Hey, what a beautiful thing it is to walk under a Spanish sun! We arrived in Estepona in the Casa Del Sol for my son’s wedding and everywhere there were animated happy faces. What a romantic sounding language! Tucked down a little private side street, was our accommodation – Hotel Rah Casa Veracruz, a lovely boutique B & B! This photo says so much about the décor (and my energy levels the day after my son’s wedding).
New Zealand v European toilets:
I like the way toilets are designed in the southern hemisphere. Everything goes straight down to the water sitting at the bottom, ready to be flushed away and I’m happy to say, Spanish toilets seem to be the same. Not so German toilets. There’s a holding chamber halfway down. I’m sorry, but I find this close proximity to my you-know-what, a little icky.
Bidets:
We’ve all heard the jokes about this piece of plumbing, but lets be mature, we all know what they’re for and since arriving in Spain, my feet have never been cleaner. Bidets are essential in hot countries, but it’s unusual to find bidets in New Zealand and they’re not really missed.
Streets:
There are many little streets in Europe that we in New Zealand would class as alleyways. They’re a nightmare to negotiate but Spanish and German citizens of both countries are used to them and they’re extremely pretty:
Driving:
Hey to all you Kiwis out there that think we’re the most aggressive drivers in the world, think again. Roundabouts in Germany are perilous and divers look neither right nor left but doggedly ahead. German drivers are outraged at the smallest infringement from other drivers (and anything else that happens to inconvenience them for more than 2 seconds.) In Spain, traffic lights are a joke. We observed many cars speeding through red lights.
Lakes v beaches:
No beaches in Germany but many beautiful lakes. However, these lakes are full of inquisitive fish drawn by the oxygen bubbles that form on your skin and they’re not too selective as to where they nibble. This guy managed to enjoy a swim across the lake without incident…
..but he prefers the beautiful beaches in his adopted homeland New Zealand and of course so do I.
Tipping:
You’re expected to tip for most things in Europe, including your hairdresser, waiter and taxi driver. We don’t resent it. Most of the time, the service is really good, especially in Germany where being a waiter is a profession and their attention to detail is meticulous. This is where you often see wait staff of mature years skilfully skinning and slicing an entire cooked fish at the table, adding drama and a sense of theatre. They remember everything and their eyes are constantly roving around the restaurant. For me, it’s a beautiful experience.
Differences yes, but some things remain the same; the people of the land and the travellers that filter through them, adding to their life’s experiences.
Happy travelling.
