Category: Culture around Spanish language

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Culture around Spanish language

The Importance of the Olive Tree History in Spain

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El olivo en España y su producto estrella, la aceituna u oliva, es fundamental en la dieta mediterránea. Descubre con iScribo el símbolo cultural de este país.

Tell a Spanish that you are going to dress their salad with something other than authentic Spanish olive oil. The situation will probably end in a fierce argument. For the Unesco-endorsed World Olive Day on 26 November, iScribo teaches you some interesting facts about this tree, as well as the importance of olive oil in Spanish culture.

The cultivation of the olive tree has been rooted throughout the Mediterranean for centuries. The climate and terrain of the Mediterranean geography have made it grow in a healthy and fruitful way. There is evidence of the existence of olive tree varieties as far back as 12,000 BC. Its origin is marked by Greek mythology through a Greek legend.

Do you know where the word olivo comes from, and do you know how to form words from its root? Discover some linguistic and grammatical facts in this article and impress your friends with this symbol that Spaniards use and consume with pride.

Jaen, Land of Olive Oil

Spain is the country with the most olive trees in the world. It is normal that in Spain they feel immense pride when talking about their tree, even more so in the south.

Jaen, a province located in Andalusia, is home to the largest number of olive trees in the country. In total, this province yields 586,000 hectares to more than 70 million olive trees, which represents 78% of the province’s agricultural area and 20% of the world’s olive oil production. Such is the euphoria that it is marketed under the name AOVE, extra virgin olive oil.

As if this were not enough, Jaen offers olive oil tastings in almost all its municipalities. Come along, you won’t regret it!

Olive oil is the basic ingredient of the well-known Mediterranean diet, with numerous properties that benefit your health. What’s more, its flavour is unmistakable and adds a taste to food that will make you smile.

Etymology and Curiosities

To understand the history of a word we must look at its etymology. As in all Romance languages, the influence of Latin is more than frequent in Spanish vocabulary. We also have Arabic influence, so many other words derive from this language.

Our star product could not have a longer history, as its etymology comes from both Latin and Arabic, depending on where we are.

If we go to the north of the Iberian Peninsula, we are talking about “olivo” and “oliva”, which come from the Latin olea, which in turn comes from the Greek eala.

On the other hand, the Arabic word for the tree is zaitum, which comes from zait, a common root in Semitic languages. In the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula, of course, the word aceituna is used because of the Arabic influence of the word zaytunah.

Lexical Family of Aceite and Olivo

The lexical family of a word is formed by adding prefixes or suffixes to its root or lexeme. From aceite, we find words such as:

– Aceitoso: something that has a lot of oil in it.

– Aceitera: small container with oil, for example for salads.

– Ajoaceite: a sauce based on garlic and olive oil, which in turn is synonymous with alioli.

As for the olivo, we have derived words such as:

– Olivete: small olive tree.

– Olivillo: the same as the previous one, it is a diminutive of olive tree.

– Olivar: field with many olive trees.

– Olivera: synonym of olive.

There are also proper names derived from the olive tree:

– Oliver: is a masculine name meaning “blessed by the olive tree”.

– Olivia: is a feminine name that literally means “olive”, as a symbol of peace. Pretty, isn’t it?

Immerse Yourself in the Culture

Olive oil has been known since ancient times as “liquid gold” because of the benefits of the olive oil and its immense and incomparable attributes. Also, depending on the type of olive, the colour will be more yellowish, almost golden, another reason for the name.

At iScribo we not only take care of the language, but we also make sure that you learn about the culture that revolves around all Spanish-speaking countries so that you increase your love for this language, just like us.

With our spelling and grammar checker, you can practice the use of synonyms and lexical families in real-time. Remember that knowledge is a gift and writing well provides you with countless employment benefits.

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Culture around Spanish language

Complete Guide to the Day of the Dead in Mexico

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La Tradición del Día de los Muertos en México | iScribo

The Day of the Dead in Mexico is an indigenous tradition whose roots go back to pre-Hispanic times. It is a joyous festival dominated by homemade costumes and involves the transitory return of the souls of the dead. They return to the world of the living, to the homes of their relatives, to nourish themselves with the food offered to them on the altars lovingly set up in their honour.

The Day of the Dead is a celebration of life, to use the antithesis. This popular tradition encompasses several material and philosophical meanings in which the main thing is to bring the family together and pay homage to those who are no longer with us.

