Travel

This summer (-97) I went to Spain with a couple of friends. For any of you who plan to visit the country, we have compiled a list of Do's and Dont's for your convenience. Here goes:

• Don't try to drive up from a parking garage with two passengers and some luggage with a 1.4 litre Renault Megane. It'll just stop.
• Don't let the hotel guy convince you to try to drive your car out of the parking garage. You'll be spending the next hour in the car trying to turn it around without smashing the rest of the cars down there.
• Don't buy litre wine cartons for less than $1, expecting them to be high class wine. They're not.
• Don't consume 8 beer, some wine and liquor in a few hours, and expect to feel great the next day. You won't.
• Don't approach the monkeys at Gibraltar carrying candy. In all likelyhood, you will get rid of it more quickly than you'd expect.
• Don't leave your room if you have booked a rental car. The rental company will probably call you in the middle of the day, and, when noone's answering, they will of course cancel the car rental.
• Don't expect people to know English. It's probably easier for you to learn Spanish (excuses to the exceptions from the rule).
• Don't book a rental car and expect it to show up at any time given to you. It's probably been canceled.
• Don't drive down into the parking garage when the light (which of course hides behind a sign) is red and expect the car you meet to back down. It will let you back up instead.
• Don't expect the traffic in Spanish cities to be calm and ordered. You will soon learn to use your horn, your hazard lights and your parking skills in ways you'd never imagined.
• Don't believe it when you are convinced your skills in "four in a row" is at their best after six beers. They're not.
• Don't book a hotel without air conditioning in the south of Spain in July. Unless laying on your back, sweating from the heat is your idea of a good time.
• Don't try to have a swim in two meter waves. You'll probably end up on the beach.
• Don't order a Sprite or Coke at a restaurant if you're thirsty. You'll only get a 20 cl bottle.
• Don't expect the Spanish cheese to taste anything. It won't.

And some do's:

• Do go and see a flamenco show. It looks beautiful, and the music isn't bad.
• Do buy a bottle of Viña Ardanza if you find one (~1600 PTS). It tastes great.
• Do travel the Spanish highways. The scenery is amazing.
• Do visit a bullfight. You might not like the fight, but it is an experience.
• Do buy water bottles whenever you can. You'll need them.
• Do try the Paella, the Gazpacho, and other Spanish dishes. They're usually great.

And I haven't mentioned the really great stuff...

Some phrases you will (or won't) need...

Please, let me know what I've missed!

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