Pickpockets abound

The first thing that anyone will tell you about travelling in Spain is the professionalism of pickpockets, particularly in the big cities such as Madrid and Barcelona. Usually working in pairs, they have a range of tricks to distract you, like waving a map in front of your face while their partner makes off with your valuables.

Theft is one of the major reasons that people take out travel insurance before leaving home. It’s extremely inconvenient to say the least, to lose your luggage with all your valuables, but it’s just downright heartbreaking when they can’t be replaced.

Sadly tourists also make good targets for muggings. In the extreme case where theft can turn violent, you will be thankful for having health cover as part of your travel insurance package, especially if you need to be flown home at costs of up to $50,000!

Of course, it might not be all that bad and you could save the hundred-odd dollars it costs to take out travel insurance, but really why would you not have the peace of mind?

How to go about choosing the right travel insurance

It’s all relatively simple. You can either speak to your travel agent directly, or if you would like to choose from a wider range of policies, there are an increasing number of online travel insurers that cut out the middleman (that is, your travel agent and their commission).

The average travel insurance policy for Spain will include Europe, and often provides unlimited medical cover, as well as cover a range of other incidents such as theft, rental car excess, loss of income, delayed or cancelled flights or tours, permanent disability payouts and personal liability. For a month, the average cost is around $150. Considering most cameras are worth more, it seems like small change.

Travel Insurance Direct (http://www.travelinsurancedirect.com.au) are an example of how easy it can be to get a travel insurance quote online, as are Insure 4 Less (http://www.insure4less.com.au) and the site Lonely Planet recommend, World Nomads (http://www.worldnomads.com.au). For people wanting to stay a little longer, Knights Insurance is a Spain-specific insurer (http://www.knight-insurance.com/travel_insurance.htm).

So whether your trip includes sunning yourself on the Costa del Sol or hiking the mountain of the Valley of Laguart, the trip will be made all the more relaxing if you don’t have to worry about ‘what if’.

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Surrounded by beautiful rural scenery, vineyards and olive groves, imagine your own wedding ceremony and reception in the perfectly manicured gardens of an ancient stone walled castle. Warm weather, friendly people, whatever it is that’s taking you to Spain you can be assured of one thing…

You will love it…and you will want to go back!!

So let’s start with the shopping.

Spain has a long tradition in making leather goods (shoes, luggage, bags, coats, dresses, gloves, etc.). Spain also has some of the worlds most revered clothing designers offering original fashion-designed or ready-made. Embroidery and lace, Jewellery (classical or modern-design, as well as artisan gold and silver works) is also popular in Spain. Shopping in Spain is also fashionable for ivory objects, blown glass, pottery, antiques (some of the antique galleries in Madrid, Barcelona and Seville are among the best in Europe) and furniture.

Interior-decorating items (the famous Lladro porcelains, iron grille designs, silver and other metal objects such as candelabra, trays, bowls, etc.) are also widely found in many shops around Spain. Toys, musical instruments (Spanish guitars are known to be the best in the world)… the list is endless. Shopping in Spain is not only exciting but practical as well as Spain offers some of the best prices found anywhere today.

Next let’s look at what you can get up to in the evenings.

Let’s face it if you’re going to Spain and not prepared to spend some time out after dark then sorry you’re missing most of Spain. Perhaps because of the great climate and the long hours of sunshine in Spain, Spaniards tend to get up later in the morning and stay out later at night than the rest of their European neighbours. No matter where you are in Spain there is a certain atmosphere that begins after sunset and continues through to the small hours of Mañana (tomorrow) that will excite even the most introverted.

If you’re looking to dine out at a restaurant then you should be aware that as far as eating out in Spain, the general rule is that you must expect meals to be served late – at least later than what we usually know. It may be possible to start lunch at around 1 pm; but late lunches, starting at 2 pm at the earliest and going on until nearly 4 pm, are more common. This also makes for a very late dinner, which lighter in content than lunch. Dinner may start at 8:30 in the evening but, more often than not, at 9 or 10 pm. Often you will not eat dinner until 11 pm and then go out afterwards to the bars or clubs. Before Dinner most Spaniards will have Tapas.

Given the long gap between meals, a snack is almost essential. In the evening, this takes the form of tapas, which are served from 7 pm onwards at bars and tascas (which serve soft/ alcoholic drinks and tapas). If a late meal and drinks only fuels your appetite for Spanish night life then depending upon where you are in Spain the club scene is generally not for the light at heart.