Origin of the Festivity

The festivity is celebrated on 1st and 2nd November. November 1st is All Saints’ Day for Catholics, so the celebration is dedicated to children or muertos chiquitos, and on November 2nd, some Christian groups celebrate All Souls’ Day, which venerates adults.

The Day of the Dead involves the coexistence of Catholics and indigenous people. On the one hand, the Spanish brought Catholicism to Latin America, and on the other hand, the original indigenous peoples, such as the Zapotecs and Mixtecs, included the concept of veneration of the dead in the Catholic calendar. This date coincides with the end of the cultivation of maize, Mexico’s main crop.

The Altars for the Offering

Tombs and cemeteries are decorated with flowers, sometimes even altars are set up in the same place as in the indigenous culture. In this way, the souls are transcended on the right path after death.

Marigold flowers (called cempasuchil flowers in México) decorate the offerings, ofrendas, on the altars along with papel picado (carved garland), a dish of the food that the loved one liked the most, sugar skull sweets, pan de muerto (Day of the Dead’s bread) and mole. The altars also include a photograph of the loved ones being honoured. Symbolic of the adaptation of the culture to pre-Hispanic times is the inclusion of incense to scent the scene.

A small path of marigolds with candles is also made so that the souls do not get lost in the attempt to reach their families. Marigolds are born in autumn and their orange and yellow petals mark the path that the dead must follow. This flower holds the warmth of the sun and the scent it gives off calls to the souls.

Altars usually have several levels. The two-tiered ones usually recreate earth and heaven, and the three-tiered ones include heaven, earth and purgatory. There is also a seven-tiered version that represents the seven steps to enter the afterlife or the seven deadly sins. Here we have another example of the coexistence of indigenous and Catholic cultures.

Each offering includes elements that correspond to the four elements: earth, water, air and fire. 

Influence Around the World

The Day of Dead’s make-up and homemade costumes have crossed borders and are used in celebrations all over the world. In the United States, Mexican make-up is a staple of Halloween parties.

Mexican culture derived from the Day of Dead has also been reflected in the seventh art with films such as Disney’s Coco and Spectre, from the James Bond franchise.

Millions of tourists flock every year to see how this traditional and unique holiday is celebrated, whether in small towns or in Mexico City, with its parade commemorating the day. Whatever the case, if you are visiting Mexico during these days, always do so with the respect it deserves.

Day of the Dead, a UNESCO Heritage Site  

Since 2008, the Day of the Dead in Mexico has been part of UNESCO’s cultural heritage because of the importance and significance of the festivity, which expresses both contemporary and living traditions, integrates cultures, and is communal and representative. As you can tell, Mexican culture is rich. Don’t forget to use iScribo’s spelling and grammar checker to improve the level of your Spanish documents. iScribo distinguishes between the different variants of Spanish. Check it out with our artificial intelligence-based tool.

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Culture around Spanish language

The Caló Language – A Symbol Beyond Flamenco

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El Idioma Caló: Símbolo Más Allá del Flamenco | iScribo

Caló, or gypsy language, grew out of Romani and some Romance languages such as Spanish and Catalan between the 15th and 18th centuries. Caló is represented as the Romani adapting itself to Spanish, which in turn descends from Sanskrit, although not officially.

Caló is nowadays in disuse, only a few thousand people and some flamenco singers keep the habit of using and propagating this language. Languages are a social issue and Caló is no exception. The historical, cultural and, above all, political reasons are vital to understanding the influence of languages on society.

At iScribo, we pay homage to a real language that has influenced Spanish over the centuries.

Caló Words in Spanish

There are many words and expressions that we use in Spanish that come directly from Caló. Some of them are:

Pirarse

It is a colloquial way of saying “to go away” and has a variant, darse el piro. Not to be confused with pirado/a, which is a colloquial way of saying that someone is crazy and has nothing to do with it.

Me piro, hasta mañana.

(I’m going now, see you tomorrow.)

Lache

It is a colloquial form to express that someone is shy and it is used with the verb dar.

No voy a ir a tu casa, me da lache.

(I’m not going to go to your house, I’m shy.)

Nanay

It indicates an outright refusal.

Nanay. ¡Que no pienso ir!

(No. There is no way I’m going!)

Paripé

It’s used more than you think, it has even made the leap into the cultured language. It means “to pretend” but with a dramatic vibe that Spanish love.

No llores más, todo esto es un paripé.

Don’t cry anymore, you are faking it.

