Some tips / info to make life in Spain easier
- The Emergency number is 112 ( here are more useful numbers ) The 112 Number is also the main emergency number across Europe and is Multi lingual
- So if you do need to Dial 112 for help speak your own language they will get someone on the phone who speaks it
- It is worth knowing and having to hand your Gps coordinates to make it easier and quicker for the emergency services to find you as Spanish postcodes are huge (Even more useful if you life in a rural area )
- The Ambulances use Orange flashing beacons rather than Blue but the Police do use Blue some Fire engines use Orange lights other use Blue(the Ambulance and Fire and Civil protection are now gradually phasing in Blue lights )
- You may not drive in Spain wearing flip flops or Bear footed or Bear chested (men and Women )
- In reference to the above it is worth noting that these are just a few of the Spanish road laws there are many more
- Distance and speed limits are in all of mainland Europe measured in Kilometres per hour for example you may see a sign in a school zone reading 20 , which is 12 miles per hour and 30 kilometres per hour is 18 miles per hour
- A useful source of information is the facebook page N332 run by the Civil guard in English
- They drive on the right in Spain and France like they do in most of Europe
- As they drive on the right in Spain remember when crossing the road to look the opposite way top what you would in the UK
- The Currency is the Euro €
- Euro coins range from 1 cent which is the smallest coin to the largest the 2 Euro coin (there is a photo example in the picture section at the bottom of the page )
- The 1 , 2 and 5 cent Euro coins are brown with the 5 cent been the largest
- The 10, 20 and 50 cent coins are gold with the 10 cent been the smallest of them and 50 cents the largest
- When getting 2 euro coins in change check them as a few other foreign currencies look similar and are not legal tender in Spain. As I understand it a common coin to be given in this case is from Egypt (there is a photo example in the picture section at the bottom of the page )
- Euro Notes come in many sizes from 5 euros up to much larger notes like 500 euros (not common ) (the notes go 5, 10, 20, 50 , 100 Euro etc ) (and the 50 Euro note is very common and unlike in the UK where the 50 pound note is rarely accepted the 50 Euro note is commonly accepted. (there is a photo example in the picture section at the bottom of the page )
- The Time Zone is the Central European Time zone (Same as France / Germany Etc) and In Summer Cet +1 so Spain is always 1 hour ahead of the UK, while Spain's neighbour Portugal is on Gmt time like the UK (as should Spain be but for Historical reasons )
- Many areas of Spain have the Afternoon Siesta still ( Siesta means Nap in Spanish ) in our area (Turre )it Is from 2;30pm to 5pm (and as a rule many Spaniards eat later when it cooler often as late as 10pm )
- It is Illegal to wash your car on the street
- Spain is a hot and dry country with a high fire risk in the summer which is why it is illegal to throw a cig out of a car/van/Truck
- Spain has a Fire ban in many communities for example Andalusia started it's fire Ban on the first of June
- Spain is a Catholic country and in many parts of the country every shop is shut on Sundays (often not the case in the summer season in more holiday resort areas )
- Remember to turn your headlights of in the petrol stations as here in Spain as it is Illegal to have them on in petrol stations
- When entering a tunnel in Spain remember to put your dipped headlights on during the Day it is the law
- If the Autovia (motorway ) is number AP eg the Ap7 it means it is a toll road
- Know when the Red and Green days are as nothing is open on these days (red days are public holidays on the national level and green days are at a local level and nothing is open on said days 1 example of a red day is Labour day 1st May and green day 28th February Andulisa Day )
- Many petrol pumps in Spain are attendant operated (between certain hours will vary by station )
- The Spanish dialling code is 0034 Uk 0044
- Many Spanish front doors can not be opened without a key even if you have not locked them so if your going out your door remember to keep your key on you otherwise you might lock yourself out
- There are three main types of Police in Spain (read more here ) The Local police (polica Local ), The civil Guard (Guardia Civil) who by the way are 175 years old this year(the Civil guard are the ones in the green uniform ). And the polica national (as several of Spains communities have their own regional police like the Mossos d'Esquadra in Catalonia there are several others as well but these are regional police so are not seen outside their regions )
- The Polica Local are also in some areas called the Municipal police or Guardia Urbana (the Polica local do hold full police powers within their towns/cities but will normal hand more serious matters to the national polica or guard who are larger and better equipped)
- At night or in low light levels, many Spanish police vehicles run with their light bar lit up as a solid blue
- Most private hire Taxis in Spain have a blue rear licence plate (not all yet as the law is newish and so the taxi have a bit of time to phase it in ) the Blue plate is to help spot the real taxis easier
- When talking your dogs for a walk in Spain have you cheeked the floor temperature ? as it can get hot enough to burn their pads
- Spanish motorway (Autovia ) Junctions are numbered differently to the UK, in Spain the junction number is the kilometre point on the road from where the road is deemed to start, so for example it could be junction 250 or if there are several junctions in the kilometre stretch 250 a or 250 b etc
- Talking of Junction and road distance number the A7 Autovia is renumber as it enters/exit the Andulica region of Spain so these stretches have a different kilometre number
- Talking of Spanish roads the roads in Spain are policed by Civil guards Traffic officer know as Traffico
- The Spanish version of vat is called Iva and the top rate is 21%
- The Spanish version of an Mot for your Vehicle is called ITV ( Inspecciòn Tècnica de Vehiculos )
- As you no doubt know Spain is a very hot country which is why I would suggest having a sunshade in your Vehicle to put up when not in it to keep inside a bit cooler for when you get back in
- By Spanish law your dog and/or cat/s must be mircochipped
- Talking of Pets for example the Spanish dangerous dog list and British one are different
- And certain pets you can keep in the UK are illegal in some areas Spain ( Eg Snakes and Spiders) so check with your local areas laws if your thinking of brings them
- Do you know if your new home on mains water? or water from a tank ? (the more Rural it is the more likely it is to be on a tank and therefore you will need to fill it with a water tanker (your neighbours may be able to recommend a water tanker company )
- In relation to the above are you on mains Sewers or a septic tank ?
- Many Spanish house have Gas cookers but not gas mains, as the gas is often from gas bottle (like you would use for bbq ) which can be brought all over the place for example in Turre (our base and where we live ) from Super Turre the local supermarket , plus often many Petrol stations sell them (and for any north American readers Gas station )
- Don't be surprised to find you don't have your own rubbish bin as you would in the UK, as most towns, cities etc here in Spain us large community bins which are emptied every day
- In some areas of Spain you may only dispose of waste in the community bins during certain hours in the evening often 7pm on wards
- It is worth noting that many companies have summer hours and often during August are shut in the afternoon and not just for siesta
- Within many tourist areas during the summer months of June , July and August many supermarkets are open on Sunday (will vary by the areas ) (but for example Mercadona Mojacar is Sunday 10am to 3pm )
