agoreira

It's an exclusive list of one, at times you know just know when someone is never going to write anything that would be of interest to you. Probably a few have ticked me off, but they are the type that would cause me no restless nights. On the other hand, I have sufficient karma/feedback to let me know that not all share your opinion. Far from hating Spain, I have continued to visit for nearly 30 years, so there must be something I like about the place. What I don't buy though is the Spain that the likes of you all too often portray, that everything is perfect, and everything in UK is bad. Perhaps because I don't live there, I can take an unbiased, more detached view of the place. I think most of your hatred stems from the fact I dared to say that I think Torre is una mierda, and your latest little spat started because I said someone reckons Germany could possibly be the first to leave the euro. But carry on believing you are the main man, I'll leave to your stories.

HBG

You’ve made it personal again for no reason and ignored my plea to return to the topic. You speak of hatred and that really is silly.

As for me not critising Spain, that isn’t true. I’m drying out a ladies purse I found in the rain this morning in case in case there is something there to identify the poor victim so that I can return it to her.

I don’t understand your point about Torrevieja, have you ever been there? And if you have, I might well agree with you.

And about your many holidays in Spain – tell us about the many beautiful sights you’ve seen, the friendliest people in the world that you have met, the tapas to die for (I was in a new tapas restaurant this afternoon, in Torrevieja, where the waiters continually did the rounds with delicious dishes from which you could pick what you wanted and paid for the sticks on your plate at the end). It cost me a small fortune.

And your main man remark is unfortunate, but seems to fit your style.

JLFS

that sounds like a Lizarran to me, they are all over the place.

HBG

I'm ashamed to say that I had to google it, but you're right. I've never come across it before, not in the strict sense- not when they come to your table without being asked. When we sat down, all I wanted was a recuperative coffee, a fag, and a conversation about Christmas presents.

All of a sudden all these tapas appeared, which we shovelled on to our plates. It was most enjoyable and cost a fortune, most of our sticks were big sticks.

steviedeluxe

http://www.lizarran.es/eng/home.html

Judging from their website they're expanding abroad.
I've sampled their tapas/pinchos in a Madrid outlet. To be honest I found them extremely attractive visually, but often missing something in the taste (could have been just my inept choice on the day). I thought at the time they were a Basque outfit, but it seems they started in Catalunya - although they specialise in "northern" tapas. For me the best tapas in Spain are in Valladolid, but I look forward to the day I find a better place!

steviedeluxe

That's what I like about inland cities like Madrid and Granada. You can never be sure a free tapa isn't about to turn up. The quality varies from bar to bar, and at different times of the day, but the amazing thing is they come free! Ok, you still have to pay for your drink, but it's rarely expensive in a local tapas bar.

HBG

Stevie,

These tapas are about three Euros a pop.

steviedeluxe

Yes I know. Call me cheap, but I prefer the local tapas bar establishment where they come free with your drink. One reason I've not been much to Catalunya - they tend to charge there.

There are places like Lizarran and 100 Montaditos where you do pay even in Madrid, and thus know what you're getting. More or less.
The tapas I had in Valladolid were superb, but were generally 1.40 - 160 a go.

jdr

Don`t feed the troll, he will never write anything like that.

HBG

The prices were actually 1.50 for the small sticks and 2.00 for the big sticks but we still managed to get an eventual bill for 26 Euros. Everybody’s talking about this new place and the set-up has definitely come from a big city, either Madrid or Barcelona, I should have asked.

I was going to say that the tourists will love it, but the customers were mostly Spanish. They’ve recreated what a busy city tapas bar is like – large, noisy, an excellent selection of food and drinks, all delivered at record speed.

