Comment from Beckett
Time: December 14, 2007, 10:43 am

Ben,
Have you got your bags packed? Are you ready to leave Spain at a moment’s notice? Because you know this post is going to bring out the pitchforks and torches!! These kinds of posts really rile the Spaniards who read your blog.

For No. 10, I would put “The customer is a bicho raro who is ALWAYS wrong.” Customer service in Spain needs to enter the 21-st century if the country wants to remain competitive in its two key industries, tourism and banking. I was stunned by a recent encounter with Vodafone. I won’t get into the details here but it was unbelievable. In fact, I started wondering if there was a hidden camera filming the whole thing for a candid camera tv show, that’s how outrageously bad (and rude) the service was.

To No. 7 or No. 8 you could add “drivers who run red lights.” It’s amazing that there isn’t a daily pedestrian fatality but I think it’s because pedestrians wait a second or two before stepping into the crosswalk after the light turns red.

Comment from luke
Time: December 14, 2007, 10:55 am

Ben, that is spot on. The smoking thing gets even worse in the winter when you have kids; you just use cafes and restaurants as little as possible and one of my greatest pleasures is to go out to eat. So you can stay in and watch a four-hour film or is it a four-hour advertising campaign interrupted by drama? And when you do use the cafes there is a high chance (in Madrid) that your change will be miscounted or not even arrive (it might be because I’m a foreigner or the waiters have trouble with maths?).

My number 10 would be the spewing up of new residential buildings. Buildings pop up within a few months, crammed together. Most of them seem to have no aesthetic motivation.

Nowhere is perfect and these are small gripes…I still love Spain .

Comment from Ben
Time: December 14, 2007, 11:12 am

@Beckett: “These kinds of posts really rile the Spaniards who read your blog.” Well, they have to face the truth sometimes!

@Luke: Yes, I definitely agree that Spain’s appalling urban planning should be added to the list.

Comment from Moscow
Time: December 14, 2007, 11:13 am

Ben,
I think you are a tad pessimistic about the smoking. As a non-smoking Spaniard I remember perfectly well the days when Spaniards smoke absolutely everywhere.
I never thought I would see the day when they would ban smoking in offices and administrative buildings. And Spaniards do follow rules - once they are well established and after a more or less prolongued transition period - it just takes them a bit getting used to it, a bit of prodding from officials here and there, and finally the clamp-down that kills off the last remnants of opposition. Watch out for more restrictions on smoking from the next government.

Comment from Christof
Time: December 14, 2007, 11:16 am

My number 10 is nicely illustrated here: http://www.colindavies.net/Houses.htm

Where ever you go in Spain, there doesn’t seem to be any respect for old buildings. I see old buildings, factories and farms destroyed all the time to make way for another ugly urbanization or set of flats.

And if there is no building to destroy, they just destroy the landscape, either the beach front, mountains or countryside.

Regarding 7.+8 and Becketts comment: here in Barcelona we have nice new rules for bicyclists since the bicing service started. These are very much enforced by the police. But no rules seem to apply for any other means of transport like cars, vans, buses, taxis, motorcycles or scooters.

Comment from Magister Ludi
Time: December 14, 2007, 11:32 am

10. 90% of dog owners do not clean their pets “gifts” off the street. Dogs own every yard of urban public greeen in Spain and you usually have to be very careful where you step

Comment from HF
Time: December 14, 2007, 11:34 am

Agree with the corrupt/thoughtless urban planning abive but also

10. The Noise!!!

Comment from Ryan
Time: December 14, 2007, 11:35 am

I have a new one! Buzzers to get into offices! I’ve been to a few doctors this past two weeks, and I think it’s hilarious that I have to buzz then wait to be let into an office. Especially since they never look to see who it is! Just buzz and door opens…what are they protecting? What are they keeping out? Why when it’s windy and cold do I have to wait for a lady to finish her conversation about the latest gossip before she reaches over and buzzes me into the heavily protected doctors office! he he he

Comment from Pedro
Time: December 14, 2007, 11:43 am

Well some clarifications about your post (actually interesting)
Point2: The golf courses are built to satisfy a demand, created by golf players. I mean, Spain is sunny almost 90% of the time, so a golf course can give a lot of money. Players come from all around the world. This does not mean I do agree with the building of golf courses, in fact I strongly disagree,.
About point 5, do not get offended, but the 90% of our tourists, do not speak a fucking word of spanish or any other language. It is sad, but it is true. I work outside Spain and the vast majority of brits and americans I have met ONLY speak english.
About the other points, completely agree with you, mainly point 4 “. Once they do finally ban smoking in bars and restaurants, the Spanish will completely ignore the ban and continue to smoke.”, great!

For point 10, may be is not a problem for foreigners, but for us, the fucking low salaries! I get paid almost three times more in France than in Spain for the same job!

Comment from Antonio
Time: December 14, 2007, 11:53 am

Dear Ben,

For Nº 10 I would say those British tourist totally drunk at 10 pm when civilizated people are taking a walk.

Comment from Nacho
Time: December 14, 2007, 11:53 am

I am spanish and most of things told in this post are true

Comment from Carlos
Time: December 14, 2007, 11:55 am

Damm right, I had a lot of laugh when I read number 6

Regarding all those golf courses, I have to say that in the south (Costa del Sol) there are a lot of golfers. And guess what, they’re from all over Europe. There’s even a golf club in Malaga founded by Finnish.

Comment from nowald
Time: December 14, 2007, 11:58 am

Ben, I’m spanish, from Ciudad Real (in La mancha - Castilla La Mancha). I agree with you at all points. I think you can put on #10 this:

10. Spanish people always speak about their rights, but almost never speak about their obligations

@ Christof :
True! . In my town, there was a long wall and more than 100 tower from the medieval age, but the city council want to build, and there was not reason to stop. For example, now, under one of those towers which still in perfect conditions, the mayor give permmisions to construct a private car park(we call it “parking”), not public as he afirm few years ago….

However, Spains is different! xD, so travel all around it and you will love it . See you all.

PS: the problem with restrictions on smoking, is also that the goverment give permissions to the differents regions (we say Comunidades Autonomas and I dont know how to translate to english, sorry), to apply those restrictions, so, for example, Madrid, decrease it….

Comment from Yorchus
Time: December 14, 2007, 12:05 pm

Hi.

I’m a spanish guy and i must say that i’am completely confident with your annoying top-ten. First of all, excuse my english (just in case)…

I’ve two proposals for the number ten. One of them is the total absence of mantaining the places clean, for example streets and bars and restaurants. Nevertheless, the people that works cleaning streets are very well paid and there is a lot of them. Besides, barmans and bar owners expects to have to clean very often their business so that it means they have a lot of clients…

The second proposal is the high rate of robbery (stealing). Dont you realize that in most Europe people use the bicycle and spanish people dont? The main reason is that a spanish guy is sure that if he leaves his bicycle at any place it will disappear in less than 30 minutes (or be broken, vandalism would be another proposal).

Spain is different, you know…

Comment from Gorka
Time: December 14, 2007, 12:09 pm

Hey, I’m spanish and… I completely do agree with you!

But I think I can condense every bad thing in Spain in a unique word: PICARO.

I don´t know how to translate it, may be “cheater”. In Spain, everyone is always trying to take advantage of you. I mean, you will probably not get robbed if you have a car crash, people would help, but if your are ok, you should keep an eye on this, specially if your are not spanish…

So, everyone will try to smoke even if it is not allowed, will drink and drive and then blame it on the government, will builg golf courses and ask for free water for the bussiness even if there are real water problems, will have a dog but won´t clean their “gifts” nor worry about the others, etc, etc, etc

If you are interested, try find something about “la cultura del pelotazo”, and you will get deep inside Spain.

Sorry for my english, nice post!

Comment from César
Time: December 14, 2007, 12:30 pm

The worst thing that we have in Spain is the horde of brittish tourists that do everything they cannot do at home.

Comment from Cesar
Time: December 14, 2007, 12:31 pm

I agree with most of these points but i have to add that most of the english people who come to Spain, come to play golf, drink a lot of alcohol and smole everywhere, so don´t be so cinic

Comment from Alfonso
Time: December 14, 2007, 12:53 pm

Many of those things are quite true, but Cesar is right, many times we have to deal with “he horde of brittish tourists that do everything they cannot do at home.”

Comment from Ben
Time: December 14, 2007, 12:57 pm

I agree, that’s why I never go to Magaluf, Benidorm etc…

Comment from Ben
Time: December 14, 2007, 12:57 pm

… oh, and there are other types of British people that come to Spain, not just those that want to get drunk.

Comment from Beckett
Time: December 14, 2007, 1:11 pm

Don César y Don Alfonso,
Without the invading “horde” from the U.K., the Spanish real estate market would’ve entered recession a long time ago. Be careful what you wish for, caballeros.

