Health: The Spanish National Health Service has an extensive network of health centres and hospitals throughout the country. The health centres offer primary health care services (family/GP services, paediatrics and nursing, with availability of midwives, physiotherapists and social workers). Hospitals offer specialised attention, with access via referral from primary healthcare services. There are also Accident and Emergency services available at hospitals and some health centres. A citizen of EU member state with the European Health Card (EHC) will receive the same temporary healthcare services as any other Spanish citizen. Countries that follow European Community rules: Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein. They enjoy the same health care benefits as member countries. Countries with which Spain has bilateral agreements: Andorra, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Peru. You will receive free medical care and hospitalisation in the case of a medical emergency, or accident, by showing the corresponding certificate from your country of origin. Other countries: Although you will be treated in case of emergency, you will need to pay for medical attention, so you are advised to purchase health insurance.

Pharmacies open from 9.30 to 13.30 h, and from 16.30 to 20.00 h. In all major cities you can find pharmacies that open 24 hours. Pharmacies follow a rolling late-hour schedule, which is published in the newspapers, and is posted at all pharmacies.

Telephones: Country Dialing Code 0034.

It's possible to make calls from public telephone booths, these boxes work with coins or cards that can be purchased at tobacconists. 

Mobile Telephones: Spain uses the GSM system. Upon entering Spanish territory in your operator will connect automatically to the Spanish one with which it has close trade agreements.

Internet: The Internet cafe and Internet cafe are located in all Spanish cities. You will also find points of connection to Internet in airports, railway and main bus stations, as in some shopping malls. Generally these services operate in coins.

Money and Banks: Money is Euro.

Banking Hours: Opening hours are Monday to Friday from 8:30 to 14:00, some even to Saturday from 9:00 to 13:00 (from June to August, some banks change the timetable).

Credit cards are accepted everywhere. Travel checks, accompanied by passport, are accepted in most hotels, restaurants and shops. 

Electricity: 220V, 50Hz service is standard, although 110V service persists in some remote areas. The Continental two-round-pin plug is standard.

Shopping hours: The most common business hours are Monday through Saturday, from 9.30 h to 13.30 h, and from 16.30 to 20.00 h. Big shopping centres and department stores open from 10.00 h to 21.00 or 22.00 h uninterruptedly. These big stores open sometimes on Sunday. In coastal cities, in high season, shops are usually open passed 22.00 h.

Cuisine: 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. Among the multitude of recipes that make up the varied cuisines of Spain, a few can be considered common to all or almost all of Spain's regions, even though some of them have an origin known and associated with specific places. Examples include the potato omelette ("tortilla de patata", "tortilla espagnol" or just "tortilla"), gazpacho, paella, stews, migas, sausages (such as embutidos, chorizo, and morcilla), jamón serrano, and cheeses. There are also many dishes based on beans (chickpeas, lentils, green beans); soups, with many regional variations; and bread, that has numerous forms, with distinct varieties in each region. The regional variations are less pronounced in Spanish desserts and cakes: flan, custard, rice pudding (arroz con leche), torrijas, churros, and madeleines are some of the most representative examples. Many of the specialities of Spanish cuisine are based on seafood, although regional specialities are easier to find inland than along the coast. In the northern Basque provinces, there is cod vizcaina or cod pil-pil; angulas, the tasty baby eels from Aguinaga; bream and squid. Asturias has its bean soup, fabada, cheeses and the best cider in Spain, and in Galicia there is shellfish, especially good in casseroles, and a number of regional seafood dishes such as hake à la Gallega. In the eastern regions the paella has a well-deserved reputation. It can be prepared in many ways, based on meat or seafood. Catalonia offers, among its outstanding specialities, lobster Catalan, butifarra sausage stewed with beans, and partridge with cabbage. Pan amb tomaquet, bread rubbed with olive oil and tomato, is a delicious accompaniment to local ham and cheese. The Castile area specialises in roast meats, mainly lamb, beef, veal and suckling pig, but there are also stews, sausages, country ham and partridges. Andalucía is noted for its cooking (which shows a strong Arab influence), especially gazpacho, a delicious cold vegetable soup, a variety of fried fish including fresh anchovies, jabugo ham from Huelva and many dishes based on the fish which the coast provides in such abundance. SPANISH CUISINE RECIPES.