I spent five days in the Purbecks, Dorset, UK. I had a great time. I stayed in a B&B in Swanage. £77 a night including a hearty breakfast and free parking. One day I hiked from Old Harry Rocks back to Swanage along the chalk sea cliffs. The weather was perfect and the views stunning. Lots of people out on paddle boards, kayaks, inflatables and jet skis. On return to Swanage, there was a rowing regatta competition with 12 teams. Caught a steam train up to the old village of Corfe and walked up to the top of Corfe Castle besieged during the English Civil War. The Purbecks has many excellent stone built pubs to quench a thirst. Also spent a day at the Bovington Tankfest. Got up close to the Challenger 2 tank and had a good long chat with the soldier who drives them. Last day spent hiking along the Jurassic Coast. A Peregrine Falcon swooped past me. Purbecks 9 out of 10. Barcelona and its den of thieves 4 out of 10. Come on England!!

Having been to Barcelona several times we find it easy to be 'over' how wonderful it is. There are only so many times you can walk up and down the Ramblas stare at the Sergada, drink coffee on the street, dodge the pickpockets etc etc . Perhaps if you don't live in Spain or only visit once or twice in your lifetime, fair enough I get it, but personally as a city, I prefer Valencia which is very under rated, and as somewhere to live, far superior to Barca IMHO.

Barcelona combines, big city, history, art and culture AND a long beautiful beach! Usually its one or the other.

Eggs here in Tenerife are fried on the “plancha” as is everything else! Almost no oil, just an oiled surface.

I am a Spanish myself, left Spain in 2910, moved to Ireland. Now I have Spanish-gov phobia too

Mil gracias por el vídeo,the guy who commented on Poland 🇵🇱 is correct.Poland is a terrific destination culture food beer architecture history,inexpensive easy and cheap to get around.will be on our 10th trip there in December, up to the Tatra mountains. Valencia and Cuenca end of August,then Romania 🇷🇴 for a month in September,hasta pronto amigo

So much more to Spain that the Costa's.....Asturias and Galicia are beautiful.

Sorry, I have to leave a second comment. That one about UK seaside towns being amazing if we spent our money here. I live at the seaside in the UK. That comment cracked me up. There is nothing that can ever be done to make a UK seaside town really good. What would we do? Build more ice cream shops? More really nasty fish and chips? I suppose we could have more amusement arcades. Where I live we get about 3 weeks in July or August where it's warm enough to enjoy going in the sea. And those weeks happen to be the same weeks the jellyfish turn up en masse.

my first time in Barcelona was in 1966. My second was in 2019 and my third in 2023. I loved it every time. I found that the first time was on a day trip. Loved every minute. My second time for 6 days on the outskirts of the city but going in every day. Last year we stayed in the city centre. Again, despite losing a favoured Pandora bracelet, we loved it again. Those birds were in the trees and we could hear them when walking about. We were never bothered by those street vendors pestering people so maybe we were lucky. To me, Barcelona had everything. Culture, quiet places and life! We live in Turre which is near to Mojacar and bombarded every summer by Madrid residents in their hundreds every week. So, maybe the big cities are best visited in the summer have been to Madrid (in August 2017) and loved that city too. Again not pestered. Looking forward to going again soon. The cities we have visited and stayed over in are very friendly unlike some places in England which do not seem to like anyone foreign. Viva España!

Just in case you're stuck in Pamplona. The parking at the Plaza de Toros uses to have room and it's perfectly located. Hotel Leyre is right there, I recomend it even in the worst of Sanfermines. Baztan and the Pyrenees are hidden gems only known by locals and some Frenchs. No compréis caramelos dos cafeteras a no ser que sea por la caja porque se dejaron de hacer el año pasado y los que quedan a la venta están duros como piedras. Puente la Reina is your place if you are in the Camino.

Hi Stuart, still here but always the day after. Your remark about UK not having the SUN and that's why loads come to Spain. Unfortunately this year in Galicia we can't promise sun either, we are having one of the worst July in a while. Mind you when the sun comes out (maybe a day per week) it's hot and tingles the skin. Thanks for continuing the Spain's news. Hugs Joy

Just sit with that fact for the moment, Spain is the *second biggest tourism earner in the world!!! * For the people here saying they'll take their money and go elsewhere because a handful of hotheads blew things up in social, and then wider media circles to draw attention to some of the environmental costs which requires everyone to be a bit more careful, feel free;- there is enormous potential in the north, Palencia- La Bella Desconocida as the saying goes is almost unknown to a wider tourist population, the picos de Europa are glorious, most of the Costa verde in the shoulder seasons to avoid high temps, same timeframes for Extremadura. If you're lucky enough to be retired, short cheap bus hauls can get you access to some of the most amazing arab, mozarab, and Christian churches and monestries in all of Europe (OK train is dearer and more comfortable);- then is the evenings a glass of wine or beer in the local bars where they'll make you very welcome. That Spain is there, it just doesn't come often with a full English breakfast (often) or bars where ONLY your language is spoken, that's because it is Spain. (sorry for the soap-box Stu - feel free to delete)

I’ve always loved the ‘deep fried egg’ in olive oil is my favorite! Crispy edges & soft inside, Yum!!

Spain is an independent sovereign country. The country can (within national & international rules) do whatever it see fit to let the nation prosper. If the Spanish government has the opinion or conviction to take measures to safeguard the interest of the Spanish population, what's wrong with that. SOVEREIGNTY remember?! Must sound familiar to those loudmouthed English & their kinsmen at the Costas.

Hay un precioso cuadro de Velázquez ; Abuela friendo huevos.😊 Precioso cuadro , creo esta en el Prado. Madrid.

