Spain's language is one of the most spoken languages in the world today.
Spain is highly renowned for its interesting culture, which draws from both Arabic and traditional European influences. Spanish days are very different from American days. Most Spaniards go to work early in the morning. Then, around one or two in the afternoon, they take a siesta, or nap for about two hours. It's not surprising for most Spanish shops to be closed during this hour. For Spanish people, lunch is the most important meal of the day. Breakfast and dinner are traditionally small meals. For dinner, many people go out for tapas, or appetizers: for example, gazpacho, squid, or cold cuts.
For entertainment, some Spaniards go to bullfights, held in bullfighting rings in almost every major city. The matador is almost universally recognized with his elaborate garments and his red cape. Click on the matador below for some quick info on the art of bullfighting.
Spaniards also hold sports very close to their hearts, especially futbol (soccer). We won the Euro 2008 championship, beating Germany 1-0, on a goal from Fernando Torres (he's in the center of the picture, #9). Other Spanish sporting triumphs include winning the World Championships in 2007, and Rafa Nadal's incredible tennis wins at Wimbledon, Roland Garros, and the Olympics in 2008.
Spanish cinema has recently won critical acclaim also, with directors Alejandro Amenabar and Pedro Almodovar directing masteful films. The video below is from Almodovar's recent movie, Volver, starring Penelope Cruz.