In Dutch we call them appetizers and they are eaten on birthdays or when there are visitors. In Spain, appetizers are nothing special. In fact, it is part of the Spanish way of life! Spanish tapas are not eaten on an occasion but as a snack. From slices of chorizo to whole works of art, but tapas are tapas and the Spanish cannot live without them.

• Tapas have not always been as elaborate as they are today. In fact, it all started very simply with olives, bread or chorizo. It was only later, when different cultures came into contact with each other, that tapas were influenced and more ingredients and thus more variety appeared.
• The fact that Spaniards eat tapas makes sense in principle; they have a lot of time between meals when there is no eating and then tapas is a good substitute.
• There are countless recipes for the tastiest tapas. It is therefore not for nothing that there are many websites with tips and explanations for making tapas. In addition, each region in Spain has its own specialties.

As mentioned earlier, it started very simply with bread, olives and chorizo. That tapas are now so vastly expanded is because of the influence the Romans, Arabs and Columbus had on it. The Romans discovered olive oil, which gave them the means to preserve meat while adding flavor to various products. The Arabs brought nuts and spices, but the best was what Columbus brought with him: vegetables. Tapas often used to be free. It was a snack you got with your glass of sherry. The sherry drinkers of Andalusia, for example, got a slice of chorizo with their sherry. The saucer with the snack was placed on top of the drink to cover it to keep out flies and other critters. To cover is 'tapar' in Spanish, hence the word tapas. When the bars realized that when they gave the sherry drinkers tapas they drank more (because of the salt content of the tapas), the bars developed several types of tapas to offer with the sherry and other drinks so that sales of the drink increased.

“Ir de tapas”

Spaniards are known as late eaters. People dine between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. and sometimes not even until midnight. This means that there is a lot of time between lunch and dinner. A good solution to this is tapas. In Spanish, it is called ir de tapas: consuming snacks in a bar and taking time for friends or family. It is part of the social life of Spaniards. A bar that serves tapas has about 8 to 12 kinds of tapas that are visibly kept under glass heat showcases that make the tapas look scrumptious. Almost all of them contain garlic, peppers or paprika, salt and pepper. In addition to the vegetable and meat tapas, mariscos (seafood) are also very popular; fish such as anchovies, sardines, marbel or squid are often used to make delicious tapas. In northern Spain and some other areas such as Salamanca, tapas are also called pinchos (Basque: pintxos).A pincho is a small skewer and is inserted into the snack to hold the creation together and to keep track of the number of tapas a customer has had in a bar. The average price for one tapa is about 1 to 2 euros, depending on where you consume the tapa. Yet these days tapas are not just appetizers; they can be made into half dishes or meals. That's why on restaurant menus you often see raciones (tapas meals). It is a larger portion of appetizers.

There are countless tapas recipes with different ingredients and variations so there is a bite for everyone. In Spain, each region has its own specialty. For example, the coastal provinces specialize in seafood and the bars and restaurants in inland Spain make amazing creations with mostly meat and vegetables.

Today's diet is not as good as it used to be. So maybe we should adopt the diet of the past again! The Mediterranean diet is a diet based on the food and eating habits of inhabitants around the Mediterranean in the early 1960s. So this mainly refers to Spain, Italy, France and Portugal.

• The food from Mediterranean cuisine is very healthy and balanced. At the same time, this way of eating also makes you less likely to get diseases.
• That the inhabitants of the Mediterranean region were so healthy was not just down to the food. Besides eating fiber-rich meals, they also really took the time to eat. Something the Dutch could sometimes learn a thing or two from.
• The diet itself is not only a way to lose weight, it can also be used to simply live healthier. In fact, research has shown that the diet reduces the risk of disease.

As mentioned above, the diet is based on the food of inhabitants around the Mediterranean Sea. It consists mainly of all kinds of fish, fruits and vegetables, grains, nuts and olive oil. In addition, legumes such as chickpeas, lentils, white beans are also popular in Mediterranean diet dishes. Frequent use of garlic and herbs should of course not be missed. This contains a lot of healthy fiber, good (and just enough) carbohydrates and an abundance of antioxidants. A simple meal from a Mediterranean cuisine recipe book will bring you a healthy dose of nutrition that is filling. However, every ingredient is completely fresh and often from your own garden. The fact that it is much cheaper to cook with fresh produce there than in, say, the Netherlands, makes it much easier to adopt the eating habits of Mediterranean cuisine.

