The reasons behind Tom Hopcroft's move to Spain wouldn't look out of place in the pages of a romance novel.
“Years ago, I moved for love. I moved for a Spanish girl,” he says. olive press.
“My plan was to come to Spain, make her fall in love with me, and then take her away forever. But it actually backfired. I came here and fell in love with Spain, When she finally took the next step and was ready to head somewhere else, I actually wanted to stay in Spain. I've been here ever since, but my life It has been changed.”
Replacing the gloom of Birmingham with the bustling bustle of Madrid was the “best decision” of his life, says the former Leeds University student.
Almost a decade later, Tom leads a group of 20 members of the community he has carefully nurtured along one of the world's great pilgrimage routes on one of three expeditions planned this year. We talk while walking the Camino de Santiago.
Tom, now 31, is the founder of Gilis de Mierda, a successful lifestyle brand based in Spain that aims to bridge the growing gap between locals and foreigners. We organize real-life experiences and events for people.
Just two weeks ago, the word “giri”, the Spanish term used colloquially to refer to foreigners, especially those of Scandinavian descent, was plastered on a wall in Malaga amid rising tensions between locals and tourists. It was used in anti-tourist graffiti.
read more: What does “giri” mean in Spanish? Is it offensive?
Often a term of endearment, some consider this term a derogatory slur.
Tom proudly embraces this term, calling himself a “professional giri” and hopes that the work he does under his brand will help mend divisions and show the public that unification is worthwhile. I'm here.
“I think in Spain, for the most part, there is, or at least can be, a good relationship between tourists and locals. But clearly there are large waves of tourists, even from outside Spain. With any wave of immigration, there will always be people who are pushed in the wrong direction by it,” he explains.
“We are trying to set a good example that not all giri are the type to be beaten up, battered and drink for five days in a row. Some giri want to give back to Spain and , we are currently working with charities, organizing charity events and promoting the integration aspect.”
read more: Exclusive: After Malaga, Valencia and Parma, Spanish locals issue ruling as anti-tourism wave reaches Tenerife…
Furthermore, he added: “We organize events based on the idea that everyone has been on the edge at some point in their lives. Especially in the modern world, when people live in other countries and we We try to bring people together because we feel it’s worth celebrating.”
The company has recently made a successful foray into clothing, selling T-shirts and other accessories with the motto “Embrace your inner beliefs and stop taking yourself seriously.”
“So far, 2024 has been a great year for us. We launched our clothing brand, the demand for our events is very high, so we want to organize more events, and we hope to create a great relationship between Spaniards and foreigners. “We want to create connections with real-life experiences and continue to spread our message,” he says.
read more: “A tu puta casa!”: Anti-tourism forces arrive on Spain’s Costa del Sol with offensive stickers outside Malaga’s Airbnb…
“For the rest of this year, we will be walking the Camino de Santiago two more times. We also have big plans for a speed dating event, which is also getting a lot of attention. The plan is to expand our business and It’s about expanding the event, but without losing the personal touch that makes it so special.”
Combined with the continuation of events currently being held, from after-work cañas to networking events and running clubs, the “Gillis de Mierda'' brand looks destined for great success.