Comment from Cesar
Time: December 14, 2007, 1:31 pm

Mr. Becket,

I don´t wish english people not to come to Spain, but not everything can be bought with money and I ask for respect. These 10 points are cliché and I recommend before criticize other cultures begin for your own. You english people are far from being perfect…

Comment from Ben
Time: December 14, 2007, 2:20 pm

@Pedro - you are right about the salaries, that is the most disgraceful thing about Spain these days…

Comment from leftbanker
Time: December 14, 2007, 2:48 pm

I have been wondering where I can lodge this complaint about Spain. I ride my bike by the beach here in Valencia almost every day, but for only about 4-5 months out of the year are there loads of half-naked beauties walking around. My rides aren’t nearly as interesting during the cold months without these thronged throngs. Someone please do something!

Comment from leftbanker
Time: December 14, 2007, 2:50 pm

Should be “thonged throngs” (not like that makes any more sense).

Comment from echulin
Time: December 14, 2007, 3:02 pm

Now, why don’t you write about the 10-most annoying things about United Kingdom? I’m sure you’ll need more than 10 tips

Comment from Katie
Time: December 14, 2007, 3:05 pm

I fully agree with you, Ben, and second Beckett on his points. I think my #10 could be http://www.elpais.com/articulo/espana/Monegros/tierra/espias/casinos/elpepuesp/20071213elpepinac_14/Tes
which I’m still reeling from.

Comment from poliket
Time: December 14, 2007, 3:14 pm

Para que engañarse: gran parte de lo dicho es muy cierto. Saludos!

Comment from Ben
Time: December 14, 2007, 3:15 pm

@echulin - I’d need about 100 to do the UK - but this blog is about Spain…

Comment from Ben
Time: December 14, 2007, 3:15 pm

… and I only got to 9

Comment from moscow
Time: December 14, 2007, 3:26 pm

Anyone wants to really get annoyed? The read this
http://www.elpais.com/articulo/sociedad/Audiencia/Alicante/absuelve/acusados/contaminar/rio/Segura/elpepusoc/20071214elpepusoc_4/Tes

Comment from Stuart
Time: December 14, 2007, 3:36 pm

Most of that leaves me extremely confused as to what country I live in.

Comment from luke
Time: December 14, 2007, 4:27 pm

I know this is a Spain blog but there are too many people wanting a UK top ten so for the sake of fairness, I’m going to start:
1. Transport. Using a car in London is not worth it but then you have to put up with the pushing, a plague of pickpockets and the occasional lout on the bus/tube.
2. Weather
3. Expense
4. Out of control young gangs who have no fear of the police.
5. Cowboy tradesmen
6. Getting kids into a school, doctor, dentist etc
7. Lack of child friendly pubs etc
8. Interior life - too many people retreat behind their castle doors.
9. Difficulty in finding space to live for a good price. Overcrowding.
10. Casual violence
11. Spanish people…only joking, I married one.
Just a note on some of the Brits in Spain: I am sure there are badly behaved idiots in some areas but I’ve been going frequently to Spain for more than ten years and I’ve avoided those places and so have never seen that behaviour. They don’t travel to Cantabrias, Asturias, Castilla-Leon/La Mancha etc and they only come in the summer so it can’t be one of Spain’s top ten problems, can it?

Comment from Pablo
Time: December 14, 2007, 5:33 pm

What the hell is magaluf? Maybe Málaga?..

Comment from Dani
Time: December 14, 2007, 5:36 pm

Pues dejad de venir malditos cangrejos.

Comment from Olli
Time: December 14, 2007, 5:37 pm

Hi Ben,

Completely agree with you. We spaniards are definitely a disaster, and I guess we can make nothing to solve it (well… I am applying for Swedish citizenship, what I guess makes me a strange Spanish).
For #10 I propose “Spaniards are noisy. They give a hell about the noise they do and they don’t care if they are annoying any other one”.
By the way: Have you thought about writting a list about the 10 most annoying things about UK? Just to compensate
Nice post!

Comment from Adonet
Time: December 14, 2007, 5:40 pm

I really like Spain! i’m from AutoescuelaFacil.com

Comment from Adolfo
Time: December 14, 2007, 5:46 pm

I’m Spanish (from asturias, thank you luke). and i just can agree with the post.
Sad but true

Comment from rikkkar
Time: December 14, 2007, 5:47 pm

hola,
10.- el peor defecto de los españoles, es la mala ,cada vez peor, educación , de la gente,no se respeta a los demás, en la carretera somos unos macarras, en las calles unos incívicos, en el medio ambiente lo destrozamos todo, y con los extranjeros somos unos listillos y solo pensamos en engañarlos, hasta que dejen de venir y entonces ya veremos,
saludos

Comment from Wazzu
Time: December 14, 2007, 5:49 pm

¿No te gusta? Pues no vengas, coño

Comment from jose
Time: December 14, 2007, 5:50 pm

Hi,

I reached this page through Meneame, here you can also see the comments from those who don’t dare (because of their English) or don’t want to write in this blog (in Spanish of course).

http://meneame.net/story/diez-peores-cosas-espana-segun-ingles

I would say that the capability to understand the critics is not so developed among those Spaniards who haven’t been living abroad for a while.

El 90% de la gente en Espania piensa que vive en el mejor país del mundo y que no hay una sola razón para viajar fuera.

Saludos y felicidades por el post.

Comment from jose
Time: December 14, 2007, 5:50 pm

Hi,

I reached this page through Meneame, here you can also see the comments from those who don’t dare (because of their English) or don’t want to write in this blog (in Spanish of course).

http://meneame.net/story/diez-peores-cosas-espana-segun-ingles

I would say that the capability to understand the critics is not so developed among those Spaniards who haven’t been living abroad for a while.

El 90% de la gente en Espania piensa que vive en el mejor país del mundo y que no hay una sola razón para viajar fuera.

Saludos y felicidades por el post.

Comment from fitux & antxonio
Time: December 14, 2007, 5:55 pm

yes, it’s true but we live better than you, you only like drink and your girls are too ugly.
yes yes, but we are at the Eurocup of football hahaha

Comment from Pursuman
Time: December 14, 2007, 5:58 pm

10. … What would you put for number 10?

Lots of english pigs vomiting everywhere.

Comment from infi
Time: December 14, 2007, 5:58 pm

@Olli
Then you should know that since you come from a country within the EU, you don’t need to apply for a residence permission, it should be automatically granted, it’s your right.

Funny post btw, but after visiting England and Scotland pretty often because of work, and living in Sweden for a year I found out that at the end individuals are not such different.

Comment from ValenciaSon
Time: December 14, 2007, 6:00 pm

I can’t stand the milk in Spain. That’s it for me.

Comment from Naru
Time: December 14, 2007, 6:03 pm

Number 10 should be: Spain has a lot of idiots like fitux and his friend

I agree with your post. And I’m spanish.

Comment from Emilio
Time: December 14, 2007, 6:14 pm

haha really true,
but we Spaniards think that they build all those Golf clubs and “Chalets” around because of you, rich foreigners!!!

Comment from Rael Imperial Aerosol Kid
Time: December 14, 2007, 6:16 pm

Hi,

I’m spanish and I agree with some of your points, but I definitely dissent with the others, mainly with the smoking prohibitionist fashion (and no, I’m not a smoker, I’ve never been a smoker, and I don’t find so horrible to stand next to someone who is smoking, as long as he doesn’t blow the smoke on my face).

I would like to add something about points about points 1 and 2, though: it isn’t the national Spanish government who has the responsability of environment preservation. The local and regional governments have a lot of freedom to apply their own standards in this matter (or their lack of standards). You can’t blame the Spanish government if Comunidad Valenciana keeps building lots and lots of golf courses, while people in Andalucía have to deal with constant interruptions in their water supply.

Comment from Mjukkinderna
Time: December 14, 2007, 8:33 pm

I haven’t read all the spaniards’ posts. I have been living in Sweden (yes, I am spanish) and I have to say that all you say is mostly true. The tenth point would be saved for something quite more offensive like: “In Spain everybody think that he is right about everything… Always”.

It is astonoshing how people respects others’ decisions outside spain. I was so used to fight for the minimum respect. However, Barcelona is a little, little, bit different in my opinion.

Comment from manu
Time: December 14, 2007, 8:38 pm

so, dont come to spain. stay home. tahnks

Comment from Jill
Time: December 14, 2007, 8:42 pm

Oh Ben-ja-min you do jump in with both feet

Unfortunately your 9 ponts are valid. Re No.2 - Murcia has one of the biggest water shortages and guess what, new golf courses and urbanisations abound. Many properties are not selling yet still more are built. Crazy

@ Katie - I saw this on the news and could hardly believe it possible. TV1 tried to interview a local lady, she just shuffled away calling behind her NO HAY AGUA, which says it all.

Comment from Avaro
Time: December 14, 2007, 8:42 pm

I’m spanish and I couldn’t have described Spain as well as you!
I also think that these things are really annoying, and there are a lot more.
But we have reall good things too!

Saludos!

