The main language spoken in La Rioja is Castellano (Castilian). Castellano is another word for "Spanish," the language most people speak in Spain. It was first spoken in the region of Castilla many years ago, and today it is the official language used in schools, government and daily life.
The kind of money used here is the euro. The euro (€) is the official currency of Spain and many other countries in Europe. People use euros to buy food, clothes and anything they need, just like we use dollars in the United States.
In Logroño, a small bottle of water usually costs around €1.50 to €2.00. You can find this price in most small stores or cafés.
The best meal that I ate this week was something called champis, which is short for champiñones, the Spanish word for "mushrooms." A champi is a famous pinxto (a small bite of food, like a snack or appetizer) that consists of three grilled mushrooms covered in garlic butter and served on a piece of bread, held together by a toothpick with a little shrimp on top. It is savory and delicious!
