Last updated on April 8th, 2020 at 11:49 am. Driving in Spain can be a pleasure. Once you put the city centre behind you, you can find long stretches of motorway without a traffic cone or tailback in sight. Spanish motorways seem to be extraordinarily free from road works and are generally enjoyable to drive […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. It’s a sad fact; in most European countries currently work is in short supply. The unemployment figures fluctuate but the trend is still down and we are seeing generally a better-qualified workforce earning less, if they’re earning at all. Some employers are exploiting the situation with […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. Do you love the sales? Most people seem to fall into one of two groups. Those who love rooting through piles of clothes to find a bargain and those who will avoid the shops until it’s all over. The Spanish word for ‘sale’ is ‘rebajas’ and […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. Spain is a country of contrasts. Only a few hours from where they’re basking in the sun on the beaches they’re skiing down the slopes in three layers of clothes and woolly mittens. One of the amazing things about Spain is the variation in its climate […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. Do you like celebrating Christmas at home? Is your idea of the ideal Christmas one that involves your home hearth, slippers and a good helping of turkey? Or do your prefer to slip away and let someone else do all the donkey work? Most people fall […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. Love them or hate them, the out-of-town commercial centre is here to stay.  Their presence in Spain has gradually increased over the past ten years. They do have their advantages. You can leave your car in one place whilst you browse amongst all the major high […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. We often take them for granted, but if you have ever lived in an area that’s short of local Spanish taxis you will recognise just what an underestimated resource they can be. In Spain, obtaining a licence to run an official taxi is expensive and it […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. National borders have a lot to answer for.  Countries continue to battle over where the lines are drawn and who gets to fly the flag. But who should decide what belongs to whom? The issue has been carefully documented in both Britain and Spain recently. With […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. When you’re travelling in a foreign country, having an accident might be one of the last things on your mind. However, the risk is probably greater than in your own country. Driving a hire car on holiday, the majority of people have probably not studied the […]

Last updated on April 8th, 2020 at 11:48 am. It might not always seem like it when you’re on the roads in Spain, but there is a very comprehensive Spanish highway code. The Código de Tráfico y Seguridad Vial was last modified on 22nd May 2014 (download here). It consists of 941 pages and 385 […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. What percentage of the population do you think are immigrants in Spain? Out of every 100 people in Spain how many do you think are over 65? These are two of the questions on Ipsos MORI’s new global survey, ‘The Perils of Perception’. The survey highlights […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. There’s a phrase that states that you are never too old to learn. Some people may disagree with this. Certainly if you’ve tried to learn Spanish at an older age you’ve probably recognised that it doesn’t fall into your lap easily. But what about developing an […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. In the article  ‘Making a police report (denuncia) in Spain’, David Ruiz explained what a denuncia is and how to go about making one. In this article he takes us through the right and the wrong way of doing it. Since 2010 I’ve been helping my […]

Last updated on May 20th, 2020 at 06:05 pm. Have you ever been guilty of not visiting the places on your doorstep? It can often happen that where you live is the place you’re least likely to fully explore. For example, it’s all too easy for Alicante just to become a stepping stone on the […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. It seems an obvious thing to state but, it’s important that we take the weather into consideration. Anyone watching the electric storms in September in Spain must have felt just a little humble in the presence of such a force of nature.   We are, after […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. It’s one of the nightmare scenarios – you’re holiday’s booked but your passport needs renewing. It’s getting closer and closer to the date when you fly. Will it arrive back in time or should you make a last minute ditch attempt to retrieve it in person […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. You’ll have seen the signs on the outside of walls – a circle with a line through it that seems to appear at every spot where you want to park. The ‘Vado’ sign is usually found outside garages, entrances to drive ways and other places where, […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am.  Whether you are on holiday or living in Spain, chances are that at some time you will need to pay a visit to the Spanish chemist or ‘farmacia’. The chemist in Spain is usually extremely good and in most outlets at least one member of staff […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. Apparently, Spanish is becoming an increasingly popular language to learn. Why? Alongside Spain’s popularity as a holiday destination comes its attraction to young people as a ‘cool’ place with ‘cool’ people.   Some of this undoubtedly comes down to the passion for party, late nights in […]

Last updated on June 5th, 2020 at 06:45 pm. One of the main concerns for anyone coming to live in another country must be ‘how will I obtain the healthcare I need?’. This is particularly the case where you are perhaps a little older in years and know that more, rather than less, healthcare is […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. Have you come across this Spanish word before? A ‘Parador’ is a state-run tourist hotel usually found in rural beauty spots or places of historical interest. The Parador in Spain is often converted from interesting buildings such as castles or monasteries and offers much more than […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. Walk out into a bar or café area late at night in summer in Spain and you will be greeted by chatter. The Spanish talk, and often seem to talk loudly. Everyone seems to have a comment to make and usually at the same time. Depending […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. Once a week I go for a run. I don’t go far and I certainly don’t break the sound barrier. Over the summer in Spain it can be difficult to find the best time to go. Ideally it would be early in the morning before the […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. What happened to the day when a little paddle in the sea was more than enough? No longer a simple slide into the water or an inflatable dinghy, the Spanish water park experience has to get more and more thrilling to keep them coming. Water parks […]

Last updated on May 18th, 2020 at 05:46 pm. As July and August descend in Spain, the Spanish people come into their own. The streets will be deserted at 2.00 as they retreat inside, only to emerge again as the sun starts to set and temperatures are returned to a sensible level. Contrast this with […]