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10 things you are missing out on if you don't live in Spain!
http://www.spanish-property.net/10-t...in-spain/3027/
7) Being Outside – Sitting on a terrace bar having a coffee, a vermut, a pincho, a clara or a GinTonic is the most normal thing on Earth. Why use the six coffee machines you have at home when you can support the local economy by going to your local bar and have a shouting match with a friend or six over the noise of a “maquina Tragaperras” in the corner (Fruit machine for the uninitiated)? Perhaps 1 ) A free snack or aperitivo with your drink or 2 ) Ham in everything, even "vegetarian" dishes or even 3 ) Daily rubbish collections |
Re: 10 things you are missing out on if you don't live in Spain!
Pushing your mate Graham Hunt again:sneaky:
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Re: 10 things you are missing out on if you don't live in Spain!
Originally Posted by jackytoo
(Post 11075935)
Pushing your mate Graham Hunt again:sneaky:
Haven't you heard all the posters accusing me of posting too many links (from 100s of sources)? If it's interesting and relevant to Spain, I post it! Sorry if it doesn't conform to your "Spain bad, UK good" agenda. |
Re: 10 things you are missing out on if you don't live in Spain!
Nos. 1, 3 and 5 are available in the UK, as is good coffee.
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Re: 10 things you are missing out on if you don't live in Spain!
Originally Posted by mikelincs
(Post 11075945)
Nos. 1, 3 and 5 are available in the UK, as is good coffee.
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Re: 10 things you are missing out on if you don't live in Spain!
Originally Posted by mikelincs
(Post 11075945)
Nos. 1, 3 and 5 are available in the UK, as is good coffee.
In all my time in London, I found one place that served good coffee, which had Portuguese owners The coffee in places like Costa, Cafe Nero, Starbucks etc is terrible 1, 3 and 5 are very uncommon in the UK. You dont need a car in London, but the city isnt compact like a Spanish city, it can take nearly 2 hours to get from one side to the other, and that is on public transport |
Re: 10 things you are missing out on if you don't live in Spain!
Originally Posted by cricketman
(Post 11076001)
Good coffee, where?
In all my time in London, I found one place that served good coffee, which had Portuguese owners The coffee in places like Costa, Cafe Nero, Starbucks etc is terrible 1, 3 and 5 are very uncommon in the UK. You dont need a car in London, but the city isnt compact like a Spanish city, it can take nearly 2 hours to get from one side to the other, and that is on public transport I agree about the coffee - not only is good coffee very hard to find in the UK, but even the bad stuff is ridiculously expensive compared to here. £2.70 per cup was average when I was in Manchester a couple of months ago. We really rate Not Having to Drive as one of the good things about living in Spain. Barcelona is the only Spanish city I've visited which is so big that you really need to use the Metro to get around, most others are very walkable. Stevie's point about the jamon in vegetarian dishes is very true, though - the bane of my OH's life. |
Re: 10 things you are missing out on if you don't live in Spain!
Originally Posted by Lynn R
(Post 11076040)
Barcelona is the only Spanish city I've visited which is so big that you really need to use the Metro to get around, most others are very walkable.
And it hardly ever rains |
Re: 10 things you are missing out on if you don't live in Spain!
Coffee again:yawn::yawn: I could count on one hand how many times I buy coffee and I certainly don't pay that even in London. still if you will patronise Starbucks etc! I sometimes go to an auction house near here, tea and coffee (good) at 50p and great home made cakes. there is good cheap coffee all around.
What I miss is aguafuerte. Nothing compares here.:D |
Re: 10 things you are missing out on if you don't live in Spain!
Originally Posted by jackytoo
(Post 11076059)
Coffee again:yawn::yawn: I could count on one hand how many times I buy coffee and I certainly don't pay that even in London. still if you will patronise Starbucks etc! I sometimes go to an auction house near here, tea and coffee (good) at 50p and great home made cakes. there is good cheap coffee all around.
What I miss is aguafuerte. Nothing compares here.:D Without 2 good coffees a day I would be a zombie. I actually drink tea in the UK, the coffee is too depressing |
Re: 10 things you are missing out on if you don't live in Spain!
Originally Posted by steviedeluxe
(Post 11075959)
1 and 5 are far less common though. I'd get strange looks if I asked for a Montado de jamon in 99% of British pubs or bars. Not even saying that's a bad thing - you could twist it around and state you miss out on chilli con carne or a baked potato if you live in Madrid.
