Comments on: What is the Essence of Spain? http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/02/07/the-essesnce-of-spain/ Podcasts and comment on travel, tapas, learning Spanish and living in Spain, plus beautiful Spain photos. Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:00:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Perro Callejero http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/02/07/the-essesnce-of-spain/comment-page-2/#comment-76153 Perro Callejero Sat, 17 Jan 2009 03:53:55 +0000 http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/02/07/what-is-the-essesnce-of-spain/#comment-76153 For me, both the good AND the bad things remind me of Spain, and are good to reminisce about. Spain is: -Paper-thin napkins that say "Gracias por su visita" -Oppressive 3pm sun blotted out by narrow streets -Going into Corte Ingles solely for the A/C, not to buy anything -Contemplative solo rides on the train to Cercedillas through the rolling hill/mountains -Mysterious puddles of liquid on Madrid streets -"Cervecerías" that ALL look IDENTICAL ;) -Marvelling at how freaking HUGE the Palacio Real is, despite walking past it 500 times -Café con leche -Moody waiters (I agree with that one, but it amuses me, doesn't annoy me) -Smoking -The windy air coming through the Metro tunnel -Buying a doughnut and juice at the snack bar in the Ciudad Universitaria metro stop -Downing a 35oz. beer right before class in the school's bar ;) (I only did that once) -Homemade croquetas by my host family -Reading the ABC each morning -listening to Estopa on my iPod in the metro -"Tengan cuidado para no introducir el pie entre coche y andén" -Constantly talking with friends about snowboarding at Madrid Xanadú...and never doing it. -Conversation teachers who talk like a drunk cab driver -"Compra oro! Joyas! Mejores precios!" :) -Telefónica -Huelgas de todos tipos! For me, both the good AND the bad things remind me of Spain, and are good to reminisce about.

Spain is:

-Paper-thin napkins that say “Gracias por su visita”
-Oppressive 3pm sun blotted out by narrow streets
-Going into Corte Ingles solely for the A/C, not to buy anything
-Contemplative solo rides on the train to Cercedillas through the rolling hill/mountains
-Mysterious puddles of liquid on Madrid streets
-”Cervecerías” that ALL look IDENTICAL ;)
-Marvelling at how freaking HUGE the Palacio Real is, despite walking past it 500 times
-Café con leche
-Moody waiters (I agree with that one, but it amuses me, doesn’t annoy me)
-Smoking
-The windy air coming through the Metro tunnel
-Buying a doughnut and juice at the snack bar in the Ciudad Universitaria metro stop
-Downing a 35oz. beer right before class in the school’s bar ;) (I only did that once)
-Homemade croquetas by my host family
-Reading the ABC each morning
-listening to Estopa on my iPod in the metro
-”Tengan cuidado para no introducir el pie entre coche y andén”
-Constantly talking with friends about snowboarding at Madrid Xanadú…and never doing it.
-Conversation teachers who talk like a drunk cab driver
-”Compra oro! Joyas! Mejores precios!” :)
-Telefónica
-Huelgas de todos tipos!

]]> By: angel http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/02/07/the-essesnce-of-spain/comment-page-2/#comment-73495 angel Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:05:12 +0000 http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/02/07/what-is-the-essesnce-of-spain/#comment-73495 Essence of Spain: Corte Ingles, Thousands of people everywhere, being kicked out of the sidewalk by spanish people, being not understood every time I open my mouth, rudeness of people, splendid sea food, beautiful cities, dog shit and piss everywhere, waiters in bad mood, pretty people bitchy girls. Essence of Spain:
Corte Ingles,
Thousands of people everywhere,
being kicked out of the sidewalk by spanish people,
being not understood every time I open my mouth,
rudeness of people,
splendid sea food,
beautiful cities,
dog shit and piss everywhere,
waiters in bad mood,
pretty people
bitchy girls.

]]> By: Elena http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/02/07/the-essesnce-of-spain/comment-page-2/#comment-32286 Elena Wed, 27 Feb 2008 13:50:54 +0000 http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/02/07/what-is-the-essesnce-of-spain/#comment-32286 Dear all, I was born in Madrid and I love to go abroad but the most important thing is when I come back from my trips and I realised that we are different, we can go out anytime and anyday of week you can find places to have lunch, dinner, have a beer without any problem. People is really open-minded and try to help you anywhere. We try to understand and help foreign people who speak another language. Spí nish people enjoy every moment of the day, working, going out, lunch time, dinner time, and this why our average of life expectancy is the best in the world. Frank!!! , get spanish parthner who show you how to enjoy the life and you will change your opinion of Spain. Dear all,

I was born in Madrid and I love to go abroad but the most important thing is when I come back from my trips and I realised that we are different, we can go out anytime and anyday of week you can find places to have lunch, dinner, have a beer without any problem.
People is really open-minded and try to help you anywhere. We try to understand and help foreign people who speak another language.
Spí nish people enjoy every moment of the day, working, going out, lunch time, dinner time, and this why our average of life expectancy is the best in the world.