Comment from Frank
Time: December 14, 2007, 8:56 pm

My number 10 would be(amongst many others!) Brits Abroad Still Wearing Rose Tinted Glasses.
I have been visiting Spain for over 20 years, speak passable Spanish(certainly a lot better than most of them), read Spanish papers online, chat with several Spanish on skype, and yet still in other forums, they assume because one is a visitor and not a resident, that you know absolutely nothing about Spain. The weather is perfect, everything works like clockwork etc etc, they refuse to admit that Spain has any failings, best thing they ever did was leave UK. Yet they still want to know where to buy English products,how to get UK TV (for the soaps!) when is IKEA opening, what about C&A store, and the latest, where is Primark in Jerez!

Comment from bodycrumbles
Time: December 14, 2007, 8:59 pm

1.-) Spanish government. Proverb maxim of the politician:

The one who does not steal and fucks is because he does not have where.

(The doesn´t matter the environment if there´s enought money on my pocket)

2.-) Sure, golfers play better with the spanish sun. Many golfres have enougth money to convert desserts into golf ressorts, by chance they are foreign.

3.-) 300 years or never.

4.-) Just tell the waitress that you would call a policeman.

5.-) some maybe, but not all.

6.-) Tv is not relevant for me, i got world of warcraft.

7.-) Don´t drive on holiday Too many “Domingueros”

8.-) The blood of the Spanish asks for wine.

9.-) Yes, much better the summer.

10.-) Never search for work in spain.

Comment from Frank
Time: December 14, 2007, 9:00 pm

Spanish drivers must come high on my list, possibly the worst I have ever seen. In part, I think this is due to the complete ineptitude of the police, they just stand by and watch it.

Comment from Aloriel
Time: December 14, 2007, 9:11 pm

@Frank: then you haven’t seen portugueese.

About point 4 I would say they’re trying to fix it, but not very well, some autonomies are doing it very bad.

About point 5 I would say that I’ve met a lot of foreigners, especially from England and US and they usually don’t know a word of Spanish, but what is worse they don’t give a shit and they think that with English is far enough.

That’s sad though.

Comment from Sergi Pirergi
Time: December 14, 2007, 9:11 pm

But every bad thing of Spain is compensate with our
incredible and very very beautifull spanish women

Comment from Ni neu
Time: December 14, 2007, 9:14 pm

#10: Anglo tourists and teenagers completely drunk all day long, puking on our beaches, destryoing our street furniture and fixtures.

Comment from David
Time: December 14, 2007, 9:15 pm

Spain is more than “flamenco”, “toros” and “paella”. Try to see the rest of the country before say stupidities. The mediterranean zone or the south is other world compare to the north.
Actually you CAN’T smoke in most restaurants and in many bars arround the country. And if you smoke, you’ll be kicked out.
In the north there isn’t any water problem. We have a looot of water, too water…
It’s funny than an english, the people who only come to Spain to drink, fight and cause problems (the most), talks about stupidity of Spanish people. Because of that the waiters usually hate you.

Try to look into you before criticize other countries, you have a lot of things to improve too.

Comment from Vir
Time: December 14, 2007, 9:16 pm

You are not a clever guy. You have not seen how Spain really is. f you do not know all beautiful things every country have, you are suchan an idiot, or worst, un gilipollas de mierda que mejor se quede en su casa porque eres un retrógrado.

Comment from Men
Time: December 14, 2007, 9:19 pm

I really smile with the four hours films ejjeejej

Comment from Pek
Time: December 14, 2007, 9:24 pm

I’m spanish and I think you have been a little rude…

Comment from Frank
Time: December 14, 2007, 9:27 pm

“About point 5 I would say that I’ve met a lot of foreigners, especially from England and US and they usually don’t know a word of Spanish, but what is worse they don’t give a shit and they think that with English is far enough.

That’s sad though.”

Hombre, ¡en eso estamos totalmente de acuerdo!

Comment from espaÑol
Time: December 14, 2007, 9:33 pm

Lo que os pasa es que aún no os habéis enterado que esto es ESPAÑA no la India, que os lleve la maleta la madre que os parió.

Por cierto, que 007 es una película. Os lo digo por si os creéis que lo ingleses sois así.

Por cierto a todos estos nuevos iluminados del cambio climático que tienen a Al Gore como guía que se informen de quién es:
- Vínculos con el tráfico de drogas y blanqueo de dinero.
- Vínculos con empresas farmacéuticas (su bloqueo a la liberalización de los medicamentos genéricos condenó a la muerte a millones de niños en África. Todo por proteger a sus amigos de las grandes y multimillonarias empresas farmacéuticas).

A lo mejor podéis aprender como funciona el mundo:
dunwalke.com/espanol/
dunwalke.com

Seguro que algunos de los nombres que salen os suenan.
Oh! Sale la Reina de la Isla!! Enteraos cínicos.

Comment from Nineu
Time: December 14, 2007, 9:33 pm

I read a pretty interesting remark about this issue on a different website stating most of Erasmus students around the world want to come to Spain, as well as most European retired elders.

By the way, according to the Washington Post (http://www.economist.com/media/pdf/QUALITY_OF_LIFE.pdf), Spain has a much higher quality of life than the U.S.A. or the U.K. I’m sorry man…

Comment from Pedro
Time: December 14, 2007, 9:35 pm

Ten are not sufficient, but, anyhow, isn’t bad country… y perdonad mi inglés…

Comment from Gema
Time: December 14, 2007, 9:36 pm

I’m spanish, living in UK, and I agree with you in a few of those things, but definitely not with that christmas thing. In Britain christmas starts before september! argh!!

and the customer service would be the 10th. For god’s sake, is it THAT difficult to smile and pay attention to your customer, instead of keep talking with your mates??

Comment from iÑigo
Time: December 14, 2007, 9:43 pm

dumbass, smoking in spain is banned…

Comment from Damian
Time: December 14, 2007, 10:16 pm

La peor cosa de EE UU: que un gringo ignorante escriba 10 gilipolleces sobre España cuando puede escribir 10,000 mierdas de USA.

Comment from Nineu
Time: December 14, 2007, 10:18 pm

Damian, el tipo es londinense.

Comment from Frank
Time: December 14, 2007, 10:45 pm

“Damian, el tipo es londinense.”

O para ser más exacto, es de Oxford.

Comment from Tom
Time: December 14, 2007, 11:00 pm

My vote for #10 is the lack of a decent radio station, at least in the Girona area.
Most of these also apply to the U.S. so on the whole it’s a pretty mild list.

Comment from Ben
Time: December 14, 2007, 11:01 pm

“O para ser más exacto, es de Oxford.”
…pero llevo 10 años en España y he visitado todos los provincias de este bonito pais… para los que piensan que no se nada de lo que estoy hablando

Comment from Zegi
Time: December 14, 2007, 11:18 pm

Pues seguramente no hayas salido del hotel. XD

Comment from Ben
Time: December 14, 2007, 11:22 pm

Sera por eso

Comment from David
Time: December 14, 2007, 11:22 pm

No lo parece cuando dices cosas directamente mentira, como el tema del tabaco. Es cierto que en muchos bares lo permiten aun, pero también hay muchos donde está prohibido. Y en ningún restaurante se puede.

Comment from David
Time: December 14, 2007, 11:23 pm

Por cierto, no se quién es el responsable de la foto que aparece en la parte de arriba de esta página, pero demuestra no conocer más que los tópicos, cuando la realidad es muy diferente en la mayoría del país.

Comment from Ben
Time: December 14, 2007, 11:24 pm

“Y en ningún restaurante se puede.” - No es asi aqui en madrid, donde es complicado encontrar dos restaurantes no-fumadores en el mismo barrio…

Comment from Musice
Time: December 14, 2007, 11:26 pm

You are wrong in some of your top-ten points… but I agree with a 50%.
Barcelona

Comment from David
Time: December 14, 2007, 11:28 pm

Una cosa es una cafetería que ofrece servicio de comidas, y otra un restaurante. En los restaurantes, o hay zona para fumadores y otra para no fumadores, o directamente no se puede fumar. Creo que en Madrid hubo algún lio con la ley y puede que allí no sea tan estricto, pero en el resto de España es así.

Comment from David
Time: December 14, 2007, 11:37 pm

Otro súbdito de la pérfida Albión haciéndose el listo porque cree conocer la realidad española.

Qué bien si yo simplificara tu país a:

- Las inglesas borrachas como cubas en bragas por las calles.
- Los ingleses borrachos como cubas en gayumbos por las calles.
- El horrible ‘pescado y patatas’ que NADIE EN EL GLOBO entiende por qué os gusta.
- Los hooligans.
- Los pubs.

Si yo cito esas cinco cosas, todo el mundo sabe que me refiero a la pérfida Albión. Pero también lo saben si cito otras cinco cosas, como por ejemplo Shakespeare, Cambridge, Newton, los Rolling Stones y Darwin.

Es por ello que, fenomenal todo lo que dices y que esperamos ardientemente un post de, por ejemplo, tu visita a Gibraltar.

Comment from Frank
Time: December 14, 2007, 11:39 pm

“Es cierto que en muchos bares lo permiten aun, pero también hay muchos donde está prohibido. Y en ningún restaurante se puede.”

