Any downsides to living in Spain?
- Thread starter Vadym
- Start date
Made and ate a nice salmon tortellini, and I am back.
Things to like about Spain:
What's not to like about the weather? Compared to Canada, it's relatively balmy and it certainly rains a lot less. However, the winters are still a bit bleak at times and usually in the teens temperature wise. As a result, Spain as a tourist destination is really only happening 6 months out of the year. From Apr/May to Sept/Oct. The rest of the time is sleepy and low key. The coast shuts down in the winter and so does Majorca and Ibiza. You get little bursts around Xmas and spring break/Easter.
The people are like anywhere else. Many are among the most friendly you will ever meet. Others are complete bitches. They'd rather just stare at you than say hello, especially the older folks.
Cost of living is, for the most part, very cheap compared to Vancouver or just about anywhere in western Europe. Certainly there's cheaper living in eastern Canada (ie just about anywhere east of the Rockies) or a lot of the US, but if you're from Vancouver you will certainly appreciate the drop in cost of rent, groceries, BOOZE, car payments, etc. Utilities remain fairly high, but it's still comparable and no worse than back in Canada.
If you like to play golf, this is a pretty amazing place. I think I have about 80 courses, some of them world class destinations, withing an hour's drive from me now. You can be situated right on a world class golf course for cheap.
You can grow a few weed plants. Conjamuk says it's legal, but it's just decriminalized for personal use in the privacy of your own home. The gov't feels that what you do in the privacy of your own home is your business. The number of plants you can have is debatable; some say 3, some say 5, some say whatever. They will still bust your ass if you get caught with more than a small number of plants (the number determined randomly by whatever cop is looking at your shit at the time), or if you get caught moving that weed anywhere but within the confines of your property line. It's not a free for all here by any means. That being said, I grew 5 beauties this last summer and still have several 5 lt jars of bud (I actually hardly smoke these days, but grow almost out of principle, because I can). It makes my friends happy too.
Did I mention booze was ridiculously cheap? And cigarettes. The top line night clubs in tourist traps (Puerto Banus, Marbella, for example) can be outrageous at €20 a cocktail, but you can buy perfectly drinkable beer for less than €3 a dozen, and perfectly drinkable Spanish wine for €1 a bottle from all major grocery stores. Glasses of draft beer at bars (tubos or your typical 350ml flute) go for about €1-€1.50, and pints typically go for €2.50-€3.50. A 750ml bottle of shitty Polish vodka goes for about €4, and 1 liter of Smirnoff or Absolut goes for about €10-13, from the grocery. Smokes are about €3-5 a pack depending on where you buy them. If you can get to Gibraltar, your smokes and booze will cost about half as much as that, at about £20 a carton and £5-6 a bottle of spirits.
Younger Spanish girls are gorgeous, but have a tendency to expand when they hit their child bearing years. The Costas and Belearic islands attract so many people from around the world though that there's never any shortage of girls of all ethnicities, mainly European. The whores are mainly eastern European and south American. You should not be disappointed with the ladies if you come here.
There's a "night club" on every corner, filled with girls from all over the world (but mostly eastern European chicks and Brazilians).
There's no shortage of festivals and fairs, especially in the summer months. Places like Majorca, Ibiza and the Costas are absolutely hopping in the summer.
It's beautiful here. Whether you live right on the coast or inland somewhere, the scenery can be quite spectacular, and if you like outdoorsy shit this is the place for you. From the best windsurfing in Europe, off roading, skydiving, horseback riding, to the most amazing hiking and biking, there's no shortage of shit to do if you're not a total basement dwelling neckbeard.
I've not been to Majorca, but I've been to Ibiza twice, and it's really nice. Rolling hills of green, low lying farm fields, really nice beaches and the big clubbing in between. You don't have to go balls deep, you can just chill if you like.
Sort of shitty stuff about Spain, but not really:
You really should learn to speak the language. I haven't done a particularly good job in this department, and it's both an embarrassment after so many years, and a hindrance. Living in an expat community is difficult because the people around you are going to be speaking English and the Spaniards from there will too. Still, to properly integrate and meet people, ie girls, you're going to want to get your old school Spanish dialed in a bit.
Despite being in Europe, we're at the farthest reaches of the continent meaning that travel from here isn't so convenient at times. If you're on the Costa del Sol then your destinations are sometimes limited and it can take awhile to get to where you're going.
