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In my opinion, Spain isn't much like Mexico except for the language, some common foods, and there is a lackadaisical approach to life in both. As someone mentioned, most Mexicans are at least part native American while Spanish are pure European except for a small number of immigrants. Spain has excellent infrastructure, is very safe, and is a 1st world country...Mexico is not.
Yah, except for those near 8 centuries of Islamic rule in most of Spain. There were the usual arrangements & accommodations among the Spanish Roman Catholics, the Islamics & the Jews living there @ the time. & the struggle to recover Spain - the Reconquista - of course left a large imprint on Spain (& the Islamics & Jews) to this day.
Lol a ton of cultural differences. To start here are some
- Mexico is a Latino country with tons of indigenous influence, Spain is a European country
- Mexican food is very spicy, Spanish food is very bland
- In Spain the main carb is wheat. In Mexico it is corn
- Spain is richer and much more developed than Mexico
- Mexico has a relatively clear accent, whereas Spanish accent is nearly impossible to understand if you're not a native speaker. The Andalucian accent is particularly difficult. The Spanish eat a lot of letters and pronounce c and z letters as "th", whereas Mexicans speak a lot more properly
- Spain has bullfighting and Flamenco. Mexico has Mariachi and Dia de los Muertos
If Mexico's accent is more clear than Andalusian must be as Mexico's speech is closest to that.
Mexico also has Bull Fighting
A large economy doesn't equate a wealthy economy. Mexico's and Spain's GDPs are not too far apart, but Mexico has 127M habitants while Spain has 47M, which means that one spaniard is as wealthy as roughly 3 mexicans.
A large economy doesn't equate a wealthy economy. Mexico's and Spain's GDPs are not too far apart, but Mexico has 127M habitants while Spain has 47M, which means that one spaniard is as wealthy as roughly 3 mexicans.
Mexico is a wealthy country. There is a lot of money in Mexico and it's economy is now larger than Spain's.
However, all of the wealth in Mexico doesn't mean much to most of the Mexican population since it is horded into the hands of a few elite families. Economic inequities in Mexico run very deep and it is one of the reasons holding the country back from achieving higher human develolment and quality of life.
In Spain, wealth was more evenly distributed during it's economic boom years from the early 90's to 2007. Because of this - the average Spanird is wealthier and enjoys a higher living standard than most Mexicans.
Spain isn't known for sweets. Neither is Mexico. In Mexico, actually, having dessert is fairly uncommon. Not as rare as in East Asia, but very rare compared to European cultures (in places like Germany or France it's practical a crime to not eat sweets).
It may not be that they eat dessert at the dinner table daily, but Mexico still has an extensive array of sweets, many rooted in Spain, or influenced by Spain (mazapanes, churros, cajeta(dulce de leche), arroz con leche, flan, etc...) There are candies made with sesame seeds, fruit (membrillo), coconut, pumpkin. Then there are the other popular candies with tamarind, chile, and lemon.
Lamb, veal, lentils, aren't common in Mexico. This isn't typical cuisine (it exists but hardly representative).
Lamb is popular mostly in parts of Central Mexico, used to make barbacoa. Sopa de lentejas is eaten in Mexican households- made with all kinds of vegetables, sometimes even with bacon. Most beans are popular in Mexican households. Just like chicken soup, they are the common Mexican foods people don't know about because they are fixated on burritos and enchiladas.
And I doubt there are many Spanish-managed restaurants in Mexico.
All across Mexico (from Tijuana to Chiapas) there are restaurants owned and run by Spaniards, especially in the big cities. Or, there are restaurants run by children of Spaniards. There are also Italian restaurants run by Italians, Argentine steakhouses run by Argentines, Sushi places run by Japanese/Koreans, etc...etc, French dessert places owned by French (went to a crepe place recently owned by a French immigrant in Baja, cute little food truck). I eat at these restaurants quite often.
I really don't see any similarity in the cuisines.
This is true, the cuisines are not similar at all. Mexico has a huge influence from Native American cultures.
The sweets is something that really doesn't appear much in Mexico. Most Mexican restaurants just have flan or gelatina as dessert. The countries with the best desserts in Latin America would be Brazil, Argentina, or Peru imo
In reality the average Spaniard is much wealthier. Just as you say, Mexico is full of millionaires, while almost 45% of it's population is under the poverty line. The minimum wage in Mexico barely surpasses 120$ per month, while the Spanish one is 825.70€ = 960$ in today's exchange rate. Average wage in Mexico doesn't arrive to 400$, yet the Spanish one surpasses 2.000$. Even minimum unemployment subsidies/welfare and social rents for unemployment start at 430€ in Spain (500 USD today) with some Spanish regions paying up to 750€ per unemployed individuals (870 USD).
Mexico's poverty line is much more strict than that of similar countries, which explains why the % is so high.
13% of the Mexican workforce earns minimum wage. 35% of Spanish workforce earns 625 Euro or less. Almost half ot the population earns 1000 Euro or less.
For example, Spain has cheaper gas prices and specifical grocery products than Portugal does, and Portugal earns a 70-80% lower wage (as per official incomes). Grocery shopping in Spain is almost as cheap as in Greece or Poland, and gasoline is even cheaper. Spaniards have the 2nd biggest life expectancy in the world, just after Japan.
Spanish tourists travel en masse to Portugal because prices are appealing to them.
Mexico is a wealthy country. There is a lot of money in Mexico and it's economy is now larger than Spain's.
However, all of the wealth in Mexico doesn't mean much to most of the Mexican population since it is horded into the hands of a few elite families. Economic inequities in Mexico run very deep and it is one of the reasons holding the country back from achieving higher human develolment and quality of life.
In Spain, wealth was more evenly distributed during it's economic boom years from the early 90's to 2007. Because of this - the average Spanird is wealthier and enjoys a higher living standard than most Mexicans.
I think the "wealth disparity" argument is a an excuse. Every country has wage disparities. Every country in the world has filthy rich elites. For instance, Italy has the Agnelli family owning Fiat and Juventus. The difference is that Mexico also has lots more filthy poor people than Italy.
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