You can argue the finer points, but in other countries, when they banned smoking, it was banned totally. Nearly all the bars I have been in Southern Spain, proudly display a sign, “Smoking allowed in the establishment” Nobody knows if you can smoke or not. You won´t get a country of more hardened smokers and drinkers than Ireland, but it was stopped totally there overnight, but I don´t think the Spanish Government has the “cojones” to do it.

Comment from Ben
Time: December 14, 2007, 11:39 pm

Aqui lo tienes, David:
http://www.notesfromspain.com/2007/08/08/gibraltar-let-em-keep-it-please/

Comment from el_nota
Time: December 14, 2007, 11:44 pm

Nº 10.- El orgullo de los españoles.
Vas a llevarte un huevo de flames por “atacar” a nuestro pais de ignorantes, sólo se van a leer este trocito de blog en vez de echarle un vistazo al conjunto y no van a darse cuenta de que la pobreza de esta critica a la vida española es mas que nada porque te gusta mucho (o eso he podido observar de otros posts) España.
Pues que sepas que no todos somos asi, y en verdad somos buena gente, pero es que en cuento se nos toca nuestra vena patriótica…

11.- Precio/robo ADSL
12.- Vivienda
13.- Obras todo el año (madrid)
14.- Terrorismo
…

Pasate por el palacio de Gaviria un Miercoles, esta lleno de extranjeros

Comment from David
Time: December 14, 2007, 11:46 pm

Impresionado con lo de Gibraltar, Ben. Me declaro desde ahora, y lo hago público para que quede constancia, admirador tuyo.

Comment from Frank
Time: December 14, 2007, 11:50 pm

“Me declaro desde ahora, y lo hago público para que quede constancia, admirador tuyo.”

¡Zalamero!

Comment from Rafael Lopez
Time: December 14, 2007, 11:52 pm

Dear Ben,

I am spanish and I live in London, that may surprise you, but the best uni OF MY KIND is hear, thats why is plain simple.

There are a few things you should understand about everything related with Spain before you open your mouth, otherwise you have a big risk of looking like a ignorant.

First of all spaniards are hard, hard to bend, (imperialism didn’t just drop from a tree..), that makes them partculary likely to refuse changes in the way they live their lives, wich it seems you do like it, mostly, othewise you will never had write this post..
Second Spain is a very rich culture, it is and it was, wich is more that what I can say about england and english people now, just open your eyes and have a look around you will surprise yourself again.
As a result of their rich culture Spanish people is really different in any of their 17 Comunidades Autonomas, but except the normal rate of donkyes that are everywhere they ALL, say good morning, if you say good morning first, all, say you are welcome if you say thanks, wich as you should know but now there is a lot better of what you can say about the people of your country.
Just have a look around again, live a little, surprise yourself,…
I can keep expalining you the way you are (wich it seems that either you dont know, or
your mind cant cope with it) forever, but I do have more importants things to do.

So, just make yourself a cup of tea and stay forever in your miserable country.

P.d: Next time you want to complaint about something just try to be clever for a little while and make a comparison between the 10 things you hate in both countryes.

Dont panic it only needs to be for a little while….

Estoy en casa en 3 dias, os echo de menos cabrones, un abrazo muy fuerte.

Comment from Ben
Time: December 14, 2007, 11:59 pm

@David - “Impresionado con lo de Gibraltar, Ben. Me declaro desde ahora, y lo hago público para que quede constancia, admirador tuyo.”

Gracias

Comment from David
Time: December 14, 2007, 11:59 pm

Frank, jajajajaja… bueno, o hahahahaha: me has cazado… Pero mi admiración hacia Ben es real, sobre todo después de la agradable lectura sobre los monos gibraltareños, te lo prometo (algunos españoles prometemos, no juramos, que no todo va a ser ir de procesión, confesarse y Dios salvando a la Reina…)

Comment from elRayo
Time: December 14, 2007, 11:59 pm

English people
They have no care about his personal hygiene!!

Vamos, que ustedes son unos guarrillos

Comment from Helter Skelter
Time: December 15, 2007, 12:00 am

Hi,

You didn’t complain about spanish women, that’s great!

Comment from Ben
Time: December 15, 2007, 12:01 am

@HelterSkelter - I’m married to one, it wouldn’t be a good idea!

Comment from Andrew Drunk
Time: December 15, 2007, 12:04 am

10. The worst thing that we have in Spain is the horde of tacky-tacky brits that do everything they cannot do at home, including peeing in the pool.

Now, in 2007 they are converted to Chavs/chavettes.

Comment from Pere
Time: December 15, 2007, 12:06 am

Ben, I think your description is very closer to reality. I’m from Majorca and I can subscribe your words, but I think you’ve forgotten the 11th point.
The most of Spaniards don’t know nothing about their own country, and because of that these Spaniards use to look down on Catalan and Basque people… Being Spaniard is a nuisance for me now…

Comment from Rafael Lopez
Time: December 15, 2007, 12:09 am

Are you married to one..?
Really, mmmm, I feel sad for her…

Comment from carl
Time: December 15, 2007, 12:11 am

Well, I don’t speak english very well, but I want to explain some point:

5- The British have a very bad reputation for not speaking foreign languages and according to a survey published in February 2006 by the European Commission the reputation is totally justified. The results of the survey state that the British are officially the worst language learners in Europe!

This is true but when people generalize is very easy to found something wrong. I know many bars and restaurants where you can not smoke and many people who think drive and drink is no possible.
I think that many touristy places reflect way of life of people who travel there year efter year.
And I think that Spain is different, like UK is different or France is different or…It depends on who you’re talking

Comment from Ben
Time: December 15, 2007, 12:13 am

Please keep commenting, but comments are being held for moderation until I can check them in the morning.

Comment from Nineu
Time: December 15, 2007, 12:16 am

By the way, restaurants, pubs, and stuff are private properties. Their owners have - or at least they should have - the right to decide whether it’s allowed to smoke inside or not. If you don’t like it, just go away! It’s aboud freedom.
On the other hand, everybody knows Anglos look at theirselves as superiors, they wiped out every single Indian from North America or Australia.

Comment from David
Time: December 15, 2007, 12:54 am

Pere, no hables por el resto de españoles. Eso que has dicho no es más que una tontería victimista y una gran mentira. A ver si ahora va a resultar que todos menos tú somos unos fachas, por eso gobierna el PSOE, verdad?
Esa generalización es tan estúpida como la que hacen los que desprecian a los catalanes por 4 independentistas extremistas. Acabas de hablar igual. Enhorabuena.

Comment from Al-Khwarizmi
Time: December 15, 2007, 1:03 am

I’m from Spain, currently living in Brighton although I’ll be back soon. I agree with most of
your points, although 1 and 2 are really the same one, and 3 and 4 are also redundant. 5 is somewhat justified because really most English-speaking people don’t care about speaking Spanish at all, but I’m not a foreigner and I haven’t been treated that way so I don’t have an opinion on that one. Perhaps the only one I really don’t agree with is 9, because as far as I know people in the UK are even more obsessed with Christmas than in Spain. Maybe the problem is that you haven’t been in the UK in Christmas during the last ten years? (Christmas used to start later in Spain too, this is a recent trend). Damn, here in Brighton there are quite a lot of private houses with custom Christmas lighting that seems to be on all the night from the beginning of December, I haven’t seen that in Spain yet…

The Spanish people who have pointed out that there are a lot of bars and restaurants where smoking is forbidden must live in a parallel universe. I’m a non-smoker and I try to go to non-smoking places when I can, but sometimes it’s hard or even impossible. There is an “exception” to the law permitting premises with less than 100 square meters surface to allow smoking, but the fact is that nearly all bars and restaurants have less than 100 sq. m. and take advantage of this, and those larger often just violate the law.

I’d add the following points to insert in the places 2, 4, 9 and 10:

- Low salaries (commented by another poster).
- Customer service (commented by another poster).
- No viable alternatives to cars in most small cities. It’s pathetic that we can’t use bycicles in most Spanish cities when we have much better weather than in the UK and other European countries, where bycicles are used all the time even when raining.
- Most of the political debate is centered on nationalisms instead of on REAL problems. I’m not particularly fond on the political opinions of most people in the UK on some subjects (particularly the EU) but at least they worry about real issues that effect them, not about flags and such.

If I find time one of these days I might write a similar list about the UK, write my own list about Spain, and show both in parallel at my blog, it’s a good idea

Comment from vivi
Time: December 15, 2007, 1:07 am

Women shaking bedclothes, tablecloths, carpets out of their apartment windows should be 10 on the list! ughhhh horrible habbit

Comment from Andy
Time: December 15, 2007, 1:28 am

Las calles están llena de cacas de perro y no entiendo por que los propietarios de los perros las dejan en la calles donde los niños juegan. ¿Por qué no quieren enorgullecerse de los barrios donde viven?

