What I love about Spain (1 Viewer)

[harryoxford2]

What do you love about Spain...the nice bits.

For me its a feeling of relaxation. The spontanious ability the Spanish have to enjoy themselves whilst remaining respectful to others and themselves.

For example, being in a random bar on a saturday night, perhaps enjoying food with a loved one and out of the blue a spanish taxi driver, nurse, bar owner and a couple of others persue their chosen hobby... to entertain, dressed up traditionaly playing guitar (i love the spanish guitar sound)

bang...one second you are quietly eating and chatting and the next you are treated to a bunch of Spanish friends singing, flamenco dancing, clapping rythmically....and even if you are in a bad mood you cant help joining in.

Then for reasons you dont understand the flamenco dancer approaches several of the the seated friends and relatives of the group and one by one the ladies or gents will do a less energetic dance, and they know what they are doing as their steps match the dancers.

I have often had a voyeuristic out of body experience watching these lovely people shrugging off the stresses of their lives and enjoying themselves and had some envious moments that their culture is so rich in fun happiness tradition and respect whilst comparing their culture to my own, playing darts down the local and a curry on the way home, being sick near the doorstep and kicking the dog on the way in the door before I stagger up to bed which is usually only seconds after the misus has clobbered me with the rolling pim for being drunk.

I always feel emotional round the Spanish in a good way....

what do you like about spain....what gems have you experienced??

 

[scotjimland]

What do you love about Spain...the nice bits.

............... whilst comparing their culture to my own, playing darts down the local and a curry on the way home, being sick near the doorstep and kicking the dog on the way in the door before I stagger up to bed which is usually only seconds after the misus has clobbered me with the rolling pim for being drunk.

Only thing I prefer is the better winter climate .. and even that is questionable..

I don't like their camp sites, most are crowded and dusty, the mad drivers, the way Spanish campers seem to think you will enjoy them having parties while you are sleeping.. the way they throw slops etc into the nearest bush/hedge ..

Haven't found any gems that appealed to me, and I don't recognise the last paragraph..

 

[JJ]

What I like about Spain...

Errrrrrrrrr...

David Silva

JJ

PS. If I am having a quiet meal with my loved one and a bunch of rowdy people come in and try and get us to join in their fun and games I would have to get my people on it right away....

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[harryoxford2]

Ok so we have had two of the more romantic males in our midst state their gems and why they like spain..and those are their good bits..anyone else

 

[Chris]

I like the Spanish people, especially the Catalans.

I love the Summer climate and I love the family meals that they all congreagate for at weekends.

I also have a liking for a decent Rioja, drunk in the Rioja region.:thumb:

 

[beachcaster]

I wonder what the spanish think of the hoards loud cropped hair fat tatooed semi naked half pissed Brits who holiday in certain of their spanish towns and cities ....... and thats just the women !

barry

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[buttons]

[HI]What do you love about Spain[/HI]...the nice bits.
[HI]what do you like about spain.[/HI]...what gems have you experienced??

It's only a couple of hours from Gatwick:thumb:

 

[Stephen & Jeannie]

What's that ??

Flamenco ???? I wish I could stay up that late !!!!
Also.....The border crossing back into France for some PROPER food !!!:thumb:

 

[callumwa]

It's only a couple of hours from Gatwick:thumb:

Just the same as "Saaarfffend" then.........:thumb:

The only way is Essex......

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[PenelopePitstop]

I love Spain - I love Andalucia in particular - especially the Costa de la Luz ( the bit of Spain the Brits haven't taken over and spoilt!)

Empty beaches - empty roads - plenty of places to park for free - relaxed driving - no road rage - blue skies - sunshine in the winter - :thumb:

The Spanish way of life - polite and friendly people - helpful shop assistants - relaxed life - respectful people ( even their teenagers are respectful!).

The Spanish culture - their wonderful history and architecture which has been preserved - unlike UK where any old buildings are torn down and ugly monstrosities built in their place!

Tapas - fresh fruit and veg that hasn't travelled hundredes of miles in refrigerated trucks so really is fresh!!!:thumb:

I could go on and on and on!!!

LOVE IT!!

 

[buttons]

Just the same as "Saaarfffend" then.........:thumb:

The only way is[HI] Essex......Gods Country[/HI]

Na Saaarfffend is only an hour. That reminds me, I've not been there lately. Must pop down for breakfast on Sunday morning.:thumb:

 

[chatter]

I wonder what the spanish think of the hoards loud cropped hair fat tatooed semi naked half pissed Brits who holiday in certain of their spanish towns and cities ....... and thats just the women !

barry

you dont want to know, but they think the same of the drunken british males as well

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[niggle]

same as Marie

Don't mess with Wrinklies!!!

 

[Ven]

Same as Marie - but then we are currently residing there

As long as you stay away from the heavily commercialised areas that have changed to appeal to some tourists it's a wonderful place to pass the time.

We still love the good old UK too

 

[PenelopePitstop]

Same as Marie - but then we are currently residing there

As long as you stay away from the heavily commercialised areas that have changed to appeal to some tourists it's a wonderful place to pass the time.