Frank!!! , get spanish parthner who show you how to enjoy the life and you will change your opinion of Spain.

]]> By: David http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/02/07/the-essesnce-of-spain/comment-page-2/#comment-32285 David Wed, 27 Feb 2008 13:50:09 +0000 http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/02/07/what-is-the-essesnce-of-spain/#comment-32285 Spain is great place to live... I think it's always best to try to enjoy and the differences between the countries. It is undeniable that you can find amazing weather, beautiful scenery and good food here in Spain. Go find it!! Spain is great place to live… I think it’s always best to try to enjoy and the differences between the countries.

It is undeniable that you can find amazing weather, beautiful scenery and good food here in Spain.

Go find it!!

]]> By: luke http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/02/07/the-essesnce-of-spain/comment-page-2/#comment-32096 luke Mon, 25 Feb 2008 11:26:17 +0000 http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/02/07/what-is-the-essesnce-of-spain/#comment-32096 Paying 350 Euros for a communion dress plus 85 Euros for accessories plus white shoes. And then having to invite cousins of cousins to a ristorante. All for an eight year old girl to be able to eat the Host. Que Hostia! Paying 350 Euros for a communion dress plus 85 Euros for accessories plus white shoes. And then having to invite cousins of cousins to a ristorante. All for an eight year old girl to be able to eat the Host. Que Hostia!

]]> By: Niall http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/02/07/the-essesnce-of-spain/comment-page-2/#comment-31462 Niall Mon, 18 Feb 2008 15:13:56 +0000 http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/02/07/what-is-the-essesnce-of-spain/#comment-31462 Very, very funny. Some great ones there, but for me it has to be fighting with the grannies for footpath space, they just won't move Very, very funny. Some great ones there, but for me it has to be fighting with the grannies for footpath space, they just won’t move

]]> By: Ray http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/02/07/the-essesnce-of-spain/comment-page-2/#comment-31253 Ray Thu, 14 Feb 2008 06:55:21 +0000 http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/02/07/what-is-the-essesnce-of-spain/#comment-31253 Anyhting I can think of is already here, so I'll vote for the ones I agree with: Bullfights, Flamenco music, Clotheslines visible from the street, One-way roads, expensive to drive, round-abouts, no personal space. Anyhting I can think of is already here, so I’ll vote for the ones I agree with:
Bullfights, Flamenco music, Clotheslines visible from the street, One-way roads, expensive to drive, round-abouts, no personal space.

]]> By: Helen http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/02/07/the-essesnce-of-spain/comment-page-2/#comment-31179 Helen Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:31:27 +0000 http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/02/07/what-is-the-essesnce-of-spain/#comment-31179 I live in the UK and every weekend I pass a small house inhabited by an elderly man who is often to be found sitting in his front garden winter or summer. Everthing in the garden is 'make do or mend' - old metal wheelbarrows, mismatched paving and tiles, various metal objets - all beautifully painted and maintained. Instantly I think of rural Spain, where the throwaway culture of B&Q/Leroy Merlin has yet to arrive I live in the UK and every weekend I pass a small house inhabited by an elderly man who is often to be found sitting in his front garden winter or summer. Everthing in the garden is ‘make do or mend’ – old metal wheelbarrows, mismatched paving and tiles, various metal objets – all beautifully painted and maintained.

Instantly I think of rural Spain, where the throwaway culture of B&Q/Leroy Merlin has yet to arrive

]]> By: Jan http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/02/07/the-essesnce-of-spain/comment-page-1/#comment-31144 Jan Wed, 13 Feb 2008 13:56:46 +0000 http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/02/07/what-is-the-essesnce-of-spain/#comment-31144 Following on from hole-in-the-wall video dispensers... 24 Hole-in-the-wall worm dispensers for fishermen A dog-washing machine at our local BP station- hope to get a photo of someone using it one day! Following on from hole-in-the-wall video dispensers…

24 Hole-in-the-wall worm dispensers for fishermen

A dog-washing machine at our local BP station- hope to get a photo of someone using it one day!

]]> By: luke http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/02/07/the-essesnce-of-spain/comment-page-1/#comment-30952 luke Tue, 12 Feb 2008 11:01:58 +0000 http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/02/07/what-is-the-essesnce-of-spain/#comment-30952 Just read back my thoughts and they paint a bit of a negative picture so to balance it: Smiles, generosity, sun, great food, fiestas, dancing, singing, flirting...I love Spain Just read back my thoughts and they paint a bit of a negative picture so to balance it:

Smiles, generosity, sun, great food, fiestas, dancing, singing, flirting…I love Spain

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