Life in Spain through the eyes of a tourist

With some of the best weather in Europe, and miles upon miles of beautiful Mediterranean coastline, it’s no surprise to see hear that the Costa del Sol is increasingly becoming one of the most popular travel destinations for European holiday makers. Marbella and Puerto Banus continue to attract some of the wealthier visitors but there is plenty more to see and do throughout the rest of the region. With travel sites like momondo helping you find cheap flight deals in and out of Spain, this part of Malaga can be an amazing place to visit even if you’re on a budget.

Finding the best things to see

La Maroma is the highest mountain peak in the Sierra Tejeda range, at the edge of the Malaga-Granada border. Many of the pueblos blancos of La Axarquía rest on the slopes of La Maroma with amazing views past the mountains to the sea (and the Moroccan coast on a clear day), with endless hiking trails in between. The entire area is a massive mountain nature reserve that also includes the Sierra Almijara and Sierra Alhama ranges, home to numerous species of rare birds (you’re almost certain to see eagles), mountain goats and the Iberian Lynx. Gorges, waterfalls, pre-historic caves, remnants of Phoenician, Roman and Moorish civilizations – it is a hiker’s paradise without doubt. Many of the villages will offer detailed maps and possibly contact information for trail guides; for example, there is a tourist office in Canillas de Aceituno where you can find information, and from there it is only a seven hour trek to the very summit of La Maroma at almost 2100m. However, if you’re not quite up to all of this hiking but still want to see the terrain for yourself, you can hire a small plane from the nearby Axarquía – Leoni Benabu Airport to fly you past. Otherwise, for even more adventure, try paragliding through.

Finding the best places to eat

Restaurante Sollun in Nerja, with Chef Juan Quintanilla, earned a well deserved Michelin recognition in 2012 for creative and impressive Spanish cuisine, and a personal approach to service. It’s one of the most exciting restaurants anywhere between Malaga and Almeria with a unique modern flair applied to traditional Spanish classics with occasional elements of fusion. The menu is always changing and with only about five tables in the dining room, you’d better  reserve a table in advance and before word gets out much further. For more casual fare, the numerous chiringuitos right on the beach all along the coast offer the freshest of seafood and the coldest of beer in the most relaxed of environments.

Finding the right beach

The most beautiful and isolated beaches lie near Maro, just beyond Nerja, and eastward into Granada province at La Herradura. Here the cliffs rise dramatically from the sea and many of these beaches lie within national parkland so they’re protected reserves. Exploring is half the fun, and of course, the more remote the beach the fewer people you will encounter. Playa Cantarrijan, in a cove right at the border between Malaga and Granada provinces, is a favourite. With two chiringuitos right on the beach you needn’t bring your own food and drink, and there is a more private section of beach accessible by an ankle deep traverse around a huge rock sticking out of the sea. The most secluded and hidden beaches will be most easily accessed on a small boat chartered from nearby Caleta de Velez or La Herradura.

Finding somewhere to stay

While there are some four star hotels in the area, if it’s authentic exploration you’re after and an insight into local life, you’ll definitely want to stay in a private villa where you can live like a local. Try an established villa rental and tour company such as A&K Villas or an independent luxury villa rental agent. A new startup company called Caramel Trail is even developing full luxury trip planning services with accommodation in La Axarquía. You can stay on or near the beach, but a property in the hills off of the coast will offer a more culturally immersive and authentic experience.

I do not know whether you are aware of this little fact or not, but just in case you have planned to visit the heart and the south of Spain this summer, pay attention and read carefully: it is hot!  If, for example, you have an apartment in Seville, you should take a look at this survival guide, unless of course you feel like dying from dehydration.