Cooking with olive oil

Something we can easily adopt, though, is the use of olive oil. Its use is perhaps the main difference between the Mediterranean and other regions. Whereas the people of the Mediterranean region use olive oil for everything, we use butter for everything. Olive oil consists overwhelmingly of monounsaturated fat. The fatty acids in these unsaturated fats improve your cholesterol levels and this in turn reduces the risk of disease. In other words, olive oil is super healthy! Mediterranean cuisine is especially appreciated by the Mediterranean people themselves. The freshness and quality of the products and the simplicity and/or purity of the dish are key. A drink with dinner? You wouldn't expect it but red wine perfectly matches the taste of the food, is healthy and it suits your diet.

Not only is the Mediterranean people's diet healthy, but their lifestyle is something we Dutch might take an example from. Too much busyness and stress is not healthy. The inhabitants of the Mediterranean are very calm and relaxed; their lifestyle is relaxed and they take enough time to enjoy the food.

The diet itself is long lasting because the ingredients are highly nutritious and fill you up well. The easiest way to follow the diet is through a book, which gives you great ideas for recipes that fit right into the picture of Mediterranean cuisine. Recent research has shown that this diet is good for overall health and that it even prevents aging of the brain. Furthermore, it reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer. A 2003 study found that those following a Mediterranean diet rich in fruits, vegetables, grains, olive oil and fish were 25% less likely to die of cancer. Long live the longer life with the Mediterranean diet!

• The name day is similar to your birthday in terms of celebration. You get visitors and small gifts and all kinds of treats are brought out. So in Spain, people named after a saint actually have two birthdays.
• For those without a name day, there is All Saints' Day. This day always falls on November 1 and is a day off in many countries.
• It is sometimes said that in Spain every day is a holiday. This is largely because each village has its own patron saint who is commemorated on the day he died. And since there are quite a few villages in Spain ...

Saint

If you are named after a saint, you are lucky to have two birthdays a year. The name day is often celebrated on the day the saint you are named after died and is celebrated to honor and remember that saint. Naming days go a long way; for example, if you are named after Saint San José, you can be called José, but so can Fina or Pepe. In addition, it does not matter whether the name of the saint you are named after is male or female; in fact, the female namings Nicole and Nicoletta of the male saint Saint Nicholas are often used. Name Day in Spain is celebrated much the same as a birthday. It is celebrated with food, cakes, drinks, flowers and visits from family and close friends who often bring a small gift. If you are not named after a saint, you may celebrate your name day on All Saints Day.

All Saints' Day

The Christian feast that falls on Nov. 1 and has to do with Día del Santo is All Saints' Day. It is celebrated among Catholics and Anglicans, and in the Catholic Church it is an important feast. On this day, all saints are commemorated. Many countries, including Spain, consider November 1 a national holiday. In the Netherlands, however, this was abolished in 1960. This holiday is celebrated in Spain with special food for All Saints' Day: huesos de santos (bones of saints, rolled up marzipan) and donuts..

"Every day there is a party somewhere in Spain." That's right! Because because, among other things, every village has its own patron saint, it seems like every day is a celebration. A patron saint is a saint or angel who is considered and revered as the protector of a city and whose name one can receive at a baptism. For example, Valencia has San José and the city honors him with the famous Fallas festival. Benicassim holds a week of fiestas in January to honor San Antonio and in early September Salamanca has a week of fiestas with bullfights and a parade, in honor of the Virgen de la Vega. The saints are very important in Spain and at the same time provide many fiestas throughout the country and year.

Spaniards start early in the morning when they go out for breakfast somewhere before work. Of course, there are many types of coffee and the assortment is only growing. There are a few variations on each type of coffee to make the perfect coffee for everyone. The work in a bar doesn't get any easier....

• The first cup of coffee was drunk a long time ago, but not in the way we drink it today. Although you would expect otherwise, for a very long time coffee in Spain was drunk only by the royal family and nobility.
• From black coffee to latte and from coffee with alcohol to iced coffee. Everything is possible. Of course, they all have their own Spanish designation. Always useful to know; also when you want to order a coffee in Spain that most resembles the coffee at home.

Coffee history

Coffee itself has been around for a long time: around 1500, coffee was already drunk by the Yemeni, wise Sufis to stay awake while praying. Around 1600 it came to Europe and here it was considered medicine.Although not officially a medicine, it is a healthy remedy. For example, it stimulates the central nervous system and promotes breathing and digestion.

While Spain is ahead of the rest of Europe in many aspects, however, coffee arrived in Spain late. In the process, it was initially, and for a long time, only consumed by the royal family and nobility. When finally in 1764 (first coffee shop in Amsterdam as early as 1663) the first coffee shop was opened in Madrid, things moved quickly. A few years later, coffee cafes also opened in Barcelona and inspired many other cities in Spain. Spanish coffee was a fact. By now we are almost 250 years on and there are different variations of coffee.

