re: Barcelona--Madrid--Porto

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You really won't need it much in Barcelona as a lot of people speak English.

Madrid it is much more hit or miss.

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Definitely hit or miss in Madrid. I was in Madrid a couple weeks ago at an irish pub. I was feeling lazy so when I got to the bar I asked the bartender in spanish if they spoke english. he said no. then proceeded to bitch for a minute or two in perfect english about me even asking to speak english in spain.

You can definitaly get by way easier in Barcelona with only english, but you should still learn some restaurant/store Spanish because its not guaranteed and you'll likely need it in Madrid. Its not so much your speaking part as in those situations you can get by with just:

una mesa / la carta / food or drink name / la cuenta / tarjeta each followed by "por favor"

but more so understanding their prompts to know what is being asked. in restaurants it usually follows the flow you are used to in the US but dont put it past them to seat you then just pull out their pen and pad and say "Dime" without even giving you a menu .

Porto is very cool. Definitaly take in a sunset and some cocktails at Jardim do Morro and don't forget to get a Francesinha.