Long time Barcelona resident here. Barcelona and the Catalans are wonderful. Unfortunately, it has become overridden with obnoxious tourists and the locals get a bit perturbed despite the lifeblood of the economy that is tourism. It’s a bit of a dilemma.

I thibk blaming tourists and spraying them with water is stupid, tourism is good but i agree with the protests in the sense that number of tourist apartments and hotels is totally out of control in some cities like Barcelona, Seville, and Valencia. Its almost impossible to rent or buy a home anywhere near the center of the city nowadays.

Eggs taste better fried in butter!

I fry eggs in over a centimeter of oil and spoon it over the yoke, you can re-use the oil many times as long as you don't over heat it. Sunflower oil is healthier for frying, less saturated fats than olive oil.

I liked Valencia far more than Barcelona, Madrid was great too

There are two pilgrimages in Navarra these days. That of the Camino de Santiago that begins in Roncesvalles and that of the pickpockets that go to Pamplona. These pilgrims come from all over Europe.

To answer your question, why do people love Barcelona? I think it's likely just because we're supposed to. Remember that Spain has over the decades launched many big marketing pushes. That's why Spain is so far ahead in terms of tourism than other countries of similar climate. I seem to remember that one such marketing campaign pushed Barcelona hard. That plus the Olympics mean plenty of people visited, and it it just spiralled from there. It doesn't it mean it's nicer than anywhere else, just that it's better known. Ask anyone to name a Spanish city, and Barcelona will be a popular answer, because everyone has heard of it.

Thank you for the update, Stuart 😊

Don't forget the movie Vicky Cristina Barcelona was a huge promotion for Barcelona.

Pues los huevos a la plancha no estan tan buenos como bañados en aceite de oliva. Lo mismo con el puré de patata, esta más bueno con mantequilla 😂

Those UK seaside resorts would still suffer from the rain

Amazing

I understand the one viewer who was tired of people coming up to him trying to sell things, it makes me crazy sometimes too but then my partner put it in the persepective of, at least they are trying to make a honest living and not robbing and swindiling people.

Too late...canceled our hotels and car rentals and museum tickets 7:30 in Barcelona...headed to benedorm...visiting family

Your right weather is a big factor hot in Spain raining and cold at times in UK 🇬🇧

According to my local friends, C. 90% of tourists in EP are from Madrid, Seville & Green Spain.

regards ☕🌅🏖️🌇

Hi Stuart, I've been to Spain a few times now, starting with a trip for university from Australia in 2019. I consider myself a respectful tourist and behave in a manner which is amenable for Spanish customs and norms. I wasn't happy to see the recent scenes in Barcelona with water pistols and I'd feel quite upset if I was targeted based on the language I was speaking or if I "looked like" a tourist and so on. I do intend on coming back as I love Spain however I do feel there's a slight image problem at this point in time. Perhaps I'll be more welcome in Extremadura rather than the two big cities! ¡Me duele España!

First, there was “Yankee, Go Home” , now there’s “Guiri, Go Home”. If only guiri tourists behaved themselves when in someone else’s country but they think they’re entitled to do whatever they please.

Barcelona is a great city in terms of culture, history, beach, food, etc.... it is just overwhelmed by tourism and it is quite dirty. The over tourism also brings a lot of crap stores, pick pockets, etc. It is just not enjoyable anymore, particularly in high season. But don't blame the tourists, blame the government for not controlling it. Madrid, by comparison is much cleaner and does not feel so destroyed by tourism.

May i remind everyone, especially the Spanish moaning brigade that Spain is a member of the Shengen agreement so they can't realy complain about tourists! Without tourism Spain would have had nothing, im old enough to remember coming to Spain in 71 with my parents, even thèn thanks to tourism, Spain was getting into the 20th century! These people should ask their grandparents about how life was ìn the "good old days" without tourists! I'm sure the tales of hunger, misery, lack of hope for the future might give them a reality check and before any clever sod wants to start arguing, I live in Spain and hsve done for 20 years. I love every day!

El turismo de playa en España, ha descendido mucho , pero ha aumentado mucho el cultural y en el Norte. Total el Turismo global ha aumentado.😂

I love Casares ❤

And everyone knows where they are headed!

But if you come from uk spend money there your not welcome

Maybe the commenter who felt china or north korea may be better, should try living there. I think he’ll come running back with very little to complain about.

I have to say I lived Barcelona apart from the graffiti which was everywhere and put me off going back.

Spain is missing the boat of what can be a huge infusion of cash into the economy........Many descendants of Spaniards around the world have become Spanish citizens and want to move there bringing billions of euros with them but Spain is doing little to nothing to provide incentives to lure them to settle in Spain. Tourist come and leave, this group will stay and spend their money there all year round.

The people of Catalonia strike me as the kind that don't think things through very much. Just very impulsive, acting on emotions instead of good ideas.

WOW! From 12.8% of GDP to 16.9% of GDP in just 7 lines of text, that's some bloody amazing growth there! Spanish Govt. must be doing a great job with the economy! 🤣

There not kids, they just claim they are?????

Coconut oil is best for frying eggs - it is perfect for cooking at high temps.

Stu it might be time for a new T-shirt. Instead the “I’m a tourist” t-shirt, the new one should be “I’m not a tourist, I’m an immigrant “😂

Hi I’ve been going to Spain for the last six years twice a year. I was ripped off at my last hotel which I’ve been to 6 times very unhappy and now with this auntie tourism agenda I’ve cancelled my next trip in October and I’m going to Turkey where I feel welcome, this is a very sad state of affairs. The government in Spain need to take a long long hard look at this.

what's wrong with ppl??

I fry my eggs in butter and then add the olive oil on top.

Cruel or not i don’t know, but since the canary island is closer to africa than spain why not bring these minors back to africa.

Bull running how barbaric

11:00 Dream on! 🌨