With American fast food restaurants like McDonalds, KFC, Taco Bell, Burger King, you will see the rise of obesity. Its already arrived in China and Japan. Sad.

Planned failure. Usual brown envelopes and villas in Marbella. Corruption still rife, always the same pockets!!

You should see the roads in America!

NATO is one of the biggest threats to the planet. Warmongers planning to attack Russia.

Algoritmo

Muchas gracias por el video Stuart. I retired September 2019 early retirement the guy who took my lease on still had to pay full rent and service charge for all the time the shopping centre was closed during pandemic

Loose lease is nice.

Look into Ron Paul and his views on NATO. There is no war in Ukraine…..only military exercises. Do you really think Putin has ambitions of moving into Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Poland etc? Why would he want to bankrupt Russia by taking on Europe's liabilities?

On the subject of fast food outlets and such. In recent decades in urban development in Spain there has been a shift towards an American model, where you get miles of soulless suburbs of single family dwellings/'ciudades dormitorios', and nearby a huge shopping complex stuffed with stores often owned by multinational corporations and big chains. You need a car to do most things. It's deliberate, the idea seems to be to make up a captive market. Places like Paracuellos are another example (though they all look pretty much identical for obvious reasons). If you look at the more traditional Madrid barrios you find a host of smaller shops and bars, more variety of architecture (from the good to the unspeakable!), with people living and even working in close proximity, in flats. The streets are rarely empty and as such there is more integration. There are downsides, but on the whole the Spanish one is a healthier model IMO.

The USA (and especially its defence industry/lobby, which is tied up with the administration) must be laughing all the way to the bank. Their whole system depends on war to function: cold war, balkans, then middle east (just look at Halliburton and others making millions in Iraq)…instead of dissolving NATO at the end of the cold war, they spend decades helping create a system of capitalist oligarchs in Russia (which Putin arguably benefited from), then act all innocent, despite goading Russia, financing crackpots in Ukraine, and breaking assurances not to expand NATO. They help create a problem then sell it to Europe as the solution. Now Europe is in a proxy war, weakened with the ensuing fuel crisis yet spends billions more on 'defence'. Even somewhere as poor as Spain is now involved in this farce. They're using Europe as a sort of dress rehearsal for a conflict with China. NATO is a mafia that only serves US geopolitcal interests and the sooner people realize it the better.

I love your Mia walk abouts, Stu. I’ve wanted to tell you something for weeks now but can’t seem to catch you. I carved out time today to watch and comment…you were asked to not say something and I laughed because 40 years ago, I met my husband on my ship (US Navy) while home ported in Italy. One of the first things he said to me was,” it is what it is.” And still says it to this day. I chuckle each time you use it since I’m here in Spain alone until he can retire.
I can’t have pets here so I started a plant hobby. Not the same. So Mia makes my day.
NATO. What can I say? I’m former military and I see the need, look at Ukraine. My grandfather came from Odesa and my heart breaks that they aren’t NATO/OTAN.
Btw, I had a heatstroke while in Bilbao. Never thought that would happen in northern Spain.
Love your show and I’ll try to watch more often🤞🏽
I eat Spanish food but once in a while I order from 5 guys, Burgers and Fries. I hate to admit that🤔

Modern area == car dependent

An interesting, if not somewhat depressing, walk around a local shopping area. That old folks home opposite a meat processing factory…imagine ending your days there (the old folks home that is!)!?

I hope the NATO summit is a success in bringing greater unity in the cause to strengthen the resources and resolve that Europe will need to collectively deter aggressors, such as Russia.

"Ispania" was the name given to the Iberian Peninsula by the Carthaginians, around 300 B.C.
It means "land of rabbits."
The Romans later renamed it Hispania.

Hi Stu, never played Padel beofre we moved to Spain. The wife and I now play 2/3 times a week at differing levels and really enjoy it. We both left our tennising days behind us forty years ago but taken to this sport with relative ease. Cheers Mick in Moraira. PS. NATO is a must IMO.

Where ara you from guy?

I hope Spain stops importing American eating habits

The EU make the decisions Spains polaticians just do as they are told as they are only a region .

I'd guess that the car park is a "grey" area that no-one wants to take responsibility for. . Probably a fix is not as cheap or as easy as we might think!