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Re: 10 things you are missing out on if you don't live in Spain!
Originally Posted by steviedeluxe
(Post 11075926)
Daily refuse collection ? Did you see the state of Madrid's streets a few weeks back and quite a few other cities. Having control of ones own rubbish as in the UK helps towards preventing it being scattered far and wide around the streets as is common in Spain. Also outside dining is not such a one way thing. While my Spanish pals are huddled indoors burning expensive air con in mid -summer, myself and many other N.Europeans are enjoying the great outdoors and al fresco to boot. It certainly doesn't rain all the time up norf, but those long spells of excessive hi temps in Spain become very oppressive and restrictive of outdoor activity. As for the food variety and quality, placed on a European scale I'd think Spain must be close to bottom of the league. :thumbdown: I have to agree with you about the Aguafuerte J2, but there again Spain is much more in need of it that the UK. ;) |
Re: 10 things you are missing out on if you don't live in Spain!
There are pros and cons to weekly/daily rubbish collections. Liked the idea of taking it to the skip in Spain daily. On the other side if you are elderly or disabled and had a walk up a steep hill it's not so good. Wouldn't like the smelly skips close by either. Don't like the idea of having 3 containers here in the UK. Spoils the effect of tiny cottages if they have to have them on view.
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Re: 10 things you are missing out on if you don't live in Spain!
Originally Posted by jackytoo
(Post 11076112)
There are pros and cons to weekly/daily rubbish collections. Liked the idea of taking it to the skip in Spain daily. On the other side if you are elderly or disabled and had a walk up a steep hill it's not so good. Wouldn't like the smelly skips close by either. Don't like the idea of having 3 containers here in the UK. Spoils the effect of tiny cottages if they have to have them on view.
Not having space to store all the wheelie bins is a real problem for a lot of people in the UK, it makes streets of terrace houses look a real mess with all the bins outside the front doors. |
Re: 10 things you are missing out on if you don't live in Spain!
Originally Posted by jackytoo
(Post 11076112)
There are pros and cons to weekly/daily rubbish collections. Liked the idea of taking it to the skip in Spain daily. On the other side if you are elderly or disabled and had a walk up a steep hill it's not so good. Wouldn't like the smelly skips close by either. Don't like the idea of having 3 containers here in the UK. Spoils the effect of tiny cottages if they have to have them on view.
We have plastic bins here in Oviedo. The dustbin men put them out at 8pm and then take them away again at 11pm every day |
Re: 10 things you are missing out on if you don't live in Spain!
Originally Posted by cricketman
(Post 11076144)
Not everywhere in Spain has skips
We have plastic bins here in Oviedo. The dustbin men put them out at 8pm and then take them away again at 11pm every day |
Re: 10 things you are missing out on if you don't live in Spain!
No.2 Best thing ever, shame I cant get up in the mornings, yesterday was worst I have stayed in the longest.
No.3 is how I have lived for 10+ years, firemans pole to my desk ! has pro's and con's, I went to Valencia to meet some people at the weekend and only way to park was to double park. No.9 Is also me, however when in UK I was always crucified for wearing shades all the time, am I in disguise ? am I on drugs ? Have I got a hangover ? People tell me I am rude ! Im a wannabe drug dealer or wannabe gangster :( |
Re: 10 things you are missing out on if you don't live in Spain!
Originally Posted by Lynn R
(Post 11076149)
Your post reminded me - most of the town centre bins here have been replaced by metal ones that are under the ground - they rise up mechanically to allow them to be emptied. Much more hygienic than the old style bins.
Daily rubbish collections out here,..... You must be joking. The Basura trucks do visit occasionally but rarely just after the Valencian weekenders have been out foolishly stuffing the bins full with garden rubbish leaving other people to simply dump their rubbish in the general vicinity, which now seems to have become a regular habit. |
Re: 10 things you are missing out on if you don't live in Spain!
Originally Posted by Dick Dasterdly
(Post 11076432)
Whilst out here in the Campo rubbish collection is left to tramps, dogs and good nature.
