Re: Shocking Scenes in Madrid.
 

Of course not, Spain is incredibly safe. One of the reasons why we chose to bring up our children here

When I lived in Barcelona I was working with a guy from Miami. He couldnt believe that people were walking around the city at 3am on their own, he said in Miami you would risk getting killed

Where we lived there was a popular area for skaters and children of 12-14 years old would be skating until the early morning. You would see children working around alone at all times of night at the weekends. Same here in Oviedo

It is much less safe on the Costas because of the organised crime and transient society

Re: Shocking Scenes in Madrid.
 

As much as I hate agreeing with you, I have to agree with you on this one, as Spain is generally quite safe, especially when compared to Miami, one of the most dangerous cities in the US, or even areas of London, Berlin, Paris, Istanbul, Cairo, or really, any major city.

Re: Shocking Scenes in Madrid.
 

Some pics of the student riots

http://sociedad.elpais.com/sociedad/...866_1395849424

Re: Shocking Scenes in Madrid.
 

Can you imagine the public outcry, not to mention BE ;), if similar scenes to those in Madrid and many other Spanish cities, were occurring on UK streets ?
No doubt most areas of Spain are reasonably safe, but that does not hide the ever increasing public anger bubbling below the surface.

As I said the Spanish are very proud people and the inevitable backlash as a result of their ever increasing loss of dignity is now sadly beginning to show.

Re: Shocking Scenes in Madrid.
 

I always feel reasonably safe in Spain although tourist areas are quite bad for burglaries and muggings. There are places in Fuengirola and Malaga I wouldn't walk through after dark. I felt the safest when we lived in Geneva. Know Miami well and it's a big place. Miami beach area you can walk around at 3am. Decent areas are well policed or have private security. Some areas in Miami City I wouldn't even visit in daylight. Crime stats are confusing. Where we have a house in Florida it is possible to look online at the previous days arrests. Most are for traffic, drug possession, domestic and the occasional shoplifter.

Every city in the world has it's no go areas. Malaga area has had a recent spate of armed bank robberies.

Re: Shocking Scenes in Madrid.
 

It seems most of those arrested in the latest disturbances were NOT disaffected students, but members of extreme leftist groups who'd infiltrated the event! Who'd have thought it?? :sneaky: Of course it's all a bit reminiscent of the London riots - meant to be a cry from unemployed youth, yet most of those caught were in jobs!

http://elpais.com/elpais/2014/03/28/...74_724699.html

Re: Shocking Scenes in Madrid.
 

I went back to London a few weeks ago for a weekend. I stayed very close to Marylebone station, and there had been a murder in one flat - a young kid stabbed to death at a party. Tragic though that is, it's not something that affects the vast majority of people who live there, and central London is generally very safe. But as J2 says, you have to suss out which areas are best avoided after dark.

Re: Shocking Scenes in Madrid.
 

This has nothing in common with the London Riots

The London Riots were about stealing trainers from shops, and were true riots, not angry protests

Re: Shocking Scenes in Madrid.
 

Of course it hasn't,

........ but I find it hard to recall a single occasion when "SteviewhatabouttheUKthen" hasn't tried to divert attention from a Spanish topic he can't quite stomach. ;)

Par for the course, I suppose.:cool:

Re: Shocking Scenes in Madrid.
 

Making it personal again Dick - hiding behind your anonymity. Ever wondered why I have less respect for you than almost every other poster on this board? :rofl:

Re: Shocking Scenes in Madrid.
 

Simply making a valid point Stevie, regarding your post and others of the same ilk, no more, no less.


Your typical childish diversionary reaction instead of dealing with it, simply helps to emphasize my point and speaks for itself, I think. :cool:

Re: Shocking Scenes in Madrid.
 

http://elpais.com/elpais/2014/03/28/...38_513182.html

Obviously someone else thinks "out of sight, out of mind", :cool:

.......though not being the sharpest pencil in the box it will go down as yet another Fail in her less than successful time in office.

Re: Shocking Scenes in Madrid.
 

Again hiding behind your anonymous posting, you come out with insulting personal remarks you wouldn't dare to say in person. If I'm "childish" there'a a far worse adjective for your constant attempts to belittle others' viewpoints. You can't argue the point so you constantly insult and jeer.
The readers here can make their own mind up. As I said I have zero respect for you. And when I see you attack personally other posters I will report you every time from now.

Re: Shocking Scenes in Madrid.
 

The similarity is that demonstrations were hijacked by criminal elements. Ok, the riots spread a lot further, and a lot quicker in the case of London. But in both cases the original demonstrations were actually meant to be peaceful (the demo against the police shooting in London, or the March for dignity in Madrid)

Re: Shocking Scenes in Madrid.
 

It shows in both that it does not take much to lose control of your capital or country even, Its something governments need to take on board.

I was actually there in London and a guy threw a beer barrel at my car, I was stuck and I had to drive like a maniac to get out of where I was (hackney) and smashed through a metal gate, then I had to explain all this to the car insurance company.

My view at the time was no police about and those I saw were just parked up outside of the area.