One of the first words anyone learns in Spanish is fiesta; and for good reason. If anyone knows how to party it's the Spanish. The running of the bulls in San Fermin is one of the best known festivals in all of Spain. The running, which began yesterday in Pamplona attracted some one million visitors this year. The festival involves revellers, loaded to the eyeballs on both adrenaline and alcohol running through the cobbled streets of Pamplona, trying to keep ahead of the six fighting bulls that are pursuing them. This year around 2000 people took part in the run. The bull run has been heavily criticised by animal activist groups such as PETA. On Thursday, Pamplona saw the "nude run"; a demonstration by animal rights activists who run the same course stark naked in order to highlight the cruelty of the event.

Tags: Bullfighting, Spain, Pamplona

What one realises very quickly when you live in Spain for a while is that many of the stereotypes we hold about the country are either false or ill-founded.

1. Sun & Beach
Maybe I should have known better when I arrived in Spain for the first time with a suitcase packed with shorts and t-shirts. Like many of the stereotypes that we'll see this one relates to south of Spain. Anyone who has spent anytime in Burgos outside the summer months will note that the temperatures can be baltic. In fact, it is considered to be one of the coldest cities in all of Spain. Rather than being a negative the Spanish climate has the up side of offering a wide range of landscapes from the rain soaked hills of Asturias and Galicia (the Ireland of Spain in more ways than one), the dry heat of the central plain, and the hot and humid southern and western coasts.

2. Bullfighting
While it is true that bullfighting remains a multi-million euro enterprise in Spain the popularity of the activity is on the decrease. With the increase in animal rights awareness people are less prone to calling it a sport and more to referring to it as slaughter. Whichever side of the fence your on the reality is the once popular family outing is going the way of the dodo.

3. The siesta
This is another activity that has seen a decline in recent years. In the metropolitan cities of Barcelona and Madrid it is near impossible to take a midday nap, since most places have adopted a northern European timetable. The siesta is has a strong link to the local climate. Since it is almost impossible to work outside in the searing heat of places like Granada and Seville the locals will use this time to recharge the batteries. Although Burgos becomes a ghost town between the hours of 3 and 5 it is more because people are taking their incredibly long lunch breaks. Of course, there is the odd person that will take this opportunity to catch some Zs.

4. Sangria
I have maybe drank sangria a total of 6 times in Spain and at least half of those times were in the company of foreigners. The Spanish are wine lovers to the bone and also like their beer. Calimocho is the drink of choice for teenagers in Spain. It is a mix of coke and cheap wine; guaranteed to get you plastered and give you a hangover to match.

5. Flamenco
Flamenco is a style of music localised in the provinces of Andalusia and to a lesser degree Extremedura in the south of Spain. If you go to the north of Spain you have a much better chance of finding some Irish trad music than flamenco. And as for Spanish women being able to dance Sevillanas (flamenco dance) it is another stereotype, although I know a fair few Spanish women that are not afraid to give it a go. Hey, hand ups any Irish lads or lasses that haven't given Riverdance a go after a rake of pints?

On the other hand there are many stereotypes that hold true for the most part. The Spanish are full-blooded footie fanatics. Many a Spanish person will live with their parents well into their 30s. And of course they are passionate about their food and wine.

Tags: Spain, Spanish, stereotypes, flamenco, siesta, Bullfighting, sangria, beach, music