I'll tell you what's annoying...

[anna7602]

Listening to a French person gripe about how much "nicer" everything is in Spain [v. France] despite the economic crisis. Listening to her absurd opinions about how with the money the Spanish spent on Atocha train station (Madrid), they could have saved themselves all the economic woes of 2012. WTF?

It's hard to convey her tone here, but it was very much like, "People who live in less prosperous countries than I do have no right to live well."

I didn't punch her because I don't generally punch people. Also, she is the friend of a friend and we were all having a nice night out otherwise.

[glitterfart]

I feel your pain! Sometimes you just want to smack people upside the head and say WTF has gotten into you?!

Good for you for keeping your hands and arms in check. Not sure I would have been able to.

[elenetxu]

This would've been a great time to pull out the ol' saying, "Cuando las barbas de tu vecino veas arder, pon las tuyas a remojar." That's the first time I've heard Atocha blamed.

What a wench. Tell her to come talk to me.

[dulcemariamar]

The Atocha train station? Maybe, I am missing something but what is so great about it? I know they did some renovation work last year, but I highly doubt that is the cause of the economic crisis.

However, I guess I agree with your friend although I am not quite sure what she means. During the last few years, a lot of cities went crazy with building projects. They built airports in the middle of nowhere, some of them never opened. I know the city of Valencia went crazy with Formula One and the America Cup. People have been really irresponsible. Now we are paying for it.

[anna7602]

Jul 27, 2012 6:10:18 GMT -5 dulcemariamar said:

The Atocha train station? Maybe, I am missing something but what is so great about it? I know they did some renovation work last year, but I highly doubt that is the cause of the economic crisis.

However, I guess I agree with your friend although I am not quite sure what she means. During the last few years, a lot of cities went crazy with building projects. They built airports in the middle of nowhere, some of them never opened. I know the city of Valencia went crazy with Formula One and the America Cup. People have been really irresponsible. Now we are paying for it.

I haven't been through Atocha station in a while since the last few times I've been to Madrid, I flew there. (Although I will say that Barajas is quite nice and is one of my favorite airports to fly into/out of.)

In any event, I can respect what you're saying since, you know, you actually live in Spain and might have a better idea of what projects are funded by the government v. funded by private, outside enterprises.

[clickerish]

What an ignorant person. The Atocha train station is recently built NOT because they were spending extra money but because there was a bombing in 2004 that required changes or there would be no travel at all in the country. Way to not know your history but talk anyway.

I do think the Spanish government has been irresponsible in some areas, most particularly in the realm of education (stop giving becas to people who barely take classes!) but (a) it's hardly the fault of the general populace and (b) the French government isn't so hot either--it just has giant bank power that helps it stay afloat.

I love how bad things happen and then people start pointing fingers.