Mañana - it will be done tomorrow. Don't expect the same kind of response times to a lot of domestic type issues like you would back home. If you need a land line (DSL or a phone), it's going to take you at least a few days if not a couple of weeks. There are long waits at gov't offices.
These are a people that still shut down their mom and pop shops from 1:30 til 5:30 in the afternoon to go for a nap every day. It's getting better though. Slowly but surely they are adapting to the rest of Europe and you get used to it if you live here, planning accordingly as best you can.
The winter is boring. Just about everything on the islands and on the coast shuts down. The tourists and the seasonal workers go away to the winter resorts. This can be both a blessing and a curse depending on what mode you're in. You want to get some work done? Spain in the winter is just the place to be. Go for some nice walks on the beach and get some shit done. If you want to party - not so much.
The local economy is in the crapper, and the government is corrupt. There's like 25% unemployment overall and 40% in the younger demographics. The last 3 mayors of Marbella have all gone to prison. Petty crime is up, like muggings, pick pockets, car thefts, etc. The national government is being looked at for past indiscretions, and the royal family are being looked at for their previous business dealings as well...
...you know, I seriously want to make more of this, but from where I sit, this isn't a problem. Nor is it really for anyone else I know, Spaniard or otherwise. These are a resilient people with a massive underground economy. People are making money and surviving for the most part. Look around here and everyone is carrying on as they usually would. As a developer here, just don't make yourself reliant on the local economy. It's also hard to part Spaniards from their money if you're doing web development or advertising for local businesses.
Medical care is awesome, but emergency response times are shit... seriously great doctors and hospitals, but slow as fuck ambulance crews.
Get yourself private medical (€50-skies the limit per month) and, if you're on the Costa del Sol, look at medico a domicilio*medicos de urgencia*asistencia de urgencia*emergencias medicas*atencion domiciliaria*atencion medica a domicilio* sanitarios malaga The gov't ambulances, at least around here, take 30-40 minutes to arrive on site, while the private corps will come scoop your sorry ass up off the golf course with their helicopter as part of your €350 per couple per year subscription.
The gov't hospitals look like shit, but they are quality care. The private hospitals are the absolute bomb though. Private rooms, flat screen TVs, a view, so many sweet eastern European nurses handing out the meds...
..............................
Alright, I think I got drunk while writing this post and I've actually got a shit load of work to do, so I'm going to leave it here even if it is somewhat unfinished. I'll add to it later.
Things to like about Spain:
What's not to like about the weather? Compared to Canada, it's relatively balmy and it certainly rains a lot less. However, the winters are still a bit bleak at times and usually in the teens temperature wise. As a result, Spain as a tourist destination is really only happening 6 months out of the year. From Apr/May to Sept/Oct. The rest of the time is sleepy and low key. The coast shuts down in the winter and so does Majorca and Ibiza. You get little bursts around Xmas and spring break/Easter.
The people are like anywhere else. Many are among the most friendly you will ever meet. Others are complete bitches. They'd rather just stare at you than say hello, especially the older folks.
Cost of living is, for the most part, very cheap compared to Vancouver or just about anywhere in western Europe. Certainly there's cheaper living in eastern Canada (ie just about anywhere east of the Rockies) or a lot of the US, but if you're from Vancouver you will certainly appreciate the drop in cost of rent, groceries, BOOZE, car payments, etc. Utilities remain fairly high, but it's still comparable and no worse than back in Canada.
If you like to play golf, this is a pretty amazing place. I think I have about 80 courses, some of them world class destinations, withing an hour's drive from me now. You can be situated right on a world class golf course for cheap.
You can grow a few weed plants. Conjamuk says it's legal, but it's just decriminalized for personal use in the privacy of your own home. The gov't feels that what you do in the privacy of your own home is your business. The number of plants you can have is debatable; some say 3, some say 5, some say whatever. They will still bust your ass if you get caught with more than a small number of plants (the number determined randomly by whatever cop is looking at your shit at the time), or if you get caught moving that weed anywhere but within the confines of your property line. It's not a free for all here by any means. That being said, I grew 5 beauties this last summer and still have several 5 lt jars of bud (I actually hardly smoke these days, but grow almost out of principle, because I can). It makes my friends happy too.