Once again some of the worlds most respected DJ’s have come out of Spain in particular many of the Spanish islands such as Ibiza. If you ever will visit any place anywhere without needing instructions on how to find boiling nightlife, then it is Ibiza. You only need to leave one of the numerous pubs or discotheques, specially in the calle Barcelona, only to enter the next one next door. The best will be to follow the mass of tourists passing through the streets, and automatically you will be pushed to a local that is “en vogue” in this very moment.

So you’re into partying day or night? For all ages you have to experience a traditional Spanish Fiesta. Every body has heard of the running of the bulls in Pamplona Festival and La Tomatina (tomato throwing) fiesta in Buñol. Truth is there is a festival to be found everywhere in every village all year round. Most festivals run all day and well into the night (all night for some) and often for many days. Expect the usual at most fiesta’s to be fireworks, parades, music, dances, bullfights, and religious ceremonies, wine and very many happy people.

Another popular tourist draw in Spain is casino’s and can be found all over the country. Below is a list of local casinos: torrelodones (madrid), sant pere de ribes (barcelona), villajoyosa (alicante), puzol (valencia), el puerto de santa maria (cadiz), lloret de mar (girona), benalmadena costa (malaga), marbella (malaga), calvia (isle of mallorca>, alfajarin (zaragoza), isla de toja (pontevedra), coruna (galicia), santander (cantabria), playa de san agustin (south gran canaria), santa catalina (gran canaria), puerto de la cruz (tenerife), adeje (tenerife), ibiza (isle of ibiza), san sebastian (guipuzcoa), peralada (girona), la manga (murcia), boecillo (valladolid). Get the picture? Casinos are big in Spain!

Learning the language is not as difficult as many might think. In fact some good courses that teach by using linguistics’ training offer 12 day immersion Spanish courses. Some of these are a free download but be aware it is difficult to learn any language without actually hearing the pronunciations so try and find a course with an audio file with it. The Spanish language is really one of the most romantic languages. Apart from that if you learn Spanish or at least enough to understand and speak the basics before you go to Spain your experience will be so much more fulfilling.

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It’s good to be able to speak about someone’s facial features in Spanish because if you meet someone in a Spanish-speaking country you may have to describe that person to another person who speaks Spanish. Also, describing people’s facial features in Spanish will help you to learn Spanish in a fun a creative way.

To begin with, if you meet someone who has a thin face, you would say “una cara delgada”. Translated into English, this means “She has a thin face.” If you meet someone who has a chubby face, you would say “una cara regordete.” If you meet someone you would like to describe as having had a face lift you would say un lifting or un “estiramiento facial.” If someone has wrinkles you would say “arugas.” If someone’s face is happy, you would say “una cara alegre.” If someone has a big nose you would say “una nariz grande.”  If someone has sunken eyes you would say “ojos hundidos.”  In the event that you meet someone with shifty eyes you would say “ojos furtivos.”

Those are just some Spanish words that you can you use to describe people’s faces as you continue to learn Spanish. Now, you will not be at a loss for words when you meet people on the street. See how fun it can be learning Spanish?

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In this lesson you will learn how to correctly pronounce the Spanish Alphabet as well as learning some of the basic rules of grammar.

THE ALPHABET

K (_ka_) and W (_doble ve_) are only found in foreign words used in Spanish.

PRONUNCIATION OF VOWELS.

_a_ as English a in f_a_ther

These five sounds _never vary, except that they are a little longer when they are stressed and shorter when they are not, as Yo amo (I love),[3] Amigo (friend), El cielo (heaven), Celeste (heavenly), Un recibo (a receipt), Interés (interest), Yo como (I eat), Contar (to count), Un buque (a ship), Una butaca (an armchair).

_Y_ is considered a vowel in the conjunction _y_ (and), and at the end of a word, as Rey (king), Hoy (to-day).

Note 1: _E_ and _o_ are sounded a little more open when they form a diphthong with _i_ and when they precede _r_ followed by a consonant or _r_ or _l_ final, as Fernando (Ferdinand), Un tercio (a third), El tercer año (the third year), Porfiar (to insist), Amor (love), Español (Spanish).

Note 2: The _a_ and _o_ of “fate” and “note” are not pure vowel sounds. In English the a is distinctly pronounced a-ee and o is pronounced o-oo. In Spanish the first part only of the two sounds is permissible.

