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Re: Living in Spain - the good things!
Originally Posted by Dick Dasterdly
(Post 8453627)
Beginning to do the same myself,only problem is there are so many to choose from that by the time I get though them all, I'll have forgotten what the first ones were like.
So I'm thinking about keeping a record as I munch my way through them all. 1,..Spanish name/English name. 2,..Flavour and quality. 3,..Price per kilo. Though must admit that No.3,price per kilo is usually a good guide before I bring them home. |
Re: Living in Spain - the good things!
Originally Posted by Mitzyboy
(Post 8436680)
I like Panga
Whats wrong with that! :D One web site likened it to lemon sole,most others issued various warnings. Have to say I found it muy delicioso, and shall definitely repeat the experience should I live long enough to tell the tale...:thumbup: |
Re: Living in Spain - the good things!
Originally Posted by Dick Dasterdly
(Post 8460686)
Well despite all the horror stories and health hazards, I just tried a couple of the dreaded Panga.
One web site likened it to lemon sole,most others issued various warnings. Have to say I found it muy delicioso, and shall definitely repeat the experience should I live long enough to tell the tale...:thumbup: She loves it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:frown: |
Re: Living in Spain - the good things!
QOL = Quality of life :)
Amazing climate, amazing food, amazing history, amazing people, amazing everything - do you really need more reasons? ;) |
Re: Living in Spain - the good things!
Perhaps there is a good life on the coast, living in the typical ex-pat way, learning little Spanish and not really learning where paella comes from, let alone how to pronounce it or how to cook it properly, but... there is another Spain. Perhaps I should say that there are several real Spains, and each of these is much more real than the typical ex-pat experience.
I say to everyone: If you are happy doing the ex-pat colonial thing, then fine. I didn't, because I married a Spanish woman and had to jump in the deep end, living in a remote Spanish community inland. We don't get the stereotypical Spanish weather (some nights it's eight degress below zero) but we don't get ripped off, and our children are safe on the streets, and the people are friendly and tolerant, and you don't feel like everyone is out to get you financially and legally when you step into your car. There is a real Spanish community here - something rare in Britain. But not all Spanish communties are good uns. I suggest that community is the most important consideration, and you should test your target community before you consider buying anything. Six months should about do it! |
Re: Living in Spain - the good things!
Originally Posted by Mikethemusician
(Post 8466190)
Perhaps there is a good life on the coast, living in the typical ex-pat way, learning little Spanish and not really learning where paella comes from, let alone how to pronounce it or how to cook it properly, but... there is another Spain. Perhaps I should say that there are several real Spains, and each of these is much more real than the typical ex-pat experience.
I say to everyone: If you are happy doing the ex-pat colonial thing, then fine. I didn't, because I married a Spanish woman and had to jump in the deep end, living in a remote Spanish community inland. We don't get the stereotypical Spanish weather (some nights it's eight degress below zero) but we don't get ripped off, and our children are safe on the streets, and the people are friendly and tolerant, and you don't feel like everyone is out to get you financially and legally when you step into your car. There is a real Spanish community here - something rare in Britain. But not all Spanish communties are good uns. I suggest that community is the most important consideration, and you should test your target community before you consider buying anything. Six months should about do it! |
Re: Living in Spain - the good things!
Originally Posted by Mikethemusician
(Post 8466190)
Perhaps there is a good life on the coast, living in the typical ex-pat way, learning little Spanish and not really learning where paella comes from, let alone how to pronounce it or how to cook it properly, but... there is another Spain. Perhaps I should say that there are several real Spains, and each of these is much more real than the typical ex-pat experience.
I say to everyone: If you are happy doing the ex-pat colonial thing, then fine. I didn't, because I married a Spanish woman and had to jump in the deep end, living in a remote Spanish community inland. We don't get the stereotypical Spanish weather (some nights it's eight degress below zero) but we don't get ripped off, and our children are safe on the streets, and the people are friendly and tolerant, and you don't feel like everyone is out to get you financially and legally when you step into your car. There is a real Spanish community here - something rare in Britain. But not all Spanish communties are good uns. I suggest that community is the most important consideration, and you should test your target community before you consider buying anything. Six months should about do it! Thanks for your post. Interesting view. We are coming out in a few weeks. We obviously are going to have a look at property but we are also interested in finding where it is we want to be. So we are looking from the Alpujarras to Iznajar this time. Only got a week so we will be buring some rubber. And I guess this will be he first of quite a few visits. It is a big area to cover but we want to find somewhere right for us. So I guess find the area, live there for a while,find a house, stay..... We have the opportunity to stay is a small village house, hopefully we will get to speak to the locals a little. Cheers You can call me Al. |
Re: Living in Spain - the good things!
Thanks everyone, so far, for your patience with what was only my second posting here. I see now how some of the things I said have more than one meaning, and must sound rather funny (Real Spanish communities are rare indeed in Britain! lol) but I think the meaning is still there and that it has been taken the right way. I'm glad that AL (who inspired me to post something) liked it.
