Just Back from Condado

I have just spent last week at Condado and the weekend in Madrid. I noticed a lot of people create these "Just returned" threads, so I thought I would do my very own, offering my usual "Balanced" views!

I chose to avoid the Clover during my stay due to the reported violance I read about on this forum. However on a trip to Consum Supermarket, on Camposol, last Monday afternoon I was horrified to witness two men smacking another man in the face with a crash helmet! I really miss the "good old days" when all the violance was confined to Kennilys Bar!

I did dine in our Restaurant one night and was a disapointed. All the outside seating was full so we sat inside. We were the only people inside so it really lacked atmosphere. I found the menu very limited compared to my last vist last summer(no more paella). I asked for a wine list and was advised that they didnt have one? I was simply offered a choice of Red, White or Rose. We had not been to the bank and only had 50 Euros so I asked him the price of a Rose, he said he wasnt sure? luckily it was about 15 Euros so I managed to bring the meal in on budget, Just!

On the 7th July Edwardmiller1 posted on this forum that the sports bar was to open in the next 2 weeks. As 7 weeks had passed I was looking forward to trying the new bar. When I pressed my face up against the deserted bars windows, I was disapointed to see that the interior looked no different than it did 2 years ago. Maybe they are waiting till after the summer when everyone has gone home? 

I was happy to see the urbanization bussier than ever before but was dismayed by the amount of unsupervised kids running wild at all hours. On Thursday night/ Friday Morning in Garden 13, there were a small group of pre-teen children who found it very amusing to constantly shine a laser pen in my face. I maybe over reacting because my brother in law is blind, but shining a class 1 laser devise into anyone eyes can cause permanent damage. 

I aventually went into my apartment at 1am, while still having a green dot perfectly trained on my face. All the time this was going on the "Parents" of these kids were happily drinking away without a care in the world (possibily because they were not having their retinas fried).

I think letting kids (some of which looked about 6 or 7) still run wild after I went to bed at 1am is a bit late. I would also advise their parents that they should be more selective about the things they let their kids play with. To assist their parents here are some other things you should keep away from your children - Matches, Flick Knives, Syringes, Chainsaws, Plutonium, Combine Harvesters and Gary Glitter. This is not an exhaustive list, but may be used for guidance.

On a more positive note, the Boulevard is coming on very nicely and is a great example of what Polaris can do when they dont abandon a resort, there are now about 6 bars/restaurants along with a bank and an estate agents, well worth a visit!

Sticking with the positive coments, the weather was amazing all week, the resort was busy and I was very pleased that we could receive Chanel 5 and watch Celebrity Big Brother (GO AMY!!).

 

This message was last edited by darren.wilkes on 30/08/2011.

 That needs editing Darren, as it's far too mellow,................. give it another week and the holiday buzz will soon wear off again 

The only thing is wrong Darren is that this punch up was not in the Clover but on one of the Naranjos gardens, careful of rumour control. As with the sports zone someone has leased it and wanted to open asap but as you know Spain shuts down in august and couldn't get all the legals sorted out, so unfortunately for them they couldn't open, we are also on garden 13 and I saw them kids with the laser pen, surprised you didn't removethe pen and shoved it into one of their parents eyes. I think things will start moving soon as rumour control has it that a number of units on Al kasar are in the process of being leased. I'm surprised you like the Boulevard as whenever I havebeen down  to Mar Menor all the PW stuff in the resort is shut and is like a ghost town!, each to there own,

Hi Darren

I am intersted in the lazer issue. As far as I am aware they are banned in the UK but of couse they can still be purchased every where else

Pity I wasnt over whilst you were there.

I would not have allowed these kids to shine their lazer in my eyes. I would have acompanied you to find the parents & give them a severe telling off. Even though I dont speak Spanish & of couse the kids could have been brits you can always get people to understand you  will a good deal of sighn language.

I agree that any time after midnight is far too late for youngsters to be out without adult supervision. But unfortunatly it seems as if some parents just dont care now & its not just abroad.

 Our God daughter was staying with us( she has only just gone13) on Saturday night until I told her she could not stay @ a friends party until midnight. Having told her she would be picked up at 10.30 she had a wobler & is now staying @ another friends house which her parents have allowed her to do. Am I becoming an "old Fart" I dont think so, I`m just more aware of  the dangers & maybe we care about her more too..

Jan 

Darren & Jan

Had a pretty acky poo day in work - read your blog and have giggled to myself all evening.

Thanks you have really cheered me up.

Jane

on thursday evening we were on the playground at garden 13 with our daughter and saw the lasers as well. told the other kids not to look into the lasers.there was no point to tell the parents as those lasers were on sale on the markets..

 

Irrispective of where the lasers were on sale. it does not hurt to point out the dangers that these children are putting others into.

They may not understand your reasons but they just might ensure that you & yours are not having to have their fun ruined should they come in contact with them

I know it is difficult when you are in another country to try & explain why we are not happy with certain things but as long as the situation is dealt with calmly you jusy might stop someone being blinded.

I think there is a saying somewhere that says It is better to try & lost  than not to have tried at all.

I am sure there is some one out there who knows this quote word perfect but I belive the sentiment is very true.

There was an article in our local paper a few weeks ago. Parents of a 11yr old boy had  been prosecuted & fined for allowing their son to use one of these lasers that they had bought whilst on holiday abroad as the boy had aimed the light into the eyes of a bus driver as he was drawing away from a busstop. The driver was not hurt in any way but as it stated in the article, There could have  beem serious damage to the drivers eyes.