Note 3: The examples given with their English equivalents should be learnt.

DIPHTHONGS AND TRIPHTHONGS

There are no Diphthongs or Triphthongs in the English sense of two or three vowels meeting in one syllable and blending into a different sound, as “pause,” “plough.”

Every vowel is pronounced separately and each with its alphabetical sound, only the two or three vowels occurring in one syllable are pronounced rapidly, as Pausa (pause), Reino (kingdom), Cuenta (account), Buey (ox).

_A, E_ and _O_ never form diphthongs together. They may form diphthongs and triphthongs only in combination with _I_ and _U_.

CONSONANTS

The Consonants are pronounced as in English with the following exceptions:

B is pronounced much more lightly than in English, with no pressure of the lips, as Libro (book), Brevedad (brevity).

C before _E_ and _I_–_th _ in “theatre,” as La Cena (the supper), La Cerveza (the beer). Otherwise pronounced _K_ as in English, as Caja

Ch always_as _ch_ in “church” (never hard as in “monarch”), as Chocolate (chocolate), Charla (prattle).

D at the end of a word or after a vowel is pronounced very softly and lightly, with a tinge of _th_ in “they,” as Madrid, Amado (loved), Encarnado (red).

G before _E_ and _I_ is pronounced guttural, as El general (the general), El giro (the draft, bill). This sound is equal to _ch_ in the Scotch word “loch.” In all other cases G is pronounced hard, as in the English word “gay”; as Gato (cat), Gobierno (government), Gusto (pleasure, taste).

H is a mute letter. (Although in Andalusia it is aspirated in certain words.)

J is always guttural, as Juan (John), Jornalero (day labourer), Junio (June), Reloj (watch, clock).

Ll–_ly_, stronger than _li_ in “pavilion,” as Belleza (beauty), Folleto (leaflet).

Ñ–ny, stronger than _ni_ in “pinion,” as Niño (child), Caña (cane), El otoño (autumn).

Q is only used before _ue_ and _ui_ (and the _u_ is then _mute_), as Querido (dear, beloved), Yo quiero (I want).

R as in English, but it is always rolled, as Caro (dear, expensive), Pérdida (loss). At the beginning of a word or when preceded by a consonant it is rolled more strongly, as La rosa (the rose), Deshonra (dishonour).

Rr always rolled strongly, as Carro (cart), El ferrocarril (the railway).

S always pronounced as _s_ in “soap,” and never as in “as” or “sure.”

T as in “tea,” but never as _t_ in “nation” It must be pronounced softly, not explosive, as Fortuna (fortune), Cuatro (four).

V is pronounced much more lightly than in English, as Vino (wine), Vivir (to live). By the common people _V_ is often confounded with _B_, but educated Spaniards will always make the proper distinction.

Y–Spanish _I_.

Z–_th_ in “theatre,” as Zarazas (cotton prints), Zorra (fox).

NOTE: In modern Spanish Z is not used before _E_ or _I_, its place being supplied by _C_.

¡Buena suerte! (Good luck!)

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  a to, at, on

  abandonado p. p. of abandonar

  abandonar to abandon, leave

  abeja f. bee

  abierto p. p. of abrir; open

  abrasaba 1 and 3 sing. imp. ind. abrasando pres. p. of abrasar

  abrasar to burn

  abrazo m. embrace

  abre impv. sing. abrieron 3 pl. pret. ind. of abrir

  abril m. April

  abrió 3 sing. pret. ind. of abrir

  abrir to open, unlock

  abrirá 3 sing. fut. ind. of abrir

  abuelo m. grandfather; como mi abuelo like my grandfather (fam. Eng.) your grandmother

  acabar to finish

  acabó 3 sing. pret. ind. of acabar

  acariciar to caress, stroke, pet

  acarició 3 sing. pret. ind. of acariciar

  acaso perhaps

  aceptar to accept

  acepto 1 sing. pres. ind. of aceptar

  acerca de about, concerning

  acercarse to approach

  acercó 3 sing. pret. ind. of acercar

  acercose = se acercó

  acertar to hit the mark, succeed

  ácido acid, sour

  acierta 3 sing. pres. ind. aciertan 3 pl. pres. ind. of acertar

  acompañar to accompany

  acompañe 1 and 3 sing. pres. subj. of acompañar

  acostarse to go to bed

  acredita 3 sing. pres. ind. of acreditar; se acredita de malo it is assuredly bad

