Why are the British so attracted to Spain?
Mar 21st 2012, 10:29 am
#31
Joined: Jun 2011
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Re: Why are the British so attracted to Spain?
Fiona, you have a point. I know someone who bought a villa on a gated community. AFAIK all the residents are british. None seem to speak spanish. They golf and socialise together and are self-sufficient. They do however, employ spanish gardeners, cleaners etc. A considerable amount of money is going into the area from them...so where is the harm. Where is all the tolerance that is supposed to be around on this forum
but in reality, they are not doing any harm living their lives the way they want to. They would be the same group if they were in US, France, Italy or anywhere else and living the same way.
absolutely wrong with it in my eyes, not what is for me nor many of the others here, but it isnt for us to mock them.
Whose lifestyle is right -ours or theirs.?
Mar 21st 2012, 10:45 am
#32
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Re: Why are the British so attracted to Spain?
Another thing why the british are attracted to spain is the fact that everything is geared to british tastes. British bars, shops etc. eg. Italy where you would find it hard to see a British bar or shop. They can follow the UK news and keep up with their Footie too. Spain is considerably cheaper for a holiday than anywhere else in the Med.
Mar 21st 2012, 10:48 am
#33
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Re: Why are the British so attracted to Spain?
Another thing why the british are attracted to spain is the fact that everything is geared to british tastes. British bars, shops etc. eg. Italy where you would find it hard to see a British bar or shop. They can follow the UK news and keep up with their Footie too. Spain is considerably cheaper for a holiday than anywhere else in the Med.
Mar 21st 2012, 11:04 am
#34
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Posts: 14,804
Re: Why are the British so attracted to Spain?
Another very good point J2 made was about associating with Brits for shared sense of humour. I can make Spanish friends laugh, they can make me laugh but the actual intrinsic, gut, sense of fun is somehow imperceptibly different from nationality to nationality. Possibly also due to my slower Spanish... joking/larking about/messing etc loses its impetus done at 2/3 speed!
nb HBG .. yep, good post.
Question, though. If someone has no mega interest in culture in their own country, is it wrong to want to move to a country and not be interested in the culture there but simply prefer the sun? (without prejudice to my blinkered belief it is incumbent on anyone moving to any country to live to learn some kind of conversational native language and on the assumption they're not dossing off the state or avoiding taxes bigtime or something
)
nb HBG .. yep, good post.
Question, though. If someone has no mega interest in culture in their own country, is it wrong to want to move to a country and not be interested in the culture there but simply prefer the sun? (without prejudice to my blinkered belief it is incumbent on anyone moving to any country to live to learn some kind of conversational native language and on the assumption they're not dossing off the state or avoiding taxes bigtime or something
)Rosemary
Mar 21st 2012, 11:22 am
#35
Lost in BE Cyberspace
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Re: Why are the British so attracted to Spain?
For us one of the reasons for choosing Spain over Cyprus which was our initial favourite place to by a little place having been posted there in the 70's. Access to the UK in case things go wrong there or at home especially when you have kids back in the UK.
Mar 21st 2012, 12:07 pm
#36
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Re: Why are the British so attracted to Spain?
One minute you're sunbathing on your terrace without a care in the world, when the phone rings, and a few hours later you're shivering at Gatwick trying to hire a car with a Spanish driving licence.
Mar 21st 2012, 1:59 pm
#37
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Re: Why are the British so attracted to Spain?
The fact that very few of the British people who move to Spain (or at least my area of it) appear to have any interest whatsoever in its culture could be one reason why the ones who do say "we don't want to be surrounded by fellow Brits".
I have minimal social contact with most of the British who live near me as they aren't interested in the things that interest me, and vice versa. They gawp at us open mouthed if we say we've been to a concert, or have arranged a trip to a Spanish city - "what do you want to go there for" is the usual response. The furthest they get is sitting outside the nearest bar. Their existence would drive me mad, but I suppose it takes all sorts. Once or twice we have taken other people with us on day trips somewhere (because they've invited themselves along) and it's been a disaster. They hate walking, want to stop for a fag break and a beer every 10 minutes, have no interest in architecture and don't want to eat funny foreign food for lunch. We've stopped telling people we're going anywhere until after we've been!
