This town has seen better days - Ferrol, Galicia

Join me on a walk around the city of Ferrol in Galicia in the north west of Spain. Let's just say that the town has seen better days.
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[@frankfernandez5771]

It's amazing how clean everything is, no litter anywhere, beautiful. apart from the roadworks of course but once they're completed it will be lovely

[@judithcheckley4655]

We've spent our last four summers in Galicia. Escaping from the Murcian heat.

[@Mongoose-ct6us]

Spain, Malta, Croatia and Greece all great countries to retire in.

[@kevtheargonut]

Interesting Stu, thanks for the effort and sharing. I loved Galicia when I was visiting friends at their pine forest “palace” (his wife is actually a Polish princess) in the hills above Baiona. Absolutely amazing views of the bay, castle and out to the islands through a huge glass window from their massive lounge. The town itself is also very good with decent beaches, a castle and old bars / restaurants serving great food in the old town narrow streets away from the sea front. Up in the hills it all gets a bit more rustic pretty quickly. Worth a trip if you are up that way as it seems to have something for everyone, beach folks, foodies, architecture and historical building buffs etc. And of course, those amazing, friendly Galician people too. 👍

[@erikawallace3404]

😮 I remember Ferrol as a bustling city in the late 60s-early 70s. The Navy and the shipping yards/industries were very strong at the time. Feel a bit sad to see all those closed down shops and the run-down houses. Let's call it the side effects of globalisation.

[@yanassi]

Possible future if spanish ruling parties get out of their own petty power goals and determine nationalistic plans. Ferrol needs or could be in a transition from a naval economy to tourism with attractions and beautiful old but renovated buildings.

[@s.c.9107]

@@yanassi Poor view if you thing about a future based on tourism in Ferrol. Obviously for me it's such a beautiful place that i think that it has a lot of potential but sadly in future tourism will be lacked by fuels affordability. Who knows...

[@yanassi]

@@s.c.9107 i hear you. Low employment in many areas of spain. Bustling cities, outside the capital of madrid, offer cultural and mediterranean coastsl amenities which are the economic havens for tourists seeking the things tourists seek. As of now ferrol is headed in a downward spiral, with ugly graffiti (not even beautiful murals), buildings in disrepair, an unnecessary protection wall from naval attacks that offers none of the beautiful water views that should be offered, etc. How you see ferrol improving its plight?

[@morrisminors9750]

Thanks for a good, interesting video, Stu. Perhaps it is because most of my future is behind me but I see a genteel charm within the decay and with old places you miss so much if you don't look up. It is real Spanish Spain and not a theme park. I only had a day in El Ferrol by pure chance but would certainly go again if I get the chance. The entrance by sea is spectacular and the surroundings are magnificent. You can get a good view of the port, unfortuneately with low elevation, from close to where your video started if you walk along towards the two Maritime Museums. These excellent museums are heaven to a maritime nerd like myself and only 2 Euros to get in. My wife found a great wool and haberdashery shop and the owner also put us on to a very good material fabric shop nearby. Overall, the people we spoke to were all very friendly and helpful. The other highlight of our day was seeing and hearing a Galician pipers' band, which this old folkie found priceless. Re your reference to Franco, I understand he came from a family with a long naval tradition but the devastation of the navy in the war of 1898 meant he had to settle for the army. This was one of the chips on his shoulder which may have helped to mould his personality. May El Ferrol prosper and see the good times return.

[@debbiemerlan7694]

Thank you for this wonderful tour. My grandfather was born in Ferrol in 1888. He worked in the shipping industry. It must have been a bustling place then. The story passed down was that he immigrated to the US because of political unrest around 1920’s. He eventually settled in New Orleans where he found work and married my grandmother. How is wish I knew more about Ferrol. ( ex. Is Merlan/Merlano a common surname.) This video has made my day!! 36:14

[@welshtoro3256]

The decline of the Galician ship building industry and its social impact is beautifully and realisticaly portraid in the 2002 film Los Lunes al Sol (Mondays in the Sun). In my opinion it's one of Javier Bardem's greatest performances but everybody involved is superb. A great film which went under the radar.

[@bouse23]

dont you mean mondays in the sun?

[@welshtoro3256]

@@bouse23 Oops, that's what I meant. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. Correction made.

[@Manchesteru999]

Nice one Stu, there is still a massive working shipyard run by Navantia just across the harbour in nearby Fene. It's on the route of the the camino ingles from Ferrol and feels a lot like Belfast with its massive yellow Cranes.

[@lucieteal7201]

Beautiful video cheers

[@coffermartin77]

Where you were next to that marine cuartel at the beginning of the video, further down was the harbour. There's a ferry that takes tours around the harbour. I haven't been on it but last time i was there, it was busy with people. There are some nice bars and restaurants there. I'm surprised you didn't see the harbour from where you were at the beginning of the video.

[@ariglesiasutset3305]

It was Indeed really a pity because he was twice very close to the harbor which is beautiful. Would have been a very nice ending of this interesting and well done video.