Comment from jandrochan
Time: December 15, 2007, 1:30 am

I think this list is too short

Comment from dame una a
Time: December 15, 2007, 1:59 am

hola ben, el punto 10 y para mi el principal es el caracter latino que tenemos pillos, listillos y chulitos eso nos hace tener muchos politicos corruptos, muchos ladrones y traficantes y mucha gente que le importa poco que no haya agua, sueldos buenos etc solo quieren aprovecharse.
Vosotros los anglosajones teneis mucha menos educacion y demasiada sensacion de superioridad lo que os hace tener cosas que no os pertenecen y no devolverlas, Obras de arte, territorios, etc.

Espero que tus hijos hereden lo bueno del caracter latino y lo bueno del anglosajon y rocen la perfeccion

Se que deberia haberlo puesto en ingles, pero prefiero expresarme bien y que tu me entiendas.

Comment from Johnny
Time: December 15, 2007, 3:05 am

agree with most points. I would have added, though, without even getting into politics:

Their PM makes Bush look like Winston freaking Churchill!

and hello! I’m from Brooklyn NY and I love it here!

Comment from Neoyorquino
Time: December 15, 2007, 3:23 am

Ben, good humour, and mostly true if somewhat painful when you are Spanish (I am). I note in dismay how my countrymen, rather that take the whole thing in good humour, resort to pointless attacks at the Brits. I lived in the UK 7 years and loved it. Live now in the US and also love it. Still prefer Spain, though, with all its shortcomings. Mostly because its home, but I objectively believe that the quality of lie is higher. The one thing that really bugs me, though is not in your list: We have no civic sense. People dump sh*t all over the place. Our municipalities even have to hose down the streets every night to get rid of our junk.

Good job though!

PS: The solution to the water crisis is not to stop building golf courses, but rather to start building dams and reservoirs to catch the rain we do get.

Comment from ValenciaSon
Time: December 15, 2007, 4:01 am

Despues de estar jugando Parchis por internet en un sitio que se llama Ludoteka (sitio español en el internet) he notado que la mayoridad de los españoles no saben ni quiren saber otra idioma. Entonces, no es de ser hipocrata por criticar los ingles y americanos por no saber hablar español?

Comment from Genko
Time: December 15, 2007, 5:02 am

Just a few words to say I’m reading your blog and I’ve found it so nice and funny.

Be patient with all my dear fellow countrymen, as you may know even better than me, we are not ready to hear about us. Oh, wait, if you’re going to write how wonderful and sunny Spain is, you’re allowed to

My #10: We are soooo…. NOISY!!!

Comment from Moscow
Time: December 15, 2007, 8:31 am

98 comments and counting. Congratulations! This goes to prove that if you want to increase the number of comments on a blog there is nothing better than negativity. Depressing, actually.

Comment from richardksa
Time: December 15, 2007, 9:43 am

10. Bureaucracy! I don’t know what hoops Spaniards have to go through if they want to live in the UK, but the long queues and don’t care attitude of officialdom in Spain annoy me. And if we British treat in-coming EU members the same way, we should stop that too.

Comment from Beckett
Time: December 15, 2007, 9:47 am

Moscow,
I bet that the comments on this single entry hits 200 before the dust finally settles. Maybe we should start a betting pool? What cracks me up is the level of vitriol and pettiness that has spewed out. It shows a real level of insecurity and a huge inferiority complex on the part of the people who wrote in attacking this blog and saying things like “well the U.S. and the U.K. are much worse than Spain.” So childish. Get a grip!!

Comment from Frank
Time: December 15, 2007, 9:50 am

“I am spanish and I live in London, that may surprise you, but the best uni OF MY KIND is hear, thats why is plain simple.”
I understand the first bit of the sentence, but not the last bit! But why should you living in London surprise us? There are thousands living and studying there, many to learn English, and many earning three times what they can in Spain. Have a look here, you are not alone! http://www.forolondres.com/

“The British have a very bad reputation for not speaking foreign languages”
They do indeed! However there is far more incentives for say, a Spaniard to learn English, than for an English person to learn Spanish. Unless I was going to live in Spain, there would be no point in me learning Spanish, but so many professional Spanish people need English for their work. Information technology,computers etc is almost exclusively in English. The best films/TV etc are in English. You only need to see the appalling Spanish TV to see how much of the content is American/British imported films/TV etc, and then they go to the trouble of dubbing everything. If you were to stop someone in the street in UK and ask them to name a famous Spanish singer, TV programme, film,politician,actor/actress, or even name a Spanish person, I bet 99% could not answer any of the questions. Unlike English, Spanish films,TV etc pop music is not well known outside of Spain.
The might be able to name “el mentón”, Alonso, but only for being un quejica, soplón, chivato etc.

Comment from bherg
Time: December 15, 2007, 10:02 am

Hi ben,

Another spanish guy here that completely agrees with you. I’m looking forward for a job outside Spain to get the hell outta here with my family.

Spain just SUCKS big time.

Cheers!

Comment from Ben
Time: December 15, 2007, 10:04 am

@Beckett - I’m actually really surprised by the number of people that have agreed with me! I expected more vitriol to be honest.

@bherg - Don’t leave, it’s better here, honestly:

http://www.notesfromspain.com/2007/12/15/the-10-most-annoying-things-about-the-uk/

Comment from Luis
Time: December 15, 2007, 10:04 am

I think the worse thing in Spain is the low education levels and the absence of curiosity for other cultures.

Truth is, the biggest splendour of Spanish culture was with shared Islam and Christian presence. Today saying this is not politically correct but it is a complete truth. The hegemony of Catholic politics also started a darkness in the collective mind which still is quite present. The middle-spanish guy is mostly an good person but an ignorant. Young people is a different issue because the erratic educational design produces aleatory waves of nice people or abnormal ones.

Comment from Iñaki
Time: December 15, 2007, 10:05 am

I’ve lived in London, Paris, San Francisco, the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, Baja in México, Galápagos Islands in Ecuador, Pantanal in Brasil and now I’m living in the savana of Mozambique. I agree with all these points, and I’d add up a lot more, but I still think that Spain is one of the best places for living in the world (the other ones could be Italy, Portugal and California if you have a lot of money)

Comment from Frank
Time: December 15, 2007, 10:08 am

“If I find time one of these days I might write a similar list about the UK, write my own list about Spain, and show both in parallel at my blog, it’s a good idea :)”

Good post! I have seen a list in forolondres of “30 things I won’t miss” when returning to Spain, and “30 things I will miss” and rather than get all angry(like most here) I found it very entertaining, and found myself agreeing with most of it. It’s funny that things we take for granted, seem odd or strange to foreigners. Two taps instead of one mixer tap always seems to come up for some reason, carpets in bathrooms/kitchens etc
On the plus side, courtesy of drivers here, especially towards cyclists, always crops up, not jumping traffic lights, the TV, and not being hassled by beggars in restaurants/bars etc always seems to go down well. And a smoking ban that is enforced totally!

Comment from luke
Time: December 15, 2007, 10:56 am

Okay, okay this is an interesting cultural mix up. When I first met my Spanish wife I would occasionally make friendly jokes about Spain. I was really surprised at how fiercely patriotic she was, her reaction was not friendly. British people generally find being patriotic or nationalistic as a bit of a taboo and it is normally associated with xenophobia. Of course there are many exceptions to the ‘rule’ in the UK and in Spain (many Spanish people here are agreeing with Ben and many English football hooligans go against the norm). In Spain this pride extends to being from Madrid or Barcelona so some people will find it difficult to take criticism from someone of another region. Of course these regional ties are not to be messed with considering events in 1936.
I have heard Ben criticise the British much more than Spain and that is a clue as to why he has lived in Spain for 10 years. Is Ben supposed to live in Spain for that long and not notice any imperfections? Spain is not a fascist country anymore so surely his freedom to express this opinion and have intelligent debate is the progressive answer?

Comment from Emiliew
Time: December 15, 2007, 11:39 am

Hola

Comment from OCLuis
Time: December 15, 2007, 12:28 pm

Pues que le vamos a hacer… los españoles somos así, tanto para las cosas buenas como para las cosas malas.

Si no te gusta tienes dos opciones:

a) No venir a España.

b) “te jodes”. Camilo José Cela.

Comment from Neoyorquino
Time: December 15, 2007, 12:39 pm

to cap it off:

10: How dirty we are (in our cities)
11. An incomprehensible inferiority complex vis-a-vis English-speaking folk when foreigners comment about Spain;
12. Rampant Anti-Americanism….

Good Fun!! Keep it up.

Comment from jaims
Time: December 15, 2007, 12:45 pm

Number 10: spain is a country of thieves and ignorants. Thieve is everyone around the citizen, specially politicians, and then corporations (phone operators, SGAE and the likes, promotores inmobiliarios), and so on.
Ignorant is the average spaniard, forgetting so simple what being happening not so long ago (politician’s lies) and being always wrong about what really matters (which is the fact of being polite, respectful toward the others, the own rights and obligations…)
Really bored and dissapointed of being spanish. Wish I was european…

Comment from jaims
Time: December 15, 2007, 12:48 pm

‘forgetting so simple what has been happening’*

Comment from ValenciaSon
Time: December 15, 2007, 1:33 pm

Small capacity water heaters in the homes providing scant hot water for showers and the lack of shower curtains. But I’m not ready to condemn Spain as a country.

