The British like to think of spaniards riding donkeys, helps them keep their feelings of superiority!

And just shows how out of touch they are!

Ferraris are not uncommon in and around Valencia neither are donkey owners and riders. I see both every day.

I'll be in Valencia next week so I can take a look!

If you travel around Spain and don't occasionally see people riding donkeys, or hear some old people shouting 'Viva Franco', or hear the word guiri with the pronounciation on the last syllable, or see anti-foreigner graffiti, you're travelling around blind and deaf.

It still makes Spain the most foreigner friendly country I've ever lived in. And there's a Spanish bar not far way where the owner keeps a giant lizard which is allowed to walk freely among the customers. It loves lettuce and will take it straight off your table if you're not looking.

I must be deaf and blind then, but you lot tell me that all the time

I've seen anti-foreigner grafiti in Spain but it tends to be Nazi stuff, aimed at the Indian Latin Americans, Africans and Asians, not against other Europeans. Never heard Viva Franco either.

And guiri with the pronounciation on the last syllable? Do you mean English people trying to say the word? In Spanish the accent is on the first syllable.

Agreed, not 'round here either!

While you are there call in the Ferrari dealership and ask how many Ferrari owners are in and around Valencia. Check out the Aston Martins and Maseratis as well.
I just asked a friend who has guessed at 200 Ferrari owners in and around Valencia but is just a guess, he has 6 friends who own them also. He also doesnt think it unusual to see Spaniards on donkeys either.

Dont forget we are surrounded by orange and almond groves and and expect that mode of transport has been around for centuries.
With the onerous restrictions on quad bikes in this area what else is there

But why is the donkey riding Spaniard quoted time and time again by foreigners as being a "stereotypical" image of modern day Spain. It is certainly NOT how Spaniards see themselves. It's kind of laughable.

It is insulting to the Spanish if that is how you see them, especially in this day and age. I would tell the OH (a donkey riding Spaniard) about these kinds of comments, but I can't do so without cringing with embarrassment and shame.

I suppose that I could say that I once saw a man wearing a bowler hat in London, so therefore that can't be a foreigner's fantasy image, that must be the truth too.

I never once mentioned stereotypical so why make such a big thing about it? I have never mentioned and as far as I can see no-one else here mentioned that all Spaniards are donkey riders it is totally ridiculous to even suggest it.

It is a common sight where I live (donkeys and Ferraris ) that I have never once questioned or worse still laughed about it.

I am well travelled and see different modes of dress/behaviour/travel and just accept it as the way of life there.

Until the subject was raised here I never gave it a second thought.

I agree Veleta, the spanish tourist board doesn't help either, they are still pushing the same sun sea and flamenco images they did in the eighties. Most rural spanish I know are more likely to get around on a 4x4 even a couple of hours inland.

We have sent off requesting information on Alhaurin el Grande, having seen a property we are interested in. Any advice/information on this area, it appears pretty central to Marbella and Malaga

Richard and Jackie

I moved into Alhaurin el Grande about 6 weeks ago and have no regrets at all, it is what you want it to be, your close enough to Brits to feel comfortable but Spain is there as well. Where I live all my neighbours are Spanish and I live on the out skirts of Alhaurin but know that there is a community there when you need it. There is good infrastructure as regards Brit based shops but an excellent a ray of Spanish as well. 3 weeks ago they opened a brand new library and the new medical centre and theatre are well on there way.

Through this site a group of us who live in and around Alhaurin have started meeting up and lets hope it will continue as a little support and someone to bounce things off is always useful,

Best thing to do is get a cheap flight and stay a few days and have a good look round, it is 20mins from the beach, 20mins from Malaga, 20mins from the more rural Spain so it is an all round place to be.

Maybe some of the others that live here will add to it as well. But it suits us and our needs

jay01

We have looked at the cheap flights and will be doing as you say. It would be nice if others like you posted information on the area, even if there are negative posts it would help. It looks like we will be looking more in this area, thank you for your post its refreshing to know theses things

Many thanks

Richard and Jackie

You know what Torrevieja is like, yes?