10 Reasons To Live in Spain
10 Reasons To Live in Spain
by Teresa Roberts NABBW’s Living Abroad Associate
Snowbirds have been around for a long time. All those northern retirees that head south for the winter do so to escape the cold.
Playing golf year round, relieving the symptoms of seasonal disorder with lots of sunshine and staying mobile becomes a little easier when the weather cooperates. Florida, Arizona and new Mexico have been beckoning snowbirds for years.
I have joined the ranks of winter travelers, too. However, my plans involve going to Spain. This isn\’t just a fantasy. I have been heading to Spain for the past nine years. Sometimes for as little as a few weeks and sometimes for months. You might say that Spain feels like a second home to me.
What is it about Spain that attracts me? Here are 10 reasons that I go to Spain every year.
#10 – Great coffee! In fact, the coffee is some of the best in the world in my opinion. And, it is consistently good. Every little outdoor cafe, family-owned restaurant and bar offers the same wonderful brew. Is there a coffee-making school that all Spaniards are expected to attend before they are considered qualified to serve a grateful customer? It would make one wonder.
#9 – The combination of mountains and sea suits my geographical preferences. I have spent many lovely months in the mountains where I enjoy a famous cup of Spanish coffee while gazing at the Mediterranean Sea twenty kilometers away. On a clear day, the etchings of Morocco magically appear. Such outstanding natural beauty is a true pleasure.
#8 – The people are friendly. Although many do not speak English, I have learned Spanish and can enjoy conversations with my Spanish friends. As I continue to improve my Spanish, I like to think that I am also saving a few brain cells along the way.
#7 – There is an international flavor to much of Spain. For those who do not speak Spanish, there are many British expats who have retired to various parts of Spain. It is easy to become involved in an active expat community. No need to be lonely.
#6 – There is an abundance of cheap apartments to rent. Torre Del Mar, a sweet seaside Spanish town, has many apartments for as little as $500 a month. With the beach only a few minutes away, I can’t think of a nicer way to while away a few months every year.
#5 – An American can stay in Spain for 90 days within a six-month time frame as a tourist. Spain is an easy country to enter, too.
#4 – Spain has a wonderful mixture of the old and the new. A modern country with great restaurants and plenty of local entertainment, it still has maintained its old-world allure. Charming whitewashed villages and beautiful fountains and squares give Spanish towns true character.
#3 – Public transportation is readily available. No need to own or rent a car. Buses are plentiful and cheap. Trains are another great way to get from point A to point B.
#2 – It is easy to travel to other European countries. Airfare is quite affordable as well.
#1 – The weather appeals to me as well, but my favorite time of the year is late winter, spring and early summer. Give me a balmy spring day with roses and Jacaranda trees in full bloom and I will write you a sonnet. Yep! I am inspired by everything Spanish.
Without waxing too mystical, I think I may have been a Spaniard in a previous life. Feeling completely at home while there, I can’t imagine not returning every year. It’s a good life!
Cheers,
Teresa Roberts
Teresa Roberts retired early from a career in education to travel the world as an international house sitter. Along the way, she accidentally became an author/blogger/freelance writer, adding digital nomad to her evolving job description. Although insisting that she is still retired, Teresa writes a weekly blog on her website Creative Paths to Freedom, exploring the topics of creative living, travel adventures and life without debt. Her essay, How to Travel Without Being a Tourist, appears in the book 65 Things to Do When You Retire – Travel, released in February 2013. Teresa\’s published books include Finding the Gypsy in Me – Tales of an International House Sitter and Creative Paths to Freedom – How to Live Your Dream Life ASAP. She could be the poster girl for finding adventure at any age and on any income. Sharing her story as a guest speaker is also very rewarding. Feel free to contact Teresa at www.findingthegypsyinme.com.