Comment from Joan-Lluc
Time: December 15, 2007, 1:35 pm

I don’t understand why Americans are put in the same category as the British, and by British I thoroughly mean the English. Having lived in California I can say that it is almost an insult to Americans to be in the same category as the English, but nonetheless this list is very typical of the English mindset, where if something is different then there must be something wrong with it. Ours is a different culture, if we want to smoke then let us die of lung cancer, and honestly most English people’s idea of speaking Spanish is nothing more than yelling or gesticulating in English.
Beckett:”Don César y Don Alfonso,
Without the invading “horde” from the U.K., the Spanish real estate market would’ve entered recession a long time ago. Be careful what you wish for, caballeros.”
Really, is anything else needed to be said here, or does the whole English superiority get any worse? I always figured the English had an inherent genetic so called “little man’s syndrome.”

Comment from asqueado
Time: December 15, 2007, 1:44 pm

Lo peor de España es el orgullo desmedido, la arrogancia insultante y la ignorancia manifiesta de muchos de nosotros, de lo que hay buenos ejemplos en los comentarios a este post.

Comment from Javier
Time: December 15, 2007, 2:03 pm

Ya que hablas tanto de España te lo pondré en español. Deja de quejarte de un país que no es el tuyo, ya se que España no es el mejor país del mundo, todos los países tienen sus fallos en mayor o menor medida, pero fíjate en el tuyo, que no respeta las leyes contra el cambio climático, que indiscriminadamente invade países matando miles de personajes inocentes, y fíjate en vuestro nivel cultural, la ultima vez que pudimos disfrutar de vuestra imbecilidad fue en un programa donde un hombre alucinaba al enterarse de la existencia de hungria… en fin, crea un blog con las 100 tonterias estadounidenses.

Comment from Luis Hamilton
Time: December 15, 2007, 2:05 pm

10. F. Alonso, Fu***ng Hell, even doesn´t have a bloody neck.

Comment from Carol
Time: December 15, 2007, 2:09 pm

Hello!

I’m Spanish, and I absolutely agree with you, Ben. In this country, people seem to be idiot and don’t realise we are destroying our country. I can’t understand the Spanish behaviour: why do they (we) smoke in restaurants? why do they (we) drive and drink? Why are they (we) arguing about stupid things, instead of repair those that are destroying the enviroment, for example?

I’ve always said that European people probably think we are goatherd, ignorant people… Surely, they are laughing at us!!!!

An Spanish fed up young girl.

Comment from Carlos
Time: December 15, 2007, 2:13 pm

Si tan malo es España no se por que vienes. Por lo menos me puedo matar fumando pero no me matan los policias de tu pais por ser extranjero en el metro de la City. No me enveneno con las “vacas locas” por querer ganar dinero a espuertas como tu colegas granjeros de tu pais. No tengo que aguantar a tus compatriotas cuando tienen un partido de football (holigans). No somos tan maleducados cuando vamos a otro pais, ni vamos borrachos ni en bragas. Tienes razon, es mejor que no vengais a nuestro pais pues podemos vivir sin vosotros y vuestra cultura anglofona. No penseis que nos haceis un favor, al contrario, os lo hacemos nosotros por aguantaros.
Saludos y que te vaya bien.

Comment from Javier
Time: December 15, 2007, 2:28 pm

Pues tienes mucha razón. Sobre todo en el 5.
Soy español. Hace un par de día una norteamericana pidió en la barra de un bar una cocacola y una pajita. Había un par de mongolos detrás de la barra que no dejaron de aburrir al personal con el tema de la “pajita”.
Los camareros en este país dan vergüenza ajena.
Casi tanto como los políticos.
Por otro lado, este es el país de la prevaricación. No hay una semana que en los boletines de las diferentes CCAA no se concedan cargos de libre designación. Paralelamente, en los sectores intermedios, todo se encuentra copado por más de lo mismo: las “comisiones de servicio”.
El patrón de España no es Santiago sino el ex-juez Estevill.

Comment from tarkus
Time: December 15, 2007, 2:31 pm

Mi número diez es el tener que soportar a los ingleses que sólo vienen a emborracharse y a ensuciar y perturbar los lugares tugares turísticos que visitan.

Comment from MARIA
Time: December 15, 2007, 2:32 pm

Soy tambien español y vivo en una zona muy turística frecuentada por extranjeros (UNA GRAN PARTE INGLESES) Y ME AVERGUENZA OIR COMO SON TRATADOS POR CAMAREROS IDIOTAS Y SEMI-ANALFABETOS QUE NO SE LO QUE SE PIENSAN.

Comment from El Sureste
Time: December 15, 2007, 2:32 pm

Ans noooooow.. England, your country:

1- Exagerada política anti-terrorista.

2- La mayoría es gente repipi y cursi que vive en bonitas casa y no le importa nada lo que pase fuera de su país.

3- Conducción pésima.

4- Falsa idea de estar por encima del resto de europeos en las cabezas de todos ellos.

5- Cerveceros insaciables que sólo saben montar bulla tras sus 800 rondas de cerveza.

6- La PEOR comida de todo el planeta.

7- Taxistas maleducados por doquier.

8- Que vivan tan mal que la mitad el país se haya trasladado a vivir a España (desfortunadamente).

9- La corrupción en sus deportes (empezando por el fútbol).

10- ¿Quiere alguien dar alguna idea para la número diez?

Comment from Ideito
Time: December 15, 2007, 2:33 pm

Hola, Ben: los Españoles tenemos muchos defectos, lo sabemos, pero vosotros no sois, precisamente un modelo a seguir en cuanto a muchos de los puntos que tú magnificas en nuestra contra. Seguro que la mayoría de tus compatriotas que leen las “tonterías” que escribes no estarán de acuerdo contigo.
Cuando acudimos a una cita deportiva, en cualquier parte del mundo, no es necesario “activar” medidas especiales de seguridad, como es vuestro caso.
Los comas etílicos en las costas es algo normal en vuestro comportamiento.
El complejo de superioridad ante el resto de ciudadanos de la Comunidad Europea os hace insoportables (lógicamente sois una minoría, afortunadamente la mayoría de tus compatriotas se compotan de forma correcta).
Seguro que comprendes aquello de ” la paja en el ojo ajeno”.
Que lo pases bien, y de vez en cuando ¡¡¡mírate al espejo!!!

Comment from ZP
Time: December 15, 2007, 2:34 pm

Algunas cosillas de los ingleses:

- Vienen a España y suponen que todos debemos saber inglés, aunque ellos no saben ni jota de español (por eso supongo que la mayoría no entenderán nada de este comentario)
- Vienen como la marabunta… y acaban con nuestra cerveza en las zonas turísticas.
- Conducen al revés.
- No tienen “ñ”.
- Se alinean continuamente con los americanos (pero con los del norte).
- Les preocupa muchísimo el medio ambiente… no había más que ver Londres hace unos años.
- Se ponen como cangrejos cuando les da el sol.
- No sé si fuman… pero llevan fatal lo de beber.
- Algunos tienen un particular estilo de comportarse en el fútbol: antes, durante y después de los partidos…
- Han fichado a un italiano para entrenar a su selección.
- Y lo peor… no han desterrado todavía a Hamilton.

Comment from Rayco Santana
Time: December 15, 2007, 2:36 pm

your points are not suitable for all Spanish regions, becuase each one its diferen´t (and each region has autonomous goverment) just look at the point #1 and #2… are completly wrong maybe in regions like Madrid, barcelona… dont give a shit about environment however we in Canary islands do, if you come here you will we do care A LOT about the environment (so far more than country, by the way), even I dont know if you already knew it but in the coast of the Canary islands there are Petroleum deposits and we dont extract them becuase it will hurt our environment, and as for water crisis goes, here in Canary islands there isnt any form of natural water like rives or subterraneam water deposits , and the 100% of the water its Desalted water so NO water crisis here.

Comment from Inigo
Time: December 15, 2007, 2:36 pm

Ben,when you compare the spanish services … you should first check the pain that non UK citizens must go through to open a bank account in UK etc
not to mention the NHS (surely you must have a private health care plan)… good luck…
PS , if the smoke and the golf courses bother you so much you can always go to Blackpool (do it walking, for the environment…) enjoy the donkeys, the food and the fat mingers.

Comment from Maria
Time: December 15, 2007, 2:41 pm

I’m Spanish and I have been living in your country for 10 months. Ten months have been enough to see that your country sucks as much as mine.
I don’t understand the meaning of this article, but only one thing is evident, your lack of education and tolerance. You need to learn that every country and culture is different and hopefully we are still not so influenced by the Northamerican terror hypocrite culture as you.
Remember that your people have started to be less polite and more racist than ever (if it is possible).
So first see the annoying things of your country and second do something fruitful to change them. You have a lot to change, love.

