Perhaps I'm just lucky but I've been living permanently in Spain for 18 months now and have never been caught speeding or infringing any of the laws that people on this forum and in the English language press here on the Costa Blanca whinge about. I've been stopped in Guardia roadblocks many times but when they see I'm wearing a seat belt and am obviously not an illegal immigrant, I'm waved on courteously.
It's easy to fall into the cynical view that you are being fleeced because the Spanish police are out to get the Brits/create revenue for the town hall (except they don't see any of the money being collected in fines by the Guardia!) or line their own pockets. Have a look at the letter columns of English newspapers and read the moans and groans about the spread of speed cameras in the UK! Cars can park on the streets of our towns and villages up her in the valleys on the north of the Costa Blanca without fear of roving traffic wardens or clamping cowboys....and that means double-parking with impunity, parking on corners, crossings and anywhere else that might cause other road users inconvenience! By the way, I'm not moaning....I just see it as part of the quaint and colourful way of life here.
As for the Spanish not feeling the effects of the recession, that's certainly not the case here. Restaurants are closing and English-run stores are for sale, as Brits hit by the exchange rate and low interest rates are cutting back their spending. most of the locals around here 9the orange farmers in particular) drive 20 year ex-hire company Seat Pandas and Ibizas.
Going home won't help - you can't sell your villa here, you probably won't be able to get any work, so just ride out the storm (the exchange rate is slowly improving) and enjoy the sun, wonderful fresh fruit and veg. and the cheap wine! Viva espana!
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