On my walk around town today I suddenly realized what one of my favorite things about Granada is – the honesty of the culture. The Spaniards are stereotyped as being rude, but that is just because they are straightforward, blunt, honest. They tell things how they are, they don’t beat around the bush. And when you can’t eat anymore of a food, or just don’t feel like eating it at the moment, the only thing you can say is “No me apetece or “No quiero”: I just don’t want it.”
Another example of the honesty of this country is how respectful people are to businesses. When I first got here, going out to tapas and walking by shops screamed for the Five Finger Discount. It would be so easy to just get up and leave without paying the bill while eating outside on the sidewalk of a busy tapas bar. So many stores here are so tiny that they don’t have cameras and the merchandise has no security on it. It would be so easy to just take something and go. I’ve asked Spaniards about it too. They say it happens, sure, but it isn’t as common as I thought it’d be.
Even the graffiti is an art form! (Mostly, there are inevitably taggers.) Around the city (including on my building), you can find the pictures of El Niño de las Pinturas, on of the most famous graffitti artists of Granada. (More photos: http://www.tertuliaandaluza.com/sociedad/gente/el-nino-de-las-pinturas) But the overall vibe I get from Granada is respect.
Not too mention all of the trash dumpsters and recycle bins placed conveniently throughout the city. Every plaza has a set near by. There are even recycle bins for pilas, or batteries! Granada has it going on.
Hey Melinda it's Cassie! I feel like your blog takes me right back to Granada and opens up my mind to all the memories I have...keep us all posted on how you're doing over there.
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