Did I mention booze was ridiculously cheap? And cigarettes. The top line night clubs in tourist traps (Puerto Banus, Marbella, for example) can be outrageous at €20 a cocktail, but you can buy perfectly drinkable beer for less than €3 a dozen, and perfectly drinkable Spanish wine for €1 a bottle from all major grocery stores. Glasses of draft beer at bars (tubos or your typical 350ml flute) go for about €1-€1.50, and pints typically go for €2.50-€3.50. A 750ml bottle of shitty Polish vodka goes for about €4, and 1 liter of Smirnoff or Absolut goes for about €10-13, from the grocery. Smokes are about €3-5 a pack depending on where you buy them. If you can get to Gibraltar, your smokes and booze will cost about half as much as that, at about £20 a carton and £5-6 a bottle of spirits.
Younger Spanish girls are gorgeous, but have a tendency to expand when they hit their child bearing years. The Costas and Belearic islands attract so many people from around the world though that there's never any shortage of girls of all ethnicities, mainly European. The whores are mainly eastern European and south American. You should not be disappointed with the ladies if you come here.
There's a "night club" on every corner, filled with girls from all over the world (but mostly eastern European chicks and Brazilians).
There's no shortage of festivals and fairs, especially in the summer months. Places like Majorca, Ibiza and the Costas are absolutely hopping in the summer.
It's beautiful here. Whether you live right on the coast or inland somewhere, the scenery can be quite spectacular, and if you like outdoorsy shit this is the place for you. From the best windsurfing in Europe, off roading, skydiving, horseback riding, to the most amazing hiking and biking, there's no shortage of shit to do if you're not a total basement dwelling neckbeard.
I've not been to Majorca, but I've been to Ibiza twice, and it's really nice. Rolling hills of green, low lying farm fields, really nice beaches and the big clubbing in between. You don't have to go balls deep, you can just chill if you like.
Sort of shitty stuff about Spain, but not really:
You really should learn to speak the language. I haven't done a particularly good job in this department, and it's both an embarrassment after so many years, and a hindrance. Living in an expat community is difficult because the people around you are going to be speaking English and the Spaniards from there will too. Still, to properly integrate and meet people, ie girls, you're going to want to get your old school Spanish dialed in a bit.
Despite being in Europe, we're at the farthest reaches of the continent meaning that travel from here isn't so convenient at times. If you're on the Costa del Sol then your destinations are sometimes limited and it can take awhile to get to where you're going.
Mañana - it will be done tomorrow. Don't expect the same kind of response times to a lot of domestic type issues like you would back home. If you need a land line (DSL or a phone), it's going to take you at least a few days if not a couple of weeks. There are long waits at gov't offices.
These are a people that still shut down their mom and pop shops from 1:30 til 5:30 in the afternoon to go for a nap every day. It's getting better though. Slowly but surely they are adapting to the rest of Europe and you get used to it if you live here, planning accordingly as best you can.
The winter is boring. Just about everything on the islands and on the coast shuts down. The tourists and the seasonal workers go away to the winter resorts. This can be both a blessing and a curse depending on what mode you're in. You want to get some work done? Spain in the winter is just the place to be. Go for some nice walks on the beach and get some shit done. If you want to party - not so much.
The local economy is in the crapper, and the government is corrupt. There's like 25% unemployment overall and 40% in the younger demographics. The last 3 mayors of Marbella have all gone to prison. Petty crime is up, like muggings, pick pockets, car thefts, etc. The national government is being looked at for past indiscretions, and the royal family are being looked at for their previous business dealings as well...
...you know, I seriously want to make more of this, but from where I sit, this isn't a problem. Nor is it really for anyone else I know, Spaniard or otherwise. These are a resilient people with a massive underground economy. People are making money and surviving for the most part. Look around here and everyone is carrying on as they usually would. As a developer here, just don't make yourself reliant on the local economy. It's also hard to part Spaniards from their money if you're doing web development or advertising for local businesses.
Medical care is awesome, but emergency response times are shit... seriously great doctors and hospitals, but slow as fuck ambulance crews.
Get yourself private medical (€50-skies the limit per month) and, if you're on the Costa del Sol, look at medico a domicilio*medicos de urgencia*asistencia de urgencia*emergencias medicas*atencion domiciliaria*atencion medica a domicilio* sanitarios malaga The gov't ambulances, at least around here, take 30-40 minutes to arrive on site, while the private corps will come scoop your sorry ass up off the golf course with their helicopter as part of your €350 per couple per year subscription.
