Half finished Spain.
Discussion
I've just got back from a lovely week in Spain. I can't believe the amount of unfinished roads railways and buildings we saw on the drive there and back.We drove passed the abandoned airport from topgear which is not far from a huge stretch of unfinished train line and bridges, no track yet but the sleepers are in place.
In the middle of Spain there's a huge new road that looks like it goes on for miles, but again its unfinished, just needs black top and guard rail in most places. Who the hell has paid out the million and millions of euros to just abandon the projects. In benidorm there's Europes highest building which was just officially shut down at 80% finished, due to lack of interest. Also there's hundreds of skeletons of buildings that are just abandoned frames, unbelievable, we couldn't understand how the spainish government could allow all these places to just be left. There a bloody eyesore.
And wtf is going on around the outskirts of Paris, there's a shed load of shanti town that have sprung up on the side of the grass verges next to the main roads.
In the middle of Spain there's a huge new road that looks like it goes on for miles, but again its unfinished, just needs black top and guard rail in most places. Who the hell has paid out the million and millions of euros to just abandon the projects. In benidorm there's Europes highest building which was just officially shut down at 80% finished, due to lack of interest. Also there's hundreds of skeletons of buildings that are just abandoned frames, unbelievable, we couldn't understand how the spainish government could allow all these places to just be left. There a bloody eyesore.
And wtf is going on around the outskirts of Paris, there's a shed load of shanti town that have sprung up on the side of the grass verges next to the main roads.
Edited by gtidriver on Tuesday 6th August 00:42
gtidriver said:
Who the hell has paid out the million and millions of euros to just abandon the projects.
[snip]
Unbelievable, we couldn't understand how the spainish government could allow all these places to just be left. There a bloody eyesore.
They ran out of money. It's that simple.[snip]
Unbelievable, we couldn't understand how the spainish government could allow all these places to just be left. There a bloody eyesore.
It wasn't laziness, or abandonment due to choice - they ran out of cash.
You can't finish projects without money - they don't have any; eyesore or not.
I like this: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jul/17/in-te...
graun said:
Benidorm has so many tower blocks that from the air it resembles Hong Kong more than the sleepy fishing town it once was. Despite these high-rise buildings, the 47-storey In Tempo, visible from six miles away, dwarfs everything in the area. It has been dogged by contractual problems and in 2011, 13 workers were injured, two of them seriously, when a lift collapsed. Last year workers, angered by continued late payments, refused to enter the site unless they were paid.
In a symptom of the banking recklessness that had become the norm, Caixa Galicia offered the developer Olga Urbana €93m to build the tower on the strength of the developer putting up a paltry €3,100 in seed capital.
In a symptom of the banking recklessness that had become the norm, Caixa Galicia offered the developer Olga Urbana €93m to build the tower on the strength of the developer putting up a paltry €3,100 in seed capital.
LuS1fer said:
I'm not sure the mountain ones were paid for by grants. I'm just amazed they have such fantastic roads given the lack of any real traffic on most of them.
This is my other gripe when people go on about "fantastic" roads in other countries: give them a year or two of the sheer hammer that a British road get with the volume of traffic and lorries. Then see what happens to the grip when it bladders down with rain 9 months of the year. They won't look so fantastic then 
I think the ruggedness of roads in the UK is bloody good considering.You clearly haven't experienced proper Spanish weather in the mountains - searing high 30s in the summer where the roads don't melt, torrential rain in the winter and often several feet of snow.
The fact is they build them properly to start with and keep them repaired, they don't just keep spraying them with tar and chippings. They may have less traffic but they have a lot more roads.
The fact is they build them properly to start with and keep them repaired, they don't just keep spraying them with tar and chippings. They may have less traffic but they have a lot more roads.
How about a hold on all non resident building for 5 yrs .
Ok nothing gets built but then no money is wasted on half built Jobbies.
What about pulling down all the skeletons that are blotting the landscape now and scrapping the metal. I'm sure there's enough scrape metal in Spain to weaken the price of metal. Or the government could give them away on condition the job is completed.
Ok nothing gets built but then no money is wasted on half built Jobbies.
What about pulling down all the skeletons that are blotting the landscape now and scrapping the metal. I'm sure there's enough scrape metal in Spain to weaken the price of metal. Or the government could give them away on condition the job is completed.
Paris - Romanian gypsies - turn up, pollute the place then f
k off. Gendarmes work hard to move them on but because Romania is in the EU they have freedom of movement so can just come back. They will be gone by the winter, once they have made enough money doing what they are doing.
You will see similar camped around Marble Arch.
k off. Gendarmes work hard to move them on but because Romania is in the EU they have freedom of movement so can just come back. They will be gone by the winter, once they have made enough money doing what they are doing.You will see similar camped around Marble Arch.
LuS1fer said:
Spain took massive advantage of road development based on grants in the 90s and early millenia hence the road that runs down through Andalucia.
they may have unfinsihed roads but by god, the ones they have are brilliant, even up through the mountains - they put ours to shame.
Yep - Spanish roads are generally superb - with fthey may have unfinsihed roads but by god, the ones they have are brilliant, even up through the mountains - they put ours to shame.
k all traffic on a lot of them!!I can't wait because on Thursday afternoon I'll be using them again
LuS1fer said:
The fact is they build them properly to start with and keep them repaired, they don't just keep spraying them with tar and chippings. They may have less traffic but they have a lot more roads.
