steviedeluxe

It's not Madrid nor Barcelona, as many of us would have thought. Nor even Marbella.
Step forward, the Basque city of San Sebastián (Donostia) !

http://www.thelocal.es/20140515/san-...-priciest-city

cricketman

Without a doubt. I think most Spanish people know this

It is the only city in Spain that hasnt suffered a property crash. Quite rightly too, it is a beautiful city. I dont think I have ever been to a city with such an afluent atmosphere

Btw, Marbella isn't very expensive at all.

chopera

I thought most people on here would have known that

steviedeluxe

I doubt that many on this board have been to the Basque country, still less to San Sebastian. We do have a couple of posters who live there I think.

stuboy

I can't remember the name of those tiny glasses of beer that you get up there. I remember the first time I stayed up there. I went into a bar and ordered a beer, the barman gave me a tumbler with about an inch of beer in it. I thought it was a taster. I said that it was bueno or whatever and ordered a grande. Out came the next one. I wasn't paying much attention so I assumed he'd given me another beer to sample. I drank that and said bueno and again asked for a large one.
After the third time I clocked it. So I just ordered 6 and said something about amigos. I ended up drinking with two old boys in the corner and had one of the best afternoons of my life. The landlord brought out some cigars and bits of food.

jonboy

You assume too much. There are people posting every day about the most mundane of things. An insight into another part of the country is not to be dismissed. I was not aware of this oasis of great good fortune previously.
Who knows, I might even find my way there one day, I'll start saving right away

chopera

Sorry I didn't intend to sound "culturally snobbish" - of course many people on here wouldn't know it (I don't know what France's most expensive city is) - however I think that people who end up being in Spain a few years, and taking an interest, would eventually find out about San Sebastián. Personally I was slightly disappointed by the place when I went there - lots of people had hyped it up, but I found it a bit sterile and I got a bit bored of all those (expensive) Pintxos. I should give it another chance, but I prefer places that have a bit more local life to them, evenif that means they are slightly rougher around the edges.

cricketman

I didnt think the pinxos were expensive at all, and there was lots of life when I went there - although it was during the film festival

I guess you prefer Vallecas which is fine aswell, but there is nothing like a working class snob

chopera

Maybe I got ripped off then - it's just that various people had told me of this amazing city that they wanted to live in if they could afford it, and it never really hit me like that.

If it wasn't for the fact that nearly all its old buildings got burnt down 50 years ago, I'd probably prefer Santander (or Barcelona if it wasn't packed with tourists, or Madrid if it had a beach, or Malaga if there was any work to be found there, etc, etc). Nowhere's perfect.

stuboy

Like yourself I rocked up there during a film festival or premiere. There was no room at the inn. Ended up staying a few miles west, on the coast in some kind of surfer dude town. Good fun, a young crowd, a tiny bit downmarket and way too small beers.

Can't remember the name of it. If I could I would go back.

cricketman

Malaga is nice enough, but comparing Malaga to San Sebastian is like comparing salchichon with jamon de bellota

steviedeluxe

Have to agree with you - I've been impressed by different places in the Basque country, but found San Sebastian a little too spoilt by the tourist effect - although it has admittedly a great landscape.
Had a business meeting in Mostoles yesterday. Not a place I'd normally find myself in - heard it described as a dormitory town. But after the noise and crowds of Madrid, it seemed very pleasant and peaceful, and even the terrazas (again full, no doubt because of the San Isidro holiday) seemed more appealing. Obviously not going to be a place for culture or nightlife, but I could be tempted to live there...

chopera

I went to a wedding there a few months ago and it seemed ok. I know a few Spanish people who live there and they like the place. There are lots of those types of places dotted around the outside of Madrid, but there won't be so much going on in them though.

Dick Dasterdly

As previously mentioned, very obvious to folk who know the country reasonably well and most especially those who have stopped off there a time or two.

A more comprehensive list might have been interesting but certainly no great surprises regarding those mentioned.

Retired in Euskadi

It's called "un zurito". I believe in other parts of Spain it's called "un corto". A sensible amount of beer, unless you're really thirsty.