I don't really understand why some traditions that the US invented seem like such great ideas to people.
For being so traditional in so many ways, I find it surprising that Spain is so partial to giant consumer mega-centers. I mean, they make sense, everything in one place...right?
La Gavia apparently has over 160 stores, if you can believe that, and that is not counting the Ikea, Al Campo, and Carrefour (two walmart-esq establishments) that are more or less attached in the vast sea of parking lots.
Inside La Gavia there is probably one of the most impressive food courts you have ever seen, sometimes overshadowing all other mall features. Not surprising, in a culture that so heavily thrives off the social experience of eating, or simply tomar-ing algo, whether that be a coffee or beer.
When I go to the movies with the fam, we usually hit up one of these spectacular spots, as the "good" ones all have theaters inside. What's funny is the one we sometimes go to, an outdoor "lifestyle" center as they call them in the US, was contracted by CB Richard Ellis. I couldn't help but frown and shake my head, and then I maybe chuckled.
Who cares that bad American traditions are picked up or brought over? Who cares that there are McDonald's franchises in 124 countries in the world? That's, like, most countries. It's 2011, and it is what it is. There is no stopping consumerism now.
Anyway, just like we Americans have our "black Friday", Spaniards have their rebajas, or sales, day. This normally falls on the 7th of January, the day after Three Kings Day, but some communities decided to bump it up to today (a crisis-inspired idea). This actually caused quite a fuss in a few places, including a shopping mall in Pamplona where people held a strike outside and blocked all entrance. Haha.
Happy new year, and happy first day of rebajas.
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