Eddie/rgf, I LOVE THIS SYSTEM! And sadly, BECAUSE so many people are leaving their barrios (and their individual specialty markets; for bread, veggies/fruits, meats, etc.) for these SUPERstores on the outskirts of town. What a terrible shame! The same thing will happen there as has happened in most US cities (except for New York City), that all these speicalty markets will no longer get the customers and eventually close down, creating a kind of ghost-town in the neighborhoods, women/people will no longer make their daily/morning walks with bags to these shops, no longer stop for a coffee and the neighborhood café, people eventually move out of the city center to the suburbs, everyone will need cars, you no longer know your neighbors, traffic gets worse and people become alienated from one another. It's all such a terrible shame that these huge comglomerate shopping centers exist outside of town.

At least (I believe) Dia (the very small supermarkets found in most neighborhoods in Madrid) are IN the neighborhoods, occupying little space, understandably carrying fewer brands, prices are a little higher, BUT COME ON!! It's IN your neighborhood and you can get everything you need right there and you don't have to take 1-hour out of your day to drive outside of town for shopping just to save a few pesetas. WHEW! Enough for now. I could go on and on. .... okay, one more paragraph:

Isn't it much better to walk into one of those long-ish, narrow doorways to a little shop that sells only snacks, or nuts, or sweetrolls, or flowers? You walk in, the clerk (and likely the owner) says hello and kindly assists you with your choice and purchase. Then, you go on your way, taking only moments out of your day. You can do this whenever you need something in your neighborhood, you get to interact a little with people you don't know, AND you've helped a hardworking store-owner continue his successful business and maintain the well-being of his family. Come on! This is YOUR neighborhood (or someone's). Isn't it important to keep the neighborhoods alive? If not your's then someone else's?? At least there's no chance the neighborhood bars will close down for lack of customers (unless they all move to the suburbs).

Saludos, MadridMan

[This message has been edited by MadridMan (edited 08-05-2000).]