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German vs. Italian technology
amptech:
--- Quote from: westen44 on July 18, 2017, 04:30:39 PM --- I was surprised when they told me that they had found Spain a little unfriendly. It just isn't the kind of thing you'd expect to hear from them. I wouldn't want to let that stop me from going to Spain some day, though.
--- End quote ---
Spain is actually the only country I have had such a bad experience with that I will never go back there. I'm not a fan of sun and beachlife that is one thing, but I was overwhelmed by the general unfriendlyness. My wife and I + another couple decided in 2003 to go to Spain for 3 weeks, rent a car and see the whole country. We started in Alicante and drove the east coast up, visiting many citys but avoiding the tourist places. Maybe that was the catch, we got that 'I hate tourists look' everywhere. I spoke decent Spanish at the time, but that seemed to piss them off too, if I asked them to repeat anything they responded by talking even faster. And the reckless driving, never seen so many accidents. We even ended up in one..
That was the longest, worst vacation I ever had. As we approached Barcelona, we heard on the radio that there had been bombing there. So we went up to the pyrinees instead, stayed in a mountaintown called Xandadu (I remember I read it like Xanadu). It was like another country! Just so nice, friedly people, great food. I wished we had just stayed up north, It was the same thing all over again when we travelled back to the south (through Madrid). Except for that stay in the north, Granada was the only town where we felt welcome. Well, with heat like that I'd be grumpy too!
Since that vacation, we stick to Belgium and Holland, great places.. Been to England too (and travelled through a couple of German cities) and only ever met nice people.
westen44:
--- Quote from: amptech on July 18, 2017, 10:12:07 PM ---Spain is actually the only country I have had such a bad experience with that I will never go back there. I'm not a fan of sun and beachlife that is one thing, but I was overwhelmed by the general unfriendlyness. My wife and I + another couple decided in 2003 to go to Spain for 3 weeks, rent a car and see the whole country. We started in Alicante and drove the east coast up, visiting many citys but avoiding the tourist places. Maybe that was the catch, we got that 'I hate tourists look' everywhere. I spoke decent Spanish at the time, but that seemed to piss them off too, if I asked them to repeat anything they responded by talking even faster. And the reckless driving, never seen so many accidents. We even ended up in one..
That was the longest, worst vacation I ever had. As we approached Barcelona, we heard on the radio that there had been bombing there. So we went up to the pyrinees instead, stayed in a mountaintown called Xandadu (I remember I read it like Xanadu). It was like another country! Just so nice, friedly people, great food. I wished we had just stayed up north, It was the same thing all over again when we travelled back to the south (through Madrid). Except for that stay in the north, Granada was the only town where we felt welcome. Well, with heat like that I'd be grumpy too!
Since that vacation, we stick to Belgium and Holland, great places.. Been to England too (and travelled through a couple of German cities) and only ever met nice people.
--- End quote ---
When they told me that about Spain, I had to take it seriously. Because I know them well and they are experienced travelers. What gets me is that I hadn't heard that about Spain before. They only visited the southern part of Spain. I don't have the details of the trip yet because they just got back. I suppose, though, their account will be similar to yours. Maybe going to Spain some day and trying out my Spanish isn't such a good idea after all. It got up to a 110 there while they were there. But that's to be expected. They went to Granada last and were impressed with the Alhambra. One of them is an art expert. So Spain certainly has a lot of that.
patman:
I think her choice of Munich was dictated by the fact that her flight to South Africa left from Munich...the month in South Africa was for an internship in photo journalism...
uwe:
The Spanish aren't really unfriendly, just hasty, impatient and don't suffer fools gladly. Kind of like New Yorkers. :mrgreen:
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