Page 285 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide: Great Places to Stay in Europe

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to make up a full
meal. Classic tapas
include tortilla
(potato omelette),
albondigas (meat-
balls), cured ham,
cheese, olives and
many types of fish
and seafood
La Rioja is the
country’s most
prestigious wine-
producing region,
while the Pinedès
region of Catalonia is
the home of sparkling
wine, or cava, as well
as producing high-
quality still wines.
Sherry is Spain’s
great vinous invention,
named after Jerez de la
Frontera in Andalucia,
where it is still made.
BEDROOMSAND T The lavish Bobadilla at Loja, page 321, makes a Moorish ‘village’
BATHROOMS
Euskera (in the Basque Telephoning Spanish phone
OUBLE BEDS are sometimes Country). English is spoken numbers have no zero in
Dprovided as conventional widely in tourist centres and front of the area code. To call
doubles as in Britain and the most, but not all, large towns. Spain from the UK dial 00 34;
USA; sometimes as two from the US, 011 34, then the
singles pushed together. If Currency From 1 January full number.
you want a double, ask for a 2002, the European euro
cama de matrimonio. (written ‘EUR’), made up of Public holidays 1 January;
100 cents. 6 January; Maundy Thursday,
OTHER PRACTICAL Good Friday and Easter
INFORMATION Shops Traditionally open Sunday; 1 May; 15 August; 12
10–2pm and 5–8pm, Mon–Fri, October; 1 November;
OOK WELL in advance for and on Saturday morning. In 6 December; 25 December.
Bhotels in Madrid, Barcelona resorts they may open all day
and in any resort in high and at weekends. USEFUL WORDS
season. During Spain’s festi-
vities (including Easter Week) Tipping The Spanish rarely tip Breakfast Desayuno
rooms are impossible to get, waiters more than 5 per cent. Lunch Comida
or charged at outrageously It is usual to tip tour guides Supper Cena
inflated prices. and taxi drivers 10 per cent, Free room? ¿Habitación libre?¿¿
Spanish breakfasts tend to and to leave a small amount How much? ¿Cuánto?
be simple – coffee, rolls and for chambermaids. Single Habitación individual
fruit juice. Paradores, however, Double Un habitación doble
increasingly offer wide-choice
buffet breakfasts. Lunch is SPAIN PRICE BANDS
traditionally the main meal of
the day, starting around 1pm. PANISH HOTELS are officially
Dinner is served late in the Sclassified by stars, from one
evening, around 9pm (earlier to five. Don’t be distracted: our
in tourist resorts); in summer, price bands are simpler and
restaurants may open past refer to the price of a standard
midnight as people eat dinner double room in high season,
later and later. At weekends, almost always excluding
restaurants tend to be filled at breakfast. Hotels rarely quote
lunchtime by large and prices exclusive of VAT; other
boisterous family groups. unexpected extras are rare.
Language Spanish (Castillian) ¡ up to 70 EUR
is the national language; you ¡¡ 70–120 EUR
may also come across Catalan, ¡¡¡ 120–170 EUR
Gallego (in Galicia) and T The Maria Cristina, page 303 ¡¡¡¡ over 170 EUR