Dreaming of Spain

[Ms Erica Phoenix]

The title is fairly self-explanatory, I think!

I'd like to hear from people who've spent extensive time in Spain recently (within the last 5 years, let's say...). I'm interested in your thoughts on

• must-see cities
• Ibiza vs. Mallorca?
• best time of year to visit
• beaches
• cost of living

Thank you, community!

 

[Ms Erica Phoenix]

I posted this late yesterday evening, but I am bumping it up in hopes of receiving some information and interaction! I have decided that "Spain is the vision"; it is where I'll head to when I am ready to retire and move somewhere warm! Therefore, I'm looking for information, anecdotes, warnings, recommendations about travelling to and around Spain! Any and all info is appreciated!

 

[kes458]

The Badger is right. You have to do Portugal and Southern France at the same time. Nice really is nice ! We can maybe talk about my tour sometime. The beach at San Sabastian in Northern Spain is a wonderful crescent bay. Cost of living is pretty much what you make it, but I would not call it expensive to have a good time.

 

[Ms Erica Phoenix]

Well of course Southern France! I speak very good European accented French, and BB actually has a Quebec birth certificate which makes for a fast track to citizenship; also a Spanish grandparent that fled Franco during the Fascist years...

 

[sdw]

Well of course Southern France! I speak very good European accented French, and BB actually has a Quebec birth certificate which makes for a fast track to citizenship; also a Spanish grandparent that fled Franco during the Fascist years...

If you are thinking of buying property in Spain, either buy new in one of the new developments or have a lawyer apply for registration of the property. Registration can take up to an year, but is necessary to avoid what you think is yours being sold to another person. Also, many old buildings are Historic. If it's a Historic house, you cannot change it. I went looking for a site that adequately discusses what you can run into, this is the best I found. Always shop with a real estate agent and have a lawyer on retainer. If you say the wrong thing, you may find yourself already in a contract. http://www.idealspain.com/pages/propertypages/buyingpropertyguide.htm

 

[let's review]

Plenty of useful info on this forum: http://www.expatforum.com/. Of course Barcelona is mandatory, we planned to be there for 2 days, spent a week, then rerouted to pass back through on the way out. I'm more into architecture and history than beaches but it's all there. Check the daily market off La Ramblas.
Better to be wealthy than struggling if you want to live there though. Granada is a great spot too (pastry shop up from the train stn), university town so lots going on and, of course, the climate.

We landed in Madrid on a $45 Ryanair flight at about 00:45, after a little hassle with our papers got a cab about 02:00. We'd been full-on traveling for 2 days and were a little burnt out. Driving to Atocha the road was empty, kind of a mist in the air. As we were coming up to a cool old bridge/overpass, a chunk of concrete about 3' by 4' by 1' thick crumbled off and landed in the lane beside us. The driver didn't even swerve, totally nonchalant. It was a surreal moment, but a bit of a reality check for the financial situation of the country. Do your research before you invest.

Good luck

 

[Aleister Crowley]

I AM IN MALAGA NOW...
snow on the seirra madres
no tourists . i come every year for a few weeks , what u wanna know?
learn spanish , love wine , olive oil , slow food dinning , seafood , sardines
GO SEAHAWKS GO !!!
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