• Rule #1: Never move more than fifty meters away from a fountain unless you bring some water with you.
• Rule #2: Never fall asleep at the beach.  That is suicide; spontaneous combustion!  Well, a night in a hospital at least.
• Rule #3: You have to be really mad to go for a walk between 12-7pm.  There is an extreme risk of being stuck to the asphalt if you do.
• Rule #4: Who minds if hats were never your thing?  Your brain sure is and you would like to continue to use it, do you not?  So, protect it!
• Rule #5: Take advantage of the evenings.  Nothing is quite like a Spanish summer night.  Before those delightful hours it is almost impossible to speak.
• Rule #6: Have you ever heard of pescaíto frito?  You cannot abandon this world without having eaten it with an ice cold beer.  Thus, you are only allowed to leave your apartments in Seville at midday if it is for this reason alone.  But, make sure you take a fan and the bar where you will be has a spot in the shade for you.  Otherwise, your ice cold beer will turn into soup in about three minutes (and the fish will be over-cooked).
• Rule #7: Remember sun screen is your best friend.
• Rule #8: Do not be ashamed of sweating, everybody does it here.
• Rule #9: Do not go into the water when you are drunk.  Yes, I know is tempting, however you can be embarrassed the rest of your life in a matter of seconds when you realize that an old lady has saved you and you are naked in front of the eyes of dozens of people.
• Rule #10: If you have been clever enough you will have chosen your Seville apartments with a terrace.  So, it is a must to enjoy a sunset barbecue with your friends on said terrace before leaving.

One of the questions I always get asked is “How did you find a job in Spain?” A lot of people would love to work in Spain, and if you're from Europe, it’s a little easier to do so, but what if you’re from the US? And also, what type of work is available for you once you get here? 

Here are a few examples of some of the most common forms of employment for most expats around the world, and Spain is no exception.

Teach English Privatley

It may seem a little tedious, but this is a good way to find work. There are tons of people in Spain who want to improve their English. Right now might be a tough time because of the crisis, but there are always lots of listings for people who want English classes online. Check out sites like Loquo and Mis Clases Particulares. Post flyers in your neighbourhood, and let everyone know you’re an English teacher.

 The main issue with private classes is that students can be flaky. Flaky students = no money for you. I once had a girl who wanted 8 hours of class a week. The first week, she came every day right on time, so I blocked out my schedule. But she turned out to be absolutely crazy and didn’t show up at all for classes…so I missed out on a big chunk of money I’d been expecting to use for rent and groceries.

Other common problems you might run into are struggling to fill your schedule, and spending a lot of time travelling and preparing classes.

Look for language academies, bars and restaurants, or temporary summer programs for under-the-table jobs.

Amelie from Amelie Says Hola reminded me that a TEFL or CELTA certification may help if you want to work at a language academy.

Work for an au pair/nanny program or babysit

There are lots of websites that have listings for families abroad who want an English-speaking au pair – just a quick Google search for “au pair jobs Spain” gives you tons of results. I have zero personal experience with this, so I can’t recommend any reputable sites myself. But I do have a friend in Barcelona who successfully worked as an au pair, so it can be a good option. Your family may give you free food and housing.

The downsides with this job are not having much time away from work, and having to deal with somebody else’s kids!

You can also try babysitting for families in your city. I got offered a job to pick up the kids from school at lunchtime, give them their lunch, and take them back to school (yeah, that school had a 2-hour break in the middle of the day). A lot of families like their kids having an English-speaking babysitter.

Look for freelance work

A lot of the time, freelance jobs are place-flexible, so if you can find somebody to write for you’re good to go. This requires a bit of leg-work and self-discipline, but it can be a nice way to make a chunk of cash.

Work online

Like freelance writing,  this one is place-flexible. There are tons of jobs you can do remotely, so see if you can find a job that’s online. I work for a website, and I’ve had a couple of friends work for me from different locations and get paid via PayPal. If you can find one of these jobs, it’s a great way to get a solid stream of money. Again, you do have to be lucky to find one of these, but it does happen.

It might be hard to make all your money with just private English classes, but combine that with some freelance writing and you’re good to go. Talk to everyone you know about your work situation, and something should turn up.

Finding jobs without the paperwork in Spain can be frustrating, but I know lots of people who have made it work. It’s tough, but with some hard work and a bit of luck you can pull it off.

Also, here’s some more general info about finding work in Spain:

- How to Live & Work in Spain -holayessica.com/2012/06/12/how-to-live-work-in-spain/#

-       Hope this helps and if you have any tips to share, do let me know!