love spain

Hello

This is my first post, I am a newbie here but not to forums.  So far I have read the debate (and also been lurking for some months) and I am still in a bit of a quandary.  Hubby and I are two very adaptable people.  We were both airline crew from 1970 to 1988 when we left and moved 350 miles away from our friends to buy a hotel in a community which in a lot of ways is similar to a small village with people who are very set in their ways and don't always welcome outsiders, but we found our place amongst them.  12 years ago we sold the business and soon found jobs - myself in the voluntary sector and my husband with the accountants we had used for the previous 15 years we were in business.

Going back to the 60s I had visited Spain about 5 times and on the last occasion my friends and I flew back to UK on a BEA scheduled flight.  I loved it and determined to become cabin crew (at the same time Hubby was working for a tour company taking English tourists to Italy by coach).  I set out to learn Spanish and for 2 years I studied, I eventually met a couple learning Spanish because their son had married a Spanish girl.  They hosted their Daughter in law's sister for the summer and I became friends with her as a person of the same age.  Eventually I was invited to Madrid to see her and her family and stayed 7 months teaching English.  Because of my Spansh I was accepted by BOAC (the state International airline at the time in the UK) where I flew the south American routes much to my confusion as they understood my Madrilanean lisp but I didn't understand a word they said!

Concurrently Hubby's French was brill.  Anyway some 40 years later we are fed up in the UK and having some friends who live in Spain we have been determined to move there.  I think we could fit in any  society and we were looking forward to it.  Our UK home is on the market and though we can't afford to buy a place in UK and another in Spain we can certainly afford to buy in Spain with a nice cushion of money in the bank .  We will be retired with a half decent pension, but I am T1 diabetic and therefore need quite a lot in terms of insulin and test strips which are expensive.

We are careful, but I am worrying a little about buying safely.  Should I worry?  Oh and we would deffo go to language classes - you forget an awful lot in 45 years!

 sent you a pm

 Hello DonLochnagar.

As from one scared person to another. We live in Peñiscola, Castellon.  When we came here to live I also had doubts as you here so many confusing stories.  I believe we have the best hosptals in Spain.  They are very quick, very conciderate and the treatment is second to non.  We have been here 10 years now and my husband who is 73 and myself 57 have had to use them quite a bit and they have always been fantastic.  So all I can say is do not be afraid by scarey stories because a lot of the time that is all they are.  Here the doctors believe in preventive measures where they can so you get to see the consultant quite quickly and then the follow ups are great.  When I first came here I had health problems that were declining in England.  I have certainly gained by living here.  You will love Spain I am sure.  You will also pull your hair out with frustration sometimes but it will all be worth while.  One thing for sure is that you do not see a lot of Spanish with stress problems and heart problems.  So wherever you end up in Spain - Good luck.

Hi There, I am very upset they way you talk about Torrevieja, I live there with 11 Years and it is the healtiest place in the world to live with the salt lakes and everything so cheap,We will shortly have the biggest shopping mall in Spain called La Zenia Boulavard. I went to Murcia a few times to IKEA and spend a few days there, I think you made the wrong choice, if I got a place for nothing I would not live there, to many people living there, and the beaches are to far away and are crap, Cabroig Beach near Torrevieja is the safest beach in Spain, and the Irish and English bars put on fantastic entertainment,regarding the roads you should come up some day new and see them fantastic, I have friends who own property in Murcia and want to get out and move to Torreivieja area but can't sell.....discusted with your thread...

 It's horses for courses isn't it? If you chose to follow the example of hundreds of thousands of Indians and Pakistanis in the UK, with no intention of integrating into your host nation, then Torrevieja is the place for you. I came to Spain for the Spanish way of life, not to live in a 'Little Britain' with sunshine, sand full English breakfasts and kiss-me quick hats.

Happily, I beleive I'm with the majority on this point.

Hi,  ALANROB

You are correct in your judgment  - before we bought near the south coast we were advised

to view the east coast as one was able to purchase twice the size of property for the same money.

If you want a " that type " of life style Torracrapa is the place to go.

It's the old story if you want the best you have to pay for it.

 That is a really unpleasant response midasgold and totally uncalled for.   There are many many places on the costas which have enclaves of Brit expats.  For sure some have more than others - but you will find there are good places to live in these places, just as anywhere else.   Places like Torrevieja have become what they are because of the demand from  northern Europeans.  You are absolutely right to choose where you want to live, but to shout others down when they defend an area is (dare I say it?) typical unpleasant Brit behaviour.   

