There are some things we love about Spain, some we hate, but I guess that's the same about most places. Generally we don't have problems with Spanish people of our own age, but the younger generation do appear to begrudge the ex pat's their place. I guess the elders remember what things were like before the EU ploughed so much of our money into the country. Two things we can't stand: The corruption (yes they will always tell you what you want to hear even when they know it's a lie) and the treatment of animals. We are not people you would call animal lovers, we have no pets. But the ill treatment of animals as a normal situation sometimes has to be seen to be believed. I suppose thats why all animal sanctuaries are run by ex pats! Many of the properties around where we are are holiday homes for the Spanish from the cities. There are now loads of those up for sale for silly money, because they just can't affort the mortgages they took out inh the good times. At least we bought with cash, but are now not sure if that was wise. We have friends, Spanish and ex pats who are literally hanging on by the skin of their teeth having been seduced by cheap money and lax banks. As the Euro falls in value, the ex pats are finding things a little easier, but things are getting worse for the Spanish. Also a lot of Brits were buying places on the basis of their UK sickness benefit. That has now been curtailed and they have all had to return to the UK.
M.