Daily rubbish collections out here,..... You must be joking. The Basura trucks do visit occasionally but rarely just after the Valencian weekenders have been out foolishly stuffing the bins full with garden rubbish leaving other people to simply dump their rubbish in the general vicinity, which now seems to have become a regular habit. Our Ayuntamiento have recently had a squad of the unemployed people taken on under the Plan de Empleo going around clearing rubbish from the roadsides and open land around town, it looks so much better but no doubt will soon be a mess again. We've had poster campaign after campaign, but I keep saying at public meetings that only fining people will make a difference (or if they haven't got any money, make them do community service going around picking up litter). However, I don't think you are ever likely to find the same standard/frequency of services in rural areas as you do in urban ones, when you are weighing up the pros and cons of living in the countryside, that's one of the cons. |
Re: 10 things you are missing out on if you don't live in Spain!
Originally Posted by cricketman
(Post 11076001)
Good coffee, where?
In all my time in London, I found one place that served good coffee, which had Portuguese owned. The coffee in places like Costa, Cafe Nero, Starbucks etc is terrible 1, 3 and 5 are very uncommon in the UK. You dont need a car in London, but the city isnt compact like a Spanish city, it can take nearly 2 hours to get from one side to the other, and that is on public transport Naturally, whatever suits your taste (or more likely, whatever you're used to or perhaps more likely, whatever is NOT made in a country you don't like) is the only thing worthy of your posh, refined palette. Everything else is crap. |
Re: 10 things you are missing out on if you don't live in Spain!
Originally Posted by amideislas
(Post 11076468)
Coffee is like art or wine. Different tastes will find different variations more appealing than others. Is latte macciato better than expresso? Was Dalí better than Miró?
Naturally, whatever suits your taste (or more likely, whatever you're used to or perhaps more likely, whatever is NOT made in a country you don't like) is the only thing worthy of your posh, refined palette. Everything else is crap. |
Re: 10 things you are missing out on if you don't live in Spain!
There is a big myth about Spanish coffee. In a small town in Castilla-La Mancha where I lived, the owner of the bar I frequented for coffee always used to ask me where I could get coffee as good as his in London for a euro. So I used to smile because a Spaniard is never wrong and I let him think he was right. He was comparing a small town of 10,000 with prices in London. Now I am back in London more frequently I have got time to see things as they are. In the suburbs I can get a nice coffee in a café or a baker’s for a pound or one-fifty. It comes in a cup/mug double the size of that which I drank in Spain and is hot. I recently went into a privately run coffee shop (English owned) in Notting Hill for a coffee and piece of organic carrot cake. The bill was 2.95. I could choose from a range of coffee and different types of milk and sugar, all in the most pleasant surroundings. In Camden recently, I went into a coffee shop and had a nice large coffee for 1.50, with a sprinkle of cinnamon.
Next door to a local library in London there is a small café where I can get tea for 1.20. They serve it on a tray with a silver teapot, with extra milk also in a silver jug, white and brown sugar. There is enough tea in the pot for two cups, and that is for one person. In a village bar in Cuenca province, I was served a small whisky glass of hot water with a Twinnings teabag floating in it. On pulling it out by the string, I was left with a luke-warm glass of tea that was finished in three gulps. All for a euro. I find this repeated in many other Spanish places. The glass is normal, I know, but the price for what you get is not comparable with what one can get elsewhere. I have tasted vile coffee in towns and villages in Spain that wouldn’t be allowed in other countries. Of course many will say that in Madrid or Barcelona the coffee is excellent, and I agree, also in some of the villages I have been in they have been excellent, but the story spread about that all Spanish coffee is good and cheap and the coffee you get in the UK is second class is not true. While I’m on here, a while back on this thread someone said that London isn’t compact as a Spanish city and it takes two hours to cross it on public transport. Considering that London is two and a half times the size of Madrid, twelve times the size of Valencia and fifteen times the size of Barcelona, it isn’t surprising, is it. |
Re: 10 things you are missing out on if you don't live in Spain!
Originally Posted by la mancha
(Post 11076641)
There is a big myth about Spanish coffee. In a small town in Castilla-La Mancha where I lived, the owner of the bar I frequented for coffee always used to ask me where I could get coffee as good as his in London for a euro. So I used to smile because a Spaniard is never wrong and I let him think he was right. He was comparing a small town of 10,000 with prices in London. Now I am back in London more frequently I have got time to see things as they are. In the suburbs I can get a nice coffee in a café or a baker’s for a pound or one-fifty. It comes in a cup/mug double the size of that which I drank in Spain and is hot. I recently went into a privately run coffee shop (English owned) in Notting Hill for a coffee and piece of organic carrot cake. The bill was 2.95. I could choose from a range of coffee and different types of milk and sugar, all in the most pleasant surroundings. In Camden recently, I went into a coffee shop and had a nice large coffee for 1.50, with a sprinkle of cinnamon.