The gov't hospitals look like shit, but they are quality care. The private hospitals are the absolute bomb though. Private rooms, flat screen TVs, a view, so many sweet eastern European nurses handing out the meds...
..............................
Alright, I think I got drunk while writing this post and I've actually got a shit load of work to do, so I'm going to leave it here even if it is somewhat unfinished. I'll add to it later.
If you spend more than 183 cumulative days in Spain, you become liable for taxation there on your world income.
http://www.agenciatributaria.es/AEA...sidentes/Folletos_divulgativos/irnringles.pdf
Eh, spanish girls aren't that hot IMO. They smoke too much and are wrinkly because of that. The siestas midday thing annoyed me when I was there too: like, I want to buy shit yo so where are you?
Other than that, weather was nice and I enjoyed the parting.
Other than that, weather was nice and I enjoyed the parting.
^^ This.
If you still end up in Mallorca, I bet you $1000 within 6 months you end up in mainland Spain.
Island living gets mundane quickly. That, and if I remember correctly, Mallorca looks like Mars. Aside from a few nice beaches, the rest is just dry, sandy, and rocky.
Just do a Google image search for Mallorca or Majorca. The Balearics are lush and green with rolling hills of pine forests with farm land in between. Yeah, there are rocky cliffs and outcroppings, but they are green islands full of vegetation for the most part. The picture you painted better describes Malta.
Mallorca is not far away from Barcelona, afaik there are regular ferries Palma-Barca. And Mallorca is not barren, parts of it are very green. It is rocky though, you should be in a good fit to enjoy it.
Mallorca is an upmarket area and quite expensive when compared with mainland Spain.
I for one prefer Atlantic coast - Costa de la Luz, from Cadiz and up to Portugal. It is less developed then rest of costas, it is slightly colder, but its' beaches with sandy dunes are absolutely the best I've seen and there are a lot of old interesting cities around.
Mallorca is an upmarket area and quite expensive when compared with mainland Spain.
I for one prefer Atlantic coast - Costa de la Luz, from Cadiz and up to Portugal. It is less developed then rest of costas, it is slightly colder, but its' beaches with sandy dunes are absolutely the best I've seen and there are a lot of old interesting cities around.
Oha..
yes, In know Mallorca is more than Arenal. Point taken.
Islands are shite was a joke (tongue in cheek) comment.
However, islands normally have several drawbacks:
Ease of access
Drinking water (might have to be imported)
Price of living higher than mainland (as most/all goods have to be shipped/flown there)
Might be different in Mallorca, but generally, mainland is less expensive / more services / better connectivity.
::emp::
yes, In know Mallorca is more than Arenal. Point taken.
Islands are shite was a joke (tongue in cheek) comment.
However, islands normally have several drawbacks:
Ease of access
Drinking water (might have to be imported)
Price of living higher than mainland (as most/all goods have to be shipped/flown there)
Might be different in Mallorca, but generally, mainland is less expensive / more services / better connectivity.
::emp::
Everything FatBat says is right. If you are coming to work in the local economy forget it, but if you work online worldwide its a great place.
You gotta come with the right attitude though and that is that things can take time to get done, so just don't let that stress you too easily, otherwise you're gonna hate it.
The only bugbear I have is that petty crime has gone up A LOT so you need to not leave shit lying around (in your car etc.) and have a good security system at home. Saying that, violent crime is very low (in the areas I know).
Also, go mainland and not island unless its in the summer or you want a VERY quiet time.
Good choice. Good luck!
You gotta come with the right attitude though and that is that things can take time to get done, so just don't let that stress you too easily, otherwise you're gonna hate it.
The only bugbear I have is that petty crime has gone up A LOT so you need to not leave shit lying around (in your car etc.) and have a good security system at home. Saying that, violent crime is very low (in the areas I know).
Also, go mainland and not island unless its in the summer or you want a VERY quiet time.
Good choice. Good luck!
Nah, I got it mixed up, and was actually thinking Tenerife. That island is a bit of a dry, dust bowl.
Mallorca was actually really nice, and lush. Lots of Germans and Swedes though, if I remember correctly. Nice beaches too.\
Not sure if I'd ever want to live there though. I'm assuming it'd be the same as Malta. Great party for a few months, but after that you want to tear your eyes out due to boredom and the isolation of being on an island.