Hi MissM - I tried Starbucks when I was in the US earlier this year. The coffee was served in a paper cup half-filled with a thin milky foam. I couldn't finish it (let me say, I've had way worse here in the UK - this is the coffee pits of the universe!). Anyhow, if my experience was in any way normal I find it hard to believe a Spanish person would prefer that dismal concoction to what any little bar on any street will serve.

And B-King - well, they're everywhere. They opened one in the barrio de mis suegros en Malaga last year - I had the same reaction as you when I saw it - "Oh no! they're coming, they're gonna ruin everything". My wife just laughed "¿Qué más da? Que no pasa nada". And it´s true, que no pasa nada, now I don´t even see it and I´m still in Bar Pries with my cafe con leche doble (en un vaso!) y una tostada con aceite.

Spain can absorb this junk without being changed for the worse. Keep the faith!

un abrazo.

Miss Madrid,
Pardon the stupid questions but what exactly is VIPS and how did you make the transition from illegal to legal?

Let me interject here: VIPS is the strangest place you'll visit in Spain. Is it a Circle K? Is it a Denny's? Just what the infierno is VIPS? VIPS has schlocky decor, cheesy food, and no personality (that was, until MM98 started there... :)) The last time I went to VIPS, I had pancakes (eeeyech! :() and on my way out purchased batteries and a magazine. Gimme the local fare at ANY bar on ANYday over VIPS!!! [But they can't be all bad if they hired MM98!!]

[ 11-24-2001: Message edited by: CaliBasco ]

simple forum update here...

VIPS is a chain restaurant in spain. they need alot of employees so they do the paperwork for immigrants (well now they dont) so i started working for them so i could be legal. there are 1,800 immigrants working for VIPS and i am the first and only american working for them!

yo yo yo yo what´s up!!!!!!!!!!!! guess what????????? i picked up my spanish i.d. last week!!!!!!!!!!!! that´s it the last stesp i am fully legal and work anywhere and o anyting in spain. i got my card and i´m all set, i can now leave VIPS and get an other job i ablsolutely hate working there. i am looking into working for the AVE, the high speed train the goes from madrid-sevilla as a stewardess. the interviews are in january and to apply for the job you need a high level of english (not a problem for me) so wish me luck!!! they pay 185,000 pts a month and you spend at least one night week in sevilla (not a problem for me either). yoo hoo... i will happily show all of you my bad ass i.d. at el brillante when we all hook up!!!! very happy. it´s freezing righ tn ow in mdrid, and colder here in el escorial, i can barely feel my hands as i type. , well people i will see some of you soon!!!

Missmadrid98: !!Es hora de celebrar!! We are all so proud of you. Good luck finding a better job!!!!!

MM98... i'm kinda new to the message board, but i've been reading some of the old messages and as everyone has said several times over, your story is VERY encouraging... I'm coming to Spain in January for a week in order to research jobs and apartments in Madrid... i want to move there next October... any suggestions??? I'll be there from the 13-21st of January... in Madrid... any clues would be soooo appreciated... i graduated from college in May w/ a double major of Spanish education and Management...?????

yooooo what´s uppppp it´s meeeeeeeee!!! i haven´t had the time to write i work alot and am very busy. but that is all changing soon cause i am quitting VIPS!!!!!!!!!!!!! i am so happy! the 31st of march is my last day and i couldn´t explain my feeling of sheer joy that i have that i won´t ever have to walk into that place again (ya it doesn´t sound like i am fed up with VIPS does it??) well i will just be teaching english now. i am looking for a little more night classes to make up for the money i won´t be making from VIPS anymore. i am planning on going to the Feria de Abril in Sevilla and the Feria de Cordoba in May. I live in the center of madrid now, i had to leave my beloved town of San Lorenzo De El Escorial, but i can always go visit. i will be goign there for a few days in semana santa to see my friends and my monastery. I live with my argentine friend victoria and my cat tomatito in Barrio del Pilar. i am soo happy. i was reading my posts from when i started my life here, to how it is now, amazing how things work themselves out. i am starting a new flamenco class in april as well so i am very excited about that. i have to go eat now and go teach. i am goign to have a pincho de tortilla and a cafe leche! i am so happy! oh ya one more thing since i haven´t been free for a while, i have had no time to update my site. but i have so much info i can´t wait to put on, but i will try when i have a day free and a cmputer to use!

Hey MissMadrid!

You won't be by any chance related to all the scandal going on these days with "the Misses", will you?

Tomatito! great name for a pet! (I'm guessing you know the flamenco singer)

¡Saludos y buena suerte con tus clases!

Pim