Which in turn is easier when there's much less traffic to consider. I'm not saying we have it right for our context, but it's not simple.IME that is how they fix French roads, by the way, but it seems to work. I've never seen the 'fill a deep pothole with a lump of tar' approach that we have though.
gtidriver said:
How about a hold on all non resident building for 5 yrs .
Ok nothing gets built but then no money is wasted on half built Jobbies.
What about pulling down all the skeletons that are blotting the landscape now and scrapping the metal. I'm sure there's enough scrape metal in Spain to weaken the price of metal. Or the government could give them away on condition the job is completed.
Effectively there is a hold, due to lack of money, nothing new is being built because there's no money. Ok nothing gets built but then no money is wasted on half built Jobbies.
What about pulling down all the skeletons that are blotting the landscape now and scrapping the metal. I'm sure there's enough scrape metal in Spain to weaken the price of metal. Or the government could give them away on condition the job is completed.
And pulling down the skeletons would also cost money.
What I love about Spanish roads is that nothing is too high to build a road to, no dead end is not worth having a road built to and no mountain is ever too big or too pretty to not blast a road through by cutting or tunnel, if its cheaper.
Here in the UK, we baulk at the merest inclines and think "Sod it, let them walk" and while we're at it, lets' block all the views with hedges and not have anywhere to stop to admire the views we do have.
I'll be back in the Andalucian mountains at the end of August to remind myself why i should take advantage and buy a cheap property. If I was younger, I would.
Here in the UK, we baulk at the merest inclines and think "Sod it, let them walk" and while we're at it, lets' block all the views with hedges and not have anywhere to stop to admire the views we do have.
I'll be back in the Andalucian mountains at the end of August to remind myself why i should take advantage and buy a cheap property. If I was younger, I would.
Dog Star said:
Economic collapse; I doubt there's much the Spanish government can do about it; they're bankrupt too.
Paris - no idea but I'd be interested to know. Quite scary what's going on out there.
in 2011 around 150 of us cycled London - Paris , as we enterted the Banlieue district ( think district 13 ) we were given some sound advice ...DONT STOP if you get a puncture keep going !!Paris - no idea but I'd be interested to know. Quite scary what's going on out there.
If you Stop you will have your nice carbon bike stolen !!
bloody awfull place
LuS1fer said:
What I love about Spanish roads is that nothing is too high to build a road to, no dead end is not worth having a road built to and no mountain is ever too big or too pretty to not blast a road through by cutting or tunnel, if its cheaper.
Here in the UK, we baulk at the merest inclines and think "Sod it, let them walk" and while we're at it, lets' block all the views with hedges and not have anywhere to stop to admire the views we do have.
I'll be back in the Andalucian mountains at the end of August to remind myself why i should take advantage and buy a cheap property. If I was younger, I would.
If I was richer, I would!Here in the UK, we baulk at the merest inclines and think "Sod it, let them walk" and while we're at it, lets' block all the views with hedges and not have anywhere to stop to admire the views we do have.
I'll be back in the Andalucian mountains at the end of August to remind myself why i should take advantage and buy a cheap property. If I was younger, I would.
We stayed at a friends house on a golf estate, pinar de campoverde Loads of British people about all saying the same thing, that they want to go home but would never be able to sell up due to the massive negative equity on there property's. three houses on the street where empty and has been repossed. Such a shame. Three to four bed houses with pool in our nice area less less than £100000 and that's before negotiations
We travelled on mainly the ap7 along the coast coming home. I supose the lack of money means lack of motorway police, which means speed are quicker.
We travelled on mainly the ap7 along the coast coming home. I supose the lack of money means lack of motorway police, which means speed are quicker.
gtidriver said:
We stayed at a friends house on a golf estate, pinar de campoverde Loads of British people about all saying the same thing, that they want to go home but would never be able to sell up due to the massive negative equity on there property's. three houses on the street where empty and has been repossed. Such a shame. Three to four bed houses with pool in our nice area less less than £100000 and that's before negotiations
We travelled on mainly the ap7 along the coast coming home. I supose the lack of money means lack of motorway police, which means speed are quicker.
Sod coming home - I'd stay there!!!!!We travelled on mainly the ap7 along the coast coming home. I supose the lack of money means lack of motorway police, which means speed are quicker.
LuS1fer said:
What I love about Spanish roads is that nothing is too high to build a road to, no dead end is not worth having a road built to and no mountain is ever too big or too pretty to not blast a road through by cutting or tunnel, if its cheaper.
Here in the UK, we baulk at the merest inclines and think "Sod it, let them walk" and while we're at it, lets' block all the views with hedges and not have anywhere to stop to admire the views we do have.
I'll be back in the Andalucian mountains at the end of August to remind myself why i should take advantage and buy a cheap property. If I was younger, I would.
Do it, I bought a place in Andalucia 3 years back and love it, I know there are plenty of people for who the bubble has burst, and are very quick to highlight all of the problems, but there are problems where ever you go, they certainly seem to be half the size when the sun is blazing through your window at 7 in the morning, and you can take advantage of the said roads.Here in the UK, we baulk at the merest inclines and think "Sod it, let them walk" and while we're at it, lets' block all the views with hedges and not have anywhere to stop to admire the views we do have.
I'll be back in the Andalucian mountains at the end of August to remind myself why i should take advantage and buy a cheap property. If I was younger, I would.
Everyone who's been to stay with us, have either bought or are seeking properties down there now, it's a sad thing to say, but NOW is the time make the most of other peoples misfortunes, I'm sure it will eventually turn around again, I doubt to the heady heights of a few years ago, but a great time to grab a bargain.
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