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Not knowing the rules can always cause you some headaches. Sometimes what is normal in one place may be forbidden in another, or situations that may go unnoticed in most cities may be illegal in one particular city. This is no different when it comes to food and, as a result, sometimes having a bite to eat (or not having a bite to eat) can cost you a lot more than you think.
Be careful if you go to Santiago de Compostela
Pay close attention if you are going to visit Santiago de Compostela soon because there is a rule that not everyone knows but that can cost you a good fine. The well-known Plaza del Obradoiro has a restrictive rule, which prohibits those who walk there to eat or drink: no sandwiches, no soft drinks and no bags of chips. This is to prevent the square from becoming a hub for picnics and drinking bouts. If you do so, you risk a fine of up to 200 euros.
An absence can cost you a lot of money
Another situation you will have to be very careful about is restaurant reservations. In most places, you are allowed to make a reservation without having to pay for it or without having money withheld until you show up. However, there are establishments that do not follow this policy. In some of them, a certain amount is withheld in case you don’t show up for lunch or dinner. What is more unusual is that they charge you afterwards, but it is not impossible. One restaurant in San Sebastian, the Amelia, charged 510 euros to three diners who did not show up as booked and had to pay 170 euros per head. After suing the restaurant, the courts upheld the restaurant’s action and the diners had no choice but to pay the costs of the proceedings… and the bill they never consumed.
This is no country for hams
If you live outside Spain, you need to be careful about the food you take to your destination. A young Spaniard travelled to Spain on a working holiday and when he returned to Australia loaded with ham, chorizo and cheese, he was refused entry to the country, deported back to Spain and fined more than 2,000 euros. The reason? He had not declared that he was carrying a whole Spanish pantry in his suitcase, as Australian law is very strict about the type of food brought into the country. In addition, the young Spaniard lost the visa that allowed him to work in the country.
If you eat, don’t drive (at the same time)
When we go on long car journeys, snacks are always shared to liven up the journey and kill the appetite until we reach our destination. And of course, they are also shared with the driver. Although eating or drinking is not classified as an offence, you can be fined if you take your hands off the wheel. And the fine can range from 80 to 200 euros.
Avoid eating through the eyes at an all-you-can-eat buffet
Before we start eating at a buffet, we salivate and think about all the dishes we are going to be able to eat. However, if we eat too much, it can not only give us heartburn, but also cause problems for our wallet. This happened to some young Catalans who ordered too much food at a buffet and ended up with too many plates. As a result, they were fined by the restaurant. In total, they had to pay 181 euros… but at least they were able to take the food in a tupper.