You can pick up your own at the long bar if you like, but it’s difficult to resist the circling waiters when they appear at your table laden with goodies, all shouting out what’s on their plates. I watched a young, smart Spaniard at a table next to ours. He had two young Spanish ladies with him and their table was absolutely full of dishes, there wasn’t even room for an ashtray and one of the ladies had to put her ash on the floor.

agoreira

The last time we were in Granada (a place much more to my liking) we ordered a drink, and the barman shouted out to the back, "dos de primera" and someone popped up with two plates of like a beefburger with a few chips. "But we didn't order food" It's free, señor. OK, lovely. Ordered another beer, same routine, "dos de segunda", and out came another pile of foood. We didn´t dare order another beer, we were full. Of course we had free tapas all over the place, but it was the size of the one´s in Granada that stood out, it was like a mini meal.
And while in Granada, to answer HBG, one of the best sights for me as a keen photographer, is stood in the plaza San Nicolas in the Albaicín and watch the sunset over the Alhambra, impressive. We have visited the Alhambra four times, including a night visit, and I would go again tomorrow.
Yes, I´m ashamed to say I have stayed in Torre twice, but only because friends had a place in Villamartin. We have spent time in Jávea and Valencia, and "if" I went back to CB that would be my chosen area. There´s a lot I love about Spain, but there are also lots of tourist areas that do nothing for me, they are as attractive to me as say, Blackpool, Skegness, Clacton etc. Don´t get me wrong, it´s good these places exist, there are millions that go to the likes of Benidorm and love it and that´s good, it´s just that they are not for me.

cricketman

We go to Lizarran a lot, but the pinchos are only 1.20 euro each here.

We normally actually eat the raciones they have on offer, about 10 euros each, but delicious.

Another good food chain in these parts is Matahambre. Both these chains are popular with the Spanish and have a smattering of foreigners too.

HBG

Well, Halleluja, what a sensible post, thank you.

My wife works in Torrevieja and I suppose that’s why we live nearby although I must admit the place has grown on us – it’s just so convenient. We’re also city people and panic when in really deep countryside.

I remember house hunting while we were living in Denia. We were going to look at a small town about 30 miles inland. We suddenly found ourselves on a minor road among beautiful scenery. I parked on a hilltop and we sat there admiring the scenery all around.

My wife said, ‘Can you hear the silence?’

We enjoyed something we weren’t used to for around half-an-hour. When I started the car up, I asked, ‘Which way?’

There was no argument and we were back in Denia half-an-hour later.

angiescarr

Anyway, back to the topic. Anyone in the government ever mentioned that ecommerce is being held back by excessive postage and courier costs?
I can send a large box of books to Spain from England for £25. The same box in the other direction would cost three times that. the same with a single book through the post. A medium sized book from Spain to Europe was about 13 euros. When you do write your autobiography, (You know who I mean) ;-) you won't be able to sell it from Spain!
If the government looked at anticompetitive practise in postage/shipping maybe they could improve the economy. I know the great, nearly empty, EU paid for, cross country A roads we now enjoy might be a bit fuller of Spanish goods going for export. Spain is just lagging behind. They relied too long on Construction and tourism. It's no good whining about that horse. It's already bolted. Theyt need to think of other ways of making Spain compettitive and I'll weigh in with 1) Postage costs and 2) Using and producing Solar power and Manufacturing the hardware. It's no surprise that Germany is still healthy. They hung on to a reputation for 'good quality manufacturing' in the face of the onslaught from cheap Chinese goods, while industry closed down all over Europe. We need to renew our interest in industry.
I blame Thatcher for believing that "the service industry" would carry us through. Yes, It does, in the good times. when we're all sporting the kings new clothes (manufactured in the far east of course). Now we've woken up and found most of Europe has had its 'undies' stolen!:-D

cricketman

Spain is already the world leader in green energy - and Spanish companies have recently won a load of important contracts in the US.

Spain has a lot of car manufacturing, but that isnt particularly competitive I agree. But then Spain has never been a manufacturing powerhouse like Germany or like the UK used to be. Spanish banks are still some of the most stable in the world, no government bailouts yet! Though there is some risk that the property crash will catch them out.

Agriculture and farming is very important in Spain, both at the mass produced (think supplying UK supermarkets) and upper end level (quality olive oils, jamon ibericos, dried fruits, wine etc).

Remember tourism accounts for only 10% of the Spanish economy, about the same as in London.

I do agree with your post though, in that the Spanish economy needs to become more innovative, but it actually has been changing over the past 10 years or so. Brits often dont realise this because they dont work in Spanish companies and often dont live in Spanish cities (and very often dont consume Spanish media).