Next door to a local library in London there is a small café where I can get tea for 1.20. They serve it on a tray with a silver teapot, with extra milk also in a silver jug, white and brown sugar. There is enough tea in the pot for two cups, and that is for one person. In a village bar in Cuenca province, I was served a small whisky glass of hot water with a Twinnings teabag floating in it. On pulling it out by the string, I was left with a luke-warm glass of tea that was finished in three gulps. All for a euro. I find this repeated in many other Spanish places. The glass is normal, I know, but the price for what you get is not comparable with what one can get elsewhere. I have tasted vile coffee in towns and villages in Spain that wouldn’t be allowed in other countries. Of course many will say that in Madrid or Barcelona the coffee is excellent, and I agree, also in some of the villages I have been in they have been excellent, but the story spread about that all Spanish coffee is good and cheap and the coffee you get in the UK is second class is not true. While I’m on here, a while back on this thread someone said that London isn’t compact as a Spanish city and it takes two hours to cross it on public transport. Considering that London is two and a half times the size of Madrid, twelve times the size of Valencia and fifteen times the size of Barcelona, it isn’t surprising, is it. You make several good points which many choose to ignore. |
Re: 10 things you are missing out on if you don't live in Spain!
Originally Posted by Lynn R
(Post 11076450)
Where the old style bins are still in existence, we do get scruffy/lazy people dumping stuff right next to them, even ordinary rubbish bags, you'd think as they've got that far they could be bothered to open the lid and put them in, but no. Old furniture and other stuff too, even though there's been a free phone number for years where you can ask the Council to come and take it away (at no charge), plus now the new online service I mentioned in another thread. It's not the services that are lacking, here at least, it's a section of the population that just doesn't seem to care what the street, the area or the whole town looks like, if it isn't right outside their own front door they just don't bother.
Our Ayuntamiento have recently had a squad of the unemployed people taken on under the Plan de Empleo going around clearing rubbish from the roadsides and open land around town, it looks so much better but no doubt will soon be a mess again. We've had poster campaign after campaign, but I keep saying at public meetings that only fining people will make a difference (or if they haven't got any money, make them do community service going around picking up litter). However, I don't think you are ever likely to find the same standard/frequency of services in rural areas as you do in urban ones, when you are weighing up the pros and cons of living in the countryside, that's one of the cons. We have some wonderful countryside around here with lots of lovely walking areas and it's such a shame to find a truck load of builders waste dumped down some remote country lane or the amount of stuff that's simply thrown out of car windows and ended up spread across the nearby campo. I'm hoping to form my own clean-up squad next week to deal with some of the areas close to my place, but as you say it isn't a once and for all answer. Maybe heavy fines would help as seems to be making quite a difference in the UK, but most of all it would be nice to see folk take a greater pride in their own districts as well as trying to educate the younger generation to better standards in this respect. |
Re: 10 things you are missing out on if you don't live in Spain!
Originally Posted by la mancha
(Post 11076641)
There is a big myth about Spanish coffee. In a small town in Castilla-La Mancha where I lived, the owner of the bar I frequented for coffee always used to ask me where I could get coffee as good as his in London for a euro. So I used to smile because a Spaniard is never wrong and I let him think he was right. .
I'm not sure whether you are more ignorant or arrogant, probably both You can get Greggs sausage rolls very cheaply in the UK I believe. They will go nicely with your coffee ;) |
Re: 10 things you are missing out on if you don't live in Spain!
Originally Posted by cricketman
(Post 11077430)
Of course he was right
I'm not sure whether you are more ignorant or arrogant, probably both You can get Greggs sausage rolls very cheaply in the UK I believe. They will go nicely with your coffee ;) |
Re: 10 things you are missing out on if you don't live in Spain!
Originally Posted by amideislas
(Post 11077473)
When all else fails, just tell 'em they're ignorant and arrogant (as if your arrogance doesn't show). That'll clear things up. :blink:
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Re: 10 things you are missing out on if you don't live in Spain!
Originally Posted by amideislas
(Post 11077473)
When all else fails, just tell 'em they're ignorant and arrogant (as if your arrogance doesn't show). That'll clear things up. :blink:
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Re: 10 things you are missing out on if you don't live in Spain!
In the suburbs I can get a nice coffee in a café or a baker’s for a pound or one-fifty. It comes in a cup/mug double the size of that which I drank in Spain and is hot. |
Re: 10 things you are missing out on if you don't live in Spain!