I have minimal social contact with most of the British who live near me as they aren't interested in the things that interest me, and vice versa. They gawp at us open mouthed if we say we've been to a concert, or have arranged a trip to a Spanish city - "what do you want to go there for" is the usual response. The furthest they get is sitting outside the nearest bar. Their existence would drive me mad, but I suppose it takes all sorts. Once or twice we have taken other people with us on day trips somewhere (because they've invited themselves along) and it's been a disaster. They hate walking, want to stop for a fag break and a beer every 10 minutes, have no interest in architecture and don't want to eat funny foreign food for lunch. We've stopped telling people we're going anywhere until after we've been!
I enjoy the countryside, pines and eucalyptus trees, the wild flowers, wonderful walks, the lakes and scenery. I enjoy making delicious dishes with the abundance of locally grown fresh fruit and vegetables. I like the space that Spain gives you where you can travel for miles without seeing another car or person, the freedom and the many choices there are depending on what you are looking for, it is all out there for the taking.
Mar 21st 2012, 2:15 pm
#38
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Re: Why are the British so attracted to Spain?
I often wonder where the phrase "relaxed lifestyle" comes from
Being on holiday or watching place in the sun programmes I suppose. All the spanish I know are hard-working and live pretty much the same as people in the UK who have jobs. You can have a relaxed lifestyle anywhere in the world if you don't need to work
Personally, I enjoy the company of Brits too, the same sense of humour/background etc. Although we learnt to be selective! Spanish do not socialise in the same way. If you like meeting friends and going out to a restaurant you will find yourself dining alone with the OH. Even our rich Lawyer neighbour rarely went out except for family occasions and he wouldn't have been seen dead at a Fiesta, likewise most people I knew.
Being on holiday or watching place in the sun programmes I suppose. All the spanish I know are hard-working and live pretty much the same as people in the UK who have jobs. You can have a relaxed lifestyle anywhere in the world if you don't need to workPersonally, I enjoy the company of Brits too, the same sense of humour/background etc. Although we learnt to be selective! Spanish do not socialise in the same way. If you like meeting friends and going out to a restaurant you will find yourself dining alone with the OH. Even our rich Lawyer neighbour rarely went out except for family occasions and he wouldn't have been seen dead at a Fiesta, likewise most people I knew.
Of course a pensioner who retires in the UK and comes to live out in spain,will notice a hell of a difference, but it is more down to not going to office/factory or whatever than Spain being more relaxing.
There are a lot of Spanish grandparents that are looking after grandchildren due to the fact that both parents have to work.
And child care is not always an option due to strange and/or long working hours or transport problems or cost.
No relaxed lifestyle for them.
Good luck to the Brits who find Spain more relaxing than when they lived in the UK,but just because they are priveledged and able to take advantage of it, dont think that the whole country is the same.
I know loads of penisoners who are on around 400 euros a month penison and their lifestyle is very far from relaxing.
There are still thousands of pensioners in Spain who have adult children who have never left home, because it has been impossible for them to become independant.
And just recently there was a TVprogramm showing penisoners about to lose their homes because they went as guarantors for their childern who have now defaulted.
Mar 21st 2012, 2:39 pm
#39
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Re: Why are the British so attracted to Spain?
Great post and good points, especially about the "relaxed lifestlye" and not having to work.
Of course a pensioner who retires in the UK and comes to live out in spain,will notice a hell of a difference, but it is more down to not going to office/factory or whatever than Spain being more relaxing.
There are a lot of Spanish grandparents that are looking after grandchildren due to the fact that both parents have to work.
And child care is not always an option due to strange and/or long working hours or transport problems or cost.
No relaxed lifestyle for them.
Good luck to the Brits who find Spain more relaxing than when they lived in the UK,but just because they are priveledged and able to take advantage of it, dont think that the whole country is the same.