I've been here almost eight years and I didn't get the option to live in an ex-pat community, so I live in a very Spanish town and I'm well integrated now. I started investigating the ex-pat community more recently and, ironically, my Spanish partner is more interested in the coast than I am. I don't mean to denigrate ex-pats, since many of them have a wonderful life-style, and some have even enriched the Spanish culture, as well as the Spanish economy. I only suggest (AL) that if some of the ex-pat coastal experience does in any way turn you off, you must remember that there are many coasts and many other parts of Spain too, with vibrant communities and friendly people. Spain is the land of "bien estar" and its richest resource is not the sun or the sea, it is the people. Getting to know them (and where the ones you like are most easily found) is a big part of the trick to settling in Spain. That's why I say: Rent first, buy later, or just rent! The Spanish laugh at us, but it is not unpleasant laughter, and they are not particularly racist. I have found that they quickly appreciate the new skills we bring with us, and, generally speaking, they let you live in peace. There is actually an advantage to being a newcomer because you start with a fresh page and you can get away with being a bit eccentric. The Spanish I have met don't nit-pick like Brits, but there is a lot of curtain twitching, gossip (and worse) in some small villages - an example of why the community must be explored before you buy! Not-missing-out often means conforming to the local way of doing things. This is particularly true in the east of Spain, where I live. You will probably get the most out of Spain if you have the flexibility to change your way of living (eating, socialising, time-keeping) and if you can leave most of those preconceptions about what-matters-in-life behind in Britain. The worse things in Spain are the political corruption (at all levels, especially local) and the economy. Spain is still a good place for retirement, but work is getting thinner, and speaking about "La Crisis", Spain looks to be the hardest hit country in Europe, with more rising unemployment, and national debt to national and foreign banks, than anywhere else. Spanish industry is disappearing and the gap between rich and poor is growing but Bank Santander, for example, is making huge profits, and Spanish bankers are among the richest bankers in the world. Perhaps the Spanish will have to surrender some of their lifestyle expectations, such as two/three cars per family, and perhaps we shall see strange election results and collapsing governments. The words "failed capitalism" spring to mind, but I shall refrain here from saying anything more political. |
Re: Living in Spain - the good things!
Originally Posted by Mikethemusician
(Post 8467275)
Thanks everyone, so far, for your patience with what was only my second posting here. I see now how some of the things I said have more than one meaning, and must sound rather funny (Real Spanish communities are rare indeed in Britain! lol) but I think the meaning is still there and that it has been taken the right way. I'm glad that AL (who inspired me to post something) liked it.
I've been here almost eight years and I didn't get the option to live in an ex-pat community, so I live in a very Spanish town and I'm well integrated now. I started investigating the ex-pat community more recently and, ironically, my Spanish partner is more interested in the coast than I am. I don't mean to denigrate ex-pats, since many of them have a wonderful life-style, and some have even enriched the Spanish culture, as well as the Spanish economy. I only suggest (AL) that if some of the ex-pat coastal experience does in any way turn you off, you must remember that there are many coasts and many other parts of Spain too, with vibrant communities and friendly people. Spain is the land of "bien estar" and its richest resource is not the sun or the sea, it is the people. Getting to know them (and where the ones you like are most easily found) is a big part of the trick to settling in Spain. That's why I say: Rent first, buy later, or just rent! The Spanish laugh at us, but it is not unpleasant laughter, and they are not particularly racist. I have found that they quickly appreciate the new skills we bring with us, and, generally speaking, they let you live in peace. There is actually an advantage to being a newcomer because you start with a fresh page and you can get away with being a bit eccentric. The Spanish I have met don't nit-pick like Brits, but there is a lot of curtain twitching, gossip (and worse) in some small villages - an example of why the community must be explored before you buy! Not-missing-out often means conforming to the local way of doing things. This is particularly true in the east of Spain, where I live. You will probably get the most out of Spain if you have the flexibility to change your way of living (eating, socialising, time-keeping) and if you can leave most of those preconceptions about what-matters-in-life behind in Britain. The worse things in Spain are the political corruption (at all levels, especially local) and the economy. Spain is still a good place for retirement, but work is getting thinner, and speaking about "La Crisis", Spain looks to be the hardest hit country in Europe, with more rising unemployment, and national debt to national and foreign banks, than anywhere else. Spanish industry is disappearing and the gap between rich and poor is growing but Bank Santander, for example, is making huge profits, and Spanish bankers are among the richest bankers in the world. Perhaps the Spanish will have to surrender some of their lifestyle expectations, such as two/three cars per family, and perhaps we shall see strange election results and collapsing governments. The words "failed capitalism" spring to mind, but I shall refrain here from saying anything more political. I find that most Spanish tend to take ppl.as they find them,rather than prejudge to any great extent. As for b(w)ankers,seems they are much the same the World over. I mean just how much money does a person need to be comfortable for the rest of their lives? Whilst I can understand greed to a certain extent,I simply can't understand such excessive greed.:frown: |
Re: Living in Spain - the good things!
I agree with you DD except that I say that the Spanish experience of the crisis seems to be the gravest in Europe. It is widely predicted that Spain will be the last European country to recover. I shall continue this theme in the political forum because I don't want to cause problems here.
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Re: Living in Spain - the good things!
Originally Posted by Mikethemusician
(Post 8467327)
I agree with you DD except that I say that the Spanish experience of the crisis seems to be the gravest in Europe. It is widely predicted that Spain will be the last European country to recover.
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Re: Living in Spain - the good things!
Originally Posted by agoreira
(Post 8467358)
I agree, although there are many here, that like the Spanish Government, were reluctant to believe the depth of the crisis, instead preferring to highlight the problems in UK. It was a long time before we actually read the words "la crisis" in the Spanish press (referring to Spain), it's as if they were in denial, that it was all going to miraculously pass them by. As you say, it's deep, and I still think it's got a long way to go. Even the Spanish press is now predicting more unemployed next year than this year. ¡Brotes verdes? Well, I looked at friends bookings for their holiday let, and already this year they seem far better than last year! Someone still has money!
I think there is worse to come. The Spanish government have the "ostrich" problem solving strategy. ie:head in the sand, if you dont mention it, it will go away:thumbdown: |
Re: Living in Spain - the good things!
You've never had chorizo criollo then? The best sausage is the world imo
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Re: Living in Spain - the good things!
Mr Smith, I thought your username would of been SYS .
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Re: Living in Spain - the good things!
Isn't this spam then, looks like it to me:thumbdown: seen him spamming other forums.
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