The parents said they were unaware that they were iligal in the UK but the judge said it was irrelivant & that ignorance is not allways bliss.

jan

Wow, this forum is getting better! People are starting to agree with me, I expected a load of "go away winging Wilkes"?

Either I am starting to make more sense or people are coming round to my way of thinking?

The parents in question were English, there were about 6 of them dining in a ground floor apartment not too far from the park on jardine 13(the side closest to jardine 14) I am sure they must have read this or one of their friends read this, I am guessing they are too ashamed to come forward.

The laser pens are banned in the uk and shining them into people's eyes can cause permanent damage, even after I had had enough and was ready for bed, they kept shining the light through my curtains, to try and get me to come back out.

Some people don't realise how fortunate they are too have children then spend their precious holidays drinking and ignoring the kids? If they wanted to do that why have kids?

I doubt very much the Spanish behave like this.

I also live in Jardin 13 and when  at CDA and children were playing with laser pens that they had legally bought at the on site market. I also saw them being used in and around The Clover bar and had cause to tell a child not to point them at peoples faces.

Re the children being out in the early hours it is quite normal in Spain in the summer as the spanish do not eat and socialise until late at night due to the heat. During my stay this did not bother me as once the doors are closed you could not hear them. If you stay in Spain you have to accept spanish customs and not complain afterall we we would not appreciate foreigners telling us how to leave our lives in the UK.

 

Fair comment Paul, I guess It's nothing to do with me if parents chose to let 6 and 7 year olds staying up past 1am. I am more bothered by the parents allowing them to play with a laser pen, the kids probably think it's fun and don't realise the dangers. The parent see the pen as a way to keep their kids quiet for a few hours.

Hi Darren

Never thought I would be on your side.

Things are looking up.

 Re your comment.  "Some people dont know how fortunate they are to have kids" etc

How right you are. I am with you whole heartedly on this.

Jan

On a positive note, Costa Calida Properties ( i think thats what they're called) down the port have a sign in their window they are relocating to Condado, i know its nothing exciting but at least we know  things are moving albeit at a slow pace

hi,

These kids are not Spainish there British, and the parents don't care. The spanish kids are with there families. My daughter gets to stay up really late but she is always with us.

We had an incident with a young Irish girl my daughter was playing with, this girl went up to the candy floss man with no money and proceeded to ask for one, knowing all the time she had no money, the man handed over the CF while putting out his other hand for the money, my daughter was so embarrrassed she asked her dad to pay, which he did.  The girl return to her parents who never even bothered to ask about the CF as they were more interested in boozing with thier friends.  I explained to my daughter that these are the people she needs to learn to avoid in life and she agreed wholeheartedly.  I dont blame the children its the parents, if the parents are giving no guidance how are the kids suppose to learn????

It frightens me the standard of resident on Condado, I would have liked more thoughtful, considerate,  well mannered, and like minded people to be my neighbours unfortunately i dont think we have that.  There seems to be an eliment of chavyness (I know  this is not a word but it suits) about Condado.

Ali

Hi Ali

Hope you are both well.

The problem, I think is that many parents want to give their children what they never had & as a result they get loads of toys & ipods etc. When in reality all they really want is to be noticed by their parents & shown some love. There is nothing wrong in saying no to your kids every so often & there is no cost for a hug.

Having been a childminder for many years I worry about the way the young are being bought up now. Not sure if it is " Chaviness" or what but some one on the TV was reported to have suggested that parenting classes should be held & I couldnt agree more.

It has nothing to do with finances or " The class system ".In fact I found that the more couples earned the less in tune they were to their childrens needs.

Of course I would be wrong to generalise. & those parents in Jardin 13 may not be property owners, just renters. But I do wonder. 

Jan x

I'm also on J13 and did see a laser pointed at the buildings opposite us (but I'm on the same side as Darren so didn't see him getting "dotted").

I disagree with the comment that the kids are british and not spanish as we often have spanish kids out late at night screaming on the playground.  They love using the tunnel as an amplifier.  But British kids are also at it in equal numbers (if not more).

I know we are in Spain but surely if the pool has to be closed by 11pm to make sure there is no disturbance late at night for apartments beside it, surely the same consideration can be given to people living by the playground.  I have no issues with kids being out that late as thats what they are used to but I'd expect spanish people still respect other residents enjoying their evenings.

I found the worst time in J13 in the 3 weeks we were there was when a group of teenagers congregated in the playground very late and were making a lot of noise.

All in all enjoyed our time immensely and the noise was more of a nuisance when trying to enjoy a quiet coffee or drink late in the evening.

Hi folks,

With all this talk of rowdy teenagers, reckless use of laser pens, late night drinking and noise, etc. Do we not pay for a security company to maintain some sort of order, or are they just pass checkers?

WW 

I think previously we have been "lucky" in that the jardines haven't been anywhere near full and therefore the numbers of people have mirrored this.  This August I looked at the car parks behind our apartment and only a handful were empty.  I for one had got used to being able to sit out the front of my apartment and enjoy peace and quiet but know full well that wouldn't last.

The noise levels while a bit of a nuisance were not that of gangs of youths running around terrorising the jardine.

A simple curfew on using the playground to enable security to move kids on after 11pm would probably be enough.  There's hardly enough light to use the playground at that time anyway.

Other than that its upto us parents to parent.