I know loads of penisoners who are on around 400 euros a month penison and their lifestyle is very far from relaxing.
There are still thousands of pensioners in Spain who have adult children who have never left home, because it has been impossible for them to become independant.
And just recently there was a TVprogramm showing penisoners about to lose their homes because they went as guarantors for their childern who have now defaulted.
Of course a pensioner who retires in the UK and comes to live out in spain,will notice a hell of a difference, but it is more down to not going to office/factory or whatever than Spain being more relaxing.
There are a lot of Spanish grandparents that are looking after grandchildren due to the fact that both parents have to work.
And child care is not always an option due to strange and/or long working hours or transport problems or cost.
No relaxed lifestyle for them.
Good luck to the Brits who find Spain more relaxing than when they lived in the UK,but just because they are priveledged and able to take advantage of it, dont think that the whole country is the same.
I know loads of penisoners who are on around 400 euros a month penison and their lifestyle is very far from relaxing.
There are still thousands of pensioners in Spain who have adult children who have never left home, because it has been impossible for them to become independant.
And just recently there was a TVprogramm showing penisoners about to lose their homes because they went as guarantors for their childern who have now defaulted.
Mar 21st 2012, 2:46 pm
#42
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 212
Re: Why are the British so attracted to Spain?
What a condescending thread this turned out to be !!!
I am completely immersed in Spanish life and culture but I wouldn't dream of boasting about it, look at me, look at me, look at me.
So let people live their lives as they wish, it's short enough.
Whether sun or culture, they're equal in my terms.
I am completely immersed in Spanish life and culture but I wouldn't dream of boasting about it, look at me, look at me, look at me.
So let people live their lives as they wish, it's short enough.
Whether sun or culture, they're equal in my terms.
Mar 21st 2012, 2:57 pm
#43
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 7,749
Re: Why are the British so attracted to Spain?
What a condescending thread this turned out to be !!!
I am completely immersed in Spanish life and culture but I wouldn't dream of boasting about it, look at me, look at me, look at me.
So let people live their lives as they wish, it's short enough.
Whether sun or culture, they're equal in my terms.
I am completely immersed in Spanish life and culture but I wouldn't dream of boasting about it, look at me, look at me, look at me.
So let people live their lives as they wish, it's short enough.
Whether sun or culture, they're equal in my terms.
Mar 21st 2012, 2:59 pm
#44
Banned
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 5,008
Re: Why are the British so attracted to Spain?
What a condescending thread this turned out to be !!!
I am completely immersed in Spanish life and culture but I wouldn't dream of boasting about it, look at me, look at me, look at me.
So let people live their lives as they wish, it's short enough.
Whether sun or culture, they're equal in my terms.
I am completely immersed in Spanish life and culture but I wouldn't dream of boasting about it, look at me, look at me, look at me.
So let people live their lives as they wish, it's short enough.
Whether sun or culture, they're equal in my terms.
I watch British TV, buy British food, mix with Brits etc.
Mar 21st 2012, 3:52 pm
#45
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 96
Re: Why are the British so attracted to Spain?
Our Spanish friends do socialise a lot - they love having lunch/dinner with friends of whatever nationality (either in restaurants or at someone's home) and meeting up for a few drinks/coffee/breakfast. As for a relaxed lifestyle, yes the Spaniards whom we know who work do work very hard and have the same business/lifestyle stresses that other nationalities have but I do think that the ones who like socialising with friends then find it easier to forget their problems for a while, thereby appearing to have a more relaxed outlook. That would be true of other nationalities too, of course. Also our Spanish friends from the south seem to have the attitude that there is no point worrying about things which they can't sort out whereas our Spanish friends who originate from the north all get more stressed(possibly because they seem to have different expectations about things like Telefonica, service, efficiency, etc). However, I think the climate in the south of Cadiz and Malaga (can't really comment on elsewhere) helps to promote a relaxed lifestyle because the people I know feel more like going out/meeting up/playing sport when the days are not so cold or dreary. Lots of generalizations, I know, but that's been my experience.