Latest news with #Spain-wide
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Spanish locals slam 'rude' British tourists amid rising tensions in Barcelona
British tourists have been slammed by Spanish locals who have claimed that they are being 'rude and bothersome', ahead of Spain-wide protests against mass-tourism Spaniards have called out British holidaymakers for their "rude and bothersome" behaviour while visiting the beloved tourist hotspot, in a further development to the recent anti-mass-tourism dialogue. In a heated Reddit thread, locals expressed their exasperation, with one user saying: "British people are the worst. I'm a local and I haven't seen people so rude, annoying and loud. It's interesting that they're so polite when they're in the UK, but so insanely rude and bothering when they come to Spain." The contentious remark sparked a fiery online debate with users flocking to share their opinions. As many argued whether the raucous behaviour was linked to binge drinking, others contended that some of the travelling Brits were being unjustly tarnished. One UK native posted: "Brit here. The people who are d*******s abroad are often also d*******s at home. The polite ones you've seen in the UK go unnoticed abroad." The frustration that many Brits feel about their rude counterparts was clear, with another saying: "British here and absolutely hate rude people. The people that are rude at festivals and gigs are generally the ones that are rude in the UK. Don't tar all British with the same name." Another person chimed in, saying: "A lot of British people who holiday in Spain are just rude wherever they are, it's not geographically limited. It may be magnified abroad because of their sense of entitlement when they go away." Echoing a similar sentiment, another chimed in: "Just as awful at home when drunk to be honest. But I do think this weird pent up aggression is released on vacation." Another poster remarked: "Currently in Spain (not Barcelona). I have travelled all over the world to dozens upon dozens of countries, and I have never seen anything like this before. At 11am, drunken Brits walking all over monuments holding beers, drunken Brits kicking a football around inside of a restaurant, Brits throwing trash all over the streets and conservation areas, Brits screaming at people to speak English." One Spaniard shared their viewpoint: "Brits coming here from their depressive country thinking they own everything and are above everyone else. No wonder everyone (all countries) says they are the worst tourists." Another interjected eagerly: "I cannot wait for all these people to go home." As tension mounts, Spain braces for more anti-tourism protests this week with reports claiming demonstrators will equip themselves with water pistols in a bid to drench unsuspecting holidaymakers - a tactic that was deployed last year around the city, and one that was utilised by protesters last month who used water pistols to take aim at tourists visiting the popular spot of Sagrada Familia. A leading anti-tourism group has confirmed a new protest will take place on June 15th, with the use of water pistols being encouraged. The group, which was instrumental in organising last year's demonstration, has stated its intention to "disrupt the tourist normality". Daniel Pardo Rivacoba, a member of the Assembly of Neighbourhoods for Tourism Degrowth, spoke to The Mirror about their plan to utilise water pistols. He explained that they are "a popular symbol of resistance against the plundering of the tourism monoculture", and went on to claim that the tourism industry "is incompatible with life", advocating instead for "tourism regrowth." On the same day, other demonstrations will be happening across the country, including in places like Ibiza, San Sebastián, Palma de Mallorca, Granada, the Pyrenees and even in Portugal's capital, Lisbon, according to Catalan News. So far, the only detail released about the June 15 protest is the date. It's set to begin at midday, starting from Jardinets de Gràcia.
