European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 22, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Travel on the go in Spain by the stars and stripes. Spam to a. Fascinating and surprisingly. Diverse1 country. In Western Europe Only France is larger. people who have not been there Dunko. Spam As mostly Flat As. Well us hot dry and Dusty hut from the Balearic islands to i lie pyrenees the a. A geography of this ancient country is incredibly varied. It is As much a land of a mountains As Plains and it is the second most mountainous country in Europe after Switzerland. In Rosenl years spam s various provinces have pressed for More autonomy and the right to reassert their regional identities. A this is especially True of Catalonia Aragon and the Basque provinces the movements have sought to re emphasize the use of languages other than Spanish such As c catalan and Basque. Food a f first olt Spanish food is nothing like Mexic an Lood. It differs greatly by Region but usually is not very spicy. Spaniards Are great lovers of seafood and it can be had surprisingly fresh even in cities far from the sea. Spaniards eat late. In Madrid the locals have their main meal of the Clay Between 2 . And 4 ., during the work break. They follow this with an Early evening snack and Hen put away a Light supper at about 10 . A. In Barcelona dinner is usually earlier. About 8 50 . A a to ease the peseta Drain Cheek out the daily special in ii Del a which restaurants Are required by Law to offer at a set Price. The special usually is a three course meal with bread and beverage. At Small family Lype restaurants a meal of his Type will list Between 500 and 600 pesetas Quot Sharon i lodging a free Lanc e writer who has lived in Spain and spent much of every the country for the past seven years recommends a. Meal of Upas As a Way to Cut Cost s. 7, i us Are snacks served a at bars in Spain. As in Italy a bar in Spain is nothing like a Bat in America. It s a. Perfectly respectable place where Young and old congregate to eat and drink. Beginning at 1 i . Or noon plates of a us Are set out on the liar counter. You simply Point to. The ones you want if you want a Small portion ask for a a a. The Quot Coyer Quot or Quot lid Quot. And referred piece of bread with a cheese or Olive hat was put on top of a Glass and acted As a cover for the drink. A Largo portion is a ration and costs from 75.cents to $ i a unless you go to a fancy bar or order shellfish Quot says i Hudgins. Quot the latter is expensive even on the ,. 7u/u.sure. Taste and fun. Stand at the., counter and nibble your Way around trying different dishes. Or try a Bobadillo a Spanish Sandpit h with air cured Mountain gleaming White villages and Rocky hillsides Are common features in the andalusian Region of Spain. File Ham Jawn Serranu and cheese on a hunk of crusty White bread. I vacs Are another Way to save. The. Supermarkets and delicatessens in Spain Are ext client with a variety of Spanish cheeses hams and Chorizo sausages. Buy a loaf of Spanish bread Quot they make Good White Broad Quot says Hudgins. Add a bottle of wine and you re set. In restaurants classic Spanish dishes to try include the popular Paella but Quot avoid it if it s Heap and looks Golden Orange Quot advises Hudgins this Means it Lias not been mad with Saffron the key a a ingredient o a real Paella which gives it a distinctive yellow color. , an iced Tomalo cucumbers up is another favorite. Lodging a you can find of a lodging in Spain High Rise hotels on the Costa Del sol and the Costa brava luxury european style hotels in the big cities tiny guest houses in the pyrenees and campgrounds nearly everywhere. Spain is not As cheap As if once was hut a Don t believe the stories that it is a High priced vacation country. On the Edge of mos towns Are Motel hotel complexes that offer reasonable rooms usually with Bath. A double costs about $55 per night. Smaller hotels and pensions in the cities also ofter rooms Tor about the same Price. Hotel rooms in the major cities such As Barcelona will Cost More $45 and up. A. For a splurge spend a night in a o Para Clor. These Are government run establishments usually old castles and monasteries that have been taken Over and turned into hotels. A double costs $70 and up. The surroundings and lure things Are usually Al shopping a store usually open at 9 or a 10 in the morning hut close from 1 . Until 4 or 5 . After reopening they close for the Day at 7 or 8 . Saturday hours Are the same As weekdays. Most. A everything is closed on sunday with the exception of some Small groceries that. Open on sunday mornings a. A. A a athe big in major. Cities arc great for shopping. They usually a have sections with crafts and local. Products on the first floor. Two Good a department store chains Are i i code. Ingles . A 7 Good buys in Spain Are pottery embroidery glassware and leather goods. Money tipping a As in much of Europe a service charge is included in most restaurant and. Hotel Hills. Add an additional 5 percent to it percent depending on your satisfaction. In bars. And Small restaurants round off to the nearest 100 pesetas leaving the extra As tip. 1 taxi Drivers should get 5 percent of the fare. And 100 pesetas or $1, should make porters Happy. A Banks Are open in the morning. When Banks Are dosed you can change Money Al most hotels although the rate is usually not As Good As the rate Given at Banks. Combios Exchange offices always give than Banks and sometimes a offer better rates. Sightseeing a Hudgins is not the Only traveler who keeps returning to Spain. For her it s the country s diversity that is. A. Especially fascinating. Spain has 12 distinct historical and cultural regions she says. Quot it s such a huge country with so Many. Different regions and each Region is really a different place Quot she says. Quot the North Atlantic coast is More like Scotland a Cool a and Rainy. The Mountain Range there Picos ale Europa is like the Alps covered with Snow year-round.,. The moorish influence is very Strong in the South. And Ca i a i on a a lot i i be Southern f a a museums in Spain have widely varied hours. Check with tourist offices of consult. Your guidebooks. 18c stars and stripes travel Europe May 22,
