Clemson University - Traditions That Make Up The Football Spirit

November 19th, 2008

People have different traditions. Out of the many things that are unexpected in a day, these are things or events that people look forward to in a year. People never forget it because it is a practice done for years. These traditions stir people and contribute to one of the most memorable moments in their life. It is a chance to have fun. It is as if out of the normal things done in their everyday life, they get to do away with it to make the day extra especial because of this traditions.

For example, Christmas always happen on the 25th day of December. Traditionally, we put up Christmas trees and beautifully wrapped presents for the family (normally opened in the morning). Bountiful meals are prepared for the family to gather them together and celebrate the Holidays. Kids also enjoy Halloween. Part of the tradition is the trick or treating. Kids get a chance to collect bags of goodies simply by wearing a costume and by knocking on the doors of your neighbors. The 4th of July will never be complete without fireworks and cookouts. This time of the year, people leave their works and spend time at a local park with family and friends to celebrate together Independence Day. We have so many traditions that run in different cultures and mind you, there are traditions in sports, particularly in football.

College football teams like Auburn Tigers have a unique tradition. One of it is the Tiger Walk. If you ask if there are real tigers walking in this occasion, no there will be none. It is only fans and supporters waiting to greet their home team while they parade, 2 hours before the game, on their way to the football stadium. Fans stay in the Donahue Avenue where they wait to see their favorite team pass by.

Other top traditions in football are not only about events but it is something that we commonly see during the games. Without them, it would not feel like football at all. In every game, there are the sexy cheerleaders who perform stunts to liven the spirit of the team and the crowd. Cheering and songs are always part of the football theme. There are also mascots running around with the pep squad. They are usually representation of the name of the team. Football will never be one without the marching bands. They add to the deafening sound of the stadium but they make the people go wild. There will also be no football when there are no fans. They are essential part of any game because they either lift or dump the spirits of the team. Without them, the sport just becomes very dull.

All of these are important factors in establishing the spirit of football. Auburn Tigers may have a unique tradition that other teams try to copy, but without the others, football is not complete. Other sports may have different rituals before the game. They may do away with the stadium but essentially the people makes the game more interesting.

Freddie Brister is a huge fan of the SEC and the Auburn Tigers. His love for the game of football started with an older brother passing the pigskin around in the backyard with cousins and neighborhood friends. He later played in high school, college and coached high school football for 25 years, before retiring to write for Sports Fan Treasures. Check out his Auburn Merchandise.

Lotto Lie #6

November 19th, 2008

This is the sixth article in the Lotto Lies series. The lottery is a very popular game played by people all over the world. It’s fun, exciting and easy to play and, if played responsibly, it’s inexpensive and not going to cause financial harm to anyone playing. So, when someone asks me for my Best Lottery Advice, I tell them to play the lottery for fun and entertainment.

Playing the lottery is a personal choice and I have no problem with anyone that chooses not to play. However, I’m amused by the reasons that some people give for not playing. That’s why I’ve included Lotto Lie #6 in the series. Lotto Lie #6 is the lie people give themselves.

Lotto Lie #6 – I don’t play the lottery because that’s gambling.

Ooooh PLeeeease!

Now, if someone doesn’t gamble because of some deep, heartfelt religious belief, I’m fine with that and even respect their decision. But, many times I sense that such statements are made by people who believe that they are somehow superior and are staking out a claim to some moral high ground. The fact is they are so out of touch with reality, they don’t even realize they are lying to themselves.

A Morally Superior Checklist

Here’s a partial checklist you can use to help distinguish the self proclaimed moralist from an actual true believer.

#1: Do they have an IRA or participate in a retirement investment plan through their employer? Here they are taking a large portion of their income and choosing which Mutual Fund to place it in. Many people can’t even tell you what Mutual Fund their money is in. If they can, they have probably never seen the prospectus. Their hope is, as it is with most of us, that the Mutual Fund will do well, but there is no guarantee.

#2: Do they invest in any stocks or bonds? Many people take their discretionary income and buy stocks and bonds as a hedge against inflation. Some do it because they fancy themselves as the next Warren Buffet and are going to make a killing on Wall Street. Regardless of their motivation or delusions, there is no guarantee.

#3: Do they buy Gold or other precious metals as a hedge against inflation? Doing so is a highly recommended strategy and, if they have the resources, they should do so. But, as is the case with all things, the prices go up and the prices come down. There is no guarantee.