Herald Sun
28-04-2025
- Herald Sun
Spain brought to a halt by huge blackout
Panicked customers scrambled to withdraw cash from banks and streets overflowed with crowds trying in vain to get a signal as a Spain-wide power outage plunged the country into chaos on Monday. Carlos Condori, one of millions of people affected in Spain and Portugal, was travelling on the Madrid metro when the blackout brought his journey to a shuddering halt. "The light went out and the carriage stopped," but the train managed to crawl into the platform, the 19-year-old construction sector worker told AFP outside a metro station in central Madrid. "People were stunned, because this had never happened in Spain," he added. "There's no (phone) coverage, I can't call my family, my parents, nothing: I can't even go to work." At Cibeles Square, one of the Spanish capital's busiest thoroughfares, the blackout of traffic lights unleashed a cacophony of sirens, whistles and car horns as police tried to control the pile-up of traffic. Bewildered office workers congregated in streets with their computers made useless without internet, alongside residents were thankful they had not been trapped in lifts. A disorientated Marina Sierra was trying to contact her dad and improvise a route home to the Madrid suburbs after her school was shut. "The building we were in was giving off smoke, they had to evacuate us quickly.... I'm shocked because everything is totally out of control," the 16-year-old student said. - 'Not the end of the world' - Transport chaos also gripped Spain's second city Barcelona, where locals and tourists alike flooded the streets in a desperate attempt to find out what had happened. Student Laia Montserrat, who lives one hour outside Barcelona, was in the middle of a presentation when the blackout struck her school and left her in a predicament. "As the internet wasn't coming back, they told us to go home... (but) there weren't trains either," Laia told AFP. "Now we don't know what to do." Leonor Abecasis, who was visiting the tourist hotspot from Portugal, was in a shop when she was plunged into darkness. "We're waiting for the electricity to come back," said the 27-year-old consultant. She admitted she was "a little" worried for her return flight to Lisbon later in the day. Back in Madrid, a philosophical Pilar Lopez tried to put into perspective the confusion and panic of her colleagues who were fretting about the perishable food they had left in their freezers. "We've suffered a pandemic, I don't think this is worse," said the 53-year-old, an administrator in higher education. "It's like anything, you get used to it and start to think that this isn't the end of the world." For Lopez, the widespread bedlam provided a useful lesson: "Maybe we should go back to the beginnings and not depend so much on electricity in some things." She added that "I can't even pay because my mobile isn't working. Sometimes you have to be a bit more analogue: this proves it." bur-imm/ds/rmb Originally published as Spain brought to a halt by huge blackout
Straits Times
28-04-2025
- Straits Times
Scramble to withdraw money as Spain brought to a halt by huge blackout
Locals and tourists alike flooded the streets in Madrid in a desperate attempt to find out what had happened. PHOTO: REUTERS Scramble to withdraw money as Spain brought to a halt by huge blackout MADRID - Panicked customers scrambled to withdraw cash from banks and streets overflowed with crowds trying in vain to get a signal as a Spain-wide power outage plunged the country into chaos on April 28. Mr Carlos Condori, one of millions of people affected in Spain and Portugal, was travelling on the Madrid metro when the blackout brought his journey to a shuddering halt. 'The light went out and the carriage stopped,' but the train managed to crawl into the platform, the 19-year-old construction sector worker told AFP outside a metro station in central Madrid. 'People were stunned, because this had never happened in Spain,' he added. 'There's no (phone) coverage, I can't call my family, my parents, nothing: I can't even go to work.' At Plaza de Cibeles, one of the Spanish capital's busiest thoroughfares, the blackout of traffic lights unleashed a cacophony of sirens, whistles and car horns as police tried to control the pile-up of traffic. Bewildered office workers congregated in the streets, their computers made useless without internet, alongside residents who were thankful they had not been trapped in lifts. A disorientated 16-year-old Marina Sierra was trying to contact her father and improvise a route home to the Madrid suburbs after her school was shut. 'The building we were in was giving off smoke, they had to evacuate us quickly... I'm shocked because everything is totally out of control,' the student said. 'Not the end of the world' Transport chaos also gripped Spain's second city Barcelona, where locals and tourists alike flooded the streets in a desperate attempt to find out what had happened. Student Laia Montserrat, who lives an hour outside Barcelona, was in the middle of a presentation when the blackout struck her school and left her in a predicament. 'As the internet wasn't coming back, they told us to go home... (but) there weren't trains either,' Laia told AFP. 'Now we don't know what to do.' Ms Leonor Abecasis, from Portugal, was in a shop when she was plunged into darkness. 'We're waiting for the electricity to come back,' said the 27-year-old consultant. She admitted she was 'a little' worried for her return flight to Lisbon later in the day. Back in Madrid, a philosophical Pilar Lopez tried to put into perspective the confusion and panic of her colleagues who were fretting about the perishable food they had left in their freezers. 'We've suffered a pandemic, I don't think this is worse,' said the 53-year-old, an administrator in higher education. 'It's like anything, you get used to it and start to think that this isn't the end of the world.' For Ms Lopez, the widespread bedlam provided a useful lesson: 'Maybe we should go back to the beginnings and not depend so much on electricity in some things.' She added that 'I can't even pay because my mobile isn't working. Sometimes you have to be a bit more analogue: this proves it.' AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Yahoo
