One of the things that appealed to me about moving to Spain (apart from the weather) was the excellent infrastructure the country has now, fantastic rail network, great roads that actually seem to be maintained properly, superb health service, and so on. And it makes me happy to see the extended family networks in action, with teenagers leading their toddler brothers and sisters around by the hand, or giving their grandmother a hand with the shopping, or 4 generations of the family enjoying a meal in a restaurant together.

Life in all developed countries has changed radically in the last 50 years, and must have changed faster and more radically in Spain than in most, but I think the Spanish people are doing better than most at preserving the essential quality of life rather than the 'getting and spending' obsession that seems to have almost taken over elsewhere.

Franco played a hand in that, it wasn't until the 70s that life in Spain started to change so rapidly, some for the good some for the bad....I remember when it was illegal to wear a bikini on the beach and children could not dance in public....things are far better than what they were in many respects, but they need to be careful that greed and the capitalist economy does not take away the real riches life can offer, a close knit caring family and community.

I had some business in a totally English area today, famous locally for being just that. I badly needed a coffee and to escape from the cold, and of the four or so English bars, all in a row, only one was open. I ventured inside with trepidation, and ‘English’ coffee would not meet my needs.

With a roaring log fire and an English setting, my fears grew and the barman didn’t seem to know what an Americano was. I had to repeat my order and felt a bit foolish.

But when he went to the coffee machine, it looked no different to the Spanish ones, and the coffee tasted just as delicious too. I sat at the bar and looked around, it was dimly lit as I entered.

That’s when it hit me, the few local Spanish people appeared to all be in this typically English bar, I was the only Brit and the barman came from Belgium. The Spanish visitors were getting a treat of English culture too, a Max Bygraves LP was playing on the music centre.

I stayed for a second coffee, but not because of Max Bygraves.

Agreed and take a look around the whole forum, the squabbling is mostly happening on the Spanish part

I'm not moving the thread, there's only a small few who can't or don't want to see the connection to Spain. If a Mod feels it should be moved, so be it.

I'm happy whatever,

You don't get into the Lounge or TIO much then?