Conversion Charts

You may not realize that America uses different measuring systems than the rest of the world! Yep, our "Standard" system is only standard to us. In most places around the world, including Spain, expect to see Metric measurements. This can affect all kinds of calculations, from cooking, to ordering food, to driving speed, to weather temperature. To help you out, I included some handy conversion information in the cultural section my Welcome to Rota book, which is copied below:

METRIC CONVERSIONS

            Like most of the world, Spain uses the metric system for weights and measures. America is one of the only countries that uses the so-called ‘Standard’ system. So you cannot expect any Spanish person to understand pounds, feet, or miles. Instead, you will have to get used to using (or at least guessing) at metric quantities when you want something.

1 kilo = 2.2 pounds

1 meter = 1.1 yards, or 3.3 feet

1 kilometer = 0.62 miles

1 mile = 1.6 kilometers

60 kilometers/hour (speed limit on most of base) = 37.3 miles/hour

120 kilometers/hour (speed limit on highways) = 74 miles/hour

1 liter = 1.06 quarts (gas prices are listed in Euros/liter)

1 gallon = 3.785 liters

1 cup liquid = 240 ml

330 mL (soda/beer can size)= 11.2 oz

750 mL (wine bottle size) = 25.4 oz

1 cup dry (flour or rice) = 150 grams

1 oz = 30 g (to convert to grams, multiply ounces by 30)

1 foot = 30 cm (to convert to centimeters, multiply inches by 2.5)

TEMPERATURE CONVERSIONS

	Temperature Fahrenheit	Temperature Celsius
Water Freezes:	32° F	0° C
Cold day:	40° F	4° C
Room Temp:	68° F	20° C
Hot Day:	90° F	32° C
Water boils:	212° F	100° C
Bake:	350° F	180° C
	400° F	200° C
Broil:	500° F	260° C

What I forgot to include in the book was charts to convert clothing and shoe sizes! These are also important to know ahead of time, whether you are shopping for yourself or for children, because a Spanish shopkeeper will not know what you mean by needing a dress that is size 6, or having a child that is size 4 T. Spain uses 'European' clothing sizes, that include much of Europe, but are different from sizes used in the UK. So, enjoy these charts for your shopping needs:

Women's Clothes:

Spain          UK          USA

32                  4             0

34                  6             2

36                  8             4

38                 10            6

40                 12            8

42                 14           10

44                 16           12

46                 18           14

Women's Shoes

US     UK               Europe

4        2 1/2            35

5        3 1/2            37

6        4 1/2            38

7        5 1/2            39

8        6 1/2            40

9        7 1/2            41

Men's Shirt Sizes

US General           US / UK       Europe

Small                     34                87

Medium                 36                91

                              38                97

Large                     40                102

X-Large                 42                107

                              44                112

                              46                117

Men's Shoes

US     UK               Europe

7        5 1/2            39

8        6 1/2            41

9        7 1/2            42

10      8 1/2            43

11      9 1/2            45

12      10 1/2                    46

13      11 1/2                    47

Children's Clothes Sizes:

US               UK               EUROPE

12-18 m       12 m           80 cm

18-24 m       18 m            80-86 cm

23/24 m       24 m            86-92 cm

2T                2-3               92-98 cm

4T                3-4               98-104 cm

5                  4-5               104-110 cm

6                  5-6               110-116 cm

6X-7            6-7               116-122 cm

7 to 8           7-8               122-128 cm

9 to 10         8-9               128-134 cm

10                9-10             134-140 cm

11                10-11           140-146 cm

14                11-12           146-152 cm

Children’s Shoes

Inches         US     UK     Europe

5.38             6.5     5.5     23

5.56             7        6        23.5

5.75             7.5     6.5     24

5.88             8        7        24.5

6.06             8.5     7.5     25

6.25             9        8        25.5

6.38             9.5     8.5     26

6,47             10      9        26.5

6,67             10.5   9.5     27

6.83             11      10      27.5

6.98             11.5   10.5   28

7.14             12      11      28.5

7.30             12.5   11.5   29

7.46             13      12      30

7.77             1        13      31

7.93             1.5     13      31.5

8.09             2        1        32.5

8.25             2.5     1.5     33

8.40             3        2        33.5

Beach vacation destinations

Nerja, on the Mediterranean, has crystal-clear water and gorgeous views.

There are so many excellent locations to visit for a weekend getaway to the beach! Everyone has a different idea of what they are looking for on a beach weekend, so I will just include some general ideas here to get you started:



WHEN TO GO: You may think summer is the only time to explore the coast, but winter can also be a good time to find great deals at all-inclusive hotels and resorts. The locations discussed here are all a few hours' drive from Rota, so any 3 or 4-day holiday weekend can make for a great opportunity.

 

WHERE TO GO: You might think the beach is the beach no matter where it is, but that is simply not true. Rota and Puerto have their charm as seaside towns with miles of wide, clean Atlantic beaches. But you can have a different experience a few hours down the coast. From this area, you can either head West to Southern Portugal, or East to Spain's Mediterranean coastline. Both will be discussed below.


HOW TO GET THERE: Driving is the easiest way to get to these locations. Southern Portugal's coast is about 3-4 hours from Rota, and the Mediterranean coast around Malaga is about 3 hours from Rota. One big point of caution--there are huge tolls along the roads going either to Portugal or to Spain's Mediterranean coast. When crossing the border into Portugal, you pull over and register your credit card at a toll booth. Your card will then be automatically charged at checkpoints every few miles along Portugal's toll highway. On the coastal highway to Malaga, the tolls are not automatic, so you have to go through the toll booth each time. They become higher as you move down the coast. At first it is just 5 Euro, then 10, then around Malaga I think there is a 15 Euro toll! You can use cash or card, but factor this into your trip budget.

