It was 4 pm and there was not much going in terms of food at Alcala de Henares, at the university quarter of this industrial town outside Madrid. The intention was to have a snack until the restaurants opened at 8.30 pm. Here, the two tapa dishes (pictured) were tough and tasteless. But the experience was made special by a delightful young female student who translated our order (into Spanish) for the barman.