Comment from desaparecido
Time: December 15, 2007, 2:46 pm

Hey Ben - great blog. I am a spaniard just arriving back to Spain after 20 yrs of living abroad - in 7 countries. I find your list spot on. These are the same things that I have found annoying upon my return. For #10 I would add “Spaniards not realising how much better their quality of life would be if it weren’t for the other 9 things in the list”. Spain has a great quality of life, but it is annoying to find these things - but worse is spaniards in general being so uncaring about them.

Comment from Amando
Time: December 15, 2007, 2:48 pm

Well easy Ben, if u dont like Spain DONT COME AND GO ___ to your country but dont blame spain because all countrys got bad and good things.

Btw explain me why all english peps come here to be drunked ? U cant do that on your contry?

Comment from ViKiNg
Time: December 15, 2007, 2:54 pm

The 3 thing to see Eurocup in England:

1- Switch on the TV

2- See that England does not plays

3- Watch Spain Vs anyone

4- Enjoy Ramos force, Cescs passes, Casillas keeps, Villas goals

Comment from Manel
Time: December 15, 2007, 3:16 pm

I would add at the 10th position, the comple fault of humility and prespective of most spanish people. Fortunately i’m a CATALAN. Please don’t confuse us!

Comment from Moscow
Time: December 15, 2007, 3:17 pm

Ben,
Well, it’s not 200 yet……but getting there. More surprising than the vitriol is how many people claiming to be Spaniards actually agree with you - I’d say it’s a 50/50 thing. Then again most of these seem to either live abroad or have lived abroad at sometime stage in the past. I have been living out of Spain for 21 years now, the last 8 in Russia - which is undoubtedly much worse to live in than either Spain or Britain. So, everybody who is not living in Russia - cheer up!

Comment from César
Time: December 15, 2007, 3:18 pm

sol, jamon serrano y mujeres.

para todo lo demas, mastercard

Comment from Mario
Time: December 15, 2007, 3:23 pm

In all that, I agree. Specially with the problem about smoking and education to deal with it.
Besides, I write from Spain…

Comment from Paul
Time: December 15, 2007, 3:28 pm

Let me guess, how many british actually go to spain to get drunk, act completely uneducated. Dont go too far, first look at your own country. At least in Spain will treat you well the police, in Portugal they are fed up with you guys and will beat the crap out of you.

Comment from Queen elisabeth
Time: December 15, 2007, 3:32 pm

hahhaha, you are a perfect English, stupid, important, and unable of seeing beyond your noses,before speaking of the 10 Spanish problems, speak of the 200 Englishmen: drunkards, violent, fools hahaha and ok. good save your queen hhahahaha.

look you in a mirror and to your society before speaking of the rest, idiot

Comment from -HaRaDwAiTh-
Time: December 15, 2007, 3:40 pm

Hi Ben,

I’m from Madrid, and I agree with some points, but my question is:

Who do you think you are to criticize?

As we say here, “me explico”:

My small town, called Ayora, in Valencia, where my family live, is colonized by old british people (about 50’s I think), and recently, young families. And I say colonized because the arrive, the buy a small house, and start to reform them, without following our laws. They don’t try to learn Spanish, just to make understand themselves, no. They force us to speak to them in English.

Also, these “guiris” create problems in traditional fiestas in August. If children are not allowed to stay in the plaza with vaquillas, the prohibition is also for guiris. Then, if they are injured, spanish doctors have to help them.

Guiris think we are a underdeveloped. My cousin, who is plumber, had to hear a guiri telling him that here in Spain natural gas hasn’t arrived yet (God!!!).

And I could follow for years.

What I want to say is that, as we say here:

“Ves la miga de pan en el ojo ajeno pero no la viga en el propio”.

When I stayed in Swansea, Wales, three years ago in summer learning English, I had to adapt: speak in English, live as life there was, etc. Why don’t you, when you come here??

Y CATALÁN, aun eres español, y que quieres que te diga, una vez estuve en Barcelona, y santo dios, que no vuelvo. ¡¡Qué ciudad más agresiva!!

Comment from Santiago
Time: December 15, 2007, 3:40 pm

Hi,

I’m spaniard and I agree with most of the points. I would like to say to the fellow spanish that go: “Fuck you and don’t come!” that been critisized IS NOT been insulted or dishonored. People all around the globe should accept critics if they come with the due respect about their countries. NOBODY IS PERFECT.

Hola,

Soy español y estoy de acuerdo con todos los puntos. Me gustaría decirle a mis compatriotas españoles en actitud de “¡jódete y no vengas!” que ser criticado NO ES ser insultado o deshonrado. Cualquier persona de cualquier país debería aceptar críticas si estan hechas con el debido respeto acerca de sus países. NADIE ES PERFECTO.

Comment from patricia
Time: December 15, 2007, 3:46 pm

si hay alguien critico con España soy yo, pero creo que te has pasado un poco… te lo dice una española, tambien varia mucho de unas cominidades a otras (esto es para que ya que te pones aprendas español.

Comment from ValenciaSon
Time: December 15, 2007, 3:48 pm

España tiene sus hooligans tambien o se han olvidados del Ultrasur?

Comment from patricia
Time: December 15, 2007, 3:49 pm

por cieto estoy de acuerdo con lo que dicen por ahi, y que deberiamos decir nosotros de todos los ingleses que colonizan determinadas zonas de españa y en las cuales nosotros nos sentimos fuera de lugar en nuestro propio pais? porque dan mas problemas que otra cosa

Comment from ValenciaSon
Time: December 15, 2007, 3:51 pm

Los Catalanes son Españoles. Cataluña no es un pais.

Comment from J R U
Time: December 15, 2007, 3:51 pm

Para Ben Curtis.- Se ta ha olvidado decir que en España se insulta ………………………………
¡¡¡¡GILIPOLLAS!!!

Comment from Andaya
Time: December 15, 2007, 3:57 pm

Aunque reconozco que gran parte de lo dicho es cierto, en lo de beber, no creo que ustedes puedan hablar mucho, ya que cade vez que vienen a España, son famosas sus borracheras. Yo he visto en Alicante, britanicos de todas las edades y de ambos sexos, incluso con niños. con tales borracheras, que eran incapaces de levantarse de la silla, y no hablemos de cuando vienen sus seguidores de futbol, eso si es ser un borracho asqueroso, con sus coloretes y su nariz roja. En lo de beber, le aseguro, que ustedes nos ganan con muchiiiiiiiisima ventaja.

Comment from Dani
Time: December 15, 2007, 4:03 pm

Translate this:

El otro dia habian unas inglesas en la comisaria denunciando un robo… pero lo mejor de todo es que estaban bebiendo vino y champan en medio de la comisaria!!! y encima se molestaron cuando se lo recriminaron.
Para maleducados ellos. Y que no vengan aqui los jubilados a comprarse casas y saturar la seguridad social.

Comment from aurora boreal
Time: December 15, 2007, 4:26 pm

10. Cualquier crítica es tomada como insulto.

Pero no dejan de ser tópicos que suceden no solo en España, sin ir más lejos donde tú resides, ocurre cada día eso.

Seguramente conozcas bien el país pero por la foto de tú blog veo que estas dado a los topicazos.

El flamenco es andaluz, los castellanos no bailamos flamenco ni los vascos o gallegos. Es originario de Andalucía se ha extendido a otros sitios, principalmente en el estado español. Hay japoneses que bailan flamenco, franceses, alemanes, ingleses, escoceses, ect ¿ Son españoles todos ?

Sigues sin conocer España, no todos se identifican con flamenco es más cada vez menos gente se identifica con toros y fiesta, la fiesta la traen los guiris que en sus países les está prohibido beber hasta altas horas y en la calle, y vienen con una obsesión que cuando llegan parece que les va a faltar tiempo para beber.

Lo que más nos identifica a todos, por ej. alonso mucho más que el flamenco.

Saludos.
Jesús.

Comment from José
Time: December 15, 2007, 4:31 pm

Ben,

I’m a Spaniard living in USA. I don´t know if you are British or American but, if you don’t like #1, #6 and #9, you should not come to the States…

For the rest, I totally agree on #3, #4 and specially #5.

Have fun in Spain.

Comment from Maite
Time: December 15, 2007, 4:34 pm

I’m Also Spanish and agree with your post.Number 10:How spanish people(not all of them) treat animals and nature.F……g bull fights really piss me off.Very sad.But you know, money has the word!

Comment from la pícara viborita
Time: December 15, 2007, 4:56 pm

Las navidades duran mucho????? que pena que no conozcas a the three wise men, sigue con tu patético gordo de traje hortera.
Supongo que tu tendrás tradiciones que no te gustaría que te las tocaran.

Está bien señalar lo que hacemos mal. Algunos intentamos mejorar. Pero me parece patético que sigas yendo a un país que te incomoda tanto. Has probado a dormir en una cama de clavos??????

cuando nos devolveis Gibraltar??????????
have a nice day!

