Spain: Public Behaviour - Part 2

From ExecutivePlanet.com

More valuable tips

Remember that the North American symbol for 'OK' [i.e. making a circle with the index finger and thumb] is considered vulgar in Spain.

When summoning someone [e.g. a waiter], you should turn your palm down and wave your fingers or entire hand.

Compared with England, where queuing is a sacrosanct ritual, and North America, where there is also respect for standing in line, Spain often requires a much greater degree of self-assertion in order to gain attention in shops, bars, government offices, etc.

Spaniards derive a sense of identity from their particular region rather than the country as a whole so you should try to be sensitive to regional differences and to avoid making misinformed comments about a Spaniard's region of origin. There are seventeen autonomous regions, each with a different degree of independence from Madrid, and each has its own individual characteristics; you should respect local sensibilities and manners without recourse to stereotypes or caricatures.

Spain is a deeply traditional country, and this essential conservatism is particularly apparent with regard to religion and the status of women.

Although attendance at mass is declining and it is increasingly difficult to recruit candidates for the priesthood, Spain remains a highly religious country--some 94% of the total population of 40m are Roman Catholic--and many people will be offended to hear you take the Lord's name in vain. [Actually it is a good policy to refrain from swearing at all in the presence of others.] If you are visiting a Church, you must be sure to dress and behave with due respect.

Women's liberation has advanced apace since the death of Franco. Whereas in the past a woman could do little without her husband's permission, there are now many more working and independent women, but sexual stereotyping is still strong [especially in the south and amongst older men throughout Spain]. Women are still expected to run the household and look after children and, whilst Spanish men can be extremely charming in female company, their approaches may be too forward for some people's tastes.

Foreign [especially blonde] women continue to hold a particular fascination for the older generation but, although it is now considered rude to whistle, any attractive woman must be prepared for turned heads and lengthy stares from admiring males. The correct response is to smile and ignore such unwanted attention.

By law the service charge is included in the bill in Spanish restaurants, hotels, etc. It is customary, however, to round up and to leave small change in cafes and bars. You might reward exceptional service with an additional tip of 5%.

All taxis are metered and there are usually fixed fares advertised for journeys from the airport to the city centre. A gratuity of 10% will be appreciated.

[Driving in Spain, by the way, can be a hazardous and nerve-racking experience for the more sedate foreign driver; the rules of the road are generally observed but the volume of traffic and pace of driving, especially in city-centres, can be disconcerting for those still struggling to come to terms with the gentle rhythms of all other aspects of Spanish life].

Public conveniences are rare but it is quite acceptable to use the facilities of a café or bar even if you are not a customer. Men should look for the door marked Caballeros and women the door marked Señoras. If you need to ask, the appropriate phrase is ¿[dónde están] los servicios, por favor? [to which the likely response is a sullen wave in the general direction of what you require].

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