The other night I walked past some Chinese kids playing on a pavement, outside a fruit and vegetable shop. I stopped to think about this. Was I in China? There were many Chinese people about. The shop itself was run by Chinese people too.
Something I have noticed since being here : this city does not feel like a European city at times. There are so many foreigners here, which makes it feel like it could be city in the Middle East or Asia. There are so many Chinese people here. Every other shop is Chinese run or owned such as the : Woks (restaurants) general dealers (selling plastic buckets, toys, umbrellas, hats etc) or souvenir shops (selling made in China souvenirs of Barcelona).
Then you have the Pakistanis. There are lots of them about too. They own small little convenience stores selling everything you can buy at the supermarket at inflated prices - when the supermarket is closed. The Pakis also seem to have their hold on all the Fruterias and Verdulerias in the city (Fruit and vegetable shops). But they are not too bad. Many of these Pakis stores are very pleasant. The Pakis usually speak English and are offer good service.The Chinese on the other hand do not! They just want to get your buck in their hands...
There are the Marrocs. They look something like a cross between an Asian and a European. Tanned skin colour but dark hair and eyes. They are not very open people and I have not had much dealing with them. But there are a whole lot of them too.
There are Philippinos too. They usually are not too different in appearance from the Latinos (I am not even going to describe how many Latinos are here - there are too many of them). The Philippinos speak Tagalog but they have some sort of cultural ties with Spain and there are many of them about too. On the weekends they often have weddings in parks.
Then you have the gypsies. They are often seen rummaging though the bins to find food, recyclable clothing or recyclable materials such as metals, glass or plastics.
With all these people, is there any wonder that I am confused at times, thinking this is not a European city ? It feels like being somewhere in Asia. Muslims, Chinese, Arabic, gypsies. Wat 'n gemeng!
Something I have noticed since being here : this city does not feel like a European city at times. There are so many foreigners here, which makes it feel like it could be city in the Middle East or Asia. There are so many Chinese people here. Every other shop is Chinese run or owned such as the : Woks (restaurants) general dealers (selling plastic buckets, toys, umbrellas, hats etc) or souvenir shops (selling made in China souvenirs of Barcelona).
Then you have the Pakistanis. There are lots of them about too. They own small little convenience stores selling everything you can buy at the supermarket at inflated prices - when the supermarket is closed. The Pakis also seem to have their hold on all the Fruterias and Verdulerias in the city (Fruit and vegetable shops). But they are not too bad. Many of these Pakis stores are very pleasant. The Pakis usually speak English and are offer good service.The Chinese on the other hand do not! They just want to get your buck in their hands...
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| The best Fruit and Veg I know |
There are the Marrocs. They look something like a cross between an Asian and a European. Tanned skin colour but dark hair and eyes. They are not very open people and I have not had much dealing with them. But there are a whole lot of them too.
There are Philippinos too. They usually are not too different in appearance from the Latinos (I am not even going to describe how many Latinos are here - there are too many of them). The Philippinos speak Tagalog but they have some sort of cultural ties with Spain and there are many of them about too. On the weekends they often have weddings in parks.
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| Oh, its a Filipino wedding in the park! |
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| The bride |
Then you have the gypsies. They are often seen rummaging though the bins to find food, recyclable clothing or recyclable materials such as metals, glass or plastics.
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| A rummager with this goods... |
With all these people, is there any wonder that I am confused at times, thinking this is not a European city ? It feels like being somewhere in Asia. Muslims, Chinese, Arabic, gypsies. Wat 'n gemeng!
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