Types of coffee in Spain

Anyone looking for a (side) job in a Spanish café will still need to read up on the different types of coffee. Spain loves versatility, in summer and in winter. Therefore, there are 7 types of coffee for a reason, each with its own variations according to the wishes and needs of the customers. Below is a brief explanation of the types of coffee found in the cafes:

Café solo is a strong cup of black coffee often drunk after meals or with breakfast. A Cortado is a strong cup of coffee with a little hot milk. A cortado is often drunk from a glass and is very similar to foreign coffee. Café con leche, the name says it all: coffee with milk. Café con leche is best known among foreigners and similar to coffee latte. It is a cup of coffee with hot milk often consumed at breakfast.After 11 p.m., the café con leche is replaced by a stronger cup of coffee. An americano is American-style coffee: a large cup of black coffee. An Americano is less strong than a café solo. 

Especially for the men, there is a carajillo, similar to a café solo. A small, strong cup of coffee but with a dash of whiskey, cognac or some other kind of liquor. This coffee is widely consumed by Spanish men. The cappuchino has also reached Spain, although the Spaniards themselves are not such fans of it. The cappuchino is available with a topping of whipped cream or whipped milk. If Spaniards drink it at all, it is with whipped milk. In fact, the whipped cream is for tourists. After all, nothing is "safer" than cappuchino with whipped cream; you know what you're getting. For summer, there is the café con hielo: coffee with ice cream. When you order a café con hielo, you get a café solo or a cortado with sugar and a glass with ice. The idea is that you yourself pour the coffee into the glass with ice and enjoy a delicious, refreshing and cold coffee.
 

Of course, there are many other types of coffee, but these are the most common.

In Spanish they are called Los Pueblos Blancos, the white villages of Andalusia. They are characterized by the little houses with white walls and red/brown roofs on high ground in the areas of Cadiz and Malaga. But what is behind this? Why are they all white and why are they all located in the mountains? The white villages of Andalusia have their own story.

• All the details of the cottages have their own purpose. The small windows, the bright white paint and the thick walls. The cottages in Andalusia are built this way for very logical reasons.
• The area has been populated by many peoples, yet one people has left the biggest mark that makes the white villages in Andalusia the way they are today.

Everything is done for a reason. This is also true of the white villages of Andalusia. All the houses are built with thick walls, small windows and bright white paint. This is typical of the houses in this region. The thick walls are good insulation for both heat and cold. If in winter keeping heat in is essential, in summer keeping cool air in is essential. In addition, the small windows keep too much sunlight from entering the house. Too much sunlight will heat up the house in the summer, which is exactly what is not intended. The bright white paint of the houses reflects the sunlight back, preventing it from penetrating the house. By the way, the reason the walls stay so white is very simple: every spring, each house gets a new paint to usher in spring.

These cottages are made for the climate of Andalusia. You find them mostly in the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park, but also in the region of Cadiz and Malaga. They are a real tourist attraction. Yet you must not forget that this oasis of beauty is also simply a habitat of people; although perhaps that makes it even more beautiful. The villages bring with them a special Arabic feeling because of their narrow streets and cozy squares. The squares of the white villages, where old men sit quietly in the shade playing cards and where the women keep the flowers beautiful. It is a picture. Despite the Arab feeling you get with the villages, each village has at least one Roman Catholic church that completes the picture.

The Moors in Spain

That the cottages have only a climatic reason for construction was not always true, by the way. The area has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Several caves can be found with rock paintings. Although many peoples have lived in this area, there has been one people who have been hugely influential to the villages; the Moors. They lived and ruled large parts of Spain beginning in the 13th century. When at one point the Spanish reclaimed their land, the Moors fled into the mountains and built white houses with thick walls and small windows. So initially it was also a kind of protection from the Spaniards. From the high mountain the Moors could soon see them coming and so they could defend themselves in time against the Spaniards. Today, the people in the villages only have to protect themselves from all the tourists who want to see this beautiful place up close.

Spanish holidays

Spain has an enormous number of holidays. Most of these Spanish holidays are celebrated according to tradition every year. So is New Year's Eve in Spain. Spain has some pretty distinct traditions, customs and practices that are celebrated during New Year's Eve. New Year's Eve is celebrated big and elaborately in Spain, and in Spanish fashion, New Year's Eve celebrations also start relatively late.