Caló Language in Flamenco

Flamenco artists naturally wave the flag of Caló. Some of those who have released albums in Caló are La Chiqui de Jerez with Sinar Caló Sinela un Pochibo (El orgullo de ser gitano, or The Pride of Being Gipsy in English), which is a compilation of her career. Remedios Amaya also sang in Caló, which, by the way, represented Spain at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1983.

There is a flamenco palo, a style of dancing within flamenco, called debla. It is Caló and means “goddess”.

Expand your knowledge of Caló

Knowledge can fill a room but takes up no space. Delve a little deeper into the Caló language through flamenco or with books like Penar Ocono by José Heredia Maya. It is worth learning a little more about Spanish culture and the languages that enrich Spanish. And don’t forget to use iScribo’s spelling and grammar checker to improve the level of your Spanish documents.

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Culture around Spanish language

5 Traditional Dishes to Discover Food in Mexico

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5 Platillos para Descubrir la Comida en México | iScribo

The food in Mexico is as delicious as it is varied. It is the meeting of pre-Hispanic gastronomy with Spanish food. Traditional Mexican cuisine is famous all over the world. It is rare to go on a trip and not find a ‘Mexico dish’ in restaurants. Nevertheless, if it is abroad, the dishes will always be adapted a little to make them more appealing to the local public.

Such is the recognition that in 2010 UNESCO included Mexico’s traditional food in the list of intangible cultural heritage.

The main ingredients are corn, chili, piloncillo, tomato, prickly pear, beans and coriander. What would tacos in Mexico be without a good salsa to go with them?

Relax and whet your appetite with these delicious dishes typical of Mexican gastronomy. Our selection includes main courses, sauces and desserts.

1. Tacos in Mexico

Mexican tacos al pastor, tacos de canasta, Mexican tacos de suadero, tacos de cochinilla pibil, tacos gobernador, tacos de birria…

The variety is immense! The tacos need no introduction.

The base is a corn tortilla with different ingredients inside, depending on the taste of the person who eats them.

It comes from the Nahuatl word tlahco, which means “half” or “in the middle” and its origin dates back to pre-Hispanic times.

2. Menudo, Mondongo Soup or Pancita Soup

Menudo is a spicy soup typical of Coahuila. It is made of beef (belly, leg, and marrow bones) and corn.

The recipe varies depending on where you are. In the north of Mexico, it has a base of dried red chili, and in the states of Sonora and Sinaloa, it is made with a clear broth called menudo blanco.

No celebration in Mexico is complete without a menudo dish!

Rumour has it that a good menudo dish cures a hangover after a day of partying.

3. Mexican Mole Sauce

Mole sauce is one of the most famous Mexican food sauces. The earliest records of it date back to 1500. It is usually served with roast chicken or pork, but if you want to serve it with something else, no problem.

Some mole recipes take time, up to several days. It all depends on the recipe you follow and the ingredients. The secret is in the number of spices you add to the chocolate base, so whatever you do, don’t forget to add the dried chilies!

4. Fish Veracruz Style

The most typical fish to prepare this dish is huachinango, also called red snapper because of its red meat.

You can imagine how much fish there is in Veracruz thanks to the Gulf of Mexico, so you can cook more varieties of fish with the original recipe.

It is a very original and curious dish because it mixes indigenous food, for example, the number of spices, and Spanish food, with the olives and capers that are so Mediterranean. Tomatoes, onions, peppers, and other typical ingredients, fill the dish with joy and vitality.

Accompany it with rice and tortillas – you won’t regret this delicious dish!

5. Chongos Zamoranos

This dessert is made with milk, sugar, and cinnamon and is typical of Zamora de Hidalgo, in Michoacan.

The name comes from the Nahuatl language and means “hair”, due to the shape the milk takes when it is boiled.

The nuns of Zamora usually make them and sell them to people. If you travel there, don’t hesitate to buy and try them!

In any case, they are easy to prepare, so you can surprise your guests with a meal at home finished with delicious chongos!

Combine them with a Margarita and a Reposado

The food in Mexico is splendid and varied. Moreover, the many colours of its dishes remind us of the cheerful and vivid personality of the Mexicans.

Mexico also has famous drinks that have been exported to other parts of the world for years, such as tequila. Prepare cocktails or simply enjoy a few shots. The truth is that there is so much more to this topic, we’ll leave it for another time. Use iScribo’s spelling and grammar checker to ensure that your recipes are well written. You will see that iScribo corrects as you write and detects the variety of Spanish you are using.