#4: Do they have Insurance? Now, let’s see. There is Life Insurance, Health Insurance, Disability Insurance, Home Owner’s Insurance, Fire Insurance, Flood Insurance, Earthquake Insurance, Subsidence Insurance, Car Insurance, Renter’s Insurance, Boat Owner’s Insurance, Business Insurance, etc. In fact, you can find a short list on Wikipedia of 76 different kinds of Insurance. Insurance is a bit different, though. With Insurance you’re spending money for something you hope will not happen. But, there is no guarantee it won’t.

#5: Are they buying a home or investment property? Anyone who has ever done this was hoping that the property value would go up; not down. Given the resent housing crisis, how many people’s gamble paid off? Prices go up and prices come down. There is no guarantee.

Gambling Means No Guarantee

Insurance Actuaries can tell you what the odds are that you will have an accident on your way to work if you live in Slippery Rock, Arkansas. Therefore, you must be gambling every time you go to work. You are gambling when you go to the super market. Is the meat tainted? We live in a world that is filled with risk and, whenever you take a risk you are gambling. Whenever you spend money without a guarantee, you are gambling.

For those that have so deluded themselves into believing that they have staked out the moral high ground because they don’t gamble, please, do the rest of us a favor. Get in your insured car, drive back to your insured home, see how your IRA is doing, check out the status of your stock portfolio and pat yourself on the back for having the moral strength not to play the lottery. But, spare us the lecture. Spare us the moral platitudes.

So, if you are playing the lottery, the Best Lottery Advice I can give anyone is to have fun, enjoy the game and use the Best Lottery Software you can find.

Look for the seventh article in the Lotto Lies series; “Best Lottery Software – Using software is cheating.”

Professor Dolph is a world-famous lottery expert, lecturer and columnist. For more information about this article, visit his website at Best Lottery Software or follow his daily Lotto Blog where he discusses how to improve your chances of winning the lottery. Come and visit, you?ll learn at lot. apd1001006

The Pride Of New Orleans The Story Of The New Orleans Saints

November 19th, 2008

New Orleans, this city is known for its colorful culture. From its distinguished food to its swinging music, it is without a doubt that this place sets itself apart from other states in the country. But being unique on its own, it would not be complete without the traditional United States Stamp. No we are not talking about the sticky paper you attach to your snail mail. We are talking about a National Football League Team!

The NFL is something which the whole America goes crazy about. Indeed if its not basketball or baseball, nothing grits the real American Spirit like football. Somehow the Super Bowl leaves almost the whole male population of the country in stop in front of the television. And New Orleans, being a unique city as it is, would not leave itself behind without its New Orleans Saints.

This team is not new to the National Football League History. They have been around as early as 1967 and have continued to operate as the state’s premier team in the said league. The team may have had its rough parts but it has somehow crawled in to make itself one of the league’s known teams. Their gold logo indeed strikes a pose, and is easily known by football enthusiast. This team is considered as the 16th team in the history of the NFL and its official start was announced at the New Orleans’ Ponchartrain Hotel. It was without a doubt that this would be something which would have made the headlines of the newspapers and television shows alike. A month after the announcement of the team going professional in the league, John W. Mecom, Jr. was proclaimed as President, as he was also the major stockholder of the whole franchise. Of course, a team would not be complete without its coach. The team had Tom Fears named as its first ever franchise coach to lead the team towards its battles in the NFL.

Like any other team, the Saints did have their struggles in their early years. Yes, they did have their wins, but they were battling against frequent loses. But like any fighting team, they struggled in order to name themselves as one of the competing and respectable teams in the league. They had a belief that in order to win, you have to get the right people. Draft picks gave them the advantage of getting the best players. For coaches, they would do their best in order to continuously have the best coaching staff there was. In the year 2007, it was with no doubt that Sean Payton, the team’s coach was named as the NFL’s coach of the year. He was also the man who brought the team to their first ever championship match. The team went strong at the start, but unfortunately was still defeated in the end.

Football is without a doubt like water and blood to its enthusiast. And for this great country, no state would leave itself behind in this great circle of competition. The Saints does without a doubt; ensure that the state is well represented.

Rick Grantham is an avid sports fan. Most of Rick’s articles focus on memorabilia sport. Many articles are related to baseball memorbilia and other sports related topics. Rick is a contributing author to BooYah Village

How To Strengthen Your Body To Avoid Injuries

November 19th, 2008

Many of us play sports for recreational fun, or for competition. You may think that being active is enough to take care of your body but the thing is, you are susceptible to injuries when you are playing a lot of sports if you don’t employ the proper measures. If you want to prolong your sporty lifestyle, or have a shot at playing for the New England Patriots, then there are certain guidelines that you should follow so that an injury won’t hinder you from your plans.

