THE FEEL GOOD FACTOR
You’ve worked long and hard for your holiday, and in an increasingly stressful world it’s essential to kick back and chill out once in a while and where better than the Costa del Sol! Keeping fit and healthy in southern Spain is child’s play and largely a matter of common sense, but whether watersports, sightseeing, white-knuckle activities, or simply crashing out on the beach after partying ‘til dawn are on the agenda, make sure you’re always armed with plenty of sun tan cream and a bottle of water, and avoid exposing your skin to the sun’s most powerful rays (between 11am and 3pm).
SUNNY DELIGHT
While fewer people actively opt to lie in the sun day after day, your body will still be exposed to potentially harmful and ageing UV rays whenever you are outdoors,particularly if you are near the sea or an inland lake. Wear sunscreeen with the correct SPF factor for your skin, as well as a hat and sunglasses, and even before you start to suspect that you may have overdone it, cover up with a light wrap or shirt. If you left it too late,soak a tissue in vinegar and apply to ease the burning, or resort to the age-old remedy of calamine lotion.
WATER THERAPY
You should also drink plenty of water – don’t wait until you feel thirsty – to ensure optimum hydration, especially if you’ve been drinking alcohol. Tap water is safe to drink, although its high chlorine and lime content make bottled water much more palatable. Never drink from sources marked ‘Agua No Potable’, this is recycled water used for irrigation and is not suitable for consumption. And however hot you feel, try not to have too many ice cubes as a surfeit can upset a delicate tummy.
FOOD HYGIENE
The staff of all establishments serving food on the Costa del Sol are required to have the necessary professional certificates and generally standards of hygiene are high. Fresh seafood is one of the many attractions of a Mediterranean diet, but take care – as you would anywhere else in the world – when it comes to mussels, oysters and clams. If the shells are closed, don’t eat them.
MEDICAL MATTERS
Health care, both in the public and private sectors is first-class, and most hospitals and clinics have an interpreting service available. Not all private clinics accept E111 forms, however, so it’s sensible to check first. For minor problems, a chemist (Farmacia) – almost always English-speaking - will give you sound advice, as well as stocking most of the over-the-counter drugs you are familiar with.
USEFUL PHRASES
I am ill Estoy enfermo
Doctor/Dentist Medico/Dentista
I have a - Tengo -
- Temperature - - Fiebre
- Pain - - Dolor
- Shivers - - Escalofríos
Is it broken Esta roto?
Sprained Torcido
Bruise Contusión
Burn Quemadura
Allergic Alérgico
Diabetic Diabético
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