The lead article in today’s Round Town News: in a clampdown on pirate cab drivers innocent motorists are being fined up to ?3,000 for ferrying relatives and visitors to and from Alicant and Murcia airports. It is down to them to prove their trip and passengers are legitimate: they have a costly and unrealistic 15-days to prove their innocence.
I can’t think of a better way of deterring visitors to the Costas than directing them to airports lacking public transport facilities, and their lifts running a gauntlet of fines imposed ambiguously. As usual; the politicians’ cack-handed way of dealing with a problem. Their methodology will inevitably lead to innocents being wrongly charged and fined.
This mess could easily be avoided by linking the city of Torrevieja and coastal towns with an Alicante - Murcia public transport service.
Just wait for this to hit the UK and other EU media. Rival tourist destinations like Turkey, Greece, Cyprus must be whooping for joy. If I were a policeman I would start checking the bank accounts of the functionaries behind these ‘own goals’.

Its a total joke - there is no public transport to and from Alicante airport, what are people supposed to do except pick their friends up?  The stopping and fining policy seems to be completely random and arbitrary… A cab to Javea costs over 100 euros, about 4 times the cost of a flight -

Maya

Gotta luv the Spanish.

They don`t have a saying about biting the hands that feed them.

Guess tourism no longer satisfies there hunger.

The Costa Del Sol is reporting at least 10% down on this time last year and August bookins are worse.

Spanish surveys are finding that locals are staying either in Spain if there from the centre and locals near the costa`s are spending the days on the beach near them.

Restaurant’s are noticing even less clients and the ones eating are using the cheaper set menu`s than a la carte.

You`d think adding these up they`d want to encourage the people too Spain.

Conspiracy theory anyone ?

We were chatting to a restaurant owner the other day. He said it is commonplace now for clients to share a meal between them; even drinks. It doesn’t seem to embarrass them. One woman telephoned to complain that she hadn’t liked the fish and chips she’d devoured the previous day. She wanted another meal - free.
Yes, not sure about a conspiracy theory though it has crossed my mind. Ethnic cleansing to rid the Costa of its Britsville image before they give it a makeover for a more select market. Other than that I am stuck for an answer. Let’s face it, local authorities and quangos everywhere are notorious for their being dumb.

A Spanish friend of mine has been a waiter in Spain for 7yrs, he was made unemployed from a resturant in Malaga city in 2007.

He has worked a month here and there for 3 yrs now, there unemployment ran out last year.

This summer he was offered a black econ job at 7 euros a day.

But he refused and has found a black economy job for the summer travelling around the Sol area in the Feria caseta`s serving.

They`ve noticed the Feria`s are not as busy and most are employing illegal`s, well they pretty much did anyway.

True quangos and councils are run by numpties, the UK Working Tax Credits are sending forms to me and my OH in duplicate every few weeks. must be costing them a fortune as everybody I speak to gets several.

Maybe its a way of keepin jobs in the printers, post etc etc.

As for the Spanish I`m in kinda a weird position, my OH informs me Spanish people don`t really like foreigners. Apparantly I`m only given time of day due to her nationality.

Maybe its my personality, but my in laws in 11 yrs of us living in the UK, they have only visited the UK twice, both times they moaned about the people.

They came to the Costa Del Sol, but only once in 5 years, they moaned about the Guiri`s.

Spanish friends who we visit a few times a year in Spain and stay in there homes have never been to the UK.

Everybody though is really polite too me, my father in law is great with me, but outside of face to face contact there actions and others in bars when i try to get served etc is quite poor.

I remember in El Corte Ingles our small daughter had a habit of running away so we bought a lead to attach to her and our arms, we past some Spaniards in the store who commented on the English Dog, to which they hadn`t realised her mother was Spanish and understood every insult and comment, that caused a bit of an argument.

I love Spain and the culture.

I try to ignore the Spanish ignorance, arrogance and xenephobia that many display behind backs and closed doors, hopefully that is where it will stay.

for bus see here http://www.aena.es/csee/Satellite?Language=EN_GB&MO=1&SMO=1&SiteName=ALC&c=Page&cid=1049437849200&p=1049437849188&pagename=subHome

there been talk off put new train station at the airport aswell to city and elche

brennie - 20 August 2009 07:12 PM

Santi, bad fortune seems to follow you everywhere. I think it was Mike Walsh that said in another thread that we get back what we give or something like that. Everywhere in Ireland you will find a lot of bad manners, no matter how nice you are with people. I hear that the recession is bringing manners on many, especially the young cowboys from the building trade.
Now, in Figueres I have always found it different - VERY DIFFERENT. We are nice and friendly with the locals and because we are Irish we even have a bit of fun with them. As I have said before the Catalans are the salt of the earth. In particular the young gang. Santi, I am not suggesting that you do not treat your situations with Spanish people with the height of respect. But I do think you seem to be singled out as the fall guy. Reading through the various threads I see that with the exception of yourself and the two other . . . people, everyone else is happy with their lot in Spain.
So now, all you expat Spanish types, who do you think will win La Liga, and who are your favourite players in Spain. In the Premiership this year I think Spurs might be a surprise package. What do you think ?

Well the price in ireland are outrageus ...... hotels pubs and eatting out ....

spain want to drop there price aswell , yes hotel and pub and so on and what go to kill spain tourism for the Irish and Uk heads if the smoking ban gose in to law .....

think sould hold off until next year when think many get better

Barca again

BuenosDiasPet - 17 July 2009 10:25 PM

Its a total joke - there is no public transport to and from Alicante airport,

Maya

There is an hourly service from Benidorm, we caught the bus from Calpe to Altet last month, smooth as silk.

