I’m indebted to my wonderful Travel Agent, Karen, for this interesting story that really got me, at least, excited about a trip to Spain. And yes, I still use an expert to plan my travel; I know I could go on the web and waste hours organising my own trips but why would I do that when I can have an expert like Karen do it and I can be more productive doing something else?
To Spaniards, food & drink isn’t about sustenance, and it isn’t seen as a chore or a necessity; it’s a way of life. To give you some perspective consider these incredible findings from a recent study conducted by Coca Cola:
- Spain has one bar and/or restaurant for every 132 inhabitants – the 2nd lowest ratio of any country in the world (Can you guess who’s first? Contact Us)
- Two thirds of Spaniards claim to know the name of the waiter in their favourite bar/restaurant
- Almost 30% said that they would trust this person with their house keys!
- 84% of those surveyed associate bars with fun, enjoyment or happiness while 74% agree that bars are a good place to “unwind” and meet loved ones.
- 64% see bars as a “symbol” of Spanish culture, citing as an example the world’s oldest, Madrid’s ‘Botín’ which first opened its doors in 1725.
When you consider that many bars double as restaurants – serving small tapas dishes – this goes a long way to explaining the country’s very unique dining habits.
Locals will typically enjoy a late lunch (and the famous “siesta”) from 2pm-4pm, followed by a particularly late dinner that is normally served from 9pm. During the long summer days it’s not unusual to see Spaniards sitting down for dinner at midnight!
This extended eating schedule speaks volumes for the very famous (and clearly very low GI!) Mediterranean diet. This rich and varied eating regimen (which is of course often accompanied by a healthy serving of wine) is characterized by a wide range of fresh & local ingredients. Their food only contains a fraction of the processed foods that many other cultures tend to indulge in, so no wonder it’s considered one of the healthiest diets in the world.
Karen goes onto to describe three great trips to Spain she would recommend.
The point of me plagiarising her article here is that giving the facts, as Karen has done here, or telling a story, is a great way to pique a reader’s interest and drag them into reading on. It sure as heck beats the usual dull and boring sales letter doesn’t it?
So, what story can you tell or what interesting facts can you give your customers, clients or patients to pique their interest and make them read on?
By the way, you’ll get Karen at karen@foodandwinetravel.com.au if you want a fantastic Travel Agent.
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