Don’t Forget You’re in Catalonia

Barcelona is the capital of a region with a unique history, culture and language of its own, and Catalans don’t like to be lumped in with the rest of Spain. The local population are proud of their distinctive identity. Most speak Catalan as their first language, and although almost everyone also speaks Spanish, they will appreciate you learning a few basic phrases and pleasantries in the local tongue. Don’t mistakenly call a Catalan a Spaniard. The 7 million strong region has long been struggling for independence, and a gaff like this might offend them to the core.