What are you having for breakfast this morning?

(c) Copyright Alberto Bullrich 2011

The old slogan 'Spain is different' that was used with enormous success to attract tourism in the 70s and 80s may or may not have included the subject of breakfast. Having a bar across the road (La Parada) makes it easy to enjoy the traditional desayuno of Andalucía: a slice (rebanada) of 'mountain' bread (pan moruno, amongst other names), some whirred up tomato, a clove of garlic (see Garlic is good for you) to rub on the warm toast, and good olive oil. Café con leche is pretty much a must as well, though a manzanilla (cammomile tea) might suit you better. There are variations to this basic breakfast, of course, including the addition of some slivers of jamón (ham - see Let's ham it up), or a different kind of bread (try a mollete, only just similar to a bap). And yes, you can get toast and mermelada - but this word is not as most of the English-speaking world knows as marmalade. The Spanish word means jam, so you will more likely be offered fresa (strawberry) or melocotón (peach) instead of naranja (orange), but that's another story.