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Culture around Spanish language

8 Days in Mexico Visiting Cenotes and the Yucatan

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8 Días De Viaje a Cancún y a la Riviera Maya | iScribo

Planning a trip to Cancun can be complicated if you overlook some of the wonders it has to offer. You cannot miss any natural reserve and without a doubt, you must visit the beautiful cenotes.

Cancun is much more than just one holiday in Mexico – it is a destination with immense potential that you will fall in love with.

If you decide to go on your own without the help of an agency, don’t miss the following tips.

Buy the plane tickets to Cancun, rent a car for the eight days, book the hotels for each day, pack your suitcase with hiking and beach clothes, and get ready to experience one of the best holidays in Mexico you could ever make.

Day 1: From Cancun to Chichen Itza and Merida

Let’s start the day full of energy! Chichen Itza is located a little more than two and a half hours from Cancun. It was one of the most important city-states of pre-Hispanic America. Recently declared a wonder of the ancient world, it is a site of Mayan culture.

Visit the temple of Kukulkan, the ball game, the observatory, the Temple of the Warriors, the Complex of the Nuns, and the sacred cenote.

Have lunch in the area and head to the Ik Kill cenote. Then drive about two hours to Merida.

Day 2: Round trip to Uxmal from Merida

We hope you slept tight last night!

Today it’s about an hour’s drive to the archaeological site of Uxmal. This is a city that is an example of the classical and post-classical Mayan period. Visit the Pyramid of the Magician and learn about its legend, the Palace of the Governors, and the Nunnery Quadrangle.

After lunch, we recommend that you return to Mérida and visit the city on foot or by car, as a panoramic tour. Don’t miss the chocolate museum, where they will explain the whole process from the harvesting of the cocoa.

Day 3: Ek Balam, Valladolid, Coba & Riviera Maya

After resting, drive about two hours to Ek Balam. This marvel means “black jaguar” in Mayan and shone from 700 to 1000 AD. Stroll around the grandiose Central Plaza and the Tower, an impressive monument due to its size.

The city of Valladolid is only half an hour away. Have lunch at some of its striking restaurants and drive about forty-five minutes to Coba, where you’ll see Mexico’s tallest pyramid.

An hour and a half separate you from the most relaxing part of your trip – the Riviera Maya.

Days 4 to 8: Riviera Maya

We assume that you have booked an all-inclusive hotel. If not, as you are going to read this article before you travel, we highly recommend it.

You can dive, snorkel, and do countless other water sports.

While you have the car, take the opportunity to visit Playa del Carmen and Xcaret. There is an entrance fee, but you can swim in the cenote, see shows and monuments.

Just forty minutes from the Riviera Maya, right there in Quintana Roo, you can find the ruins of Tulum. They are well worth a morning’s visit.

Your hotel will probably organise excursions to see sea turtles and other animals. Don’t miss the opportunity to see incredible animals that only live in that area of the world.

If you like marine fauna and flora, visit the Arrecife de Puerto Morelos National Park. You won’t see anything like it anywhere else in the world.

One of the Most Comprehensive Holidays in Mexico

Mexico City airport is one of the busiest in the world. We advise you, even if it’s a little cheaper than flying to Cancun, not to be tempted. You don’t want to miss a minute of this nature reserve visiting cenotes. Mexico has so much to offer! Use iScribo’s spell and grammar checker to help you plan your trip and avoid misunderstandings when booking. iScribo identifies the different variants of Spanish and helps you to use the one that suits you best in each case.

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Culture around Spanish language

Menorca – Spend an Unforgettable Holiday in Spain

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Menorca: Unas Inolvidables Vacaciones en España | iScribo

Menorca is considered to be one of the ideal paradise destinations for a holiday in Spain.

This small island in the Balearic Islands offers a multitude of possibilities to enjoy, whether with family, friends, or on your own. It is a multi-purpose location where you can relax, go hiking, enjoy water sports, and much more.

Read this article and indulge yourself with this jewel of the Mediterranean.

Past, Present and Future of Menorca

What we know of Menorca dates to prehistoric times. Even today there are remnants of the typical constructions from before Christ. One example is the Naveta Des Tudons, which is the oldest known funereal monument.

Many civilisations have passed and conquered Menorca – The Phoenicians, the Greeks, the Muslims, the Kingdom of Aragon, the Kingdom of Spain, the English, and the French.

All these cultures have made Menorca a unique and incomparable destination. We invite you to learn a little more about its history to understand its present.

