Muchisímas gracias por el artículo, Blanca. Y me doy cuenta que estudiabas a la Universidad de Salamanca! Yo también. Salmantino, borracho y fino! En mi caso, desafortunadamente, muy borracho y no muy fino! A mí me encanta esa ciudad genial. Creo que es una de las sitios más bonitos del mundo.

Mucha suerte en Escocia y....

Saludos de los EE.UU!

I lived in Spain close to 40 years ago (!) and I remember Spanish cuisine fondly.

I lived on pinchos and tapas as a poor college student in Madrid and Salamanca. Along with far too many cañas and chatos.

My memory of pinchos and tapas disagrees with your description. Of course, I'm happy to agree with you since you're the native, but I'll make my point anyway. I remember pinchose as something less substantial than a tapa and a pincho would come "gratis" with a "caña". I don't remember exactly, but you might have to pay for a tapa. And the word pincho was used all the time in Madrid and Salamanca.

One last nitpick and I'll go away. I remember "tortilla de patata" as "tortilla española". I remember it so clearly cause I lived on that also! I'd love to have a piece right now! One thing I always wondered about was "tortilla francesa", an omelet made only with eggs. Hmmm. What were you Spaniards trying to say about the French? ;-)

Oh, and let's not forget the small "restaurants" that older ladies ran in places like Salamanca. They were only open for the mid day meal and you got what she cooked. Is there a word for places like that?

Something about my English

When I lived in Spain years ago, I attended a bullfight in Madrid. I was also into the cult of bullfighting, having read Death in the Afternoon by Hemingway. But I grew up and now I am repelled by the cruelty towards these animals. I don't care if that is what they are bred for.

Another animal cruelty issue in Spain that people need to be aware is the plight of the coursing greyhound, aka "galgo".

The "good" galgos are treated well, very well, but many of the ones that don't cut the mustard, i.e., the majority, are abused, abandoned, or cruelly murdered. Just google "abuse of galgos in Spain" and you will vomit at what you find. It's even more distressing when you find out that these dogs are some of the most gentle animals you will ever meet. Check out a great website called sosgalgos.com, an organization in Barcelona for more information on how to help the galgos.

Diary by Leo on the November 28, 2016