Comment from JoRGe
Time: December 15, 2007, 4:58 pm

Los que mas tienen que callar son siemrpe los subnormales que critican…En fin, si sacaramos todos los defectos de los paises nunca acabariamos, asi que…

Saludos,EsCaLoPiN

Comment from Quetzal
Time: December 15, 2007, 5:00 pm

If you only had a TOP 5 why are you trying to expand it to a TOP 10??

There are worse things than this in Spain, and the ones you describe here are not really that generalizable. I recommend the Facebook group called “you know you’ve lived in Spain when…”

Deu!

Comment from Manel
Time: December 15, 2007, 5:10 pm

To the owner of the post: this post is getting so many comments from spanish people because it has reached the top page of the “spanish digg” called meneame, visit it at meneame.net.

For all those angry spanish people note that there is a post in this website about the 10 most annoying things in the UK. http://www.notesfromspain.com/2007/12/15/the-10-most-annoying-things-about-the-uk/

and please don’t confuse the spanish people with the CATALAN people!

Comment from Spanishman!
Time: December 15, 2007, 5:22 pm

Greetings for this nice blog: ALL IS TRUE. We are not the worst country of Europe but we have at least 10 reasons for this ¨honor¨. The tenth reason is: 10. Investigation+Developement expenses in spanish Companies: The BMW of the boss. The worker is a slave and the worker with a University degree use to win the Minimum wage.

Thanks.

Comment from jose carlos
Time: December 15, 2007, 5:26 pm

And why not ?: The 10 MOST Annoying Things about England.

Comment from Cyr
Time: December 15, 2007, 5:30 pm

Ben,u are totally right.I`m spanish and i`m pleased to read ur truly things.

As number 10, how expensive is to buy or to rent an appartament/house, and how expensive is the food.

Comment from Ben
Time: December 15, 2007, 5:31 pm

Jose carlos - ver el comentario de Manel, he escrito sobre England tambien

Manel - Thanks for the support and info!

Comment from Sandalio
Time: December 15, 2007, 5:48 pm

Let speak sincerelly,
If this article was written by a Spaniard, the 80% of the readers would agree, but it have been written by an english man, and this fact annoy the ‘GAÑAN’ than every spanish man has inside.

The writter is not talking about UK, or about the english people that lives in spain or the english food or whatever. Is talking about spanish issues that can be improved, and he is right.

Comment from CASTELLANO
Time: December 15, 2007, 5:56 pm

10# British tourists, most uneducated people in Europe.

Comment from SPAIN RULES!
Time: December 15, 2007, 6:00 pm

Inglaterra , eso si que es un país lametable:

Vaya mierda de clima, por no hablar de la comida!!!! no he comido peor en toda mi vida, asi estais todos gordos y blanquitos que pareceis que estais enfermos.

Comment from -HaRaDwAiTh-
Time: December 15, 2007, 6:03 pm

A lo que me quería referir anteriormente es que exacto, Ben, las críticas hay que aceptarlas, pero tú es que recurres en topicazos. Y para muestra, la foto que tienes. En mi vida me he puesto un traje de sevillanas, ni sé bailarlas. Es como si yo para hacer referencia a los british pusiera la siguiente foto:

http://www.elpais.com/recorte/20061012elpepidep_3/XLCO/Ies/20061012elpepidep_3.jpg

Llevarás tiempo aquí, pero creo que, como la gran mayoría de los British (he aquí otro tópico), no te has molestado ni un poquito en conocer la cultura de este país cuando vienes.

Comment from dan
Time: December 15, 2007, 6:08 pm

Pues yo estoy de acuerdo con ella joder, si es que nunca aprenderemos! Eso si, en España mejor q en cualquier parte del planeta.. ¿¿¿o no???

Comment from Daniel Gonzalez
Time: December 15, 2007, 6:14 pm

Ben, aprovecho que sabes tanto de español para escribirte en dicho idioma. Sinceramente, tienes razon en algunas de las cosas que dices sobre españa, pero a veces hay que pensar dos veces las cosas antes de decirlas.
Dices que nos faltan 300 años para prohibir fumar en bares y restaurantes, como si fueramos con retraso. En realidad yo creo que nunca se prohibirá, porque españa es un país donde todavia hay libertad, libertad para fumar, porque por si no lo sabes, es mucho más perjudicial la contaminación que hay en tu país que el humo del tabaco.
Además, nunca he odio que alguien haya matado a una persona por haberse fumado un cigarrillo. Sin embargo, todos los veranos vienen a españa ingleses, americanos, irlandeses, holandeses y alemanes que se dedican a beber alcohol y a pegar palizas. El año pasado, por ejemplo, tuvimos que llamar a una ambulancia para que llevara al hospital a un chico escoces al que unos ingleses borrachos le habian pegado una paliza. Y así todos los fines de semana…
Ah! En los sitios de españa en los que te hablan en ingles es porque muchos españoles hablan ingles, frances… e incluso son bilingües, sin embargo, la mayoria de los extranjeros que llegan a españa no saben decir ni hola en castellano.
En definitiva, que aunque las comparaciones son odiosas, en españa: contaminamos menos, somos más solidarios, más amables, más extrovertidos, hay menos asesinatos y muchos menos suicidios, menos pedrastia y pedofilia, menos alcoholicos, menos drogadictos… vamos, que teniendo en cuenta los problemas que hay en tu país, no estás para hablar de los demás.

Comment from Ben
Time: December 15, 2007, 6:20 pm

@Daniel Gonzalez - Gracias por tu comentario, tienes razon en mucho de lo que dices. Pero yo tambien estoy de acuerdo contigo - ver mi otro post:
http://www.notesfromspain.com/2007/12/15/the-10-most-annoying-things-about-the-uk/

@HaRaDwAiTh - lee un poco mas el blog, o mi libro, y veras que me he molestado mucho en conocer el pais y la cultura españa y que me he enamorado totalmente de los dos!

@Sandalio - Gracias.

Comment from Stanley
Time: December 15, 2007, 6:39 pm

Going by some of these posts, I’d pop this in at number 10:

10) The Spanish cannot accept the truth about their own country if it comes from a “guiri”. Only the Spanish are permitted to criticise their own country: But if a guiri does, they will try to insult his country as best as they can.

Comment from bit
Time: December 15, 2007, 6:43 pm

Yo como principales problemas en este país destacaría la corrupción política/urbanística, el escaso control de la inmigración, la justicia en muchas ocasiones ilógica…y lo de las eternas pelis entre los anuncios XDDD

Comment from Daniel Gonzalez
Time: December 15, 2007, 7:00 pm

@Standley - We can accept the truth if it comes from a “guiri”. I can accept that USA’s people tell me that we don’t look after our builds like in NYC, but I cannot accept that USA’s people tell me that we don’t give a shit about the environment when they are the most polluting country in the world.
If you think it, you will understand the diference.

Comment from paco77
Time: December 15, 2007, 7:28 pm

Lo peor de España es el trato que se da a los animales: corridas de toros, fiestas con animales, abandono de perros y gatos, exterminio de palomas y gatos callejeros, caza, galgos ahorcados, etc..

Comment from El Nene
Time: December 15, 2007, 7:45 pm

You forgot it Armed Great of FelipeII, moustaches of the Spanish women and the Spanish influenza and, of course, vikings arrived at America before Columbus, ja, ja, ja.

estos anglosajones….

Comment from Nino Chandnani
Time: December 15, 2007, 7:52 pm

10th Point can be: Spanish people think that Spanish food is the best in the world & people from other cultures & countries don’t know to eat.

Comment from Joan-Lluc
Time: December 15, 2007, 8:13 pm

“The 10 Most Annoying things about Madrid”
Els catalans no som espanyoles, ValenciaSon, perquè els catalans no som de la mateixa merda que aquests allà a Madrid. Catalunya mai va ser part d’Espanya i mai ho serà. Visca Catalunya Lliure!

Comment from pablo
Time: December 15, 2007, 8:15 pm

Tienes bastante razon en lo que dices, incluso harian falta otras 10 cosas mas… Pero que nadie se lelve a engaño, España es uno de los mejores paises del mundo para vivir y sentirse vivo, si se hace una estadistica sobre calidad de vida, seguridad, tiempo libre y ocio,… no creo que ninguna nacion nos superase…
Otra cosa, para enumerar las cosas malas de EEUU no necesatias un blog, necesitarias un portal del tamaño de yahoo…jejeje

Comment from Frank
Time: December 15, 2007, 8:18 pm

“menos drogadictos”

Not sure about that, Daniel, but you do snort more cocaina than any other country in the world.

http://www.elpais.com/articulo/elpporsoc/20050906elpepisoc_3/Tes

Comment from pepi
Time: December 15, 2007, 8:22 pm

si la verdad suele es spain es asi

Comment from oig,oig…mañana,mañana
Time: December 15, 2007, 8:34 pm

me parece que solo te fijas en lo malo de este pais que como cualquier pais hay cosas malas y buenas o sera mejor vivir en los usa o en afganistan o…..hay cosas como los accidentes que por desgracia ocurren en todas partes el ejemplo de pais