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| General information and travel tips |
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Spain, together with Portugal, share the Iberian peninsula. To the north are the Pyrenees, which separate Spain from France. The Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera), located 193km (120 miles) southeast of Barcelona, the Canary Islands close to the west coast of Africa and the small enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla in north Africa are also part of Spain. Facts of Spain Capital Madrid. Language Spanish (Castillian), Catalan, Galician and Basque. Geography Spain shares the Iberian peninsula with Portugal and is bounded to the north by the Pyrenees, which separate Spain from France. The Balearic Islands (Majorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera), 193km (120 miles) southeast of Barcelona, and the Canary Islands off the west coast of Africa are part of Spain, as are the tiny enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla on the north African mainland. With the exception of Switzerland, mainland Spain is the highest and most mountainous country in Europe, with an average height of 610m (2000ft). The Pyrenees stretch roughly 400km (249 miles) from the Basque Country in the west to the Mediterranean Sea; at times the peaks rise to over 1524m (5000ft), the highest point being 3404m (11,169ft). The main physical feature of Spain is the vast central plateau, or Meseta, divided by several chains of sierras. The Mediterranean coastal area reaches from the French frontier in the northeast down to the Straits of Gibraltar, the narrow strip of water linking the Mediterranean with the Atlantic and separating Spain from North Africa. Time Mainland Spain/Balearics: GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October). The Canary Islands: GMT (GMT + 1 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October). Tourist Information Direccion General de Turespana Jose Lazaro Galdiano 6, 28036 Madrid, Spain tel: (91) 343 3500 or 343 3689. fax: (91) 343 3446. e-mail: info@tourspain.es website: www.tourspain.es Duty Free The following items may be imported into Spain without incurring customs duty by passengers aged 17 years or older arriving from countries outside the EU: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g tobacco; 1 litre of spirits if exceeding 22% volume or 2 litres of alcoholic beverage not exceeding 22% volume; 2 litres of wine; 250ml eau de toilette and 50g of perfume; 500g of coffee or 200g of coffee extract; 100g of tea or 40g of tea extract; gifts up to the value of approximately Pta6200 (approximately Pta5000 for children under 15 years of age). Electricity 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Generally, round 2-pin plugs and screw-type lamp fittings are in use. Social Conventions Spanish life has undergone rapid change in recent years and many of the stricter religious customs are giving way to more modern ways, particularly in the cities and among women. Nonetheless, many old customs, manners and traditions have not faded and hospitality, chivalry and courtesy remain important. Handshaking is the customary form of greeting. Normal social courtesies should be observed when visiting someone's home. If invited to a private home, a small gift is appreciated. Flowers are only sent for special celebrations. Conservative casual wear is widely acceptable. Some hotels and restaurants encourage men to wear jackets. A black tie is only necessary for very formal occasions and is usually specified if required. Outside resorts, scanty beachwear should be confined to beach or poolside. Smoking is widely accepted. Tipping: Service charges and taxes are usually included in hotel bills, however in addition, a tip should be left for the chambermaid and porters should be tipped per bag. It is also customary to leave a tip for the waiter. Restaurants often include service in the bill so a tip is discretionary. In cafés and bars it is 10-15%. Tip taxis 10-15% when metered. Food & Drink Eating out in Spain is often cheap and meals are substantial rather than gourmet. One of the best ways to sample Spanish food is to try tapas, or snacks, which are served at any time of day in local bars. These range from cheese and olives to squid or meat delicacies and are priced accordingly. Many of the specialities of Spanish cuisine are based on seafood, although regional specialities are easier to find inland than along the coast. Drink: Spain is essentially a wine-drinking country, with sherry being one of the principal export products. Its English name is the anglicised version of the producing town Jerez (pronounced kherez), from which the wine was first shipped to England. Today, Britain buys about 75% of all sherry exports. |
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