The only way to eradicate the blight of graffiti (paint vandalism) is to hold the LANDOWNER responsible for keeping their property clean and sightly. Under penalty of fine. Apprehending the vandals, let alone prosecuting them, is clearly impossible and it is utterly cockeyed and debauched for the owners of the the fouled walls, fences, carriages, etc. to shrug and say not my problem.

I see the Mall, I don't see the people….. It looks that most of our planet has a lot of buildings & not enough people…. Or where the people are are not enough buildings to accommodate….. It looks more & more ( at least to me) like an empty planet

Nice informative area Vlog. Nice to see how what the locals have nearby.

impressive video! thanks
one question, for tres cantos and alcobendas , safe for women and children expats to live to good there?
thanks

very informative and nice the little hike through the Madrid suburbs.
However, not understanding why an Englishman informs other Englishmen about things going on in Spain.
There are several English channels of this type on YouTube.
Searching, I can't find anyone who is an EU citizen hanging around in the UK and doing something similar for the best.
I would propose you all go home, celebrate your Brexit, bring your country forward and complain about your own wrongs,
taking vacations at your former colonies, or in Scotland, Wales or NI, as long not needing a Visa to go there and leave us here alone. cheers

A few years back, most people in Spain used to be thin and fit, ever since the junk food restaurants arrived in the country, the young and not so young have gotten plumed and have developed the same health problems we suffer in the US, which is over 60% obesity.

I was sad to see the American fast food. I am American but I feel the reason we have issues with obesity and diabetes is because we tend to eat fast foods and we don’t walk as much. Just my theory.
When my boyfriend first visited Spain and fell in love with it he said we have to move there. I said but do they have food that I can eat with my hypoglycemia issues? He said are you kidding? Their food is way more healthy than we eat here in the U.S. Now I see all those fast food places and hope it won’t get overrun with them and the young kids will forget all about the good Spanish food.

Observations:
– The geratric/retirement development, very austere, Eastern block feel, the out door bit not attractive and opposite a meat works… Not exactly aspirational.
– Rabbits, is there programme of pest erradication?.. Or, are they used in Spanish cuisine?
– Often your walk abouts there are rarely people around, why?
– Terrible shame that Carl's Junior, Taco Bell and other Junk 'food' is getting a hold. One of the surges of modern society and American culture unleashed. As you say in a nation who's diet is unique and healthy.
– as kids in NZ our primary school had a sport we played called 'Patter' Tennis. Looks similar to Paddle.. tho never seen it anywhere else.
– NATO is aspirational while the world has Nazi Despots like Putin and Xi. Sadly, history shows it always will have.

Hola Stuart on the question of NATO I totally agree with you, while we've got people like Putin murdering innocent people and wants to take over Europe, we need to be strong and show them that were a force not to be messed with, so we can keep peace not war in the world.👍🙏

Great to go on your walks with you & Mia, Stuart. It's interesting to see around your local environment & see what it's like. Thanks for all your work putting these vlogs out for us. Much appreciated. Claire

Definitely Against war. Which is why we need NATO.

Padel courts look like Pickleball played in US. No idea why it’s called that as there is no pickle involved.

Boo for fast food!!

Very interesting thanks

NATO is unfortunately very necessary in a world governed by militant corporate interests, nepotism, and outright capitalist opportunism. I say this having been a US Army Infantry Officer and, now, absolutely anti-war and anti-capitalism. That’s my “humble” opinion. I understand how contrary this statement is. It’s the world we live in. Sigh…

Thanks Stu, allways enjoy your chat, best wishes from L`Ametlla de Mar, Tarragona province.

Great stuff, h from Torremolinos

If you feel miserable in Spain, just go back to the UK. Or is it too expensive? I'm sure that Nigel and Boris will provide what they promised. Hahaha…

Looks like Blackpool it’s a ghost town as well

Nice one Stuart,Very informative.

My reaction to a couple of things mentioned. No one, I believe, is in favour of war,BUT, unfortunately as we see now, one never knows what is around the corner. Therefore NATO is a good thing. If Ukraine had been part of NATO our friend, “hijo de Putin” would not have risked invading! The other comment I would like to make, is about diet and Fast Food, around where I live near Estepona on the Costa del Sol, there are very few fast food restaurants, one McDonalds and two Burger Kings. The diet is very Mediterranean with a mix of International i.e. Chinese, Greek,Thai,Indian and Italian. Someone mentioned Churos and French Fries, yes these are food items that are consumed here, but I believe people walk a lot more in Spain. Our Paseos are always busy.