Our backyard at a rented villa in Nerja!

WHERE TO STAY: It depends what experience you are looking for. These locations have beach-side all-inclusive hotels and resorts where you can spend the whole weekend, get a massage, book time in the spa, and then walk onto the beach at any time. You can also take advantage of indoor pools, proximity to restaurants, etc. If you have a large group, or prefer more privacy, then you can always rent a house through sites like flipkey.com or AirBnB.com.




WHY TO GO: Each city on the coast has its own specialties, scenery, and flavors. Here are some of the top destinations and reasons to visit them...

Southern Portugal
All of Southern Portugal has a dramatic coastline crowded with touristy beach towns. The biggest city is Faro, but most people prefer to drive the extra distance to Albuferia or Lagos. The coastline here has amazing rock formations and caves, some which can be enjoyed from the main public beaches, others which are best seen by private boat tours.
Americans love Southern Portugal for two other main reasons: #1. English is widely spoken. The Portuguese are mostly accepting of the fact that no one else speaks their language, so English is a common second language. You can also find English movies in theaters. And reason #2: The food is delicious. Unlike the Spanish, the Portuguese are not afraid of strong flavors. So of course there are plenty of delicious seafood dishes, but there are also spicy dishes like piri piri sauce.   

The beaches of Albuferia, Portugal are unique!

Boat tours in Lagos, Portugal

Spain's Mediterranean Coastline: Malaga, Estepona, Marbella, and Nerja

If you travel East, past Gibraltar, you will reach Spain's Mediterranean coastline. The major city is Malaga, but other popular destinations include Estepona and Marbella. This area, known as the Costa del Sol, is the beach destination of Spain rich and famous--TV and movie stars, artists, politicians, and anyone with a yacht. You can spend the day walking along some of the world's finest harbors, then enjoy some of the world's best seafood for lunch. If you are looking for an all-inclusive luxury resort, there are many to choose from in these locations.

Malaga has a bullring, Cathedral, futbal stadium, and lots of culture.

My kids playing in the pebble/sand. Good for sea glass searching, but not easy on the feet.

Coastline in Nerja-- dramatic cliffs and clear water

If you go past Malaga, you can find some smaller coastal towns that are still beautiful, but much more affordable, and a little bit slower-paced. We spent a weekend last summer in Nerja, just east of Malaga, and it was gorgeous. Part of our reason for going was to see and experience the Mediterranean, and we were not disappointed! It is truly different from the Atlantic Ocean: crystal-clear water, minimal waves, and pebbly beaches. And the food, WOW! We ate our lunches by the sea, and enjoyed grilled fish, squid, and paella.

Fish grilling over charcoal embers beachside in Nerja.

 Nerja is a small town. The main viewpoint is called the Balcon d'Europa (Balcony of Europe) which is in the center of town, on a high cliff that gives a panoramic view of the Mediterranean. The area is frequented by hikers, who sometimes spend the week hiking from one small coastal "white village" to the next. The mountains are very close to the beach, and Nerja and other coastal towns are actually built on mountain outcroppings. The coastal highway winds through many tunnels to reach each town.



The other main local attraction is the Caves of Nerja, (Cueva de Nerja). This is the site of some amazing limestone rock formations, as well as Prehistoric cave drawings that are some of the oldest known in the world. Unfortunately, you cannot see the carvings as that section is never open to the public. But just walking through the caves themselves is a cool experience. And every July, there is a concert series performed inside the caves, which would be a truly unique experience.

We had an amazing, memorable, relaxing, and delicious weekend in Nerja. But really, you can't go wrong with any of the coastal towns. I hope you get a chance to explore the coast of Spain and Portugal and enjoy some of the top beaches in the world!

Andalusia Day

February 28: Andalusia Day

            Andalusia Day is celebrated every February 28. It was this day in 1980 when the area of Southern Spain called Andalusia became an autonomous community of Spain. Schools and  businesses are usually closed, and school children will do some cultural activities or events to prepare for the day. The Andalusian flag is two green stripes and one white horizontal stripe, so you will see this everywhere. Some local towns have parades or cultural events to mark the day.

This is an excerpt from my book "Welcome to Rota," in the section that discusses Spanish culture and holidays.

Carnaval

The 'Welcome to Rota' book has a section explaining all the local holidays and fiestas. The text here is an excerpt from my book. The photos are not mine.

Carnaval

            The date for this celebration changes each year, because it is the week (or weeks) leading up to Ash Wednesday. Usually it is in late February or early March. In the United States, New Orleans is known for their Mardi Gras celebration. In Spain, Cádiz is the center of Carnaval activities. Carnaval is a riotous celebration of music, costumes, and of course food and drink. For a week or more, there are public and private celebrations in every town. Everyone dresses up in crazy costumes, similar to an adult Halloween party. There are parades, comedic musical performances, food tastings, and costume competitions. Transportation like busses and ferries run all night long to transport drunken revelers to and from the events. It is not a particularly child-friendly event, and in Cádiz especially there are huge pressing crowds. But there are smaller parades and celebrations in all the local towns, so you don’t have to go to Cádiz to join in some great fun. Rota and Puerto both have small celebrations, and Chipiona’s is particularly well-known and family-friendly.

 

In Cadiz, huge colorful floats covered with singers and performers process through crowded streets in the Grand Parade.

Food is an important part of Carnaval, and each city has different tasting opportunities.

Small performing groups are everywhere. They always dress in a similar theme, sometimes medieval, sometimes something like scary Halloween costumes, and other times just crazy colors. Also, men love to dress up as women at Carnaval.

Cities usually have at least one child-friendly event, like a children's parade.

Every city has a Carnaval Grand Master, a Queen, and her court of princesses. In Rota, the little girls are called ninfas.