New Year's Eve in Spanish is called "Noche Vieja," the old night. On New Year's Eve, most Spaniards stay home with the whole family until noon. In Spain, New Year's Eve begins with a very elaborate dinner with the whole family. After dinner, most Spaniards move to one of the city squares. The most famous square in Spain to celebrate New Year's Eve is Puerto del Sol in Madrid. As such, this is the centerpiece of Spanish New Year's Eve. Around noon, all eyes are on the clock on the Puerta del Sol. This clock is also shown on television so everyone can join in with "Las Uvas de La Suerte" tradition.

Spanish traditions

'Las Uvas de La Suerte' is a Spanish tradition that originated in 1909 when grape growers in Alicante could not get rid of their grapes and shared them out. At noon, grapes are hawked. One grape per chime, for 12 chimes. If you manage to eat twelve grapes before the 12 chimes are over, you will have good luck and prosperity in the coming year. Each grape equals one month of the year.

After the grapes are duly processed, everyone wishes each other a Happy New Year and, as in the Netherlands, champagne is toasted. Increasingly popular is cava, which is a Spanish champagne. Different grapes are used for cava than for champagne. And because it is made domestically, cava is often cheaper than champagne.

Besides "Las Uvas de La Suerte," for women, wearing red underwear such as a bra or socks would also ensure happiness in love in the coming year. However, this underwear must be gifted.

Unlike in the Netherlands, fireworks are not used in Spain as in the Netherlands specifically for New Year's Eve. In Spain, fireworks can be bought all year round, and fireworks are therefore more something for summer celebrations than just for New Year's Eve. After wishing each other a "Feliz Año Nuevo," a happy New Year, the younger generation goes into town. As in the Netherlands, they party until the early hours. And what could be tastier than typical Spanish churros with hot chocolate.

Madrid metro network

The easiest way of public transportation in Madrid is the metro. The underground in Madrid is the second largest metro network in Europe. Not only tourists like to use the metro in Madrid, the Madrilenians themselves are also big fans of the metro.

The first metro lines in Madrid were built at the beginning of the 20th century. On October 17, 1919, the Madrid metro was opened by King Alfonso XIII. During the Spanish Civil War, Madrid's metro stations served as shelters for the Madrilenians.

The Madrid metro has a narrow network profile and a wide network profile. Metro lines 1 to 5 feature subways that are 2.30 meters wide. Metro lines 6 to 12 have subways that are 2.80 meters wide. Another difference between a narrow and wide network profile is the depth at which the subway lines are located. The narrow metro network profiles are located up to 20 meters below the surface and the wide network profiles are located deeper.

Line 9 was the first metro line in Madrid, passing through the suburbs of Madrid and ending in the suburbs of Rivas-Vaciamadrid and Arganda del Rey. At the beginning of this century, the Madrid airport was connected to the city center thanks to the metro. The entire Madrid metro network is underground with the exception of a small section of lines 9 and 10.

Europe's longest metro line opened on April 11, 2003. Metro Sur, metro line 11, has 41 kilometers of tunnels and the metro line has no fewer than 20 stations. This metro line is the most important metro line in southern Madrid because it connects 5 villages. Line 11 connects with line 10 making the center of the city accessible by metro as well.

A clear difference can be seen between the older and newer metro stations in Madrid. The older metro stations are more compact and and narrower than the new metro stations. Also, the old metro stations often only have a platform next to the tracks while the new stations have multiple platforms. Thus, the busy interchanges have central platforms which makes it easier for travelers to transfer quickly.

Madrid's subway lines are open Sunday through Thursday from 6 a.m. to 1:30 a.m.. On Fridays and Saturdays, the metro is open an hour longer, until 2:30 a.m.. A single trip on the metro costs €2 but there are also 10-ride tickets available that cost €12. These 10-ride passes with a Madrid metro map will make your stay in Madrid even more convenient and fun.

Spaniards love lotteries, and there are dozens of lotteries to mention. Spain has several daily, weekly, monthly and annual lotteries. Also, "the fattest" lottery in the world is a Spanish lottery! Every Christmas, the Loteria Nacional has the biggest jackpot in the world. This special Christmas draw is called "El Gordo," meaning "the fat one" or "the fat one. It is not remarkable when the prize money of this lottery reaches up to 66 billion euros!

Let's start with the cheapest lottery in Spain. This is the Bonoloto, the draw takes place Monday through Wednesday and on Friday. Lottery tickets can be bought from €0.59 cents per day. However, one can also buy a lottery ticket valid for the whole week, which costs €2.37. The prize money can reach up to 66 million euros. However, this prize money is divided among all Bonoloto draws that take place in the same week.

