Re: The Cost Of Living In Spain
 

Has to be said that beer in the Irish pubs in Madrid, is rarely cheaper than in London. If you're homesick enough to hunger for a cottage pie or English breakfast then it can even prove more expensive! As mentioned some are willing to pay extra for what they perceive as better quality. I generally don't feel this urge, and am staggered that some people prefer the Walkers mass produced crisp rubbish, to the locally fried potatoes in the churrerias, but even I miss certain bakery products from home from time to time when based in Spain.

Re: The Cost Of Living In Spain
 

Agree, Spanish crisps (most of them) are better:D

Re: The Cost Of Living In Spain
 

but even I miss certain bakery products from home from time to time when based in Spain.[/QUOTE]


Stevie, your not getting soft in yer old age are you?

Re: The Cost Of Living In Spain
 

Stevie, your not getting soft in yer old age are you?[/QUOTE]

Contrary to the narrative being spread about me here, I've always praised many things about living in London/the UK, including for example the theatre, the parks, the museums, the great sporting events etc. Just because I rate Spain in certain areas, doesn't mean I can't see the faults nor indeed overlook good things in the UK. But hey, certain posters will mis-represent me, nothing I can do about that! ;)

Re: The Cost Of Living In Spain
 

Contrary to the narrative being spread about me here, I've always praised many things about living in London/the UK, including for example the theatre, the parks, the museums, the great sporting events etc. Just because I rate Spain in certain areas, doesn't mean I can't see the faults nor indeed overlook good things in the UK. But hey, certain posters will mis-represent me, nothing I can do about that! ;)[/QUOTE]

I never thought any differently. I think it's when you said "even I miss..." as though it comes as a surprise to yourself.

Re: The Cost Of Living In Spain
 

I will miss Hula Hoops and monster munch, I think crisps inI general are expensive in Spain.

When/If we move within the next 28 days as it is now, I will leave my car in the UK until I get a cheap flight back to collect it, in that 2 weeks or longer of 'non hotel' living I will know what to stock up on to shove in my car to last me til Xmas ;)

Or maybe I should just give all that stuff up and take what is available locally ??

Re: The Cost Of Living In Spain
 

oops double clicked

Re: The Cost Of Living In Spain
 

I must admit that the main problem for me after a month or so in Spain is suffering from withdrawals symptoms and fantasising about some decent English grub, be it from butchers, bakers or the much superior choice in the better UK supermarkets.
I've never felt the same when travelling in the other direction, apart from a bit of nice serrano or a meal with alioli on the side, Spanish food is about as bland and uninviting as in any country I've ever visited.

Re: The Cost Of Living In Spain
 

I also am not a huge fan of Spanish food per se. Every goddam dish seems to have the same base. olive oil, pimento, onion, tomato and then a scraggy bit of meat or fish. It's fine for a while but so damn repetitive.

Re: The Cost Of Living In Spain
 

Analysing it from a British viewpoint, I agree. And I don't know how important this consideration is, but the Spanish with their 'boring' diet live longer than we do.

I suspect other factors, like the sun, come into the equation. And far more technical things, like CO emissions.

Whenever I return to the UK I treat myself to a walk through central London, right through the City. By the time I get to the Thames I'm breathless and long for the clean air of Spain.

And comparing like with like, I don't get breathless in Madrid. I might get a bit panicky when the waiter brings the bill for a couple of beers and a few tiny tapas in Plaza Mayor but it's worth it for soaking up the history of the place - they spend millions to clean up the place but I always imagine seeing blood stains on those ancient walls.

Re: The Cost Of Living In Spain
 

When we are there we only ever eat Spanish food, but like you after a couple of weeks of it I'm ready for some decent locally produced farm shop grub at home. Raised, killed and sold on their own farm, delicious. Really enjoyed some presa iberica and almadraba bluefin tuna on our last trip, both very enjoyable, but you don't get that served up on a €3 MDD, it's expensive! Yes, serrano ham is good, although I've enjoyed similar from other countries just as much, in fact can't tell the difference. The veg, such as it is that they serve with meals, they'd be better off forgetting it, an insipid little dollop of sad looking, cooked to death offerings. For the rest, pretty bland, pretty boring really. I expect MOP will tell us Spain has the world's best chef's, supposedly they are, but I don't think too many of us here will be dining there, J2 maybe!;) I neither fancy the poncy food they serve nor the bill.

Re: The Cost Of Living In Spain
 

Technically, yes. But only by a year. The UK life expectancy is 81 years, compared with 82 for Spain. That's averaging everyone, so it's a huge generalisation.
And given that tiny difference, I doubt if a bit of "spicing up" (literally) of the cuisine in Spain would kill them.

Re: The Cost Of Living In Spain
 

Most people adjust their food intake according to what their bodies, or their doctors tell them. Does the extra year matter?

Not if it's a year of misery, I suppose. I'm eating many tuna salads of late to lose weight, a totally natural response to what the bathroom scales tell me on a daily basis. But at least once a week I slip, and slip badly.

This week's slip was a visit to a Lizzaran, where the waiters continually harass the diners with freshly fried delicacies that smell delicious and are just about the biggest health hazard in Spain. And my daft wife always insists on a side plate of chips to soak up the grease from the various sausages and other stuff.

The only saving grace is the bucket of red wine to wash it all down.

Re: The Cost Of Living In Spain
 

England is seen by foreigners as a land of turkey twizzlers, fried chicken shops and soggy chips. Which is very unfair as often they never sample the rich dishes that our home cooking can provide. Even basic staples like Cornish pasty or Shepherds Pie are fantastic when cooked right.

I'm surprised that some visitors to Spain think there isn't much variety. In my experience they use so many different foodstuffs, from Padron peppers to alubias to snails to various shellfish to pigs-ears (!) that its variety is much more pronounced than the UK. There again I'm talking from experience of Spanish cities, and I'm guessing it's quite possible that in a small village or a coastal resort that the choice is restricted as to what visitors demand. Anyway, there are so many standard dishes available in larger towns/cities that it's hard to see how it's "much the same". Is gazpacho really the same as paella, or fabada the same as salpicon?? :rofl: I can understand why someone doesn't like the way steak is cooked in Spain, or isn't keen on salad or seafood, but "lacks variety"? What planet are these people on? :confused:

Re: The Cost Of Living In Spain
 

It is rare to get menus in Spain that tantalise such as eg. " Cornish Turbot with seaweed butter and Oyster" even in expensive places. Order an expensive fish and that's what you get with a bit of salad and some soggy potatoes, no tasty sauce. Other countries manage it too. If they are inventive the chef has usually trained abroad.