Originally Posted by amideislas
(Post 11077473)
When all else fails, just tell 'em they're ignorant and arrogant (as if your arrogance doesn't show). That'll clear things up. :blink:
Its like trying to tell someone that fish fingers arent the definition of high cuisine Although I do love a fish finger sandwich |
Re: 10 things you are missing out on if you don't live in Spain!
Originally Posted by la mancha
(Post 11076641)
In a small town in Castilla-La Mancha where I lived,
En un lugar de la Mancha, de cuyo nombre no quiero acordarme |
Re: 10 things you are missing out on if you don't live in Spain!
Originally Posted by cricketman
(Post 11077517)
I couldnt be arsed to say anything constructive
Its like trying to tell someone that fish fingers arent the definition of high cuisine Although I do love a fish finger sandwich |
Re: 10 things you are missing out on if you don't live in Spain!
Originally Posted by cricketman
(Post 11077517)
I do love a fish finger sandwich
No doubt McD's makes "bad" fish sandwiches. |
Re: 10 things you are missing out on if you don't live in Spain!
Originally Posted by amideislas
(Post 11077596)
Blimey! McDonald's sells them (well, the equivalent anyway). Still like them?
No doubt McD's makes "bad" fish sandwiches. Otherwise, I'll stick to fritos de merluza o piscin with alioli ;) I have nothing against McDs other than the food is cr*p. If they started selling good food then I would go, no problem at all. I even like burgers, but not their cheap and nasty versions where you can only taste sugar |
Re: 10 things you are missing out on if you don't live in Spain!
Originally Posted by cricketman
(Post 11077633)
If McDs served the fish in proper bread rather than sugar filled rubbery baps, then I may be tempted
Otherwise, I'll stick to fritos de merluza o piscin with alioli ;) I have nothing against McDs other than the food is cr*p. If they started selling good food then I would go, no problem at all. I even like burgers, but not their cheap and nasty versions where you can only taste sugar You need to go to the good ole US of A and sample the real thing. ;) |
Re: 10 things you are missing out on if you don't live in Spain!
Originally Posted by Dick Dasterdly
(Post 11077761)
Surely you don't expect to get a decent one in a backward country like Spain.
You need to go to the good ole US of A and sample the real thing. ;) In Madrid hamburgers without the bun are called "filete ruso" |
Re: 10 things you are missing out on if you don't live in Spain!
CM. Thanks for calling me ignorant or arrogant and telling me I can buy a Greggs’ sausage roll cheaply in the UK. I am only telling you incidents from my personal experience. If you don’t like it, it doesn’t change anything because they still happened. As for sausage rolls, I am a vegetarian so I wouldn’t know the price.
And to SD who thinks I get a ‘large vaguely milky drink’. I told you, when I am in Notting Hill or Camden or any such place, I am given a choice of milk, be it ordinary, soya, rice etc. Nothing against these outlets but I do not use Starbucks or Greggs. There are plenty of private bakers who offer a service. Quantity versus quality? Again you are implying that coffee in the UK is second class and I am telling you it is not because I drink it, personal experience again. I do not go to an establishment because they sell the largest coffee. What a stupid thing to imply. I go in when I want a coffee, wherever it is. |
Re: 10 things you are missing out on if you don't live in Spain!
Originally Posted by la mancha
(Post 11077855)
Quantity versus quality? Again you are implying that coffee in the UK is second class and I am telling you it is not because I drink it, personal experience again. .
I was talking to a guy who was a purchasing manager for a coffee chain, he said coffee beans that come to the UK are normally much weaker than in Italy or Spain as Brits cant cope with strong coffee Spanish people in the UK normally call British coffee "agua sucia" |
Re: 10 things you are missing out on if you don't live in Spain!
Originally Posted by cricketman
(Post 11077936)
I used to hang around Notting Hill as well. It doesnt matter how much they charge for the coffee, it is still rubbish
I was talking to a guy who was a purchasing manager for a coffee chain, he said coffee beans that come to the UK are normally much weaker than in Italy or Spain as Brits cant cope with strong coffee Spanish people in the UK normally call British coffee "agua sucia" |
Re: 10 things you are missing out on if you don't live in Spain!
Originally Posted by stuboy
(Post 11077972)
Should that not be 'agua sucio'?
http://spanish.about.com/od/adjectives/a/el_for_la.htm Hence cold water is "agua fria". |
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