How are you?

In Spain after greeting you ask always how are you. Always it is not even necessary to reply or you can reply by asking also after greeting directly how are you. Other curious aspect is that you might ask how are you more than once. Second how are you might be asked right away after the first one without even getting reply to the first one or after the reply if you want to know more. One example how one person can start a conversation when he/she sees his/her friend is: ¡Hola! ¿Qué tal? ¿Qué tal estás? Translation: Hello!, How are you? How are you doing? Then the friend gives his/her reply.