So, for the first time in many years, Ive made it to Spain with my wife and kids.
The Valencian Community area has certainly changed quite a but since I was last here, but its still a dusty primitive scalding hot hellhole that I LOVE to bits
Its been nice catching up with old friends. Sad so many French and Belgians are flocking here buts its great to be here.
I been cooking too, see photos. I been going to Mass each morning. But generally just relaxing.
Starting to go a bit wonky. The excitement and lack of sleep is starting to take a toll - so went pharmacy with my NHS letter (outlines my meds and such) and got some Zopiclone and a little diazepam to help me settle and take the edge off.
Because tourism in this area, to the extent its happening, is causing gentrification which harms the people who live here. Like my mother for example. Im someone who goes to Spain for Spain Im not a tourist. ,
That meal looks american, just with ârealâ ingredients. Cannot remember the last time I witnessed fries of that size, possibly made from real potatoes. Not too sure about the meat burgers on first glance thoughâŚ
So what is the mood with the Belgians and French, and the native Spaniards?
And is it safe in Spain right now?
Anything interesting in Spainâs ecology or older residences/buildings?
What is the culture like? Are there still tourists coming in for vacations, compared to the past?
I dare say. Foods can be found anywhere. I was eating hamburgesa 30 years ago here though Im sure you appreciate these foods were on the continent before America
Its still very safe here in this part, yes. I mean its very poor and rural BUT its wonderful, really it is.
Locals are not happy about the French and Belgians. They dont mind tourism per se, but not to the extent where its pushing prices up and every other voice you hear is French and not beautiful Soanish
Valencia the city is nice. Not too busy. But still rather modern. The wider Valencian Community which goes just south of Alicante is a mix of urban and rural.
American cuisine was stolen from Europe and then we re-branded it âAmericanâ over the course of history.
But donât tell any american that, I am sure that most still believe their beer and sausages were native american inventions. Or fish and fries. Or french pastries.
Europeans were just copying our future before we got there. (Typical american logic.)
The sad thing is that almost all European made versions are way better than fat&fried American versions. If we had the indecency to steal, then we could have improved it or added some cultural touch, but no: we make it worse, lower the cost, raise the profits, and remove all health benefits of what could be real food.
I doubt the Germans would have lost WW2, if they could witness what we have done with low quality hot-dogs. I cannot help but shudder at the memory of eating one.
It is depressing to realize how much we stole from other countries. But hey, privilege of the empire.
What do they not like about the French and Belgians? (IDK Europe at all)
Do they make a noisy racket/disturbance, are they culturally unfriendly, or are they just pushing the locals out of the market?
I hear a lot about foreigners from other areas, but not of inter-European affairs which get buried underneath all that.
Right now in america, I think most people are looking down on Europe as a whole. Which I see as the ultimate irony. But then again everything that happens in Europeâs affairs flyâs under our news radar.
We probably wonât know what is happening in Europe until it walks on two legs, flies on a airplane, finds us in person, and then talks to us with two cans and a string. Lots of distance for rumors to develop, yet it is much more accurate than our own media.
I appreciate your take and honesty re: USian cuisine. I mean, to be fair, the people in this part of Spain eat tons of fats and meats. The main dish here is chicken and potatoes.
So the issues with the French n Belgians. This town is small and supports a loyal and poor community. The budget is poor. So when these richer folk are invited and encouraged to invest and open business, it pushes prices and rates up for most daily things. Forces people to suffer iormove. People dont like it.
Not sure I understand the economic situation. But then again, when have I ever?
I assume there is scarcity of supply, and the people moving in are pushing up the demand and therefore prices of the common goods?
Or because they have more money, and everyone hypes up the prices to cash in with mark-ups?
Or it could be due to differences in purchasing power, and general inflation of the euro?
If the people do not like it, then they can change it. I would assume if there is money coming in that is a good thing, as long as it stays in the local economy.
In the USA we do not have close knit communities or villages, instead we have empty skyscrapers and deserted strip malls. I know of the FIRE economy, and how Real estate scams use asset price inflation to blow up a financial bubble, leading to higher costs of living for everyone. I would assume this is also going on in Europe. It is never good when foreigners run your economy, but it is what it is.
We also have tourist districts/traps, which is like a maze of Chinese merchandise to be resold at a higher value, with various utilities to ferry in the tourists.
They will never find/disrupt the real/localâs side of town, or a local neighborhood, and in turn they get to contribute to the local market, while staying safe from the dangerous parts of town.
And the tourist are seasonal, they show up when the weather is good for visits.
I feel bad for the Spanish people. All that gold and silver which Spain once had, yet Spaniards still seem to live in poverty even now. If each gold and silver piece could tell a story, or where they are now, the worldâs history might have to change.
Literally, all of those reasons. And the money does not stay in the area, its taken back out to their own places.
Because of these hotspots, tourists now stay year round. Or rather, people come and all year round.
Places like the UK have had âdemocracyâ for centuries, America too⌠but Spain⌠its not even been 50 years yet. In the rural places, its very âslowâ. And sadly every Government wants to back the idea of gentrifying because the taxes make them rich, and its never invested back in to the area.
Iâm a Belgian moving to Spain in a months time (to study).
Iâve been to Valencia before. I stayed in a great hotel in the middle of nowhere called âLa Mozairaâ. If I remember correctly.
I liked La ciudad de las ciencias y artes. Some paella con verduras. I also remember there was a great vegetarian restaurant but I forgot its name.
Spain is a popular retirement destination for Belgians as itâs cheaper and has better weather in the winter. But I understand itâs annoying that it bolsters the house prices. However, if tourists would stay away there would also be people complaining about the collapsing house prices and the jobs lost in the tourism industry. I think itâs about finding the right balance. Not too many and not too little tourists.
But in Belgium itâs the same. In cities like Brussels the majority of people have a foreign nationality. I donât have any issue with it but some people arenât happy with it.
buts its great to be here.
