Valencia Unveiled: Our First Impressions, Hidden Gems, and Vibrant Culture

[@stephs17]

QQQ- Have you thought about looking into Malaga? I haven't been to Portugal yet but I will tell you that the El Corte Ingles in Centro Malaga is very nice.

[@CloserToHappy]

Ok then Malga it is 😂. I loooove El Corte Ingles

[@1650million]

El Corte Inglés can vary a lot, depending on which city you are, which neighborhood you are, and what´s its origin. Back in the day, there were two competing stores: ECI, and Galerias Preciados. GP lost the battle, so it was finally acquired by ECI. As such, you will now find smaller stores that used to belong to GP, where they just don´t have the same amount of space. My nearest ECI is roughly a 6 minutes walk from home, six stories tall, two underground. I can´t complain much... ;) The most important thing (IMO) is to realize that even when there are multiple hypermarkets in Spain (such as Carrefour, Alcampo...), ECI supermarket always has the finest products, from the most expensive brands you can buy in all of Spain. Pretty much the exact opposite of Mercadona. Mine has even a separate delicatessen store, where you can even buy 1000€+ beverages. Cheers!

[@CloserToHappy]

Agree on the variance in El Corte Ingles'. The one in Lisbon is my absolute favorite! Love the supermarket at the biggest one, think it's the one that you're referencing. I could hang out there all day, just wish they had some nicer restaurants on the roof like they do in Lisbon. Still a huge fan!

[@mcgrcaribe]

En español caray, estamos en España.no en Inglaterra, las noticias en español no pongáis en un idioma que la mayoría de españoles no entiende, yo si lo entiendo pero es mi trabajo, del resto de gente no lo quieren entender en ese idioma

[@belenborderias4654]

15:31 Pero es que piensan venir todos?????, Es insostenible ya ....claro a aprovechar nuestra SS.... vergonzoso.

[@CloserToHappy]

@@belenborderias4654 Pero eso no es verdad. Seguramente pagaremos impuestos, más altos que en Estados Unidos, y tendremos nuestro propio seguro

[@CloserToHappy]

@@mcgrcaribe Aún no estamos en España, todavía estamos en Estados Unidos y la mayoría de nuestra audiencia habla inglés. ¡Sin embargo, me aseguraré de que los videos también tengan traducción al español!

[@antoniolopezlopez4236]

Just one interesting thing. In the spanish Vicekingdom system, the territories in america paid only what was called "the royal fifth" or "el quinto real", meaning only 20% of the wealth they produced, and they were administrated in a quite independent way. Thats why if you go to latin-america; Mexico, Peru.. etc... you can find also big structures like cathedrals, universities, strongholds, hospitals and so on. Most important part of the wealth was invested to develop the territories themselves because that was the way the romans did it before, and in the middle age the same system still prevailed. The wealth produced in America was so huge that only the 20% sent to Spain was enough to build wonders. Consider that Cadiz and Seville became two of the most important docks in europe, with constant trade from/to America in the golden century. We are not only speaking about America, but Asia as well, with the raising commerce of silver and goods in Japan and China. The wealth and industry those days was really huge for the middle age terms, creating a global trade system and global silver currency called "Real de a ocho" used from asia to Europe. This system started with the catholic kings, and was kept/enhanced by the next dinasty from the house of the Austrias, only broken when the dinasty of Bourbons from France took the crown of Spain, who decided to increase the percent of wealth taken from the territories abroad and reduce their independence in the french way but it just didn't work.

[@CloserToHappy]

Really interesting, thanks for sharing!

[@midei]

I apologize for the rude comments some people left here. I hope you don't meet many people like those uneducated and bitter individuals in Spain. Be sure that if you decide to move here, you'll find nice people and the city will welcome you with open arms.

[@CloserToHappy]

This is lovely. Thank you so much for your encouraging words.