Three Great Ways to Ring in the New Year, Spanish Style

Three Great Ways to Ring in the New Year, Spanish Style

Bringing in the New Year in Marbella is always special

Okay it’s not even Christmas, but with all the hustle and bustle of Christmas sometimes we forget about New Year’s Eve until it’s midnight and you’re by yourself with the TV listening to other people having a lot of fun.

The good news is that if you’re spending New Year’s Eve in Spain then you’re never too far away from the nearest party. This is one of the great things about living in Spain and expat life; you’re surrounded by good friends who are always up for a laugh.

However the waiting will always prove to be the hardest part. It’s all too easy to find yourself thinking that someone else will do something, just as you would in any crowd. This can often leave everyone disappointed. So why not handle things a little differently this year?

Here are three great ways to ring in the new year, Spanish style, to give yourself the best start to 2017 possible.

12 Lucky Grapes

Wine is made using grapes and Spaniards eat grapes at the stroke of midnight for good luck. If you remember that wine is made with grapes you’ve got a good idea where we’re going with this. The tradition is to eat 12 grapes, one at each stroke of midnight. Why not break from tradition just a little and have a little bit of wine each strike instead? 12 sips is about half a glass and you’ll have already had a lot by then so it’s not like a little more can hurt.

On the Right Foot

Some areas of Spain observe the tradition of starting the year off on the right foot literally. So you would need to step forward with the right foot as the clock strikes midnight. Let’s get a little more creative with this. What about if your right foot stepped you into something different, like a pool? Or into a limousine ready to take you out? Or maybe it just takes you to the stereo so you can change the music. It doesn’t matter where it takes you. What matters is that you start the new year in a memorable fashion.

Do it Twice!

Thanks to the strange time-zone that Spain is in the country as an hour ahead of their neighbour Portugal. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous and want to keep the party going then why not have to New Year’s Eves by driving and head to Portugal to do it all over again? It can be boring to just wait at the border so instead you should ring in the new year in Spain in the western town Badajoz. From there you grab your designated driver and make the 25-minute drive across the border to Elvas. If you time it right then it’ll be about 11:30 PM and you can regale the locals with tales of the future.

Five Ways to be a Happy Expat

Five Ways to be a Happy Expat

Spain is one of the most open societies and more

and more Expats are moving to Spain

It can be quite peculiar to live life as an expat in Spain. You have the opportunity to be somewhat of an ambassador, while also the anxiety that comes with living somewhere brand new and different.

Unfortunately there is no single path to success for expats. Putting in more than you take out, keeping your mind open, and leaving the people you meet and the places you stay richer is certainly the ideal but it’s just that; an ideal. The reality of expat life is often very different. So why not focus on being a happy expat rather than being a perfect expat?

Here are five ways to be happy expat and ensure that no matter how long you live overseas, you’re happy for having done it.

Don’t be so Hard on Yourself

You’ve probably already met the perfect expat; they are able to move between English and Spanish at the drop of a hat; have a wide range of friends from the world over; they get involved with the local community but still raise their family and, to top it off, they have a brilliant car. There’s someone like this in every expat community. There’s someone who seems to have made it without any effort at all.

It’s incredibly daunting for you to be around these people, but you should go easy on yourself. You can’t imagine the ways that life overseas will test you. Some people are able to thrive and really prosper in the brand new environment and some people have a harder time of it. Never forget that you are who you are; if you were introverted back home you will likely still be one when living abroad. That’s just who you are and you need to remember that.

Be Open Minded and Willing to Leave The Comfort Zone, But Only if it Suits You

With that said there’s still no better chance to broaden your horizons and try something new than when you move overseas. It’s obvious you’ll meet a new language, see new faces, and try new foods; these are unescapable facts of expat life. There’s plenty of other new things to try though; the new surroundings you live in have the potential to get new hobbies, learn new skills, or chase that dream you gave up on long ago because there’s no one to around to judge the “new you”.

It’s truly liberating. One of the best things about living in a new country is that you are able to try all of these new things and figure out just what you want to get out of your new life and how you want to live it.

Be Magnanimous and Avoid Taking Sides

When you become an expat you have the country you were born and the country you live. It’s likely that you’ll come to see what’s good and bad about both countries with a kind of clarity you never had before. If you want to be a truly happy expat you need to avoid taking sides. Don’t complain about your old home because you will get home-sick eventually. You should also take off the rose-coloured glasses and avoid thinking that life back home wasn’t all that bad. Remember that you moved away for a reason; remember that reason.

With this said the country you move to is going to delight and annoy you in equal amounts. So for the sake of your sanity, and the sanity of those around you, that there’s nowhere that is truly perfect and no one wants to hear you boast or complain about how your new life is going.

Keep Things Balanced While Still Enjoying Variety

When you move to a new country you will be tempted to avoid expats that come from the same country as you. This urge can be understandable but sometimes it’s just irrational. You don’t want to find yourself stuck with an expat who sees you as fresh meat that they can invite along to anything and everything, but at the same time there’s not much better than sharing an evening with someone who have the same cultural background as you.

It’s important to find a balance. You shouldn’t avoid the British pub; just don’t spend every evening there. Take a trip to the tapas bar and the bodega. Make some local friends and find time to visit the establishments and enclaves of other nationalities. Having such a diverse range of influences and opinions is part of the fun of being an expat so allow yourself to embrace it.

Head Back Home When you Want; Flights are Pretty Cheap

Brits living in Spain have it pretty easy when it comes to flying home regularly. It’s easy and cheap to fly from Malaga airport to the UK all through the year. Make use of these cheap flights. Keeping up your connection to the mother land will ensure you enjoy both destinations as much as possible. Regular visits home stop you from getting too homesick and it can be liberating to leave that expat bubble you’ve been living in every so often.