[@rhianhead6744]

A very interesting video, thank you ( am enjoying the Facts and Quiz posts 👍)

[@eloyvidal9767]

Thank you for coming to my home town Stuart! Great follower of your videos 😎

[@subcitizen2012]

Thanks Stu!

[@michaeltravers6109]

Thank you Stu, really enjoyed your video, most interesting 👍.

[@josemariapinoncobelo7525]

It's been a very nice tour in my hometown. Thank you for showing Ferrol to the world.

[@spainspeaks]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@9090Glenn]

The main bases of the Spanish Navy are at Rota, Ferrol, San Fernando and Cartagena - not sure HOW you get a naval base in Madrid ! completely land-locked for a thousand miles in each direction - I think you meant San Fernando ?

[@lucasbridges8082]

would love to see another video from Ferrol

[@Aotruba]

Thank you for sharing such interesting videos! 👍😊👏👏

[@spainspeaks]

Glad you like them!

[@carolynnock6646]

I love Spain. Franco is part of its recent history, bad or bad. Not to be shied away from but to be learned from. Thank you for bringing these places to me visually.

[@sylviaschaich]

In Ferrol I started my Camino Ingles last year

[@kennielsen3896]

One small observation. At 4:00 you said "...I'll have to chuck a right." If I were a native Spanish speaker, I doubt I could ever comprehend that phrase. LOL

[@cristobalito1966]

I am surprised you're not well versed on the city prior to visiting it. The Naval Base has been there centuries. It also contains the Naval Museum where you can see a model of the vast Spanish Empire on which the Sun never set. The English were expelled from Ferrol as they tried to invade it. The first main "park" is th Plaza de Amboage, named after the Marquis. The style of windows is called Galerías. You're probably visiting during lunch time when most people are eating. The weather in Ferrol is very changeable. It has regrettably deteriorated since the days of empire but the Council is trying to embellish it.

[@FlamencoOz]

If these buildings were more taken care of it would be absolutely gorgeous. It looks nice now however. Shame it's so quiet and businesses are shutting down everywhere.

[@geddesjimmy]

An escape room is great fun, I've been in one twice, basically you are locked in a room and given a clue as to where to find the next clue and so on. The object is to find the key to allow you to escape the room. Usually you are in there with a few friends, you'll have to try it, I'm sure you would enjoy the challenge.

[@lexxlars5762]

Puerto Sagunto , lots of amenities, good restaurants 🎉

[@s.c.9107]

@@susanaescriba977 I absolutly agree with you. Spain is much more than a thematic park... 😂😂😂

[@EddyBlacks]

Removed plaques in Ferrol. Chances it mentioned Franco. It's his birth place after all...

[@Manchesteru999]

The plaque is still there, just off the main square in Ferrol

[@andrewrobinson2565]

I'm guessing the shops close Sunday and Monday?

[@alunjprice]

It’s a shame that the sea harbour is so ugly and industrialised, obviously it’s a naval base, much like Portsmouth, but it has real potential, it could certainly could be an up and coming area, the house prices are really really cheap there, but a lot of work needs to be done, because a lot of towns in the area are so much nicer.

[@alunjprice]

There is no doubt Franco held Spain back, the civil war was beyond dreadful, so many innocents died, but what some people seem to forget is, if the commies had managed to gain power, it would have taken both Spain and Portugal a lot longer to recover from mess, look at Eastern Europe.

[@ariglesiasutset3305]

Unfortunately he missed twice the harbor which is not that big but very nice. Ferrol is great place if you are able to get a good job or are ritered.

[@AndyDavis007]

So wadda think Stu, give the obras another 5-10 years? Better days ahead we can hope. 😎

[@martindouglas9839]

Hola Stuart que tal haven't been able to catch up on videos only got off ship yesterday. Restricted WiFi. In Singapore 🇸🇬 at moment all being well Malaysia 🇲🇾 tomorrow. Hopefully I can catch up on vid soon

[@gwynethbennellick4839]

These towns and cities where you wind your way uo to the top and you can see for miles.

[@juanluisalvarez9249alaricano]

Ferrol tocó fondo. Ahora esta empezando a renacer.

[@ariglesiasutset3305]

Ojala. La ciudad lo merece. Y este video, muy bien hecho btw, solo muestra una minuscula parte de lo que Ferrol tiene para ofrecer.

[@michaelmcnally1242]

When George Borrow ("The Bible in Spain") was there, he remarked that it was the finest harbor he'd ever seen.

[@petertuite3885]

Stuart, please do a map of the location in Spain, we all don’t have an understanding of the location you are at

[@benjamindejonge3624]

Looks much better than your birthplace

[@markallen437]

a great spanish friend of mine was born and lived here for many years. under franco the galicians were badly treated. i remembered her telling me how the parents sewed coins into the kids clothes as the local spies,collaboraters stole every thing they could. hated octopus as she lived on it. great women , died a couple years ago. think of her and her husband a lot. peace

[@coffermartin77]

Who told you that story? Let's get one thing straight, under Franco rule a lot of Spaniards were treated badly. Some were locked up. Some tortured. Some killled. I don't know many Galicians that hate octopus. You will be hard pressed finding authentic Gallego octopus these days as it has been fished out and supply has dwindled. It gets imported from Morocco these days. There are plenty of boomer Gallegos that worship Franco and would love to see Spain go back to the "good. old days". Thank goodness they won't be around for too long.