In any sport, it is quite painful to see any great player have his career cut short because of an injury and what more if this happened to you. You’ll hear countless stories about how promising college athletes lost their chances to get into the big leagues because of a serious injury. If you are planning to get into a university or the pros, it is important to know that injuries could make organizations hesitant to get you regardless of your talent, or you would have less leverage in your contract. A lot of athletes are given short term contracts because the organization would fear their injuries would render them useless most of the time and would only take up the team’s resources. While injuries are inevitable, here are a few precautionary measures to avoid them.

Pumping Iron

Just because you are lifting weights, doesn’t mean that you have to grow in to a large and bulky hulk. There are a lot of new programs out there that cater specifically to a particular sport. These programs would help train your body to get used to the strain and movements that your sport requires, and highlight the needed skills for it. Weights could increase your agility, speed, and stamina. With stronger muscles, your body has better support for movements such as running, jumping, pivoting, and laterals.

Always warm-up

Warming up correctly before a game or training is very crucial if you want to avoid injuries. Make sure you are able to stretch your muscles properly, and heat them enough so that you don’t pull, twist, or tear them. Warming up does not only help you avoid injuries, but it helps you bring your “A” game as well because you can move a lot better. When warming up, it’s important that you remember to do it the right way. Doing it wrong would prove to be detrimental to your goals either you overdid it, or stretched the wrong muscles.

These are just a few things that could help you avoid injuries. It is always best to consult a doctor on certain exercises and he or she would also know whether you need extra gear such as arch support, knee braces, and back support. Everyone’s body is built differently and the impact of certain sports is different with every individual. With a healthy body and the proper preparation, you’d be able to call yourself an athletic machine like iron men just like the NBA’s A.C. Green.

Rick Grantham is an avid sports fan. Most of Rick’s articles focus on sports collectors. Many articles are related to mlb gifts and other sports related topics. Rick is a contributing author to BooYah Village

The Vikings In Popular Culture

November 19th, 2008

During the late 8th to 11th century, warriors known as the Vikings conquered a number of territories throughout Europe. They are popularly known for their helmets with horns (although this is inaccurate), and their big ships. In a lot of societies, Vikings have been symbols of strength, invincibility, and pure testosterone. This is the reason why a number of organizations, groups, and individuals have used Norse elements in their activities.

Vikings in Sports

One of the most popular teams in the world that use Vikings for their name and mascot are the Minnesota Vikings. They are a member of the north division of the NFL. They have won division titles 16 times in their franchise history and have won a single NFL championship. Fans would sport Helga hats, which have horns and blonde braids.

Vikings in Music

The market of music has become so segmented that there already are so many sub-genres, some of which are quite unknown. No longer can an artist or band say they play “rock”, because there are so many divisions of rock such as punk rock, psychedelic rock, classic rock, funk rock, and jazz rock. This is also true when it comes to metal. There are sub-genres such as speed metal, alternative metal, black metal, metal core, doom metal, math metal, and even Viking metal. Yes you heard it right! Viking metal is a genre that is characterized by the Viking age, Norse Mythology, and Viking fashion. The music itself uses a lot of “gallop” pace, and a significant role by the keyboard. The band Bathory were the ones that pioneered this genre of metal. These Swedish metal heads were the inspiration to another notable Viking metal band called Enslaved.

Vikings in Movies

There have been a lot of movies that have either included norse elements, or used it as their main theme. One example of this is the movie pathfinder. It is a story of a young norse lad that was abandoned by his Viking group in the Americas. In the movie, they claim that America was actually first conquered by Vikings (although this is pretty much historically inaccurate). The young boy grew up with Native Americans and is part of the prophecy. He would vanquish the Vikings (called dragon men by the Native Americans) and lead the natives to salvation. The lead role is played by Karl Urban, who also appeared in two films of the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

If you feel an affinity towards the Vikings then go ahead and be one. Whether you want to portray them with historical accuracy, or the way they are in pop culture, then go ahead. They truly are symbols are might so if you feel like you are quite the conqueror, Norse culture is the way to go. It’s a free country and you can go around wearing a Viking gear in malls and what not. If you are hesitant just jump in and try it out, you never know how therapeutic and liberating it would feel to do so.