We still love the good old UK too

Ha Ha! Vanessa! We have found paradise though haven't we? Don't tell anyone where we are!!!

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[harryoxford2]

I like the Spanish people, especially the Catalans.

I love the Summer climate and I love the family meals that they all congreagate for at weekends.

I also have a liking for a decent Rioja, drunk in the Rioja region.:thumb:

100% with you on these reasons, especially the drunk in the Rioja region. In my case it would be "drunk drunk in the rioja region"

 

[harryoxford2]

I wonder what the spanish think of the hoards loud cropped hair fat tatooed semi naked half pissed Brits who holiday in certain of their spanish towns and cities ....... and thats just the women !

barry

That is one of the big gems I think, how do they do it, I guess it is the Spanish nature to remain pleasant even in the face of a culture that is opposite to their own.

I love em for the way they deal with the lager louts and as you so aptly describe tounge in cheek.."the women".

When I was younger I used to think their ethos was "here comes the money train, grin and bear it" but in later life I decided my views were unjust as the brits had been going their for so long and yet still welcomed.

I dont know how they do it...but I am glad they do.

 

[harryoxford2]

Flamenco ???? I wish I could stay up that late !!!!
Also.....The border crossing back into France for some PROPER food !!!:thumb:

I am slightly envious here as you state PROPER food and I now know you have had some great experiences in France.

I promise I tried my hardest in France I really did and some of the scenery is gob smackingly gorgeous. I canoed from Lyon to the med, a stream start point to major shipping lane at the finish.

In my panel van home made camper I camped out in a line of workmens vehicles the owners of which were working on one of the legs of the Eiffel Tower, yep I camped directly under the Eiffel tower.
The next morning I slide open the side door and got on with making a bacon sanwich, as it was nearly ready although I couldnt hear anyone I sensed them, my head whipped round and less than 10 feet from my van was the que of people waiting to go up the tower. They were all silent, all were frooling at the mouth...I could have been a millionaire that day under the tower if I had had a constant supply of bacon and baps.

I couldnt however find that gem in the culture that I find in Spain, its all horses for courses and Im not knocking the french whatsoever, and the gems are there, I just couldnt find the ones that ticked my personal boxes that I find in spain.

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[harryoxford2]

Just the same as "Saaarfffend" then.........:thumb:

The only way is Essex......

Being a northerner Ive always had a problem as to how to pronounce that seaside town...now I can say it like a local fanks to you spellin it out..ta
I like it..gonna practice....."Saaaar ffffend...innit"

 

[harryoxford2]

I love Spain - I love Andalucia in particular - especially the Costa de la Luz ( the bit of Spain the Brits haven't taken over and spoilt!)

Empty beaches - empty roads - plenty of places to park for free - relaxed driving - no road rage - blue skies - sunshine in the winter - :thumb:

The Spanish way of life - polite and friendly people - helpful shop assistants - relaxed life - respectful people ( even their teenagers are respectful!).

The Spanish culture - their wonderful history and architecture which has been preserved - unlike UK where any old buildings are torn down and ugly monstrosities built in their place!

Tapas - fresh fruit and veg that hasn't travelled hundredes of miles in refrigerated trucks so really is fresh!!!:thumb:

I could go on and on and on!!!

LOVE IT!!

Thanks Marie...I so totally agree, all of the above. i can tell we share a passion about the culture.

I still shock myself when I drive through isolated places and find hospitality and respect.

I recently found a way up in the hills place that served Pie Ella. I like pie and this is the only one the spanish do.
So I ordered a pie ella for two. I was informed by the boy (perfect english speaking) directed by the owner of this eating establishment, which was effectively a back garden of a house, that they were so very sorry but they had closed over an hour ago.
The boy had related I guess to dad we wanted paella, a short but excited exchange between what I guess was husband and wife took place, she called him a name..you could just tell it wasnt good, and I backed off appolagising in english waving my hands at her to say sorry and no please dont bother I understand its late, a beaming smile came out and she rushed out grabbed me by the hand gently and led me to a table saying "its Ok. An hour and a bit later a flying saucer size pan full of the finest tasting pie ella arrived too much for us and I invited them to join in which they did and two hours later we left having made life long friends a bizzare conversation where we all laughed at what seemed to be the right places to laugh at and their english apart from the boys wasnt outstanding but infinately better than my poor spanish, and a very reasonable bill.

You can go on Marie..Id love to hear any wow factor stories that blew you away about their culture.

 

[harryoxford2]

Na Saaarfffend is only an hour. That reminds me, I've not been there lately. Must pop down for breakfast on Sunday morning.:thumb:

oo oo oo youve found a nice braky place havent ya? pray tell, pleaseee tell me ya found a place that serves loads and loads of bacon..I love breakfast

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[harryoxford2]

Same as Marie - but then we are currently residing there

As long as you stay away from the heavily commercialised areas that have changed to appeal to some tourists it's a wonderful place to pass the time.

We still love the good old UK too

Yes I hear you, and you dont have to travell far from those commercial places to find old spain. Have you noticed when you drive through little hamlets in the foothills of spain there is always an old lady sat near the roadside doing stuff....in almost every village...i wonder if its an obligitary thing?