Boy oh boy, what a loaded issue.

I've been living in Mallorca for some years, and I still have a problem eliciting a friendly response from some neighbours. I don't think there is resentment. What there is though is a highly insular mentality that can border on arrogance, indifference but also shyness. In the resorts this is diluted as many people are not Mallorcan. Away from the resorts and the main centres of population, it's worth bearing in mind that much of the island was - until relatively recently - a pretty backward, rural community. Things are changing but as "incomers" move into those areas, there is some worry as to the changing of the culture and yes some difficulty in adjusting to this. Generally - and I don't know this differs from some parts of Britain to be honest - once folk get to know you, they are generous and kind-natured. As to the non-acknowledgment, that is a pretty common thing, as it is in other countries - Germany for instance. It's not rudeness, just it isn't always done. I can't speak about Menorca other than to suggest that a similar situation would probably obtain.

I could write a book on this, but this is not the place!!

We had a similar problem on Menorca with fellow tourists, it was a week of being invisible. I would say good morning as i passed by people walking through our complex but it was like they were on another planet.
Probably people who go there are a bit on the quiet side, but we never had a problem with the locals i just smiled and tried a bit of spanish and they were very helpfull.

Sorry you found this to be a problem. I can totally understand why you felt this way. I remember commenting on one of my first trips to Cala Bona about how miserable some of the locals looked. They seemed so unfriendly. Luckily for me, because my brother lived there, he introduced me formally to a few Mallorquins and it really is unfortunate they give this totally wrong impression.

I think (many will disagree) that 'en masse' most nationalities give a certain impression ( Germans - humourless, Americans - loud and brash and French - arrogant) and Mallorquins just appear unfriendly but scratch the surface and we are all individuals.

I agree with Andrew that this 'unfriendliness' is just part of the Mallorquin psyche, probably exacerbated by the rapid increase in the numbers of foreigners on their island (in parts of England I would guess there are immigrants who would argue we are an unfriendly bunch).

Unfortunately I had a similar experience in my early twenties in a small village in central France and it does colour your view of a place but I can assure you, there are some lovely, friendly, jovial people in Mallorca.

I agree with Andrew, this is a matter of history, Mallorcan people are even wary of their mainland compatriots. In the book by George Sands A winter in Majorca 1839 she states the the locals would not acknowledge their presence and made them feel very unwelcome, if this was my beautiful home i would not want everyone invading it either. We have been made to feel welcome in the way out places by locals many times, mostly in the winter, we have also been ignored many times by the locals so nothing new here. Hey will you be smiling and saying hello to everyone you see today when you are out shopping or will you just get on with your daily chores? We have to accept that this is how they live and try to fit in with their way of life if we want to be part of the traditional community, I hope your experience does not taint your views of this beautiful island and you visit here again,
Steve.

if you think they're are miserable,try looking at it the otherway if say a mallorcan came to live in london. no one would talk to them for years!

Hi Bnira

Sorry you had an unenjoyable experience, and I hope you enjoy your visit to Menorca, but I rather suspect you'll find it to be the same.

It is not just Mallorcans, but most Spanish people who appear unfriendly and aloof. This is however a rather unfortunate veneer, since once you get to know them, they are generally very friendly and welcoming.

I come originally from Yorkshire, and smiling and acknowledging people in the street is a very common feature, particularly with elderly people. Do the same over here and you are in danger of being locked up, as they think there is something wrong with you. I live and work in Magalluf, and during the winter months there are thousands of "Pensionistas" who get free or at least heavily subsidised holidays. These people are from all parts of the mainland, and since old habits die hard we smile, stand aside to allow them to pass, hold doors open etc etc without hardly ever an acknowledgement, let alone a thank you! They are very much the same on the road, rarely giving way and generally being short tempered and intolerant.

Our 11 year old son found it very hard to adjust - if as a child you get in a British tourists way, they smile and wait - the spanish invariably just push children out of their way - I've experienced it several times, and once had strong words with one pompous old git who man-handled Steven out of his way, rather than walk round him. Children are still slapped in Spanish Schools, and of course the Spanish Police regularly mete out their own form of justice to anyone who is within striking range when they are called out to trouble.

This is a different culture, and many of the older people still harbour resentment that their heritage is being eroded by foreigners (although clearly the economy would collapse without tourism), whilst the younger have issues with the fact that any reasonably priced property is snapped up by British, Irish or Germans and therefore they cannot afford to live where they were brought up etc etc.

Also my experience of some Spanish businesses is that they are very cynical towards tourists, and see them as easy prey. Short meaures and short changing is carried out as routine in several spanish owned bars that I know of, and many many bars serve product which is not as advertised. Topping up of "top shelf" spirits with cheaper local product is rampant in certain areas, and a bar near us has pumps for Carling, Fosters and San Miguel on his bar, and they are all served out of the same cheap Spanish brand barrel.

Fortunately these bars soon get their come-uppance, since tourists are not as stupid as they think, and many visitors to Magalluf come back time after time, and very quickly learn where is good value for money and where they will get ripped off. Many businesses, particularly up the "strip" (Punta Belena) have had a bad year, whereas other areas (like around us on Avenida S'Olivera) have had a much better year.

Cheers,

Adam

Just echoing the above really.

I have been here a couple of years now and with a smattering of basic Spanish find that I am quite well accepted by the locals in the villages as well as the tourist resorts. It seems to have been a combination of shyness, language difficulties (don't forget how reluctant we are some times to try our hand at other languages for fear of making silly mistakes) and habit.

An example of habit is the way the Spanish (and the French) take a small coffee (with or without brandy) at all times during the day, drink it scalding hot whilst stood at the bar and leave saying little or nothing to the other people around - whatever their language or nationality.

What is very irritating (and Adam alluded to it) is the local Spanish bar operators who pretend to be British Bars whilst taking the tourist money and at the same time being quite anti British in conversation.

A really good genuine British Bar (Woody's - Paul from Manchester) has to put up with a Spanish Bar (Rambo's Bar) next door describing itself as The British Bar.

A small counter balancing item is that my 16 year old son now has many more Spanish friends than anything else. Their manners are always impeccable, they are always tidily dressed and completely respectful!!

slightly off topic bit i have to agree with GOOFELLOW on the coment about the draught lager in MOST places is poor . NOT GODFELLOWS tho .
i tend to stick with the bottles now to save dissapointment