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With a glass of Chianti

After three weeks of living in a hotel in Spain, we finally moved into a flat. I decided to cook a really typical English meal for us, as we were fed up with eating in restaurants. I could not speak a word of Spanish, so out came the trusty pocket dictionary. I carefully wrote down each ingredient, double checked the words, and then headed off to the local supermarket. A small type of 'local' shop. Completed by a long line of housewives. After waiting ten minutes for my turn I carefully asked the butcher for medio kilo de hidalgo. The result was stunned silence, then he asked me: ¿De qué parte? Then gales of laughter from the curious housewives who had stayed to hear me speak. I hadn't a clue what I'd said, but the butcher took pity on me and bought out some liver. When I presented my husband with his supper, and told him of my problem, he also had a good laugh. Did you know that the words hidalgo, gentleman, and higado, liver, are really close to each other in the Spanish side of the dictionary? Well, I certainly found out. We have now been here in Galicia for 13 years, and the ladies still chuckle when they see me. However, I have never made that mistake again!

Sent by: Felicity

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