They are very big on recycling here in Spain.  It was not our direct intention when coming here to reduce our carbon footprint, however, it is what happened.   We mostly eat fresh, no processed foods, which minimizes what we throw away.  You would be amazed how much waste is packaging.  

They do not have a trash day where you take your trash cans out to the street.  There are huge multicolored recycling bins everywhere that you deposit your trash when your bins are full.  They are broken down as follows:

• Gray:    All that cannot be recycled
• Brown:    Organics (eggshells, fruit/veggies waste, etc.)
• Green:  Glass (without caps)
• Yellow:  Plastics/cans (well crushed)
• Blue:     Paper/Cardboard (folded or well crushed)

We created bins in the apartment where I separate the trash and when full, we take them down to the bins on the street.  Took some getting used to, but we got the hang of it.  You can teach an old dog new tricks.  

Spanish time is alive and well in Spain and after three months, we are still adjusting.  Here is the schedule I have sort of figured out – so far….  Most stores don’t open until 10:00-11:00am and then they close around 1:00-2:00pm.  They open again around 5:00pm and close around 8:00pm.  Restaurants are a totally different story.  As for breakfast, I don’t know, we are not up that early anymore (have to love retirement).  They start serving around 1:00pm until 4:00-4:30pm.  If they remain open after 4:30, they will serve you a drink (coffee, wine, beer, etc.) and maybe you can get something sweet, but no food.  They start serving food again around 8:00pm.  Not exactly sure what time they close – we don’t stay up that late.  

Since it doesn’t get dark until 9:30pm the later time schedule makes sense.  We have fallen into the routine of eating our “dinner” or larger meal between 2:00-4:00pm, and then have something light in the evening.  Love me some tapas!!!