Beaches in Menorca

The good thing about an island is that there are beaches galore. Menorca’s geography allows the landscapes to change from north to south, with white sand beaches, such as Cala en Porter; golden sand, such as Cala Mica; and reddish sand, such as Cala Pregonda, which is a true spectacle of nature.

The best coves on the island are in hidden places, so you will have to walk, sometimes up to an hour, to reach them. It is worth it! Most of them are not overcrowded and the purity of the water is hard to find nowadays, like in Cala Turqueta.

If you happen to be caught on a cloudy day, don’t hesitate, Cavalleria beach is the perfect place to spend a quiet day in an unrepeatable setting.

Places to Stroll

It’s not all beaches, Menorca also offers Mediterranean landscapes worthy of admiration.

Take a stroll through Binibeca, undoubtedly the jewel of the island. It is a fisher’s village full of labyrinthine streets and whitewashed houses. You will find small, authentic cafés and restaurants with the best products of the island.

While you’re in the area, head to the Olla de Binisafua, which has a cliff under very porous limestone rock, which over the centuries has allowed nature to build unbeatable “ollas”, or inlets in the rock, accessible from small concrete paths and where you can bathe.

Wander in the Bay of Fornells, the perfect place to delight your palate with the famous lobster stew, the island’s most emblematic dish. It has a cliff where you can relax while watching the waves break.

Don’t forget to stroll through the streets and harbour of both Mahon and Ciudadela. Romantic landscapes with many shops where you can buy handicrafts, abarcas, and other local products. Have a famous pomada, a drink based on gin and lemonade.

Other Activities

Enjoy water sports in every corner of the island, take a boat or sailing trip, admire the sunsets, and dive in one of the largest biosphere reserves in Spain.

Learn about the culture of the authentic Menorcan peasant at the popular festivals, very frequent in summer, where there are horse parades with the typical local jaleo – a real dressage class!

Take a tour of the island’s lighthouses, go horse riding, go hiking, visit the military fortress of La Mola, and much more.

As you can see, Menorca offers endless leisure opportunities.

Holidays in Spain for More Than a Week…

You’ll see that in just one visit you won’t have time to do everything you have in mind.

Remember that, if you’re going with your family, there are many all-inclusive hotel deals with children’s activities.

As you’ll want to see lots of beaches and coves, and we don’t blame you for that, you’ll need a hire car.

Finally, apart from eating that magnificent lobster stew, don’t leave the island without luring into the typical ensaimada or coca bread. Don’t forget that you can use iScribo’s spelling and grammar checker to help you make all the reservations that come up during your trip.

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Culture around Spanish language

8 Questions To Ask In An Interview In Spanish

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8 Preguntas En Una Entrevista De Trabajo | iScribo

Are you part of a recruitment process? On important occasions, when answers have employment consequences, it is natural to be lacking in confidence.

However, you will find that preparing for an interview will give you all the confidence you need to show the recruitment team all your skills.

Often it’s not about making it look like you need the job, but rather about giving the company a reason to show that they need you and not someone else.

Right now you need a pen, paper, and a few hours of your time to remember what you do best and worst in life.

Ice-breaker Questions

Recruiters do not want you to experience insecurities and nerves. They feel that the most important thing to start with is that you feel at ease and comfortable enough for them to get to know you as well as possible.

Here are some introductory questions that are used to break the ice while getting to know a little bit more about you, which will be used for profiling:

1. Háblanos un poco de ti.

(Tell us a little about yourself.)

Focus on your professional profile, they don’t want to know that you like to barbecue with your friends every weekend.

2. ¿Qué sabes de nuestra empresa?

(What do you know about our company?)

Please, the Internet is accessible to everyone, surf a little bit and prepare the most remarkable things about the business, such as the person who founded the organisation, countries where it is present, sectors in which it is active etc. This question may be accompanied by a ¿Por qué nosotros? (Why us?).

3. ¿Cuáles son tus metas?

(What are your goals?)

Show your ambitions! Now is the time to tell them that you want to take over the world. They may also ask you why you are interested in the job.

Uncomfortable Questions

Don’t worry, they’re just trying to find out how you handle stress and adverse situations at work – who knows, you might even have a team to manage! They also want to know how you get out of uncomfortable situations.

4. ¿Cómo trabajas bajo presión?

(How do you work under pressure?)

They want to know if you are a respectful and decisive person. Use your experience to answer this question.