Rick Grantham is an avid sports fan. Most of Rick’s articles focus on sports memorbilia. Many articles are related to baseball shopping and other sports related topics. Rick is a contributing author to BooYah Village

Some Of The Greatest Athletes In History

November 19th, 2008

In any sport, there are always players that never fail to shine. They have been able to be role models to athletes all over the world, and have achieved great feats in their respective sports. For any aspiring athlete, looking at the careers of these great players truly serve inspirational. They even would help getting kids off the street because of the sheer greatness they exude. Whether they encourage people to engage in sports consciously or unconsciously,

Bo Jackson

He is arguably the best athlete ever. One of the greatest things ever achieved in sports was for him to play in two different sports and actually do well in them. He was named an all-star in both the NFL and Major League Baseball. It’s hard enough to shine and be an all-star in one sport, what more in two?

Dan Marino

When mentioning the NFL or American football in general, it is hard not to think about the name Dan Marino. Although he never won a Super Bowl for the Miami Dolphins, he is regarded to be one of the greatest quarter backs in the history of the NFL. He held numerous records (some of which are already broken) such as most yards passing, most seasons, 40 or more touchdown passes, most seasons leading the league in completions, and the list goes on and on.

Muhammad Ali

“Floats like a butterfly stings like a bee” is one of the most famous quotes made by an athlete and this athlete is no other than Cassius Clay, more popularly known as Muhammad Ali. Some people argue that he may have been the greatest athlete to ever walk the earth. While that is debatable, it is no question that he is one of the greatest. His speed combined with power overwhelmed his opponents in boxing, but one of his best weapons was his ability to intimidate. People would usually see him very arrogant before a match, and he would start bashing his opponents with his words. This doesn’t mean that he was overconfident, but this was his way of getting into the mind of his opponent. This is a tactic that is employed by a lot of great athletes, but it is hard to pull of for the ones that cannot back it up.

Michael Jordan

In basketball, he was given a lot of nicknames such as “his airness”, “superman” and the one that probably fits him best, “the greatest”. Although he is now regarded to be the greatest player to ever play the game of basketball, it wasn’t always the though in the minds of people. He was cut from his high school team, and he was only 3rd overall when he was drafted in the NBA. He wasn’t always the best in basketball, but his competitiveness and his drive to win were the crucial factors that got him to where he is today. Whether there is a player that will be able to surpass the feats and achievement of his airness is yet to be seen, and probably something that won’t happen too soon.

Rick Grantham is an avid sports fan. Most of Rick’s articles focus on sports memoribilia. Many articles are related to baseball memorabilia and other sports related topics. Rick is a contributing author to BooYah Village

How To Avoid Sports Injuries

November 19th, 2008

A lot of us have seen great players having their career ended by an injury. While some of them are unavoidable, most can be prevented. Athletes always run the risk of getting an injury, or aggravating an existing one. This is a reality in sports and it can’t be ignored or taken for granted. If you are an athlete and want to have a long healthy career, then you should take the necessary precautions in order to avoid injuries.

Before you even dream of playing for the Kansas City Chiefs, there are a few measures you should take in order to get yourself there as a healthy athletic machine. A university or a professional team scout would look into injuries and this is a big part of their consideration. Any existing injuries may either render you ineligible for their team, or give you less leverage with your contract. Here are a few tips on how to avoid injuries.

Proper warm up

This is one of the most important things that an athlete must do. Before a game or training, you must be able to do the proper warm up. Your muscles are still in a “cold” condition when you are not warmed up and it may lead to strain, pulls, or even tears if they are not properly warmed up. Make sure you consult your training coach on the warm up exercises so that you are conditioned before the game, and so that you don’t overdo it as well.

Weight training

There are people that have the old fashioned mentality about weight training wherein your goal is to get the biggest body possible. This is no longer true and there are a lot of sport-specific programs that you can do. There are programs that are aimed to increase agility, flexibility, endurance, and explosive movement. These sport-specific programs train your body to adapt to the way you move in your sport.

Regular check-ups

You may never know when a starting point for an injury is already in place. There are times when you have partially torn something but have completely no idea about it. Check with your doctor regularly so that any of these things can be spotted immediately and given the required attention. Another thing is that we all have different body conditions and types. A lot of injuries happen because of pre-existing conditions. Let’s say you’re flat-footed. This affects your balance and gives a lot of stress on your ankles and knees. These two are very crucial in most sports. The doctor would be able to prescribe you the proper equipment to fix such problems.