 There are also some very nice places around Torrevieja, and inside as well, which are lovely.  Agreed, some of the areas are very British orientated and urbanised but if people prefer that then that is fine.  We lived just outside Torrevieja and up from Orihuela Costa urbanisations.  It was really good and lots of bars/restaurants to choose from with lovely beaches.  We moved about 4 years ago but only about 15 minutes from Torrevieja.  I defy anyone to have such a good build as we have, beautiful pools area and a really multi-cultural community.  We still go into Torrevieja and there are some lovely little cafes just off the front.  It all boils down to looking at where and what you want.  To me, being stuck in the countryside without the bars/restaurants and communities and the problems of water and power supplies, or being stuck in a big city with all the hurly burly of life and those horrible sewing machines on wheels going past would be hell on earth but I would never decry anyone for making that choice as everyone is different.  

And to live in Mijas and complain about the number of Brits on the East Coast is a bit taking the wee wee, I think.  When we last went there we were stopped every 5 minutes by time share touts and it spoiled our day completely.

After all the talking, you choose where you want to live and as long as it works for you then that must be a result surely ? My cousin lives in Gran Alacant, which has a fabulous beach but is not for me, I live in Javea and for me Javea and Moraira are the best places to live -  but that is my opinion

It seems lots of people have a lot of anger.....

I don't know why anyone should be angry, it's Spain, it's sunny and it's warm.  I'm currently in Scotland, it's dull, it's about to rain or snow and it's 9 degrees at 1pm!!!

 oh dear too hot in spain and cold in scotland

i wonder how long you where in spain after a year i found myself acclimatised and i am wearing a thick jumper and its

22c

dont think i could survive in Scotland

I don't know i think its a ex pat thing to complain no matter where they are , I moved here 8 years ago and would not move back to the uk even if someone paid me to do it !

All you have to do is listen to the ex pat english in the bars there are two types 1 is happy and feel lucky to be here and 2. are the born moaners

Type 2 always annoy me as they are the ones who complain about England and the amount of immigrants (yet they forget they are an immigrant here and dont try to mingle with the spanish or adapt to the spanish way of life ) they complain about spanish things every thing from paperwork ( god the spanish do love it ! ) The Police ( how they are heavy handed or dont agree with a law ) , That people in the uk are untrust worthy or live off the tax payers ( but they forget there are more ex pats here in spain that dont pay tax here , work illegally , drive english cars illegally here etc etc than actually do things correctly )

I see there are only two draw backs for me ,

1 you normally have to work harder for less money here

2 when you have always struggled with laungages spanish is hard ( but least i try :-) )

other than those two down sides for me , Spain has got alot of things simular to how England was (back in the good old days :P ) when people ( mainly spanish) say good morning or afternoon , are friendly and no one has to walk down a high street of a town at night time and wonder when the next fight is coming , Its a joy to see kids running around at 1am being kids even the toddlers ! Spain accepts anyone if they try to adapt to there life style , keep there noses clean and abide by spanish law (no matter if you agree with it or not !!! ) 

All i would say about the people moaning about spain , every one has a choice and they should move back to England if they are that unhappy ! We all chose to move to spain and we can all make the choice to move back if we wanted to ! perhaps its attention seeking when they complain PMSL 

 Hurray ?In the Sun? I agree, those not liking Spain are free to return to UK

:)

hey linda

 nothing like starting a conversation that could be seen as controversal on a sunday lol

 Hey, loving it. Bit of a wind up for some!!

 being controversial

now that sounds like a great idea for a moan

i really do not like being interupted by people being positive when i am busy preparing my whinge list for the week ahead it is my only reason to cling to life!!

Brilliant , will you marry me!!!

Hey Linda i wont even ask who that comment  was for lol

Hey its far more fun having a banter week with out a prepaired whinge list with the ever so positive people

ok heres a question for you , why is it the ex pats who drive around in spain with the english cars that are un taxed , no mot and no insurance are always the ones who moan about people in the uk breaking the law

 that could be big o me linda

as for untaxed car drivers it may be that their brains are so overstretched they have forgotten their recent past thoughts

bit like brian who always complained that his brain hurt

went for coffee this pm sun beating down so hard was forced to take my coat off eveything here is such a fuss and effort!!!

oh and in the sun you must take more care with your spelling or i shall have to complain to the management lol

prepaired sounds like an arranged marriage

 I do believe this thread has touched a few nerve ends. Hey ho, roll on manana y pasado manana. I really do love this country!!! But think, back in Blighty everyone complains about the weather, over here the 'complainers' need an alternative crutch.