Adjusting to Life in Spain: How the Fuck Do You Order Wine?

Adjusting to Life in Spain: How the Fuck Do You Order Wine?

In the U.S. you usually ask for a glass of wine by the grape, and in Spain you order it by the region. But if you don’t know the regions, how the hell do you order wine in Spain that isn’t just taking a stab in the dark?! Let me take you through my learning process.

Adjusting to Life in Spain: How Am I Practicing Being Spanish?

Adjusting to Life in Spain: How Am I Practicing Being Spanish?

I’ve written about all the ways I’m practicing the Spanish language in order to achieve my goal of becoming fluent. But I’m also practicing another language: the social language of Spaniards. So here are a few ways that I’m learning to be Spanish.

Adjusting to Life in Spain: Using the Spanish Healthcare System

Adjusting to Life in Spain: Using the Spanish Healthcare System

I found myself in Urgencias (the “ER”) after moving to Spain. But because of Spain’s universal healthcare, I walked out without paying a dime. This made me think about difference between the Spanish healthcare system and the U.S. healthcare system.

Adjusting to Life in Spain: My First Visitors to Madrid! (Part 2)

Adjusting to Life in Spain: My First Visitors to Madrid! (Part 2)

From the small Lope de Vega Casa-Museo tour to the enormous Royal Palace tour, from an artistic flamenco show to a spooky Halloween wine tasting, take a look at how I show my visiting family a good time in my new city Madrid!

Adjusting to Life in Spain: My First Visitors to Madrid!

Adjusting to Life in Spain: My First Visitors to Madrid!

They say that the best way to learn something is to teach it. So when I recently had my very first visitors come stay with me in my new country, I got to put my newly acquired knowledge of Madrid to the test!

Adjusting to Life in Spain: How Am I Improving My Spanish?

Adjusting to Life in Spain: How Am I Improving My Spanish?

I don’t expect to become fluent in Spanish just by living in Spain. So from reading familiar books in Spanish to changing my phone’s default language, from taking private Spanish lessons to simply refusing to speak English, here’s how I’m improving my Spanish.

Adjusting to Life in Spain: 5 Days in Galicia

Adjusting to Life in Spain: 5 Days in Galicia

From calamari and the ruins of a 16th century monastery in Xinzo de Limia, to chupitos at a restaurant near Montalegre Castle and the "Fiesta in Honour of Seafood" in O Grove, my first trip to Galicia, Spain is everything I'd hoped it would be.

Adjusting to Life in Spain: Damn, I Can’t Find My Favorite Products Here!

Adjusting to Life in Spain: Damn, I Can’t Find My Favorite Products Here!

After writing about trips to historical monasteries, after-hour tours of the Prado, and trying to meet people in a new country, it’s time to write about something really important. Where the hell do I find all my favorite products in Spain?!?!

Adjusting to Life in Spain: A Day Trip to El Escorial

Adjusting to Life in Spain: A Day Trip to El Escorial

Still fresh from a recent weekend trip out of town, I eagerly plan my next adventure: I’m taking a day trip (from Madrid) to El Escorial to go on a guided tour of the 16th century Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, commissioned by King Philip II.

Adjusting to Life in Spain: Statues of Regular People

Adjusting to Life in Spain: Statues of Regular People

I start to notice a lot of statues around Madrid. But not your typical statue of royalty, historical figures and other famous people. From the Curious Neighbor to the Reader to the Street Sweeper, these are tributes to regular, working-class folks. 

Adjusting to Life in Spain: A Weekend Trip to La Adrada

Adjusting to Life in Spain: A Weekend Trip to La Adrada

The first time I really feel like I live in Spain and not just visiting is when I take a weekend trip out of town. La Adrada is a small pueblo that knows how to celebrate big. With music, dancing, booze and church, this festival is fun for everyone.

Adjusting to Life in Spain: Celebrating My Birthday Like a Madrileña!

Adjusting to Life in Spain: Celebrating My Birthday Like a Madrileña!

From sushi to tapas, from Hemingway's favorite sherry bar to an international blues bar, my new friend helps me celebrate my first birthday in Spain like a madrileña as we make our way through Madrid's historic el centro.

Adjusting to Life in Spain: How I Meet New People (Wine Tasting)

Adjusting to Life in Spain: How I Meet New People (Wine Tasting)

Still looking for things to do in Madrid where there’s a good chance of meeting new people, I soon find a wine tasting that declares: “each bottle is a story and each visit a new friendship.” Couldn’t be more perfect. Sign me up!

Adjusting to Life in Spain: How I Meet New People (Language Exchange)

Adjusting to Life in Spain: How I Meet New People (Language Exchange)

How do I meet new people in Madrid, Spain? I can only frequent bars and cafés so much, so I sign up for a language exchange meetup. Not only do I meet other like-minded people, but I get to practice Spanish – after the two-drink minimum.

Adjusting to Life in Spain: Exploring the Palacio Neighborhood

Adjusting to Life in Spain: Exploring the Palacio Neighborhood

Having just moved to Madrid, Spain, I eagerly go out to explore my new neighborhood, Palacio.  From La Casa de Campo, former royal hunting grounds, to Parque Madrid Río, a park that parallels the Manzanares River, I am surprised to find so much lush green space in the city!

Adjusting to Life in Spain: A Private Tour of the Prado Museum

Adjusting to Life in Spain: A Private Tour of the Prado Museum

The Museo del Prado (Prado Museum) is a must-see when in Madrid, but it’s hard to see anything at all in a crowded art gallery. So I took the VIP Alone in the Prado Tour from Devour Tours, and wow. There is nothing like being in an empty, quiet museum while contemplating the artwork.