Category: Culture around Spanish language

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Culture around Spanish language

Spanish Territories Around the World & Iberian Peninsula

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Diferencia entre España y la Península Ibérica | iScribo

Do you know the Iberian Peninsula countries? The Iberian Peninsula is a piece of land in Europe, below the Pyrenees, surrounded by water and connected only in a part of its northern side with a European country, France.

Is Spain in the Iberian Peninsula? Well… Yes, but there are also other countries in the peninsula and other overseas territories of Spain outside the peninsula. This sounds like a tongue twister, but if you think about it, there are many nations that have overseas territories or that share geography with other countries. Let’s not go any further, we are talking about the United Kingdom.

Discover today with iScribo which territories make up Spain and which are the other countries that have the privilege of sharing the Iberian Peninsula with Spain.

Iberian Peninsula Countries

In the introduction we’ve explained what the Iberian Peninsula is, so now it’s time to explain which countries make it up. You probably thought it was just Spain, but no, the peninsula, despite being incredibly small, is shared by four countries:

– Spain (of course it is!).

– Portugal, located to the west of the Iberian Peninsula.

– Andorra, that curious Principality located between Spain and France.

– Gibraltar, a British territory.

Different Islands in Spain

We have just learned about peninsular Spain, but this country also has an amount of islands.

The Balearic Islands, which we already told you about in another blog post, is an archipelago located to the east of the Iberian Peninsula, in the Mediterranean Sea. The islands that make up this group are Mallorca, Cabrera, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera.

The other archipelago, famous for being a sun and beach destination for tourists, is called the Canary Islands. This group of volcanic origin is located to the east of the African continent and is made up of Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro and La Graciosa, as well as several islets.

Not only Canary Islands and Balearic Islands, Spain has other small islands around the world, such as Pheasant Island, between Hendaye (France) and Irun (Spain), whose sovereignty it shares amicably with France. It is curious that each country governs it every six months. The Chafarinas Islands, between Morocco and Spain, are another example, as are the Ahucemas Islands and Alboran Island.

Do you know Spanish Micronesia? It is a group of tiny islands and islets in the Pacific that are no man’s land due to political oversight, but the last owners were the Spaniards. These islands are Kapingamarangi, Mapia, Nukuoro, Rongrik and Ulithi.

Spanish Territories Around the World

Do you know that there are Spanish territories in Africa? They are Ceuta and Melilla, two Spanish autonomous cities in Moroccan territory, on the Mediterranean shore. Ceuta and Melilla are located in a privileged political enclave as the gateway between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. They have belonged to Spain for centuries.  

Llivia is a small village in France. Most Spaniards ignore this place, but it exists and it is Spanish.

Spain’s territory reaches as far as Antarctica. Yes! That’s right. Antarctica does not belong to any country, but it is true that there are more than twenty nations that have a base on it. It is this fact that makes Spain’s portion of territory so far away, as it has two permanent bases. Curious, isn’t it?

The Wonders of Geography

Politics plays an important role in the allocation and appropriation of territories. There are some islands that are not sovereign to any country but which, because of their location, Spain defends. This is El Perejil, an islet south of Gibraltar.

What about the Embassies? They do not function in the same way as Antarctica since Embassies are regulated and under international jurisdiction. If, in addition to know what the Iberian Peninsula countries are and the Spanish territories around the world, you want to write its wonderful language, Spanish, better, try the iScribo tool and let us know what you think in the comments!

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Culture around Spanish language

Celebrating Christmas in Spanish-Speaking Countries

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La Navidad en Países Hispanohablantes del Mundo | iScribo

Christmas in Spanish-speaking countries mixes local tradition with the Catholic tradition, but the family bond is the most important part of the celebrations.

Family is what binds us all together during the most magical time of the year while celebrating Christmas in Spanish-speaking countries. From Christmas Eve gatherings to meals on the twenty-fifth of December, sharing these days of the year with your loved ones is at the heart of Christmas in Spanish-speaking countries around the world.

iScribo tells you the most curious traditions of some countries so that you can learn a bit of Christmas culture around our favourite language.

The nueve posadas and the Año Viejo

Christmas celebrations start in Mexico on 16 December with “las nueve posadas” (the nine inns), which represent Mary and Joseph seeking shelter. When they reach the ninth and final posada, which is a family home offered for the occasion, a great feast is held. The Christmas celebrations last until January.

In Argentina, the most curious tradition is in the cities of Buenos Aires and La Plata, where the inhabitants make a huge straw doll, the “Año Viejo”, which they burn in the New Year. The spectacle of fire can be seen from a long distance. Other countries such as Peru, Uruguay, Chile, Cuba, Panama, Nicaragua and Honduras also celebrate this tradition with modifications.

It is also a tradition to hang a red sock on the door of every house in the country.

The Inmaculada Concepción and the Día de las Velitas

In Spain, Christmas starts on the eighth of December with the feast of the Immaculate Conception. The Spanish decorate their homes with the famous nativity scene.

In the north of the country, it is traditional to eat lamb on Christmas Eve, and in the south, turkey. This is accompanied by countless starters and delicious fish and seafood, not forgetting mantecados and turrones for dessert.

Christmas culminates with the Three Kings parade on the 6th of January.

One of the most spectacular Christmas lights in the world is the one in Medellín, Colombia. In this beautiful country, Christmas begins with the “Día de las Velitas” (Day of the Candles) on the 7th of December.

In Medellín, Colombians decorate the river with lights and in Barranquilla and Bogotá they decorate the streets with candles.

During all the festivities, Colombians will eat the famous ajiaco from Santa Fe, lechona, natilla and buñuelos.

The Espíritu de la Navidad and the Avenidazo

Venezuela begins celebrating Christmas on 4 December with Santa Barbara, when homes are decorated. The “Espíritu de la Navidad” (Spirit of Christmas) is celebrated on 21 December, when Venezuelans light candles and drink tea, signifying prosperity for the year to come.

Don’t miss out the Christmas Eve dinner with hallacas, dulce lechosa and pork-based dishes on a night that culminates in the giving of gifts.

In Costa Rica, there is a tradition that is celebrated every year, this one between the fifth and eleventh of December, which marks the beginning of Christmas. This is “El Avenidazo“, where the Central Avenue of San José is closed to traffic so that people can dedicate those days to Christmas shopping. The tradition includes meals in the restaurants along the avenue and the throwing of confetti every other day to the rhythm of concerts. Costa Ricans throw the confetti to simulate the Christmas snow. Of course! In Costa Rica the temperature is very mild, even on these holidays.

Travel this Christmas and Write in Spanish

At iScribo we love the Spanish language, that’s why, as well as helping you to write better with our spelling and grammar checker, we bring you closer to the culture surrounding the language. Christmas in Spanish-speaking countries around the world is as special as it is diverse. What’s more, the way Christmas is celebrated in Spain crosses borders and has brought the very same Three Kings parade on January 6th to the centre of New York. Christmas traditions in Latin America are famous and worth seeing, their beauty is unique and unrepeatable. Do you know more Christmas traditions in Latin America? Tell us in the comments about your experience and let’s get to know together a little bit more about the diversity of Spanish around the world.

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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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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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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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