5. ¿Por qué has cambiado tanto de trabajo?

(Why have you switched jobs so much?)

This question is intended to understand how you value the jobs you have been in before. Remember not to badmouth your previous employer or position. No one likes that. You can just tell them that you need a change in your life. Often it is a matter of explaining what you have learned from other experiences.

6. En tu currículum vemos que has estado un par de años sin trabajar, ¿a qué se debe?

(On your CV we see that you have been out of work for a couple of years, why is that?)

Everyone has their reasons but you can always argue that you have preferred to continue your education.

Questions about your Skills

This can be the hardest part because it is where you can set yourself apart from the competition. Now it’s about demonstrating your uniqueness as well as humility. Using empathy and determination usually works quite well.

7. ¿Cuáles son tus fortalezas?

(What are your strengths?)

Use real professional arguments and examples that show what you do best. Tell them three qualities related to the job so that they understand your competencies. These can include technical skills such as knowledge of specific software or personal skills such as team leadership.

Related: 9 Tips About How To Do Well In An Interview In Spanish

8. ¿Cuáles son tus debilidades?

(What are your weaknesses?)

Name any weaknesses that you are currently improving. For example, you are on a course to learn how to use new software to expand your knowledge.

Weaknesses can become your greatest potential.

Stand in front of the mirror and practise

Don’t be left with the feeling that you haven’t given them all you have. You can prepare for an interview in front of a mirror.

Ask someone to help you with the questions to ask in an interview, so you can practise face-to-face interaction. Remember that you can write down your answers on paper and use the iScribo tool to correct any mistakes.

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Culture around Spanish language

4 Amazing Ideas For Summer Holidays In Spain

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4 Ideas De Vacaciones En España Para El Verano | iScribo

Concerts, adventure, outdoor activities, gastronomy, amazing weather, good people…

What comes to mind when you think of holidays in Spain?

Today, we bring you a post, you should not ignore, about how to spend your holidays in Spain.

Spain is much more than holidaying in Barcelona or hours of sunbathing in Benalmadena or Tenerife. Of course, these are enjoyable destinations but there are many other destinations with local celebrations that will please everyone.

Plan your travel to Spain considering these original ideas.

1. Cabo de Gata-Níjar

Cabo de Gata-Níjar is located in the south of Spain; it covers several territories of the province of Almeria.

What makes this protected natural park special is its flora and fauna unique in Spain.

In Cabo de Gata-Níjar you will find some of the most special beaches in Spain, with soft sand for summer siestas. Its volcanic origin is more than perceptible in the numerous cliffs worthy of every photographer’s dreams.

It is a romantic paradise for honeymooners, as well as hikers, as it has easy and medium-level routes for you to enjoy the scenery.

Visit Las Salinas del Cabo de Gata, the only active salt flats in the whole of Eastern Andalusia. With a bit of luck, you’ll spot migratory birds that make this place their home for a few months of the year.

Like many privileged destinations in Spain, this natural paradise offers you the chance to relax while combining nature activities.

2. Mare de Déu de Gràcia in Mahon

The Balearic Islands are much more than partying in Ibiza. This small island has much more to offer, but today, we are going to talk about one of our favourite destinations – Menorca.

From the 6th to the 9th of September every year, experience the life of the authentic payés (Menorcan peasant). The island’s capital is filled with festivities in honour of its patron saint.

Witness the jaleo of horses in the old town while you enjoy the pomada, the typical drink made from gin and lemon. But be careful, it’s very smooth and deceptive! Lest you drink too much and miss the nightly verbenas with the most entertaining local bands.

Parades, activities for the little ones, cultural events, gastronomic displays… You won’t get bored.

What’s more, if one day you fancy a bit of peace and quiet, you can relax in some of its coves, go hiking or visit historic sites such as the military fortress of La Mola.

Menorca deserves a bigger space in our blog, so pay attention because we will publish more very soon.

3. Camino de Santiago

If what you like is hiking, you are in luck. Surely you know someone in Spain who has told you “I have to do the Camino de Santiago sometime.”

The truth is that I can’t explain what it is because for each person it has a different meaning. For me, it is a spiritual experience that you must live once in your life. For others, it is a personal challenge, either walking or cycling.

Let me try to explain it to you in the best possible way. The Camino is a set of Christian Pilgrimage routes that you can start from numerous locations, such as France or the south of Spain, and that have as their destination the Tomb of the Apostle St. James in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.

It can undoubtedly be the best adventure of your life as one of the cheapest destinations in Spain.

