Spain Explained

A guide for foreigners on every aspect of safe property ownership in Spain

Posts filtered by Life in Spain

The trains in Spain

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:11 am. Spain has a good reputation for the construction of its Spanish high-speed trains. Its AVE are the fastest trains in the world with a speed of up to 300 km/h (186 mph). Spain manufactured the first high speed train in the middle east and has been […]

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The blanket trip

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:11 am. The subject of blanket trips in Spain seems to attract very different opinions. For some people these ‘free’ trips with a hidden agenda are something to be avoided. For others they are a good way of spending a day at someone else’s expense. In case you […]

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Improving safety on the roads

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:11 am. Ideally, every driver should have to have an induction into the main rules operating in their new terrain. In practice this doesn’t happen and foreign drivers find themselves dropped in at the deep end in a system that can be quite different from the one they’re […]

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Prepare for higher Spanish electricity bills

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:11 am. When asked about the cost of living in Spain, most people will reply that in most respects it is cheaper than they are used to in their home country. The cost of food, drinks, even taxes, can be significantly lower. However, one cost that seems to […]

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It’s Christmas!

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:11 am. What does Christmas mean to you? Is it a time to reflect and remember, a time to look forward and plan or a time – just to get over? The yuletide season has a habit of bringing out the best and worst in people. Families squashed […]

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Burst pipes in Spain

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:11 am. There’s one story that keeps cropping up every so often in the free paper. The story goes like this. Someone receives a water bill for an extortionate amount of money and hasn’t got a clue why. Burst pipes are a common problem in Spain. It’s a […]

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Abaco service in seven languages

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:11 am. Being able to communicate well is very important, no matter what your job. However, if you work in an international organization like Ábaco Advisers it’s not only important to communicate in your native language but in other languages too. We’re quite a multi-lingual lot! Between us […]

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Life’s A Beach

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:11 am. Just because you live in Spain does not mean that you don’t need a holiday! That’s one of the reasons why the Spanish Imserso holiday programme has been so successful. Imserso is subsidised by the Spanish Government and enables resident pensioners in Spain to access affordable […]

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Save the children

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:11 am. You might not expect a legal and tax form to have much to do with children. Generally we don’t – except for looking after our own! However, we do recognise that not all children across the world are as privileged as our own offspring. ‘Save the […]

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Ábaco visits your clubs and societies

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:11 am. Difficulties with communication is a major issue for many foreigners in Spain. It is a wonderful country but you can feel confused by legislation, documentation and procedures. People often don’t know who to ask or trust. We know that. This is one reason why we are […]

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Almería

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:11 am. The variety of landscape in Spain as you travel from one region to another never fails to amaze me. From the greenery of the north to the deserts of the south, you’ve got every shade in between. The southern province of Almería is certainly inspiring with […]

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Cinema in Spain

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:11 am. If you live in or near a major town or city, there should be a cinema within your reach. The difficulty for many non-Spanish residents, is, as you might expect, that the films will be in Spanish. If you are lucky some cinemas do show English-speaking […]

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The ‘Dama de Elche’ comes home

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:11 am. Everyone recognises how important it is that historical artefacts are preserved and displayed for as many people to see, enjoyed and learn from as possible. But when one is taken out of the country from under your noses only days after discovery, it’s no wonder that […]

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Theme parks in Spain

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:11 am. Spain has accrued, over the years, its own small selection of theme parks. Terra Mitica in Benidorm and Port Aventura in Tarragona are perhaps the best known. It looks like there are plans for them to be joined by possibly three more parks across the country. […]

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Cartagena

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:11 am. There are many interesting and historic cities to visit in Spain. One of the oldest and most beautiful ones is the city of Cartagena. It’s combination of dramatic history and culture mean that it has something for everyone. The city was founded by the Carthaginians, who […]

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Cava – The Spanish Champagne

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:11 am. There is something very special about Champagne. Perhaps it’s the bubbles, or popping the cork or even the fact that it’s kept for a celebration. However, it can come rather expensive – at least if it’s champagne you’re talking about. Cava, on the other hand comes […]

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Christmas and New Year in Spain

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:11 am. Although there are many similarities with Christmas traditions in other countries, Christmas in Spain has many differences too. Spending Christmas in another country is a good opportunity to leave some of your old routines behind and try something new. Here are the most important dates in […]

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Las Fuentes de Algar

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:11 am. ‘Las Fuentes’ means fountains in English and those you find close to the town of Calloso d’En Sarría are a particularly fine example. It’s made up of a number of small springs which converge to form a waterfall and some small lagoons. The spring waters are […]

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The options for abandoned dogs

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:11 am. It’s a pity we have to resort to animal protection at all. However, the fact remains that wherever you are in the world, there are those who treat animals cruelly. In Spain, thousands of abandoned dogs in Spain  each year. Without the survival skills of the […]

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Understanding Spanish custom – tapas

Last updated on April 9th, 2020 at 12:24 pm. One of the great things about Spanish eating, is tapas. Little plates of different snacks, that can be shared. Perfect if you don’t want to fill up but just fancy a nibble with your drink. Of course, you can fill up with them too, if you […]

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Eldorado

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:11 am. Do you remember Eldorado? It might have been the worst Soap every recorded, but if you have chosen to make Spain your country as a British expat or even if you are just a visitor, it might still hold some level of fascination.  Could it be […]

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The wild west in Almería

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:11 am. In some parts of Spain, especially during the dry summer months, you could be forgiven for thinking you’d found yourself in a desert. Tumbleweed, cacti and plenty of dry, sand-like earth can give it an appearance worthy of the Sahara. A view that some Hollywood film […]

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Spanish roundabouts

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:11 am. For many people used to driving in other countries, the rules and regulations that surround them are a complete mystery. You can feel for years that every time you approach a roundabout in Spain you take your life in your hands. What confuses most people is […]

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The autonomous regions of Spain

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:11 am. It can be difficult for the newly arrived in Spain to get to grips with the number of different laws and what can seem to be a never-ending battle with bureaucracy here. The arrangements for many aspects of life are perhaps complicated by the fact that […]

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Taking care of your credit cards in Spain

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:11 am. The main message is to prevent your credit cards being stolen in Spain in the first place. Take precautions, be vigilant and apply some common sense measures and it is unlikely that you will have your property stolen. However, theft can be a theft problem in […]

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