23 Things Everyone Gets Totally Wrong About Spain

Nobody. Takes. A. Siesta.

1. We don't take siestas.

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I mean, it's a lovely idea in theory - but would your boss be OK with you sneaking off for a nap after lunch? Of course not. It's exactly the same in Spain.

2. We are not a nation of slackers, constantly skipping work and going out partying.

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We enjoy our free time, but we don't have any more of it than anyone else.

3. Not everything with rice in it can be called "paella".

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There are rules, and you break them at your peril. Besides, we don't even think of paella as our primary national dish.

4. There's no such food as tapas. It's a way of eating, not a specific meal.

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Please, stop saying that what you like about Spain is tapas, because you could be saying you like tortilla (potato omelette) or criadillas –and you don't even know what that is (pig's testicles, in case you were wondering).

5. No one says "Olé!", apart from at bull fights and flamenco dance performances.

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And even at those events, most people say "Oooole", not "Olé!".

6. Most of us do not support bullfighting.

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A poll conducted earlier this year showed that only 16% of Spaniards were in favour of bullfighting, while 58% were against it. According to the same study, 84% of 16- to 24-year-olds are ashamed of living in a country that allows bullfighting. There are autonomous communities, such as the Canary Islands or Catalonia, where bullfighting has been banned.

7. And we don't let bulls wander freely through our streets.

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Yes, there are bull-running festivals, most notably in Pamplona, but they are controversial, and there aren't many of them.

8. It's not always sunny in Spain.

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In fact, in places like Galicia or the Cantabrian coast, hot, sunny days are fairly uncommon. And that's part of their charm. So... enough with always coming to Spain wearing flip-flops and socks.

9. There are so many better things to do in Spain than sitting on a beach.

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In terms of stunning natural beauty, next time why not look beyond the beach cities and beach resorts and visit lesser known places such as - pictured above - Covadonga, Pirineos and Sierra Nevada?

10. Sangría is not the country's official drink.

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In fact, we're far more likely to drink "tinto de verano" (red wine with soda water), or beer. But, hey, if you want Sangría we'll make you some.

11. Spanish cuisine does not begin and end with paella and jamón.

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You can ask any of Spain's world renowned chefs - Ferrán Adriá, the Roca brothers, José Mari Arzak, among many others. Although paella and jamón are very good too, to be honest.

12. We don't all look the same.

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No, not everyone is dark haired with dark skin.

13. Believe it or not, there isn't actually a flamenco stage on every street corner in Spain.

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To be honest, most Spaniards can't even clap in time.

14. We don't speak Italian.

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Yes, we know that our languages are similar and we're nearby and all that... but no, buongiorno won't do in Spain.

15. We don't wear hats like this.

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You're thinking of Mexico.

16. And we don't sing rancheras.

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Mexico again.

17. Tacos are not typical of any region of Spain.

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Yep, you guessed it: they're Mexican too.

18. Look, we're NOT FUCKING MEXICO, OK?

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Mexico and Spain are wonderful countries, each of them with their own unique culture, but they're very different from each other. Not to mention the fact they're separated by 9,000 km and situated on different continents. But... yes, we do speak the same language.

19. Not all Spanish women are super passionate, wild and intense.

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Despite what Woody Allen films might lead you to believe.

20. Not all Spanish dishes have chorizo in them.

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Stop putting chorizo on everything and calling it "Spanish tapas".

21. We don't say goodbye with "Hasta la vista". So don't do that, unless you want to sound like you're doing a Terminator impression.

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A "hasta luego" or an "adiós" will do.

22. Spain is not a technologically backwards, undeveloped country.

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For example, we top the world rankings in terms of smartphone use; our high-speed train network is second to none, and we are international leaders in renewable energy.

23. And we're so much more than just a holiday destination. We're modern, forward thinking, and we're happy with who we are as a country. With or without you coming here as tourists.

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