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This post is devoted two of the most important things in Spanish culture- “La Comida” and “La Siesta”- food and napping.

 

Delicious seafood and pasta

Personally, I feel that the Europeans, and especially the Spaniards, know how to live a bit better than those of from the United States. And, I don’t want to hear anything about financial success, because neither of our economies are doing too hot right now.

The Irish and the Spanish know what they are talking about. 

Their eating schedule is different here. We eat breakfast around 8:30, have our biggest meal of the day at 2:30, and then eat “dinner” around 9:30. Usually, I have a piece of fruit or two around noon during my break before “lunch”. The last meal of the day is supposed to be small, although my meal with my family has never been small. I think having dinner late is the hardest thing to adjust too, because after eating that late in the day, the last thing I am ready to do is sleep.

 

Each day, Spain basically closes down from 2 until 5 in the afternoon so that people can stop, take a breath, and return home so that they can enjoy a big meal and take a long nap. In the US, I usually don’t eat big meals. As a college student, it’s easier for me to eat a few small meals on the run. That is unheard of here. Although, I will admit, napping is a fairly regular occurrence in my schedule in the US, and I made sure to keep that up while I am here.

Very true. 

The food here is good, but different than the typical meal in the United States. Food is very rich, and boy do they love their bread. Bread is served with EVERYTHING. I am not exaggerating. Every meal my family just places a whole loaf of bread in the middle of the table for people to eat breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks- doesn’t matter if we are already eating carbs with our pasta, sandwiches, or potatoes. Today, mi hermano just made a potato sandwich for lunch.

 

Mucho pan!

Some “Spanish” foods I have had while here-. Paella, which is the typical Sunday meal here. It was delicious. Seafood and pasta– the seafood here is fresh and delicious. There is a ton of shellfish served here, especially along the cost. Arroz con leche– rice pudding-, which is one of my favorites in the US, is a little different here, but still delicious. And of course, churros con chocolate, which I had at 6 am in Madrid after a night of celebrating my birthday at the discoteques. (Everyone in Spain stays out all night- it’s crazy. I can’t keep up!) They were just as delicious as you would hope!

 

Churros con chocolate

Arroz con Leche

This is what every other window in Alcala looks like.

One thing I do miss- plain, fresh veggies and fruit! That is not common here, at least not with my family. Bread just doesn’t cut it  …

Location: Alcala de Henares, Spain