[@welshtoro3256]

Good walk about Stu. I think this is what we see in a lot of Spanish towns and cities. This has a particularly northern flavour to it. Many of those old and empty buildings which are falling apart long pre-date Covid. They end up having the front held up whilst the rest of the structure falls apart. I love the north of Spain but like the rest of the country there's good and bad. Most of the cities had to be rebuilt after the war to cater for the influx of people looking for work. Social housing was required in super fast time and it went hand in glove with corrupt officials and planners. Some of those areas are so run down today it's hard to describe. Cities all along the northern coast have some of the most run down and ugly districts in all of Spain.

[@EdMcF1]

They must really hate grass in Spanish parks. Not even in Galicia do they give it room.

[@devalmar7876]

Pues Ferrol está bastante bien... No sé por qué hay gente a la que no le gusta 🤷

[@miguelfdez3577]

Los ingleses,que son muy especialitos.Les sacas de Benidorm y Mazarron y ya no entienden nada,

[@ariglesiasutset3305]

Una ciudad con joyas arquitectonicas, historia, ria, 3 hospitales, buena hosteleria y cerca de todo, playas, Coruña, Santiago.. mas tarde o mas temprano renacera y ocupara el lugar que merece!

[@yanassi]

Ferrol should transition the walls to open park land and water views, antique ships museums, concerts, free housing for artists to get young blood and perhaps start a trend away from the naval militaristic economy is was based on. Ferrol needs a new identity. Good to see renovation happening, but is it surface fixing? If it’s deeper infrastructure perhaps spain has future plans for ferrol.

[@bouse23]

francos home town

[@jamesbeech8643]

We did think of going to this city, but after watching your video I’m glad we never did, it must be one of the most boring looking cities in Spain. But thanks for your efforts Stu.

[@Charlie-UK]

Ferrol was the birthplace of the dictator Francisco Franco in 1892. On a happier note, it was also the birthplace of the founder of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), Pablo Iglesias, in 1850...😟🤫

[@rivoendre]

"Can't fucking see a name there ..." 🙃

[@richardhaughton4303]

The retail stores have been decimated by online shopping, as with offices now empty as workers stay at home. The loss of social contact is the loser’s, hence the lack of young people in your videos, just a view 🤔

[@maurisanjurjo4960]

Yo nací y me crié ahí cuántos recuerdos gracias

[@57lsuarez]

The problem in Spain is the siesta.

[@jackie842]

Is that where Franco came from?

[@jettjones9889]

The horrific graffiti drives me crazy.

[@teddydavis2339]

The birth place of Franco.

[@luisatrvus781]

And?...

[@stevetilk4926]

I believe El Ferrol is the birthplace and home town of Francisco Franco.

[@s.c.9107]

You're right. He (unfortunately) born in "El Ferrol del Caudillo", that was the old name of that beautiful city....

[@Charlie-UK]

It might have been a city once but now, with a population of 64,785, it's hardly bigger than a medium size town...

[@lexxlars5762]

I live in Puerto Sagunto, lots of Amenities! Close to everything

[@luisatrvus781]

Why do the British keep talking about Franco? No Spaniard under the age of 70 remembers anything about him. Soon it will be a distant past.

[@AlejandroPRGH]

I'm a 65 year old Spaniard and I remember Franco and his time very well indeed. I was 17 when he died.

[@luisatrvus781]

@@AlejandroPRGH Well, I was 5 years wrong. But the idea is the same, anyone born since 1963 will hardly have any memories, or directly, they did not experience anything of Franco.

[@Sergio-rf5xp]

La cuna de El Caudillo!

[@andrewdavies8954]

the birth place of Franco.

[@kennielsen3896]

Strong smell of cheese, or at least I hope so, otherwise it stinks.....I'm dying!

[@juanmarrase9633]

El Ferrol del caudillo!!!👀👍

[@loys7707]

Galicia is a good place for visiting but defenitely not for working. A very high rate unemployment

[@coffermartin77]

You can say that again. Not much work and if you get a job, it's badly paid and with terrible conditions. No way would i work there.

[@s.c.9107]

I'm living and working here in Galicia and I'm really happy. It depends on what kind of job you're looking for. I consider myself very well paid and the quality of live is amazing. I suppose it depends on different points of view and different persons.

[@luisatrvus781]

The unemployment rate in Galicia is 8.7%. It is not as catastrophic as you say. I live and work in Galicia and I am not poorly paid. You speak based on stereotypes.

[@coffermartin77]

@@s.c.9107 Yeah......that's why more than half the population of Galicia left for better paid jobs in countries like Germany.

[@coffermartin77]

@@luisatrvus781 8.7% is a bs statistic. That doesn't include the people who are not even registered as jobseekers. As well, they would count 1 hrs work in a month as being employed. That figure sounds like one you would hear in Barbieland.

[@lisajrable]

You have not 'got' better weather today you have better weather !!! 😪🥰 American English