Three Ways You Can Turn Thinking About it to Actually Moving to Spain

Three Ways You Can Turn Thinking About it to Actually Moving to Spain.

Spain tops all other European destination to live.

If you’re one of the many people coming back home after a Spanish holiday then you probably feel the post-holiday blues. The drab and grey British sky is nothing compared to the bright and sunny skies of Spain so it’s no wonder that you’re feeling a little down now that you’re home. The same feeling comes after comparing going to work with spending a week by the pool.

There is more to the problem than just readjustment for some people. Spain just gets to some people. The culture, the people, the architecture; everything about Spain is appealing and it can be hard to get rid of thoughts about packing everything up and just moving to Spain.

What would it be like to wake up to the bright skies and welcoming warmth each day? What would it be like to get rid of your boring British home that is probably overpriced and undersized and swap it for a spacious Spanish property for sale on the Costa del Sol.? What would it be like to avoid the rush hour traffic, the wet puddles and the people on the train at 7AM?

You can find out what all that would be like if you want but it takes a little more than just packing up and moving. There’s a lot of thought, tons of planning, and the urge to just jump when it comes to moving to Spain. You shouldn’t rush into a decision such as emigration though, so you might be wondering how to go from thinking about moving to Spain to actually going. While everyone is different in their own ways we’ve compiled a list of three simple truths that should help you make the choice.

You’re In Good Company

The idea to move to another country is definitely daunting but it’s not as much of a step into the unknown as you think it is. Many people have already emigrated to Spain and are now living the life of luxury. There are so many, in fact, that it’s impossible to know how many Brits have moved to Spain. The official estimates suggest that there could be as many as 1.2 million Brits living in Spain. A million Brits can’t be wrong, right?

The most expat-heavy areas in Spain are found along the Mediterranean coast. The Costa del Sol in particular has everything that an expat could possibly need to live and work in peace. There are plenty of British supermarkets, greasy spoon cafes, plumbers, solicitors and teachers that have all made the journey from the UK before you. As such it makes integrating much easier than in other areas of Spain.

Now Really is the Best Time

Spanish property prices are currently around 28% less than they were at the peak of the boom period in 2008. Even so the data suggests that these prices are still continuing to rise across the country, especially in the popular buying areas such as Marbella and the surrounding regions. That’s why Spanish property is currently almost the perfect storm. It’s affordable for Brits who have the money for it (and may even be selling their home in the UK) while at the same time you know that in the future your Spanish property will be worth a fair bit more than it is now.

Throw in the uncertainty of the Brexit and Brits have a two-year window in which they can take advantage of the current EU laws that allow Brits to live, work, and own property in another EU member state such as Spain. Things are going to be a little foggy after the Brexit and there’s a solid chance things are going to be tougher.

Money Worries Will Always Be There

Something that stops potential expats from moving is that they worry about work and pensions. Ask yourself if you already have those worries at home. If you don’t then you should be able to afford a move to Spain. But if you do already have those worries then why are you expecting things to be magically different if you move? If you’ve got the knowledge and the resources to hold down a job and support your family in Britain then there’s no reason that you can’t do the same thing in Spain.

There will undoubtedly be challenges (you should probably start learning Spanish now before you move) but the facts are in and they paint a great picture; it’s cheaper to live in Spain, they also have an excellent free healthcare system, the education standards are top notch, the Spanish job market is recovering, and the Costa del Sol will always have openings forqualified and competent English speakers; which you undoubtedly are if you can afford to move to Spain.

Three Ways to Avoids Crowds this Summer in Spain

Three Ways to Avoids Crowds this Summer in Spain

Spain has gone from preparing for the busiest summer ever to living with it. As the temperature rises the crowds are rising with it.

You and always avoid the crowds in the Costa del Sol

Even though Spain is expecting millions more visitors than usual thanks to terrorism scaring people away from other popular destinations, it’s still entirely possible for you to find your own little private piece of paradise. As long as you know where to find it anyway.

            1.      Keep Going South

There are a number of great beaches in the Costa del Sol including Pureto Banús, the Golden Mile, and Terremolinos. The Costa del Sol has everything you need to sit yourself down on the sand and occasionally slip into the sea.

During the summer however it also has a lot of tourists come by. You should be able to find a little patch of beach to sit down on but if you want some peace and quiet at the beach you need to keep going south. Go as south as you can. Go past Estepona, past Manilva, even go past Tarifia. Keep going until you reach Zahara de los Atunes. This is where the peace and quiet you’ve been craving is, along with the beautiful white sand and stunning ocean view.

2.      Run to The Hills

The roads heading in from the coastline resort make their way through plenty of mountains and scrubland before reaching those little towns and pueblos. Some of these roads will deliver you to the hidden traditional part of Spain. They show you the world of pueblos holding on to the hills, surrounding by beautiful valleys of olive and citrus groves.

Everything disappears and what you’re left with is pure, unfiltered Spain. It’s cheaper and friendlier than the rest of Spain too, with things moving at a pace you didn’t think existed anymore.

There are three inland villages in particular you owe it to yourself to visit; Yunquera, Alozaina and Casaraboneloa. They’re all pretty close to each other and just down the road from Marbella, making them seem like an entirely different world away from the Costa del Sol.

3.      Leave Early

This is less of an insider tip and more common sense really. But take a second to consider it. The Costa del Sol is filled with party towns. The people there won’t be waking up until around 11AM. So if you leave early and head out at 8 you can beat the crowds. Everything will be practically empty and yours to enjoy at your leisure.

Things get warm when the sun rises. Take a dip in the sea and dry off under the sun by 9 and take a morning stroll without getting too sweaty. Things are beautiful during a summer morning. You can see and do what you want to do before anyone else even wakes up.