simply wanting to push their capitalist master's agenda. I've lost count of the times I have seen some newspaper or other refer to 'Spanish working practices' in a pejorative tone of voice.

The simple fact of the matter is that Spanish people work every bit as hard as any of their European counterparts. Obviously, the Spanish have a philosophy at odds with that of their neighbours. The Spanish work to live, not live to work. That is to say, they do not go to work all the hours god sends just to appease the capitalist machine. But they do work more than hard enough to hold their heads high in whichever national company you care to choose.

One more thing to consider is that in the south of Spain, where I lived for the best part of twenty-five years, summer temperatures can easily reach fifty degrees Celsius, which is 122 Fahrenheit! Anybody who dares to work in those sorts of temperatures is asking for serious trouble. In the summer the Spanish work from nine in the morning to two in the afternoon. Then they go home for three hours for lunch and a siesta. it is all you can do in that oppressive heat. At five o'clock in the afternoon, they are back hard at it until eight or nine, or in some cases, nine or ten in the evening.

2. Diet.

The Spanish diet has got to be one of the healthiest there is. Fresh fish, meat, vegetables and fruit are the mainstay. And, since due to the climate, Spain is the garden of Europe, it is all homegrown. There are some regional variations of certain dishes like menudo due to the supply of certain ingredients. Also, it seems each region has its own signature dish, like for example Salmorejo from Cordoba in Andalucia, which is an all-time favourite of mine. And of course, Valencian paella is an internationally known dish which is popular everywhere you go.

3. Alcohol.

The Spanish have what I would call a very healthy attitude and drinking habits towards alcohol. The big difference from other nationalities is that they drink to have a good time, not to get steaming drunk out of their minds. In fact, it is quite uncommon to see a drunken Spaniard. They pace themselves out and down on average maybe two or three drinks a day. The healthy part is this; the Spanish Medical Association have declared that a drink or two of red wine is actually good for your health as it helps your circulation and helps to reduce high blood pressure. Of course, the secret is to drink in moderation, which is exactly what they do.

4. Sentimentality about animals.

Another big difference between the Spanish and other Europeans is that they are generally less sentimental about animals, though that is not a rule. The British, for example, tend to treat their pets as members of the family. The Spanish are not so much inclined and are not afraid to keep their pets, or mascotas, in a kennel in the backyard. Make no mistake, they care for and love their pets, it just seems that they believe that they should be kept in their right place. And of course, with such an agreeably hot climate, the animals suffer no hardships whatsoever.

5. Hospitality.

As one of the biggest holiday destinations in Europe Spain has got hospitality down to a fine art. However, it goes deeper than that. The Spanish are hospitable by nature. They really will do anything to make you feel welcome. That's because they love people, even more when the people love them back. The Spanish totally get the concepts of serendipity and reciprocity and will absolutely floor you with their kindness and openness to just about everybody. And if you take the trouble to learn how to speak Spanish they will bend over backwards to help you.

6. Great parties.

Obviously, being highly hospitable, the Spanish know very well indeed how to throw a good party. By all means, leave the transport to the Germans, but for parties, it has to be the Spanish. One of the biggest parties of all is the annual Horse Fair in Jerez de la Frontera which is visited by no less than 250,000 party goers. If you haven't been yet then you haven't lived.

7. Culture.

Culture-wise, the Spanish is seeped in it. Whether it's flamenco music and dance, film and pop music, literature and poetry, football and F1 Car racing.....whatever it is that takes your fancy you will find it in abundance in Spain. Lola Flores, Pedro Almodovar, Julio Iglesias, Antonio Banderas, Fernando Alonso, Fernando Torres, Miguel Cervantes.....the list goes on and on and on.......

8. Landscape.

Many times over the years I have seen advertising promising 'Secret Spain'. However, the real secret of Spain is the one you never hear about. It is a Spain you have to go and discover all by yourself. I once did a trip all around Andalucia and Extremadura and I promise you, you will see places you have never have seen anything like, anywhere. Merida, Cacceras, Plascencia, Guadalupe, Trujillo.......You will see terrain only otherwise seen in National Geographic or places like Austria or New Zealand.

9. Lifestyle.

And so we come to what is possibly Spain's most attractive characteristic, its lifestyle. I have seldom come across a nation with such a great handle on what life is really all about. We are here to enjoy, not to suffer, to work hard, but leave plenty of time to enjoy the fruits of your labour. To be kind and generous towards your fellow man, to be friendly and helpful to all no matter where they come from. I think really, the Spanish just want to make sure that if you are a neighbour or a visitor, they want you to go away with a very positive impression of how they are. It's as if the phrase 'Do unto others as you would be done by' was coined by the Spanish, for everybody. And you cannot ask for more than that. Hasta pronto mis amigos.