In Spain, you can also play EuroMillions, which is a European lottery in which several international lotteries work together into one big lottery. The EuroMillions draw is every Tuesday and Friday. The big advantage of this lottery is that the prize money from all the countries is added together, giving you a huge jackpot. Also, if the top prize does not fall, then this amount is added to the jackpot of the following draw.

The Loteria Nacional is a lottery in Spain similar to the Staatsloterij in the Netherlands. It is a state lottery and therefore tax-free. There are several variants of this lottery. One is the "El Gordo de la Primitiva," which is a weekly lottery. Also in this lottery, the prize money can reach up to 66 million euros. However, the tickets for this lottery are a bit more expensive than the Bonoloto. Lottery tickets are sold in 10 parts, each part is called a "décimo. Each décimo costs €20 and a whole lot costs €200. The prize money is therefore divided among the 10 winning lots. Many Spanish groups of friends or families therefore buy a whole lot together to reduce the cost and in this way the money is divided within the circle of friends or family.

Spanish bullfights

Pamplona is a city located in northern Spain and is the capital of the province of Navarre. The city was founded by the Romans and is best known for its bull runs and bullfighting. It is also an important city on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostella.

The San Fermín fiestas

Bull runs in Pamplona take place during Las fiestas de San Fermín. This fiesta is held in honor of the patron saint San Fermín. The San Fermín fiestas used to take place in October, but due to the often bad weather, the fiestas were moved to the month of July. One of the most famous parts of the San Fermín fiestas San Fermín fiestas are the running of the bulls.

Every morning 'encierros' take place, which are bull runs where people run in front of the bulls. Bull runs originated because in the past the bulls had to be moved from the stables to the bullring, so they ran through the streets of the city. The distance from the stables to the bullring is a street 900 meters long that is very narrow in some places. In 8 days, 48 bulls are let loose in the streets, so per day this is 6 bulls. Along the route there are two rows of fences. The first row is for the riders who want to get out of the way of the bulls or for the riders who are injured, and the second row is for the spectators. Behind the first row are also the emergency workers in case medical attention is needed.

When the bulls are released from their stalls, one flare is fired. A second flare is then fired when all the bulls are in the street. The bull run lasts no more than a few minutes, but due to the adrenaline in the spectators and riders, it seems to last much longer. How dangerous these runs are depends on the number of participants; if there are many riders participating, there is little room for the bulls to get out of the way. Once all the bulls are in the arena, a third flare is agreed upon. Finally, a fourth flare is fired when all the bulls are in their stalls.
Daily bull runs are concluded with a bullfight. After the bull runs, a 'corrida' takes place every day at 6:30 pm.

Photo by www.environmentalgraffiti.com

Spain is best known for its many varieties of sangría. But Spain has more to offer than just sangría. For example, Spain is the third largest wine country by area in the world. Besides sangría, Spain also produces many red and white wines and cava, drinks that are also becoming increasingly popular in the Netherlands.

The most famous drink coming from Spain is sangría. Everyone who has been on vacation to Spain has had a glass of sangría. The origins of sangría can be traced back to the 18th century. The British brought a drink called "sangaree" to Spain. There they consumed this drink with food, and to make it less strong for the children, a carbonated beverage was added. However, the adults wanted the drink stronger, so liqueur or brandy was added.

Sangria recipes

Several sangría recipes can be found. Sangría can be made to anyone's taste. However, the main ingredients for traditional sangria are red wine, carbonated liquor, fruit juice and fruits. There is also a white version of sangria, it consists of carbonated water, fruits, a liqueur of your choice or even vodka for those who love it. In Catalonia, white sangría is also often made with cava as the main ingredient. Sangría is tastiest if you make it several hours or even a day in advance and refrigerate it. This allows the flavors to mix well. After the sangria comes out of the refrigerator, ice cubes are added and the sangría is served in a transparent decanter with a wooden spoon in it to remove the fruit from the bottom.

Spanish wine

Sangría is not the only popular drink in Spain. Red wine is also very popular. The Romans began making wine, however, by the end of the Roman era, Spanish wines were declining. In the Middle Ages, monks began making new wine. However, lack of knowledge caused mainly red wines to be made. However, it wasn't until the end of the 19th century that Spain became internationally known for its red table wines.

Cava

In the last century, cava has become increasingly well known. Cava is also known as the Spanish version of French Champagne. Cava is an effervescent white wine produced in Catalonia. There are 7 categories; brut nature, extra brut, brut, extra seco, semi seco and dulce, in order from very dry to sweet. According to connoisseurs, brut nature is the highest quality variety, as it is the purest form of cava. The recognized cava can be identified by the cork, where a four pointed star can be found.