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I understand completely. I knew I was taking a risk with that broadside. I had to do some searching to find out what "chanquetas" are. Apparently it isn't a widely known term even in Europe as the first lead I found was a language forum where that very question was asked. Not one person, all Spanish speaking Europeans, got it right. But I found a webpage for a small Mediterranean Spanish town called Peniscola which cleared it up.

Their 'food glossary' translated it as 'whitebait' (a rather unappetizing term) and a search on "whitebait" returned everything one would ever want to know about 'chanquetas.' The town of Peniscola (pr: pay-nee-sco-la), as described there, brings to mind just what you remember fondly. A most romantic and relaxing atmosphere to be sure.