Live it and, above all, feel it!

4. Tomatina

Do you like tomatoes? I hope you do because they are the star of this fiesta in Buñol, Valencia.

The festival started as a spontaneous joke between a few young people who took tomatoes from a fruit stall and began to battle each other. When it was repeated the following year, on a voluntary basis, it became a tradition.

It’s all about throwing tomatoes at each other. As simple as that.

Nowadays, trucks loaded with thousands of kilos of tomatoes pass through the main street of the village, and kilos and kilos of tomatoes are thrown to the public. The attendees, either bring tomatoes from home or collect leftovers from the floor and throw them as well. I recommend that you wear old clothes and that you don’t mind getting splashed, as well as having a good time, as in all the fiestas in Spain.

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Culture around Spanish language

50+ Useful Spanish Phrases When Traveling To Latin America

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53 Frases En Español Para Viajar A América Latina | iScribo

This article will teach you 50+ useful Latin Spanish phrases for travel that will help you survive in the language during your next South America travel.

Take the time to learn a few important Spanish travel words, and you’ll be able to interact with people, get by in different settings, and have a lot more pleasurable and genuine experience on your trip.

First and foremost, here are some greetings to use upon arrival

The most fundamental thing you can learn in a foreign language is how to greet people. Nonetheless, its significance should not be underestimated.

Even if you aren’t proficient enough to carry on a lengthy discussion, a simple ¡Hola! ¿Qué tal? (Hello, how are you?) would suffice.

You’ll be able to utilise these phrases as soon as you arrive at your location, whether it’s an airport, railway or bus station, or hotel.

People love it when you attempt to speak their language while visiting their nation, even if it’s just a few words.

#1 ¡Hola! – Hello

(O-la)

#2 ¡Buenos días! – Good morning!

(BWAY-nos DEE-as)

#3 ¡Buenas tardes! – Good afternoon/good evening!

(BWAY-nas TAR-des)

#4 ¡Buenas noches! – Good night

(BWAY-nas NOH-chays)

#5 ¿Cómo está? – How are you? (formal, to a stranger)

(KOH-moh eh-STAH)

#6 ¿Cómo estás? – How are you? (informal, to someone you know)

(KOH-moh eh-STAHS)

#7 Bien, gracias – I’m fine, thank you.

(bee-EN GRA-thee-as [Spain] / GRA-see-as [Latin America])

#8 ¿Cómo te llamas? – What’s your name?

(KOH-moh te YA-mas?)

#9 Me llamo… – My name is…

(May YA-moh… )

#10 Mucho gusto – Nice to meet you.

(MOO-choh GOO-stoh)

And, of course, don’t forget about basic politeness.

#11 Por favor – please

(por fa-BOR)

#12 Gracias – thank you

(GRA-thee-as [Spain] / GRA-see-as [Latin America])

If you are caught in a Spanish discussion, you can always rely on the following two phrases to help you out of a jam

#13 Yo (no) entiendo – I (don’t) understand

(yo no en-tee-EN-doh)

#14 ¿Habla inglés? – Do you speak English?

(Ab-la in-GLAYS)

Once you’ve completed greeting someone, you’ll need to be able to move on to the meat of your discussion, which means you will need to master a few frequent verbs

#15 Yo quiero un menú – I want a menu

(yo kee-EH-ro oon me-NOO)

#16 Yo quiero un taxi – I want a taxi

(YO kee-EH-ro oon taxi)

#17 Yo quiero una cerveza – I want a beer

(yo kee-EH-ro OO-na ser-BAY-za)

You may also use: if you want to be more polite (which is typically a good idea).

#18 Quisiera… – I would like … (lit. I would want)

(kee-see-EH-ra…)

Whether you’re searching for the restroom at a restaurant or a hotel to stay at, you’ll surely need to ask for directions at some point throughout your journey.

The most basic method to inquire where something is is to say ¿Dónde está? then the noun you’re searching for:

#19 ¿Dónde está el baño? – Where is the bathroom?

(DON-day es-TAH el BAH-nyo?)

#20 ¿Dónde está el banco? – Where is the bank?

(DON-day es-TAH el BAN-koh?)

#21 ¿Dónde está la calle [de Alcalá]? – Where is [Alcalá] Street?

(DON-day es-TAH la KA-yay de al-cal-AH?)

