Spanish sketches: First impressions Trade, culture, and everyday life

My arrival in L'Alfàs del Pi coincided almost perfectly with the first meeting of the Strategic Economic Dialogue between Azerbaijan and Spain held in Baku. The cooperation between the two countries promises great potential, so in today’s report, I will share both about this and my trip.

How to increase trade?

A large delegation arrived in Baku, led by María Amparo López Senovilla, the Secretary of State for Trade at Spain's Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Business. The purpose of the visit was to participate in this significant event. As a result of the meeting, the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Business of the Kingdom of Spain signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Strategic Economic Cooperation.

The implementation of this document will contribute to diversifying bilateral business ties, increasing investments, transferring technologies and knowledge, sharing experiences, and promoting joint initiatives. Spain is one of Azerbaijan’s key economic partners in the European Union, which means that the two countries have significant potential for increasing trade turnover. In 2022, it exceeded 1 billion dollars, but by 2023, it had decreased to 899 million dollars, and in 2024, it dropped further to 310 million dollars.

Such a decrease is explained by the fact that in 2022, Azerbaijan supplied significant volumes of crude oil to Spain. However, after the completion of the contract, trade volumes between the two countries shrank. Nonetheless, Spain remains energy-dependent, importing 80% of the energy it consumes (including almost all its gas and oil). This creates opportunities for renewing contracts for the supply of Azerbaijani oil, which would be delivered by tankers.

However, what is even more important is the development of non-oil sectors of trade, such as agriculture. Spain is one of the world leaders in the cultivation of olives, tobacco, and citrus fruits. On the way from Valencia to Alfas del Pi, you can see endless orange plantations, and lemon trees are almost in every garden.

Interestingly, many French and Italian products are available in local supermarkets, with some French food items often being cheaper than Spanish ones. How is this possible? It’s simple: France, being part of the EU, effectively protects its market from an oversupply of goods from other European countries, while actively promoting its products in Spain and other EU markets.

The largest trading partner of Spain in the EU is France, and a significant portion of its exports to this country consists of raw materials for wine production. Spain holds first place in the world for vineyard area, and the French actively buy Spanish wine raw materials, which they then use to produce their famous wines. Interestingly, they sell them at a higher price than the Spanish wines. Quite the story.

Hasta Mañana and siesta: What you need to get used to

To truly describe Spain, you need to travel across the entire country—something that takes time. For now, I’ll share my first impressions, which are as positive as the Spanish people themselves. They are friendly, always ready to help, and quick to strike up a conversation. However, many foreigners are surprised by their lack of obsession with high earnings. When faced with a choice between work and leisure, Spaniards will often choose the latter. No, they are not lazy—they simply know how to enjoy life.

That’s why you shouldn't be surprised if even the simplest matters take time to resolve. Need an internet connection in a rented apartment? A technician arrives, inspects everything, smiles, and leaves. Then another comes, does the same, and also leaves. If they want to postpone the issue, you might hear the familiar "Hasta Mañana", meaning "See you tomorrow."

Combined with Europe’s well-known bureaucratic sluggishness, this results in simple permits taking weeks—or even months—to process. Even an email sent on a Friday after 3:00 PM won’t get a response anytime soon—after all, the weekend is ahead. You might hear back on Monday. Or Tuesday. Hasta Mañana.

In summer, siesta adds another layer to this rhythm of life—a midday break lasting several hours, deeply ingrained in Spanish culture.

Despite this laid-back approach, the standard of living is quite high. You just have to adjust to the fact that most shops close after 7:00 PM. The only ones open later are usually run by Chinese immigrants, but even they have reduced hours on weekends. As for the Spaniards, many prefer not to open their shops at all on Saturdays and Sundays.

Supermarkets, prices, and the cost of living

Supermarkets are open daily, along with well-organised markets offering a variety of fresh produce. Large strawberries cost around €4 per kilogram, oranges go for €5 per 4 kilograms, and delicious local tomatoes are priced at €1.20 per kilogram. A six-pack of corn can be bought for just €1.

What surprised me in Spanish supermarkets? First, the coffee selection is much smaller than in Ukraine. On the other hand, the variety of ready-made broths is remarkable—they come in juice carton-like packaging for €1.20 per litre, with options like mushroom, beef, chicken, and fish. The seafood selection is impressive and, surprisingly, cheaper than in Baku. However, finding familiar sausages is a challenge—so far, no sign of my favourite Krakowska sausage. But, as expected, jamón is available in abundance. A 1.5-litre bottle of high-quality local milk costs €1.75.

Dining out is considerably more expensive than in Baku or Kyiv. A meal for four in a pizzeria can easily exceed €100.

As for salaries, from 1 January 2024, the minimum wage in Spain is €1,134 per month in 14 payments per year or €1,323 in 12 payments. Based on personal experience, utility costs for a three-bedroom apartment range from €120 to €140 per month. Living on a minimum wage is feasible without skimping on food—but only if you own your home.

Rent is a different story. Newcomers to Spain face steep housing costs, with rental prices starting at €700–800 and climbing into the thousands per month. But more on that in the final part of the report.