Experiencing Spain

Culture

Spain is known for its culturally diverse heritage, having been influenced by many nations and peoples throughout its history. Spanish culture has its origins in the Celtiberian, Latin, Visigothic, Roman Catholic, and Islamic cultures. The definition of a national Spanish culture has been characterized by tension between the centralized state (dominated in recent centuries by Castile) and numerous regions and minority peoples. In addition, the history of the nation and its Mediterranean and Atlantic environment have played strong roles in shaping its culture.  After Italy, Spain is the country with the second highest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world, with a total of 40.

Spanish art is an important and influential type of art in Europe. Spanish art is the name given to the artistic disciplines and works developed in Spain throughout time, and those by Spanish authors world-wide. Due to historical, geographical and generational diversity, Spanish art has known a great number of influences. The Moorish heritage in Spain, especially in Andalusia, is still evident today in cities like Córdoba, Seville, and Granada. European influences include Italy, Germany and France, especially during the Baroque and Neoclassical periods.
 
Spanish literature is the name given to the literary works written in Spain throughout time, and those by Spanish authors world-wide. Due to historic, geographic and generational diversity, Spanish literature has known a great number of influences and it is very diverse. Some major movements can be identified within it.

In recent years, Spanish cinema has achieved high marks of recognition as a result of its creative and technical excellence. In the long history of Spanish cinema, the great filmmaker Luis Buñuel was the first to achieve universal recognition, followed by Pedro Almodóvar in the 1980s. Spanish cinema has also seen international success over the years with films by directors like Segundo de Chomón, Florián Rey, Luis García Berlanga, Carlos Saura, Julio Medem and Alejandro Amenábar.

Spanish cuisine consists of a great variety of dishes which stem from differences in geography, culture and climate. It is heavily influenced by seafood available from the waters that surround the country, and reflects the country's deep Mediterranean roots. Spain's extensive history with many cultural influences has led to a unique cuisine.

Sport in Spain has been traditionally dominated by football (soccer) (since the early 20th century), cycling and bullfighting (since the 17th century). Today, Spain is a major world sports power, especially since the 1992 Summer Olympics that were hosted in Barcelona and promoted a great variety of sports in the country. The tourism industry has led to an improvement in sports infrastructure, especially for water sports, golf and skiing.

Public holidays celebrated in Spain include a mix of religious (Roman Catholic), national and regional observances. Each municipality is allowed to declare a maximum of 14 public holidays per year; up to nine of these are chosen by the national government and at least two are chosen locally.

Business Customs

Spaniards tend to be more formal in personal relations than U.S. citizens but less rigid than they were 10 years ago. It is a mistake to assume doing business in Spain is just like doing business in Mexico and Latin America; Italy or France would be a better comparison. A handshake is customary upon initiating and closing a business meeting, accompanied by an appropriate greeting. Professional attire is expected. Business dress is suit and tie, and business cards are required. There is no substitute for face-to-face meetings with Spanish business representatives to break into this market. Spaniards expect a personal relationship with suppliers. Initial communication by phone or fax is far less effective than a personal meeting. Mail campaigns generally yield meager results. Less than 30 percent of local managers are fluent in English. Spaniards tend to be "conservative" in their buying habits. Known brands do well. Large government and private sector buyers appear more comfortable dealing with other large, established organizations or with firms recognized as leaders within their sectors.

