On this page I’ll be adding my musings on what it’s really like to move to Spain – the good, the bad and the ugly!
Whether it’s getting to grips with learning a new language, dealing with the frustrations of filling out all the paperwork required to register as a new arrival, or simply extolling the virtues of the siesta, this is the place to come.
Spring in Andalucia is a special time for a visit – even though the summer temperatures haven’t yet hit their peak the locals are finally ready to shrug off their winter woollies, something they do like clockwork as soon as the clocks go forward. Read on to find out why spring in Andalucia is such …
After the scorching heat of summer and the mild temperatures of autumn, winter in Andalucía always takes me by surprise. In fact, I’m writing this while wearing my fleecy onesie that makes me look like a giant teddy bear and hugging a hot water bottle! Don’t let that put you off considering a low season …
When I first moved to Spain I thought that I would have no problems learning Spanish. My favourite subject at school was French which I studied until I was 18, and I also speak some Italian, so I thought this would give me an advantage as they’re all Romance languages. Not really the case at …
Autumn in Andalucia is a welcome relief from the scorching temperatures of the summer months and, now that I’ve lived through five long hot Spanish summers, I have to confess to a newfound appreciation for autumn and all that it brings. If you’ve never been to Andalucia in autumn, here are just five good reasons …
I’ve been an advocate for green living for as long as I can remember which I’m pretty sure was my grandparent’s influence. Ahead of their time, they were both vegetarians since they married in the 1940s and, during the 1980s, my nan owned a wholefood stall, The Beanfeast, in our local market hall where I …
Andalucia has got it all. Over 1,000 kilometres of beautiful coastline stretching from the Costa de Almeria on the Mediterranean Sea right round to the Costa de la Luz on the Atlantic Ocean. Dozens of picturesque small towns and villages nestled in the mountains where life continues as it has for hundreds of years. Not …
You may have holidayed in Spain on numerous occasions but, trust me, the realities of living through an Andalucian summer are very different to having a fortnight in the sun. It’s now my fifth summer here so I feel that I’m pretty well equipped to share my summer survival tips that I’ve picked up over …
I wasn’t going to write anything related to the dreaded C word on my website but, as we’re going to be in lockdown until 11th April at the earliest, my plans have been seriously scuppered and life under lockdown is now the reality for everyone living in Spain. I’d made the decision to leave my …
If you’ve got a lover of all things Spanish to buy for then have a look at these suggestions for the perfect gifts inspired by Spain. There’s something here for everyone whether you’re buying for a book worm, a whizz in the kitchen, a travel lover, or you just want to treat yourself. Paella pan …
You only have to Google ‘things I wish I’d known before I moved to Spain’ and you’ll find dozens of articles to choose from – the bureaucracy generally being top of the list! However, while I do have plenty to say on that it can wait for another time as I wanted to write a …
