Mercedes

Stratford used to be my drinking hole when I came back from Oz, as well as Cheltenham and Worcester. Cheltenham seemed to the the friendliest. Used to do all 3 in one night, LOL.

I haven't found the Germans too bad, in fact many think I'm German so often speak to me in it as well as the Dutch. I quite like the fact it is cosmopolitan here where I am. A German GP invited herself to sit with me when I was having coffee on my todd recently and we had a good chat.

I think it also depends on the Brit, some spanish haven't had a good experience with some of them, think British Chav, so can't say I blame them for being unfriendly. I'm also unfriendly, in fact I pretend I'm foreign and can't speak English and then smile to myself when they are rude about foreigners not speaking English. There are alot of Brits I don't want to know, so you can't blame other nationalities thinking the same...

gallerie9

HI Sam
thats the view from the second floor terrace from the "Salon"
We had a good guy to do the plans everything was done when he said, but then they all have to go to Cadiz where we live and then you can wait for ever .......... but we have a good guy helping us and he was there making sure it was all ok and got the plans through in record time ...... the council were a bit surprised that they were accepted in three weeks .....before the August holiday when every thing closes for a month ....... It is the finding that is taking the time as the other half is doing all that himself But well it will sone be finished and I cant wait.
Good luck with the plans and ask any questions if you get stuck

Regards

weemac

These are the reasons why people are going to Spain in their droves....fantastic!

poollounger

When we moved in the agent said it might be helpful to go and introduce ourselves to the neighbours. We did and they were not overtly friendly but said that if we needed help in any way to please ask. Through garden fence chats and gardening talk they became more friendly and we meet for supper when we are over. They told us that traditionally in Spain people did not socialise with their neighbours but this is changing. When our elex went down they were handing extension reels over the fence to plug in the freezer without being asked.
When I first visited Spain many years ago, I felt that they were not as friendly compared to say the Greeks. An old hand informed me that they are, but believe in giving people their space and privacy. I now realise that this is true.
As to comparisons with Britain..I have found friendly people in cities and towns, and vice versa. Ultimately it comes down to the response one invokes in others. People going on about friendliness in Spain and lack of it in Britain remember that they are part of the habit in Britain.. maybe they have changed too on going to live in Spain??
I remember a Greek woman who lived in a smart part of London summing it up years ago...when she returned to Athens and called her friends it was...shall we meet for dinner tonight ?? In London it was....hang on let me get my diary.

Mrs eddie

That is fab !!

I don't think anywhere in the UK, you'd get that from a neighbour.

The Spanish are sooooo lovely....two of ours keep on giving us huge bags of oranges...we can't eat them fast enough

My hubbys in the UK at the mo......he says its cold, raining, people are miserable.....he found himself wanted to say "Hi"....like we say "Hola" "Buenos Dia" here and smile as he does here....but everyone was sooo miserable ....he kept getting strange looks if he smiled and caught someone's eye !!! You gotta laugh !!

Hillybilly

I would just like to temper this discussion a little by saying that not all Spanish neighbours are wonderful - you can get neighbours from hell here too, just like anywhere else in the world.

My Spanish neighbour's kids have, in the 3 years I've lived here, turned from cute little cherubs into insolent teenagers who give me verbal abuse when I'm in my garden, throw stones at my dog and rubbish into my garden, turn the water hose on me when I'm sitting on my terrace, sit outside my house (not their own) at night drinking with their mates, sit in my hallway and on my front doorstep at night if I'm out, bang on the window to tease my dog, ring on the doorbell for fun, have mates on mopeds turning up at all hours and this year have decided that their roof terrace which overlooks the back of my house is their late night drinking den. The 13 year old going on 20 year old daughter has become the town hottie and has declared that she sees no point in working hard at school because she aims to be pregnant by the age of 16. She'll probably achieve that ambition on the roof terrace too!

Yes, I've complained to their mother... So, now I'm moving house as I cannot take another summer of this (it's always worse in summer)!

So, please don't assume that just because this is Spain and everything looks rosy that it always is!

Having said that, I think I've just been especially unlucky as most of my friends' neighbours are fine! Although, a gay couple I know have experienced blatant snubbing in their village.

Mrs eddie

Oh geez !!! So gutted for you mate......it must be awful!

I can not believe the Mother lets them get away with it. I thought the Spanish parents came down hard on there children....see a few slaps flying around at the school gates !!

I am not at all niave and believe there is good and bad in Spain as there is in the UK. Altho, the good bits I've mentioned can't compare to that in the UK....

I really hope your sell goes ok and you get fab neighbours. Are you going to move out the village totally ? fingers crossed you enjoy this summer.

All the best x

Hillybilly

Thank you! I intend to have a fab summer as I've bought a place in the campo with NO neighbours at all! Just the odd passing tractor and mountain bike! Knowing my luck though, they'll hurl abuse or spit olive stones at me as they go past!

Mrs eddie

Lol .....no one can be that unlucky surely

Well done mate , when are you moving ? Getting ready to pack up yet or is it too soon.....?