Travel Advisory

For detailed information, please check the State Department Consular Information Sheet http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1024.html Embassy and Consulate locations
The U.S. Embassy in Madrid (http://madrid.usembassy.gov) is located at Serrano, 75,
and is open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; telephone (34) 91-587-2200. The Consular
Section (http://madrid.usembassy.gov/cons/services.html) is open to the public in the
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mornings only. American Citizen Services, including passport services, is open from
8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for walk-in service.
There is a U.S. Consulate in Barcelona, at Paseo Reina Elisenda, 23, telephone (34) 93-
280-2227. Hours for Consular Service 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
There are also Consular Agencies (http://madrid.usembassy.gov/cons/offices.html) in
the following locations:
* Málaga (Fuengirola): Avenida Juan Gomez “Juanito”, 8, Edificio Lucia 1C, 29640
Málaga; telephone (34) 95-247-4891; hours 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., M-F;
La Coruña: Canton Grande, 6-8E, 15003 La Coruña; telephone (34) 98-121-3233;
hours 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., M-F;
* Canary Islands, Las Palmas: Edificio Arca, c/ Los Martínez de Escobar, 3, oficina 7,
35007 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria; telephone (34) 92-827-1259; hours 10:00 a.m.
to 1:00 p.m., M-F;
* Palma de Mallorca: Edificio Reina Constanza, Porto Pi, 8,9d, 07015 Palma de
Mallorca; telephone (34) 97-140-3707 hours 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., M-F;
* Seville: Plaza Nueva 8-8 duplicado, 2ª planta, E2, Nº 4, 41001 Sevilla; telephone (34)
95-421-8751; hours 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., M-F;
* Valencia: Calle Dr. Romagosa, 1-2, J, 46002 Valencia; telephone (34) 96-351-6973;
hours 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., M-F.
Business travelers to Spain seeking appointments with U.S. Commercial Service officials
at the Embassy in Madrid should contact the Commercial Section in advance. The
Commercial Section can be reached by telephone at (34) 91-564-8976 or by fax at (34)
91-563-0859, and by e-mail at Madrid.Office.Box@mail.doc.gov
Emergency Information
The Embassy has a Duty Officer to assist U.S. citizens requiring emergency assistance
outside of normal business hours.
The Duty Officer can be reached by phone at 91-587-2200. From the United States, the
Office of Overseas Citizens Services at the Department of State can be reached by
calling 1-888-404-4747. From outside the U.S., this office can be reached through 317-
472-2328.
Please consult this website regarding emergency assistance:
http://madrid.usembassy.gov/cons/acsemergencyassistance.html

Visa Requirements

Please refer to the latest Consular Information Sheet on Spain available at http://travel.state.gov. The embassy website at http://madrid.usembassy.gov has additional information. A passport is necessary but a visa is not required for tourist or commercial stays of up to three months. Holders of official or diplomatic passports need visas if traveling on official business. Under the Schengen Agreement, U.S. citizens may travel with a passport but without a visa between Spain and other Schengen countries (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal and Sweden). U.S. citizens may reside visa-free up to three months within the combined Schengen countries during any six-month period. After the authorized period of stay, a U.S. citizen must apply for a residency, work or student permit or leave the country for at least six months.

U.S. companies that require travel of foreign businesspersons to the United States should be advised that security options are handled via an interagency process. Visa applicants should go to the following links:

State Department Visa Website: http://travel.state.gov/visa/index.html
United States Visas.gov: http://www.unitedstatesvisas.gov/
U.S.Embassy Madrid/ Consular Section: http://madrid.usembassy.gov/cons/services.html

Telecommunications

Telecommunications to and from Spain compare favorably with those services found throughout the European Union. A direct-dial telephone system links Spain to the United States and most of the world. Calls to the United States may be charged to international telephone cards such as AT&T (900-99-00-11) and Sprint (900-99-00-13). These numbers can be used to place collect calls to the United States. All landline numbers in Spain start with 9. Mobile phone numbers start with 6. To place a call to Spain, dial 011+34+ telephone number. To place a call to the United States, dial 00+1+area code+ telephone number. Public phones in Spain accept coins and Telefonica debit cards. Some public phones also accept commercial credit cards.

Transportation

Frequent direct air service is available to major U.S. cities from Madrid and Barcelona. Airports in both Madrid and Barcelona have good public transportation service to downtown. All major cities have metered taxis, and extra charges must be posted in the vehicle. Travelers are advised to use only clearly identified cabs and to ensure that taxi drivers always switch on the meter. A green light on the roof indicates that the taxi is available. Public transportation in large cities is generally excellent. Rail service is comfortable and reliable, but varies in quality and speed. Intercity buses are usually comfortable and inexpensive. U.S. citizens are encouraged to obtain International Driving Permits if they plan to drive in Spain. For additional general information about road safety, including links to foreign government sites, please see the Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs home page at: http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1179.html.

Language

While an increasing number of business people speak English, product literature, correspondence and negotiations in Spanish – particularly Castilian, rather than Western Hemisphere, Spanish - provide a distinct advantage over competitors who use only English. Certain regions in Spain have second official languages: Catalan in Catalonia and the Balearic Islands; Valenciano in Valencia; Galician/Portuguese in Galicia; and Basque in the Basque Country.

