Things you hate, things you love, about Spain

[Goldberg]

Love, the weather, the freedom, the beaches, laid back attitude..
Hate, the bureaucracy, incompetence, corruption

[golddust]

Love: the pace of life, decent public transportation -not having to drive, the holidays (since we hardly have any in the USA), lack of stress, living tranquilamente

Hate: rainy weather (it's very rainy in the north. the southwestern US is sunnier than any place in Spain), everything being closed on sunday, only being able to eat out 2pm-4 & 9pm-11pm, lack of international cuisine, unfriendly northerners, terrible customer service in everything

[Stravinsky]

Originally Posted by golddust

lack of international cuisine, unfriendly northerners, terrible customer service in everything

Whoaaaa
Where do you live?

[golddust]

The Basque Country. But I think the customer service part must be all over Spain. It's hard to find someone who is friendly & helpful with customers here. Most of the time it seems like people treat you like they're doing you favor by just doing their job! Haven't other people noticed this? Maybe Americans are just spoiled by great customer service.
And if you're in the mood for something other than Spanish food (which is good food. I have no problem with it. It's just sometimes you're in the mood for a change?) it's also hard to find restaurants other than Chinese, Kebab and McDonalds. What I wouldn't do for a good Thai, Mexican or Japanese restaurant here... Spaniards just aren't into foreign food.

[Stravinsky]

Originally Posted by golddust

The Basque Country. But I think the customer service part must be all over Spain. It's hard to find someone who is friendly & helpful with customers here. Most of the time it seems like people treat you like they're doing you favor by just doing their job! Haven't other people noticed this? Maybe Americans are just spoiled by great customer service.
And if you're in the mood for something other than Spanish food (which is good food. I have no problem with it. It's just sometimes you're in the mood for a change?) it's also hard to find restaurants other than Chinese, Kebab and McDonalds. What I wouldn't do for a good Thai, Mexican or Japanese restaurant here... Spaniards just aren't into foreign food.

The Basque country is clearly a lot different to here

I have Indian, Argentinian, French, Mexican, Japanese, German, Chinese & good Spanish restaurants all within a reasonable distance from me. I have found the customer service here to be excellent, in some ways better than the UK. I buy a new Television one afternoon and its here the following morning. Its unpacked, and set up by the men who bought it. If I walk into a shop, the staff are over to ask if I need help and are pleased to explain. I have been ripped off on a few occasions by over zealous tradesmen .

Ive had many trips to the States, and I realise the service level, especially in restaurants, is very high there ... maybe to us europeans sometimes over the top. I can understand why you would find it different.

[golddust]

Hehe. Yeah, my Spanish husband also thinks it can be over the top, especially at restaurants. The Basque Country still has relatively little immigration, which may be one reason why there aren't many international restaurants around here. I'm the only native English speaking resident I know in Vitoria. I like things here, it's beautiful, clean, little crime... but I think I might prefer things in the South. Even Northern Spanish people have told me that they consider themselves ¨cerrados¨ and ¨frios¨! They have interesting stereotypes about the South too, like they say Andalucians are generally warmer and friendlier people, but not trustworthy?
Anyway, now I know where to get some tacos thnx

[bluesardine]

Love: Lifestyle
Hate: Red tape

[Goldberg]

Love the beachest, the coffee
Hate the service, this is important, we need more US service here, people will talk together in a shop rather than serve a client! incredible, rude and laughable but is reality.

[Stravinsky]

Originally Posted by Goldberg Global

Love the beachest, the coffee
Hate the service, this is important, we need more US service here, people will talk together in a shop rather than serve a client! incredible, rude and laughable but is reality.

Noooooooooooooooo Please dont lets have US service here

[Burriana Babs]

Love everything

Hate nothing

Best move I have ever made in my life.