Drinking Culture in Spain

What I liked most in Spain was the people. To this day I'm delighted by their culture, their approach to life, their calm and good sense, and above all the absence of "track-suit thugs". Strolling through the city late at night, you weren't afraid that someone might rough you up. Well, apart from one little incident, when I brought it on myself. And even if you did come across some guy whose trousers swished as he walked, you knew he was just on his way back from training.

Peace of mind, moderation, good fun and zero trouble or people drunk out of their minds. That's how I'd describe the Spaniards. True, I only saw a slice of Andalusia, but my friend who wandered around Catalonia agrees with me too.

The first thing that shocked me at the start was the crowds of people standing in various little squares and drinking alcohol. Crossing Plaza del Salvador, I saw exactly such a crowd of people. They stood in little groups of a few, drinking and chatting.

At first I watched it all with astonishment, which with each passing day turned into admiration. Another great shock for me was the fact that at McDonald's you can simply buy a cold, good beer! Drink a beer and munch on chips! Why don't we have that? Oh, I forgot… we don't know how to drink, only how to get drunk.

An even bigger impression on me was the state of Plaza del Salvador after some match in the city. I expected vandalised sculptures, smashed chairs and graffitied walls, battered faces, the remains of machetes and other tools indispensable to a football fan.

I miscalculated! The whole square was lined with cans, bottles and beer cups. Everything stood there as if someone had finished drinking, set it down wherever was nearest, and walked off. Just like that! After a while a cleaning crew arrived and, in the blink of an eye, restored the square to its original state.