When travelling in Latin America, remember your etiquette when asking someone on the street for directions! Begin by saying: To catch someone’s attention, say:

#22 Disculpe – Excuse me

(Dis-KUL-pay)

#23 Con permiso/Perdone – Excuse me

(Con per-MEE-soh / Per-DOH-ney)

#24 Estoy perdido/Estoy perdida – I’m lost

(eh-stoy per-DEE-doh)

Asking for directions is one thing but it’s pretty pointless if you don’t know how to understand the directions that are given to you!

Memorise these phrases to help you understand what the friendly locals are trying to tell you when you ask for their help:

#25 Aquí – here

(Ah-KEE)

#26 Allí – there

(ay-EE)

#27 A la derecha – on the right

(A la de-RE-cha)

#28 A la izquierda – on the left

(A la iz-kee-ER-da)

#29 Derecho – straight ahead

(De-RE-cho)

#30 En la esquina – at the corner

(En la es-KEE-nah)

If you don’t want to walk everywhere, you’ll need to be able to learn about local transportation choices so you can get about wherever you are.

Here are a few basic words to help you find a bus, rail, or cab and get to your destination:

#31 ¿Dónde puedo encontrar un taxi? – Where can I get a taxi?

(DON-day PWAY-doh en-kon-TRAR oon taxi?)

#32 ¿Dónde está la parada de autobús más cercana? – Where’s the nearest bus stop?

(DON-day eh-STAH la pa-RAH-dah de ow-to-BOOS mas ser-KA-nah?)

#33 ¿Dónde está la estación de ferrocarril más cercana? – Where’s the nearest railway station?

(DON-day eh-STAH la es-tah-see-ON de ferro-carr-EEL mas ser-KA-nah?)

#34 ¿Cuánto cuesta un billete para… ? – How much does a ticket to … cost?

(KWAN-to KWES-ta oon bee-YET-ay PA-ra …)

#35 Un billete para… , por favor. – A ticket to … please.

(oon bee-YET-ay PA-ra … por fa-BOR)

Each Spanish-speaking nation has its distinct flavours and food that you should taste when you visit

Cooking is undoubtedly one of the major draws to places such as San Sebastian in Spain and Buenos Aires in Argentina, so make sure you have a basic understanding of food jargon before embarking on your tour!

To begin, you must be prepared to hear and comprehend certain inquiries in restaurants, such as:

#36 ¿Quieres algo para comer? – Would you like something to eat?

(kee-EH-res AL-go PA-ra koh-MER?)

#37 ¿Quieres algo para beber? – Would you like something to drink?

(kee-EH-res AL-go PA-ra beh-BER?)

#38 ¿Qué quieres comer? – What would you like to eat?

(KAY kee-EH-res koh-MER?)

When you read the menu, you’ll see that the offered cuisine is divided into distinct categories, exactly like an English menu:

#39 una entrada – an appetizer

(oo-na en-TRA-da)

#40 un plato principal – the main dish

(oon PLA-toh prin-si-PAL)

#41 un postre – a dessert

(oon POS-tray)

#42 una bebida – a drink

(OO-na beh-BEE-da)

#43 una sopa – soup

(OO-na SOH-pah)

#44 una ensalada – salad

(OO-na en-sa-LA-da)

#45 el pollo – chicken

(el POY-oh)

#46 la carne – the meat (beef)

(la CAR-nay)

#47 agua – water

(AG-wa)

#48 un vino tinto /blanco – red/white wine

(oon BEE-noh TIN-toh / BLAN-koh)

#49 una cerveza – beer

(OO-na ser-BAY-sa)

#50 un café – coffee

(oon ka-FAY)

If you’re not sure what to order, you may always ask your waiter for advice:

#51 ¿Qué me recomienda? – What do you recommend?

(kay may re-kom-ee-EN-dah?)

Most restaurants in Spanish-speaking nations would gladly recommend a particularly good local cuisine for you to try.

Finally, let’s go through a few simple words you may use to inquire about rates and pay the bill

#52 ¿Cuánto cuesta? – How much is it?

(KWAN-to KWES-ta?)

#53 La cuenta, por favor – The bill, please.

(la KWEN-ta por fa-BOR)

Once you’ve memorised these inquiry words, you’ll begin to see patterns in the Spanish language that will allow you to move away from the fundamental Spanish phrases that every visitor uses.

As you discover new words on your journey, you’ll be able to mix them with these inquiry words to create your statements and questions! And lastly, you can take help from iScribo which will correct your Spanish and make you sound like a native Spanish speaker.

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