These are only some of the things that you can do in order to avoid any type of injury. If you are aiming towards a fruitful career in your sport, then it is quite crucial that you take care of your body, and avoid any type of injury. In sports, injuries are inevitable but it is best that you are able to contain them. If you feel that you have certain weaknesses, then you should be able to work on them.

Rick Grantham is an avid sports fan. Most of Rick’s articles focus on sports collectibles. Many articles are related to baseball gift ideas and other sports related topics. Rick is a contributing author to BooYah Village

Spooky Game Countdown

November 19th, 2008

In lieu of my normal review routine I’ve decided to give you, my few but faithful readers, a staple of videogame journalism… The list. That’s right, Folks! With Halloween right around the corner I’m bringing you my favorite horror games of all time to help get you in the candy-seeking, costume-wearing spirit. So, without further ado, let’s begin!

10.) Splatterhouse (TG16-1990): The side-scrolling gorefest offered gallons of blood courtesy of the weapon-wielding, mask-wearing boyfriend of a kidnapped girl. Although the game is 18-years-old, it’s still mentioned as a prime example of early horror and a reason to dust off your TurboGrafx-16.

9.) Maniac Mansion (NES-1987): A group of kids stumble upon a creepy mansion which leads to one of the most innovative adventure games of the late ’80s. The use of multiple endings, creative scripting, and selectable characters with unique abilities made this the NES game to have if you were looking for a scare and a challenge.

8.) Manhunt (PS2, Xbox-2003): Sneaking in the shadows and finding creative and disgusting ways to execute crazy gang members is fun. Dispatching your victims while a creepy voice whispers words of homicidal encouragement in your ear makes this a memorable piece of horror history.

7.) Zombies Ate My Neighbors (SNES, Gen-1993): The game was cartoony and offered weapons like six-packs and squirt guns, but the screams of fallen victims and chainsaw wielding maniacs still send shivers up my spine. Scare factor aside, ZAMN offers solid gameplay that’s still relevant in today’s market.

6.) System Shock 2 (PC-1999): In the early days of first-person shooters, nothing stood out more than Electronic Arts’ second installment of their “System Shock” series. Wandering around a starship inhabited by infected beings makes for one nail-biting adventure.

5.) BioShock (X360, PC-2007): Wandering through the underwater city of Rapture redefined the horror shooter. With scripted scenes, insane villains and the hulking Big Daddy, “BioShock” is a must play for those of you who enjoy not sleeping.

4.) F.E.A.R. (PC, X360, PS3-2005/2007): Alma, Alma, Alma … you crafty kid. That creepy little girl springs up around every corner making sure that each action-packed gun battle is a relaxing funfest compared to the nervous tension she causes.

3.) Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem (GameCube-2002): The game can be summed up in one single word… “Insanity.” This innovative action game continually messed with your mind by displaying controller error failures, memory card messages, or just having your character’s head fall off. Pure genius!

2.) Dead Rising: (X360-2006): You’re trapped in a shopping mall filled with zombies and anything in your sight can be used as a weapon to crush, shoot or decapitate them. The open world environment and classic zombie-esque moments made this Capcom title a rock-solid choice for undead lovers everywhere.

1.) Resident Evil 4 (GameCube-2005): It looks like Capcom tops the list, and with good reason. RE4 improved on everything that went wrong in the previous titles in the series and brought unprecedented graphics to a system that was only used for cartoon plumbers. As the release of RE5 draws ever closer, we can only wait in nervous anticipation to see what the evil Umbrella Corporation will do next.

Ryan Clouse writes for a syndicated newspaper column as well as UGT-Servers.? To get more game reviews, and an outstanding deal on ventrilo server hosting, please visit UGT.servers.com.

Preschool Printable Calendars - An Easy Way to Preserve Your Child’s Memories

November 19th, 2008

If you have a little guy or gal at home you know how valuable simple tools like preschool printable calendars can be. You can use these convenient and widely available resources to help your preschooler learn about the passage of time, the flow of the seasons, numbers, the alphabet and so much more. A decorated preschool calendar is a very fun and easy teaching device for a parent to incorporate into every day life.

However, with a little creativity, you can use these calendars to do so much more. One excellent idea is to use your preschool calendars to develop a written log of your child’s life. By simply being intentional with the usage of your calendars, you can have a long term written and visual record of your child’s preschool years.

Here’s how it works.