Spain brought to a halt by huge blackout
Panicked customers scrambled to withdraw cash from banks and streets overflowed with crowds trying in vain to get a signal as a Spain-wide power outage plunged the country into chaos on Monday. Carlos Condori, one of millions of people affected in Spain and Portugal, was travelling on the Madrid metro when the blackout brought his journey to a shuddering halt. "The light went out and the carriage stopped," but the train managed to crawl into the platform, the 19-year-old construction sector worker told AFP outside a metro station in central Madrid. "People were stunned, because this had never happened in Spain," he added. "There's no (phone) coverage, I can't call my family, my parents, nothing: I can't even go to work." At Cibeles Square, one of the Spanish capital's busiest thoroughfares, the blackout of traffic lights unleashed a cacophony of sirens, whistles and car horns as police tried to control the pile-up of traffic. Bewildered office workers congregated in streets with their computers made useless without internet, alongside residents were thankful they had not been trapped in lifts. A disorientated Marina Sierra was trying to contact her dad and improvise a route home to the Madrid suburbs after her school was shut. "The building we were in was giving off smoke, they had to evacuate us quickly.... I'm shocked because everything is totally out of control," the 16-year-old student said. - 'Not the end of the world' - Transport chaos also gripped Spain's second city Barcelona, where locals and tourists alike flooded the streets in a desperate attempt to find out what had happened. Student Laia Montserrat, who lives one hour outside Barcelona, was in the middle of a presentation when the blackout struck her school and left her in a predicament. "As the internet wasn't coming back, they told us to go home... (but) there weren't trains either," Laia told AFP. "Now we don't know what to do." Leonor Abecasis, who was visiting the tourist hotspot from Portugal, was in a shop when she was plunged into darkness. "We're waiting for the electricity to come back," said the 27-year-old consultant. She admitted she was "a little" worried for her return flight to Lisbon later in the day. Back in Madrid, a philosophical Pilar Lopez tried to put into perspective the confusion and panic of her colleagues who were fretting about the perishable food they had left in their freezers. "We've suffered a pandemic, I don't think this is worse," said the 53-year-old, an administrator in higher education. "It's like anything, you get used to it and start to think that this isn't the end of the world." For Lopez, the widespread bedlam provided a useful lesson: "Maybe we should go back to the beginnings and not depend so much on electricity in some things." She added that "I can't even pay because my mobile isn't working. Sometimes you have to be a bit more analogue: this proves it." bur-imm/ds/rmb
NDTV
28-04-2025
- NDTV
Spain Brought To Halt By Blackout As Massive Power Outage Hits Country
Madrid: Panicked customers scrambled to withdraw cash from banks and streets overflowed with crowds trying in vain to get a signal as a Spain-wide power outage plunged the country into chaos on Monday. Carlos Condori, one of millions of people affected in Spain and Portugal, was travelling on the Madrid metro when the blackout brought his journey to a shuddering halt. "The light went out and the carriage stopped," but the train managed to crawl into the platform, the 19-year-old construction sector worker told AFP outside a metro station in central Madrid. "People were stunned, because this had never happened in Spain," he added. "There's no (phone) coverage, I can't call my family, my parents, nothing: I can't even go to work." At Cibeles Square, one of the Spanish capital's busiest thoroughfares, the blackout of traffic lights unleashed a cacophony of sirens, whistles and car horns as police tried to control the pile-up of traffic. Bewildered office workers congregated in streets with their computers made useless without internet, alongside residents were thankful they had not been trapped in lifts. A disorientated Marina Sierra was trying to contact her dad and improvise a route home to the Madrid suburbs after her school was shut. "The building we were in was giving off smoke, they had to evacuate us quickly.... I'm shocked because everything is totally out of control," the 16-year-old student said. 'Not the end of the world' Transport chaos also gripped Spain's second city Barcelona, where locals and tourists alike flooded the streets in a desperate attempt to find out what had happened. Student Laia Montserrat, who lives one hour outside Barcelona, was in the middle of a presentation when the blackout struck her school and left her in a predicament. "As the internet wasn't coming back, they told us to go home... (but) there weren't trains either," Laia told AFP. "Now we don't know what to do." Leonor Abecasis, who was visiting the tourist hotspot from Portugal, was in a shop when she was plunged into darkness. "We're waiting for the electricity to come back," said the 27-year-old consultant. She admitted she was "a little" worried for her return flight to Lisbon later in the day. Back in Madrid, a philosophical Pilar Lopez tried to put into perspective the confusion and panic of her colleagues who were fretting about the perishable food they had left in their freezers. "We've suffered a pandemic, I don't think this is worse," said the 53-year-old, an administrator in higher education. "It's like anything, you get used to it and start to think that this isn't the end of the world." For Lopez, the widespread bedlam provided a useful lesson: "Maybe we should go back to the beginnings and not depend so much on electricity in some things." She added that "I can't even pay because my mobile isn't working. Sometimes you have to be a bit more analogue: this proves it."