Health

Good medical care is available. U.S. medical insurance is not usually valid outside the United States. Travelers have found supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas coverage to be useful since doctors in Spain expect up-front payment. The Center for Disease Control's international travelers’ hotline can provide further information on health matters: (404) 332-4559. Please check http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1024.html for more details.

Business Hours & Holidays

The Government of Spain publishes a list of official holidays every year. The holidays authorized for 2007 include:
January 1 (New Year's Day); January 6 (Epiphany); April 6 (Good Friday); May 1 (Labor
Day); August 15 (The Assumption); October 12 (National Day); November 1 (All Saints'

Day); December 6 (Constitution Day), December 8 (Feast of the Immaculate
Conception), December 25 (Christmas).
In addition to these national holidays there are other local holidays that vary by region
and city. In Madrid: April 5 (Holy Thursday); May 2 (Regional Day); May 15 (St. Isidro –
Patron of Madrid City); November 9 (La Almudena- Patron of Madrid Region). In
Barcelona: April 9 (Easter Monday); June 4 (Pentecost Monday); September 11
(Regional Day); September 24 (La Merced – Patron of Barcelona); December 26 (St.
Stephen’s Day).
A full listing of official holidays (U.S. and Spanish) observed by the Embassy is available
at: http:// http://www.embusa.es/fiestas.html
Work Week
Workdays abutting Spanish holidays and vacation periods are not good times to
schedule business meetings. Neither is the month of August nor the vacation periods
around Christmas and Easter.
Business hours in Spain are generally 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
To ensure availability, appointments are recommended. Banking hours are 8:30 a.m. to
2:30 p.m. during the week, and sometimes Saturday morning. Department stores are
generally open 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Many small shops
and businesses are closed for several hours in the afternoon, generally from 2:00 p.m. to
4:00 p.m.
Spaniards are very receptive to breakfast invitations starting not earlier than 8:00 a.m. A
Spanish breakfast typically consists of juice, rolls and coffee. Lunch normally starts at
2:00 p.m. It is not uncommon for Spanish business lunches to last two hours. Dinner
begins not earlier than 9:30 p.m. and again meals may last until midnight.
Climate and Clothing
Due to the differences among various regions, it could be said that Spain has a
Mediterranean-continental climate. The weather in the northern coastal regions
(bordering the Atlantic and the Bay of Biscay) is temperate and often rainy throughout
the year, and temperatures are neither very low in winter nor very high in summer. The
climate on the Mediterranean coastline, including the Balearic Islands, is typically
Mediterranean - mild in the winter, and hot and dry in the summer. On the inland
plateau, where Madrid is located, and which is the highest in Europe, the most extreme
differences take place. The climate is dry, with cold winters and hot summers. The
Canary Islands have a climate of their own, with temperatures constantly around 20
degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit) and little variation between summer and winter
or day and night.
While Spanish women tend to dress down in the summer, men still wear suits and ties.
Air conditioning is common in all major hotels and business establishments.
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Tipping
A service charge is not included in restaurant bills; however, waiters in Spain (unlike in
the United States) are paid reasonable salaries and do not rely on tips for their income.
Tips are customarily left for good service (normally up to five percent of the bill). Taxi
drivers may be tipped by rounding up the payment to include up to five percent of the
fare. Tips are not obligatory in Spain.

Temporary Entry of Materials & Personal Belongings

Laptop computers for personal/business use do not require any special documentation. Occasionally, the Customs service at Madrid’s Barajas airport [tel. (34) 91- 393-7552], decides shipping a laptop constitutes a temporary importation requiring the presentation of a warrant: a cash deposit or a statement from a Spanish bank stating an import tax will be paid if the equipment is sold in Spain. Before leaving Spain, the equipment and necessary forms should be taken to the Customs Office at Barajas airport for reimbursement of the deposit.

Electric current in Spain is 220 volts AC, 50 cycles. Most U.S. electrical equipment and appliances need a transformer and plug adapter. Although laptops today are often dual voltage, it is advisable to verify this before plugging one in to Spanish current. U.S. cell phones, unless they are triband and your U.S. wireless carrier works on the GSM standard, will not work in Spain or the rest of Europe. Additionally, your carrier plan should allow for international roaming. Phones, which work in the United States as well as in European countries, can be purchased at cell phone retail stores in the United States. Cell phone rental is also available in Spain, although some travelers find it cheaper to purchase a basic pay-as-you-go phone upon arrival and charge it with prepaid phone cards as needed.