I am no expert on public transport - airport services. I do doubt however if other than Alicante and San Xavier (Murcia) airports there are any international airports anywhere in the world lacking public transport to the nearest towns and cities.
The City of Torrevieja, 400,000 population in season, has no bus or train link to either of the airports. On the way to Torrevieja - on a bus route; major towns such as Santa Pola and Guardamar. The taxi costs often exceed to cost of the flights in and out. Work that one out. Will the authorities, tourist offices listen? Of course not. ‘Convince a fool against their will, they’ll hold the same opinion still.’

brennie - 20 August 2009 07:12 PM

. Santi, I am not suggesting that you do not treat your situations with Spanish people with the height of respect. But I do think you seem to be singled out as the fall guy. Reading through the various threads I see that with the exception of yourself and the two other . . . people, everyone else is happy with their lot in Spain.

Well like I`ve said before I`m not your typical Expat.

My wife is Spanish.
I speak the language, fluently
I worked in Spain.
Got married in Spain.
Children got Baptised in Spain.
1st Communion-ed in Spain.

I guess I`m honest in my assessment.

I never stated I hate Spain as a whole.But I now enough Spaniards to be able to comment on them, we don`t get many Spanish people on here tellin you as it is.

So in my opinion I`m helping people get a better picture of Spanish lifestyle.

I`m sure it rattles many Expats view of there new adopted country, why, I guess British are unique in that they can slate anything, but if somebody else disagrees, they get personal and rather than just accepting a different opinion, they choose to argue it.

If you`ve ever discussed politics with a Spaniard or any other topic, they differ, in so much as they accept others opinion as that, nobody tries to prove there opinion as factual.

Thats one think I`ve learn`t when speakin Spanish.

mike_walsh - 17 July 2009 11:10 AM

The lead article in today’s Round Town News: in a clampdown on pirate cab drivers innocent motorists are being fined up to ?3,000 for ferrying relatives and visitors to and from Alicant and Murcia airports. It is down to them to prove their trip and passengers are legitimate: they have a costly and unrealistic 15-days to prove their innocence.
I can’t think of a better way of deterring visitors to the Costas than directing them to airports lacking public transport facilities, and their lifts running a gauntlet of fines imposed ambiguously. As usual; the politicians’ cack-handed way of dealing with a problem. Their methodology will inevitably lead to innocents being wrongly charged and fined.
This mess could easily be avoided by linking the city of Torrevieja and coastal towns with an Alicante - Murcia public transport service.
Just wait for this to hit the UK and other EU media. Rival tourist destinations like Turkey, Greece, Cyprus must be whooping for joy. If I were a policeman I would start checking the bank accounts of the functionaries behind these ‘own goals’.

DON’T WORRY
Over a thousand involved in street brawl in Palma

THREE people have been seriously hurt and others left with minor injuries after a brawl broke out in Palma de Mallorca last night . Local Police say over a thousand people congregated in the Son Gotleu district of the city at around 21.00hrs . They are unsure of the causes of the riot , but believe it was a confrontation between the gypsy community and a number of black people Over durgs wars on the island . The fight went on for at least two hours , leaving three people with severe knife-wounds . Several dozen more suffered cuts and bruises . Officers report that 15 cars in the area sustained damage as a result of the brawl . while windows in shops and office were broken . Police are on duty in the area all day today to keep watch for signs of a recurrence .  EVERYTHING IS UNDER CONTROL

Santi - 22 August 2009 10:39 AM

brennie - 20 August 2009 07:12 PM

. Santi, I am not suggesting that you do not treat your situations with Spanish people with the height of respect. But I do think you seem to be singled out as the fall guy. Reading through the various threads I see that with the exception of yourself and the two other . . . people, everyone else is happy with their lot in Spain.

Well like I`ve said before I`m not your typical Expat.

My wife is Spanish.
I speak the language, fluently
I worked in Spain.
Got married in Spain.
Children got Baptised in Spain.
1st Communion-ed in Spain.

I guess I`m honest in my assessment.

I never stated I hate Spain as a whole.But I now enough Spaniards to be able to comment on them, we don`t get many Spanish people on here tellin you as it is.

So in my opinion I`m helping people get a better picture of Spanish lifestyle.

I`m sure it rattles many Expats view of there new adopted country, why, I guess British are unique in that they can slate anything, but if somebody else disagrees, they get personal and rather than just accepting a different opinion, they choose to argue it.

If you`ve ever discussed politics with a Spaniard or any other topic, they differ, in so much as they accept others opinion as that, nobody tries to prove there opinion as factual.

Thats one think I`ve learn`t when speakin Spanish.

I’m an EX brit…
Have lived in a lot of different countries in the last 30 years or so.. and Brits are liked and disliked everywhere..so are the french and the Germans and the Turks etc. 
I guess it all depends on how well you handle yourselves among foreign communities,  its not easy thats for sure

That said we have enjoyed our travels and stays and so glad we made the move from GB where it looks like the” lunatics have taken over the asylum”

We are looking to move back to Europe soon.possibly the Granada area..good or bad we will try our best to fit in..

No worries, fuzzflyer; if it’s racial conflict it will be air-brushed out of the media. The administrave establishment is scared stiff that the race issue will flare and spread through the EU nations. Social disorder as this is breaking out everywhere in Europe but is only reported where it can’t be censored. When it does break out and spead the conflicts of the Balkans will seem like a local punch-up by comparison.