  acreditar to assure, prove, credit

  activo active

  adelante ahead, forward; los de adelante those ahead

  ademán m. gesture, manner, attitude

  además adv. besides; además de prep. besides, over and above

  adentro within, inside

  adiestraba 1 and 3 sing. imp. ind. of adiestrar

  adiestrar to guide, lead; adiestrarse to exercise one’s self

  adivinanza f. riddle

  advertir to notify

  afán m. zeal, eagerness

  afanarse to toil excessively, to work hard

  afano 1 sing. pres. ind. of afanar

  agrio sour

  agua f. water

  aguardando pres. p. of aguardar

  aguardar to wait for, await

  aguardiente m. brandy

  agudo sharp, shrill

  Aguilar m. name of place

  agujero m. hole

  ah ah

  ahogar to drown

  ahogaron 3 pl. pret. ind. of ahogar

  ahora now

  aire m. air

  al to the, at the; al (+infin.) on, upon; al ver on seeing

  Alá m. Allah (Arabic word for God); que Alá los guarde may Allah protect you

  alaba 3 sing. pres. ind. of alabar

  alabar to praise

  alarma f. alarm

  alazán m. sorrel horse

  alcaide m. governor of a castle

  alcalde m. mayor

  alcoba f. bedroom

  Alejandro m. Alexander

  algo something

  alguien somebody

  alguno some; pl. some, a few

  Aliatar m. name of man

  aliento m. breath

  almuerzo m. lunch, breakfast

  Alora f. name of place

  alto high, tall

  allá there

  allí there; por allí over there

  amable amiable

  amiga f. friend

  amigablemente amicably, in a friendly manner

  amigo m. friend

  amo m. master

  amordazar to gag

  amordazó 3 sing. pret. ind. of amordazar

  ancho wide, broad

  anda 3 sing. pres. ind. of andar

  andar to go, walk

  anécdota f. anecdote

  ángel m. angel

  animal m. animal

  anoche last night

  anterior preceding

  antes adv. before, first; antes de prep. before

  antoja 3 sing. pres. ind. of antojar

  antojarse to take it into one’s head

  añadió 3 sing. pret. ind. of añadir

  añadir to add

  año m. year; el año que viene next year; hace tres años three years ago; cuántos años tenía how old he (she) was

  aparecer to appear

  aparecía 1 and 3 sing. imp. ind. apareció 3 sing. pret. ind. of aparecer

  apariencia f. appearance

  aplaude 3 sing. pres. ind. aplauden 3 pl. pres. ind. of aplaudir

  aplaudir to applaud

  apreciamos 1 pl. pres. and pret. ind. of apreciar

  apreciar to value, esteem

  apreciaré 1 sing. fut. ind. of apreciar

  aprender to learn

  aprendido p. p. of aprender

  aprensión f. apprehension, fear

  aprisa quickly

  aprisionar to imprison

  aprisionasen 3 pl. imp. subj. of aprisionar

  aprobar to approve

  aprueba 3 sing. pres. ind. of aprobar

  aquel, aquella that; pl. aquellos, aquellas those

  aqueste this

  aquí here; he aquí behold, here is (are); hasta aquí as far as this

  árabe Arabian

  árbol m. tree

  ardilla f. squirrel

  ardor m. great heat

  arma f. arm, weapon

  arquitecto m. architect

  arreglar to arrange

  arriba above

  arruinado p. p. of arruinar

  arruinar to ruin

  arte m. art

  asegurar to assure, assert

  aseguro 1 sing. pres. ind. of asegurar

  así so, thus; así que as soon as

  asnal adj. donkey

  asombro m. amazement

  astro m. heavenly body, sun, star

  astuto cunning

  asunto m. affair, matter

  asustado frightened

  asustar to frighten

  atigrado tiger-colored

  atrás backward, behind; los de atrás those behind

  atreve 3 sing. pres. ind. of atrever

  atreverse to dare, venture

  atrevían 3 pl. imp. ind. atrevido p. p. atreviese 1 and 3 sing. imp. subj. atrevió 3 sing. pret. ind. atrevo 1 sing. pres. ind. of atrever

  aunque although, even if

  autor m. author

  ave f. bird

  avisar to notify

  avisaron 3 pl. pret. ind. of avisar

  ayer yesterday

  ayudar to aid, assist

  azul blue

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