Random Facts about Europe

I have been travelling around Europe for the last few months and I've learned a lot. I will be writing more about my experiences soon in a series about travelling in Europe for beginners. But first, here are some random things I learned about Europe:

Spain has over 8,000 beaches.

Castelldefels, Spain

There are ten Statues of Liberty in France, 5 of which are in Paris.

At the Tomatina festival in Buñol, Spain, people throw tomatoes at each other! Usually, about 150,000 tomatoes are thrown!!!

The word 'ciao' -hello and/or goodbye in Italian- literally means, "I am your slave".

France has some of the most ornate ceilings in the world. 

During the running of the bulls (San Fermin festival) in Pamplona, the city is so full that people sleep on the ground.

The metro in London is the second most expensive in Europe (Copenhagen being the first).

However, in London, museums are free (yes, THE British Museum is FREE to enter)!!!

Valcamonica, Italy has 300,000 petroglyphs. https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/94

Rock art from Foppe di Nadro, Valcamonica

The different regions of Spain have a hard time understanding each other's accents! The accents of Southern Spain are considered especially difficult to decipher. 

Paris has the most libraries in the world: 830.

In Italy, they make coffee with wine.

Spanish art has had a huge influence on modern culture: 

Gaudí (Art Nouveau)

Picasso (expressionism, cubism, surrealism)

Miró and Dalí (surrealism)

Casa Batllo, Barcelona, Spain, designed by Gaudi

The Eiffel Tower was supposed to be a temporary installation and many Parisians hated it when it was first erected since they thought it was quite ugly.

There is a huge Arab influence on culture, architecture, toponyms, etc. in many parts of Spain. Muslims ruled the southern territories of what are now known as Spain and Portugal for 8 centuries!!! Many place names, especially on the East coast and Andalusia. For example, Andalucia, Alicante, Almeria, Gibraltar, Guadalajara, the river Guadalquivir in Seville, Tarifa, La Mancha and more are derived from Arabic. (See here for more details: http://iberianature.com/spain_culture/2009/03/14/arabic-placenames-in-spain/).

Real Alcazar, Seville, Spain

In northern Italy, in Valcomonica, there is a mountain called Concarena, which has a notorious yonic gap; local legend has it that the mountain speaks to its lover, the adjacent phallic-shaped Pizzo Badile Camuno.

In bocca al lupo, "into the wolf's mouth" means good luck in Italian.

Spanish people eat the same thing for breakfast every day: tostadas, which is toasted bread with meat (usually ham) or cheese. 

Brussels has the largest freemason temple in Europe.

The Andalusians have a special way of clapping to accompany Flamenco music, which produces a distinct sound.

Flamenco dancer

The violin, piano, guitar and organ were invented in Italy.

The Italian alphabet doesn't include the letters J, K, W, X or Y.

Instead of a tooth fairy, Spanish folklore tells of El Raton Pérez, the "Tooth Rat," if you will.

You don't need a passport to travel between countries in Europe; the borders are free to cross.

Andorra is an independent principality (governed by two co-princes), situated between France and Spain.

Brussels sprouts have been grown in Belgium for over 700 years.

Rome is almost 3,000 years old.

From the southernmost point in Spain, you can see Tangiers, Africa!

The Brussels International Airport is the world's largest chocolate-selling point.

The national anthem of Spain has no words.