Spain: Features

Miscellaneous writing about Spain - the immensely popular destination for many British expats.

Don't Stay in a Hotel - Rent a Villa!: "Renting a villa is a brilliant alternative to staying in a hotel, especially if there are a few of you. There are many plus-points to consider." Mark Eastwood of Costa Blanca Uncovered.com looks at the benefits of choosing a villa rather than a hotel as a temporary base in Spain.
Essential Tips on Renting a Villa: "What are your expectations? A villa conjures up visions of luxury but the truth is that many villas are old and in need of updating. You can go from cheap and cheerful villa hire to a villa that would cost thousands a week and appeal to pop stars or movie stars. " Mark Eastwood of CostaBlancaUncovered.com helps you choose the right holiday villa to rent.
Essential Guide to Hiring a Car in Spain: "You can come across some amazing-looking prices but when you look at the detail you find that they don't include unlimited mileage, local taxes or insurances. We usually found these cheap-looking prices were really not cheap at all and could be regarded as a pretty underhand and misleading tactic." Mark Eastwood of CostaBlancaUncovered.com advises on this and other things to watch for when hiring a car in Spain.
Spanish Healthcare and the Power of Television: "The idea for this article started when I saw two episodes of a recent series on UK television scaremongering about retiring to Spain. These two episodes are part of a current spate of programmes which seem to repeat the same message time after time and are on top of previous programmes shown last year. This time they seem to be concentrating on the medical provision in Spain." Richard tells us what the Spanish health system's really like...
Having a Baby in Tenerife: "Much to my surprise, at the ripe old age of 37, I discovered that I had fallen pregnant. I had long ago given up hope of ever hearing the patter of tiny feet and my first reaction was one of shocked disbelief. Nino's reaction was more straightforward - he was just shocked. 'How did that happen?' he said. Duh!" Julie Hume recounts her experience of pregnancy overseas...
Opening a bar in rural Spain: "Buy two crumbling old farmhouses in a remote, rural part of Spain and open up as a British bar/restaurant? Are you mad? - These were just the thoughts running through the minds of John and Trish when a friend (and property developer) asked them to take time away from their well established busy, thriving bar/restaurant in the bustling town of Torrevieja, Alicante and drive out into the countryside of Murcia to view these properties." Find out how they got on in Elaine Ablett's article.
How to Learn Spanish Quickly and Easily: "The bottom line is that if you are moving to Spain and looking for work you might as well not bother if you don't learn the language. If you are a tourist then obviously you don't have to learn the language, you will get by, but learning a few basic words or expressions will actually add to the enjoyment of your holiday as you delight the locals (and yourself)." Mark Eastwood of CostaBlancaUncovered.com with some sound advice on language learning.
This Must Be New Spain: "We do not need to deny our origins or give up all those things that hail from 'home' - Marmite now in tubes is a clash of cultures but essential nonetheless - but petty nationalism is the fuel of the far Right and I thought we had all grown out of that. The founding fathers of the European Union envisaged a 'melting pot' of states where residents would be free to travel, live and work amongst the other states in a seamless and macro sense of freedom. " Mark F R Wilkins looks at what expat life means for a new generation of British Spaniards.
Timekeeping in Spain: "I don't suppose I'm qualified to comment about timekeeping as I live in Spain, where the 'ma�ana' syndrome (rather like the German beach towel) is not just a joke. It is a way of life and probably an inbred instinct." Bob Fretwell ponders the Spanish pace of living...
Shopping in Spain: "In El Burgo, my old 'home' town, Julie needed a hairdresser shortly after moving there...we couldn't see one. A quick word with the local bar owner revealed there were seven! None of them had an outside sign as 'if you don't have a sign, you don't need a licence' - and didn't pay local business tax." Bob Fretwell discovers that shopping in the average Spanish village is still a very personal experience...
Feria at Sierra de Yeguas: "It is different from the usual fiesta arrangements we have suffered (sorry, enjoyed) as they have yet another 'tradition'... that of the water fight! This happens, so I'm told, every year and no respect is given to dress, age, sex or infirmity. EVERY person gets wet (and I mean WET!)." Bob Fretwell throws himself into the celebrations at his new home town's annual fiesta.
I'm Turning into a Nomad (Part One): "Our neighbours on one side owned the upstairs of the house next door and the ground floor of the house on the other side of us. Their plan (though we didn't realise that then) was to join their properties together by building over us. It took more than six months." Bob and Julie Fretwell are driven to distraction - and to move - by builders, dogs, smoking chimneys and yet more builders.
I'm Turning Into A Nomad (Part Two): "Then we opened one of the built-in wardrobes and found that more than 1,000 euros of stock was tainted with mould. Next wardrobe... all our clothes, shoes etc. the same. The landlord's answer? 'You shouldn't close the wardrobe doors!'" Bob Fretwell continues the chronicles of several housemoves around Spain.
Fiesta Fireworks!: "Here in El Burgo in Spain, every year during the last week of August we have the festival of San Agust�n (Saint Augustine to us English), where the streets are closed for a full week and the whole population takes to the streets to enjoy the festivities. The highlight of the week is the closing event, starting at 4.30am on the Monday morning, where the Mayor (el Alcalde) of the town (this year Se�or Garc�a) dons a wooden bull (fortunately not a real one) which is stuffed with fireworks." Bob Fretwell takes a bemused but affectionate look at a typical Spanish fiesta.
Siesta in the Sierra: "During the summer months, leaving the city for a milder landscape may come as a welcome refreshment. Air humidity in Madrid often goes down to twenty per cent, turning every city tour into torture. On such a day, one should head for the countryside. Avila, Toledo and Salamanca are the most popular choices for day trips, but also the most touristy ones. On a slightly less beaten path, let us explore the western and northwestern neighbourhood of Madrid." Hajo takes a break from the city...
Fish pizza: "Here in Andalucia generally we are stuck with just two types: the ones with just cheese and tomato paste, which I guess would be the Spanish equivalent of the universal Margherita... and the ones with fish! You can have them with tuna, or with caballa (which tastes surprisingly like tuna when 'pizzarised') or ask for them without tuna (and you'll get caballa!)." Bob Fretwell dives into the wonderful marine world of the Andalusian pizza...
Madrid Tours: Visiting Madrid? Then why not check out the range of tours, excursions, themed tours and airport transfers from our partners, Viator?
Expat Websites in Spain: Useful web links for expats based in Spain.