Is it me or is much of Spain scruffy

[PenelopePitstop]

you should remember that Spain was ruled with the iron fist of the fascist dictator------Franco, until 1975
I don't think this type of government are good at teaching a clean/tidy environment--------------------I think the sudden change of government really cashed-in on tourism--------------------------------then the Global crash---------it has been quite a journey from Communism:Sad:-----------------------------------------------------AND NOW they have got EU to work around

Nigel & Pamala

Following on from this I would recommend visitors to Spain who don't understand the history to read a couple of books:-

Ghosts of Spain by Giles Tremlett ( quite heavy reading)
or
The Return by Victoria Hislop ( a novel partly set during the Spanish Civil War)

Helps to understand what the country has been through in the last 100 or so years!

 

[beachcaster]

I'm In Benidorm right now.

We flew over for a bit of sun....to a hotel on the edge of town that caters for mainly Spanish folks with a splattering from northern Europe.

The weather has been rubbish really but today it was amazing...superb and it was nice to feel the sun again....

We walk a lot....try and speak as much Spanish as we can.and stay out of the "square " where you dont see the best of British its embarassing seeing people in the gutter drunk at 2pm.

But there are lovely parts of Benidorm.the central park is superb and there are loads of great quality restaurants and bars.....that are not selling fish and chips or beans on toast ( not that there is anything wrong with either of those)

The bay is fantastic and a great walk..........out of town there are also stunning walks...other towns north and south are quieter .

I dont mind it for 10 days........but its mainly the weather that brings us here

As for being scruffy...well its different,,quite dry and arid,and it does look like a big quarry around here..but charming in its own way.

ONe thing that struck me is that the Spanish shops do shut around 1pm/ 2pm and open for a few hours in the evening. Now I know its a cultural thing.......but the Chinese run shops are open at 9 am and they stay open all day till 9 at night or later.

Benidorm is extreme........In certain areas Brits flock to stand 20 deep at bars displaying union jacks and playing very loud music.......they tend to be bright pink bloated bald and covered in tattoos ( and thats just the women) and happier to be surrounded by similar folks to themselves. They are loud but mainly well behaved as the Spanish police are fast to sort out anyone who gets out of line.

But on the other hand a few minutes walk away things are calm and there are loads of well dressed Spaniards out for their walk...enjoying life...and enjoying Benidorm as much as we do.They also flock here especially out of season
It seems most of the people walking along the promenade today were all over 50

Its not scruffy here its different ....different to the UK and France and different to rural areas of Spain as well.


barry

 

[laneside]

As the original poster and one that posted that Spain got better further down I have included three pictures taken today at Mazarron.

The proms and beaches have always been immaculate and something for Spain to be proud of.

Can you just imagine sitting out in the Pennines with temperatures in the mid 20's in November (It did not get there all of last summer)

The third picture shows what I mean by scruffy as this was taken 50 yards away from the prom. and we find this and lots of fly tipping and grafitii almost everywhere we look which makes us ask the question is Spain scruffy.

Remember please I did not say Spain was scruffy as I have too much of it to see yet to make my own assumption.

What rubbish I have seen beyond the beaches and proms is totally inexcusable

And as an aside we are ever so glad to be here