Originally Posted by HBG (Post 8476765)

Learning a few words in Valenciano won’t do any harm in the northern Costa Blanca, especially in Denia.

Originally Posted by HBG (Post 8476811)

Take it off. You don't deserve it.

Originally Posted by painterhombre (Post 8475928)

Very much depends on the area you are in and the language each of you know.

eg, in benidorm, we tried to speak (not too bad) Spanish, and prob because we look english, they reply in english so can confuse matters. Most Spaniards under 25 know some english and seem keen to use it. Was in a Moroccan halal grocers yesterday in lliria, Valencia. Bloke spoke Spanish, then Arabic to another customer, then Spanish to us, but still enjoyed saying "thank you bye bye!" to us. Most seem to love saying a bit.

the WORST thing you can do is be totally ignorant (and there are MANY english in Spain like it) and just speak english, slowly and expect them to understand, eg,. Basil Fawlty style. Its awful and it doesnt help.

In all, the Spanish are far friendlier and more genuine than the english, in my own humble opinion and from extensive experience.

What you give out is what you get back.

Originally Posted by savateur (Post 8476433)

:rofl::rofl: He wasn't asking her to get the very last box of cornetto's, from the very bottom of the freezer was he ?

Originally Posted by HBG (Post 8484949)

Two days ago, my wife slipped on water while queuing at the fish counter in Mercadona. All the Spanish people rushed to her aid before I arrived, which really impressed me, but I was thinking ahead and tried to tell her to stay on the floor a bit longer to help with the claim for compensation.

She was too busy thanking the Spanish people who got her back on to her feet to understand what I was saying, so we can’t sue anyone.

If it had happened back home in Tesco’s, people would have stepped over her but we would now be talking to the ‘no win, no fee’ brigade.

Originally Posted by manamama (Post 8484990)

I tripped over in Tescos a few years back and lots of people came and helped me !!

Do you really think us Brits are so uncaring??

Originally Posted by manamama (Post 8484990)

I tripped over in Tescos a few years back and lots of people came and helped me !!

Do you really think us Brits are so uncaring??

Originally Posted by HBG (Post 8485075)

I somehow can’t imagine that happening in Spain,

Originally Posted by HBG (Post 8485075)

It’s difficult to answer that, and any answer would be purely personal. The example quoted happened; I can give one from the UK, but would those minor examples be representative?

Well, you asked for it. I was waiting for a train at Stratford station in London late at night when I saw a gang of yobs get hold of a woman and throw her in front of an approaching train. The platform was crowded and no one went to help. I tried but I was two platforms away.

I somehow can’t imagine that happening in Spain, but I’ve never been waiting at a platform in Madrid late at night.

I personally think that Spanish people are more helpful when they see people in trouble than people in the UK, but that’s probably a ridiculous statement based on extremely limited personal knowledge.