Re: Spanish attitude
 

Crabs?

Re: Spanish attitude
 

I'm sure people born with the appropriate aggressive/acquisitive genes commit crimes in every country. There is still something distinctive about the Spanish tolerance of foreigners.

Oddly enough, this extends to driving. No one who had ever driven in London would consider the Spanish aggressive drivers, even in Madrid. And to add my own anecdote: I once drove the wrong way down a temporarily one-way street in Benissa. The Spanish drivers coming the right way made it easy for me to get past them. Once again, tolerance is the key. I am convinced that English drivers in the same situation would have self-righteously got in my way.

Re: Spanish attitude
 

I live in a small village on the south-facing slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Our Spanish neighbours have been so welcoming and friendly and always help us out if they can, they are terrific.

In fact, I find most Spanish are friendly (the ones I've met anyway) - and I always remember in Bilbao, having asked some Spanish young people the way to get to the Ferry Port, they got back in their car and guided us there.:) And again in northern Spain, the Spaniard who phoned about six hotels on his mobile to try to get us a room (there was a huge Fiesta on in the area and the hotels were all full).

Re: Spanish attitude
 

I agree with much of what you're saying, but it's hard to make a comparison with London drivers - totally different situation to the rest of the UK (or even Europe) imo. There's a lot I love about London, but its sheer size and pace of life make it hard to compare people's behaviour with elsewhere.

Re: Spanish attitude
 

Maybe, but perhaps if they had as many as the UK has, they may not be so tolerant anymore..

Driving in Madrid is a walk in the park compared to driving in London..(not quite like for like).

I am quite tolerant driving unlike some around here...the only think that narks me is when I stop for people to cross the zebra, they go SO SLOW and lucky to get a thanks.

Swings and roundabouts..

Re: Spanish attitude
 

Spain has a higher proportion of immigrants that the UK.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigration_to_Europe

According to the above the United Kingdom has 5.4 million immigrants which is 8.98% of the total while Spain has 5.0 million which is 11.45%

See also Here and Here

ETA I've just noticed that the comment was about "Foreigners" and not "Immigrants". I apologise if my post is therefore not relevant but I think it's worth pointing out anyway.

Re: Spanish attitude
 

Funny that this driving thing should crop up now, I've just found out that one of the guys I work with is also a driving instructor as well. We were talking about standards of driving over here and he said that the standard is good over here but the problem is the amount of people driving that don't have a license. He says that peole over here (Spanish & immigrants) seem to find it acceptable to do what they want on the road even after they pass their test because they can get away with it as in general the police aren't that interested or just don't have the technology / manpower to control everything on the road hence the number of accidents / deaths on the roads every year.

Re: Spanish attitude
 

Clods.....
Centre lane only drivers.

Re: Spanish attitude
 

This driving thing has become a bit of a thread hog.

I wonder if the original poster had a reason for asking us to share our views and experiences?

Re: Spanish attitude
 

Some are prats, some are great, bit like the UK.

Re: Spanish attitude
 

Thanks for the link which I read but I still don't feel that Spain has had more immigrants than the UK.

The figures seem to show a percentage from a recent date which Spain has had a major influx in just recent years. Whereas the UK have had immigrants coming for decades.

Re: Spanish attitude
 

Spain has at least as many immigrants as a proportion as the UK manamama. For certain. And this has mainly come from the past 10 years

Not as many in Asturias admittedly, though we notice every time we go back that so many of the bar and restaurant jobs are now Latin American or Romanian. I guess a lot of British people cant tell the difference between a Spaniard, Argentinian, Cuban, Romanian and a Morrocan :) Expecially when they are speaking Spanish.

I have a cousin who lives in a village inland, always complaining about their Spanish neighbours. We went to visit during fiesta time and we didnt see a single Spaniard, they were all foreign. They were maninly speaking Spanish though :)

Re: Spanish attitude
 

A proportion of the migrants may not be quite so noticeable to British eyes and ears as they already speak a native level of Spanish (eg Colombia or Ecuador) or a good level (as many Roumanians do).

Re: Spanish attitude
 

Actually, not just decades but centuries. The British Isles have been swamped by immigrants for as long as we have any recorded history. That's what makes us British.

But I wonder if this debate is what prettykitty had in mind when she asked her question. I would really like to know.

Re: Spanish attitude
 

But if you turn back to history, Spain was invaded by the Moors in 711AD and they stayed until 1492, but technically they were immigrants and would have left some ancestors behind I'm sure!! So Are the people we call Spanish today, actually of Spanish decent or Moors ?????? and in 500 years time, will there still be Brits or will they get mixed in like the moors did

Jo xxx