1. Keep track of the basics.

Every parent loves to remember the milestones in their child’s life and rightly so. Growth patterns such as height, weight, etc., doctor’s appointments, and that first dental visit all can be documented on the preschool calendar. Why keep track of these things twice - once on your personal calendar and then rewritten in a baby book? Print out a preschool calendar each month, fill it out and decorate it together with your child according to the month or season and keep track of all monthly events concerning your preschooler in one place.

2. Developmental growth.

Hang your preschool calendar in a convenient place where you can use it everyday, first of all to teach your child about the date and days of the week, secondly to jot down developmental notes in real time.

Who are your preschooler’s friends at this stage of life? What parties did your child attend (or give)? Make notes on outings, weather, favorite toys, new vocabulary; all of those precious, sweet moments that will tug at your heart forever. This is the official written record of your child’s life. Use it everyday and be generous with your notes. These will be your memory joggers in future years. Your words are priceless!

3. Assemble and enjoy.

As the months roll along, keep each of your preschool printable calendars in a scrapbook. Add scrap booking pages for additional material and pictures, if you like. Setting aside just one morning or afternoon a month to assemble pictures and pop them onto pages for your book is all it will take to keep your child’s life book current, accurate and satisfying. The key to this whole idea is that you are going to do most of this ‘work’ anyway, as a course of daily life, so simply do it in such a way as to preserve it easily.

Believe me, your preschooler will be delighted as she watches ‘her’ book grow and grow. This will also help her understand difficult concepts such as time passage and help her put her seasonal experiences into a context she can muse over again and again.

This method is an easy and fun way to record all the details in your young child’s life with very little hassle. You can do a search on the web for preschool printable calendars or see my resource box below for free ones. Get started today preserving your preschooler’s daily fun!

Colleen Langenfeld has been parenting for over 27 years and helps other moms enjoy mothering more at http://www.paintedgold.com . Visit her website now and get your preschool printable calendars today.

The 3 Worst Tourist Traps in Madrid

November 19th, 2008

Yes, Madrid is one of the greatest cities in the world, but like any other place, it of course has its flaws. But, if you are smart and research in advance you can avoid getting disappointed when you visit the Spanish capital.

I have written a bit about a few tourist pitfalls in Madrid so you can avoid doing the same mistake as so many tourists have done in the past. Please feel free to check out the tips below and make sure that you don’t fall into the same tourist traps as other tourists.

Ready? Here’s three of the worst tourist traps in Madrid:

1. Don’t eat or drink on any of the restaurants in Plaza Mayor.

When you’re taking in the attractive Plaza Mayor, you might feel thirsty. You may feel hungry. You may be tempted to order some tapas and ice cold cerveza (beer) on one of the many restaurants and caf?s lining the plaza. Please try to resist the urge! The prices are extremely inflated and the quality is so-so. A coffee for an arm and a leg? Paella in exchange for your lung? It’s no good for any traveller who appreciates value for money. The restaurants around Plaza Mayor is the perfect place to practice your “No, gracias”!

2. Do not go to Madrid’s Amusement Park and/or Warner Brother’s Park

Thrill-seeker are ya? Looking for the rush of the wind in your hair and a roller coaster throwing you upside down at record speeds? Go to Six Flags when you get home. Madrid still has lots to learn when it comes to amusement parks, and these options are not only disappointing, they’re fantastically overpriced. Basically you will end up paying through the nose for something very sub-adequate. Be smart, save your money, and stay away.

3. Don’t tip - There is absolutely no need to tip!

Yes, you may be used to tipping where you are from. But in Spain there are other customs. You are not, I repeat, NOT expected to tip in Spain as you would in the USA. There is no “15 to 20%” on your bill. Yes, they still get a good wage even if you do not tip them! However, it is customary to leave/give some spare change, a few 10 cent coins at most, in restaurants and to taxi drivers. If you’ve really enjoyed the service, or someone has been particularly great, you can give him or her more, but the maximum would be a euro, and even that might be considered excessive.

That’s it. I recommend everyone to visit the Spanish capital in their lifetime. But it is a shame to waste the vacation by being scammed or falling into the tourist traps that cynical businessmen has set up for unknowing tourists. If you can avoid these tourist traps your trip to Madrid has already improved its chances of being a success.

Ken Sand has very little money and like to show you how to have an inexpensive vacation in Madrid. At budget travel guide Dirt Cheap Madrid you can see a quick list of the worst tourist traps in Madrid.