As of May 20, 2025, Spain has implemented a significant change to its Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV) program, introducing a mandatory minimum stay of 183 days per calendar year for visa renewal eligibility. This is a major change to the more flexible rule that we have been enjoying for the past 7 years. This adjustment aligns…
Healthcare in Spain, my personal experience
What do you do for health care when in Spain? This is a question we get a lot. We have been coming to spend the winters in Spain for 7 years now. We came here on the Non-lucrative Visa. If you’re a non-European citizen moving to Spain or coming for more than 3 months a…
Sevilla, the graceful city where you will feel Spain’s passion
We were in Sevilla last week for a second time. Why did we wait so long to go back! I fell in love with Sevilla in 2018 and my love for it grew this time around even more. The sun-soaked city is rich in history, grandiose architecture and is the true heart and soul of…
When Canadians come to Spain
We first came to Nerja in the winter of 2017. Rented a house for six months, invited family and friends, and honestly, I was hooked from day one. I couldn’t stop posting photos—sunny skies, beach walks, tapas, all of it. A few people got inspired and made the trip out. Some stayed with us for…
When it rains, it pours!
The Costa del Sol, known for its sunny beaches, warm Mediterranean waters, and over 300 days of sunshine per year, is often associated with endless summer weather. But the truth is that it does rain here and when it does, it pours! The occasional torrential rains on the costa del sol are rare but powerful….
The Spanish “Lisp”: Myth or Reality
Do you have friends who came back home from Spain showing off how they can pronounce Barcelona like the Spaniard, Bar”th”elona? Cute eh? 😊 The so-called “Spanish lisp” is one of the most widely discussed and misunderstood aspects of the Spanish language. Many people believe that Spaniards “lisp” their pronunciation of certain consonants, but this…
We feel so lucky! We got the Golden Visa just in time!!
After months of speculation, it is confirmed. Spain’s Golden Visa program will end on April 3, 2025. We decided to apply for the Golden Visa in January 2024 because we had come to the end of the renewal options for the Non-lucrative visa that we had since 2017. What is the Golden Visa? Introduced in…
Do you need to learn Spanish to live in Spain?
Learning a new language is a daunting task especially in your 60s. It seems like a fun thing to do when you have more time on your hands and an easy project when you are a French speaker but let me tell you, after 7 years of studying and practicing daily, it is not easy….
Hola! I am back!!
It has been a long time since my last post. We have been very busy getting settled in our new house and ready for the next chapter of our life in Spain. I have many subjects ideas for future posts in the coming months but first I would like to update you on what we…
Renewing the Spain Residency Permit for non-EU
You want what we have? Sunny everyday Spain for more than 3 months every year?Here is how to legally be in Spain for more than 3 months with the process for renewing the visa permit. Non-EU residents are limited to stays of 90 days or less in any 6 month period. We need a visa…
Health Insurance for non-EU foreigners in Spain
I get regular questions regarding the health care system in Spain and what type of insurance is available. This weighs heavily on the minds of retires as we get older. The good thing is that the Health care system in Spain is quite good and affordable medical insurance widely available. Here are some details about…
Spain tax system is no heaven
Those dreaming or contemplating a permanent move to Spain, would certainly want to compare the two tax systems as part of their decision process. There are also tax consequences when owning a property in Spain, whether you live here full time or not and differences between EU citizen and non-EU. Here is a quick outline…
How much does it cost to buy and maintain a house in Spain?
In 2019, we followed our dream and bought a house in the sun to use in the winter months. We never expected to buy such a large property. We have always lived in modest properties and small spaces due to the fact that, in Vancouver, real estate is very expensive. We bought Villa El Gavilan after much…
Cordoba, the sophisticated roman and moorish city
The city of Cordoba has a past with great significance. It was founded in 169 B.C. by the Romans. They chose this site for its strategic location with its highest navigable point of the Guadalquivir River. It became a port city of great importance, used for shipping Spanish olive oil, wine and wheat back to…
Coronavirus in Spain: what is it like?
I waited before writing an article about what it is like in Spain during the coronavirus pandemic. I wanted to have some perspective on the situation first and was hoping that I could write about it in the past tense. Unfortunately, we are going through a severe second wave right now which shows no signs…
Update from Spain: Our third winter in Spain got extended
It has been quite a while since my last blog post. We have been busy but I think that the reason why I did not write sooner stems from the coronavirus events. The pandemic circumstances has made me somewhat numb and unable to formulate clear thoughts. I have been feeling like writing again because I…
Andalucia travel planning tips
We get a lot of requests from friends and blog readers about tips and recommendations when planning a trip to Spain, Andalucia and the Costa del Sol. This is our 3rd winter in Nerja and we have travelled and explored a lot of Spain. Here are a few ideas to get you started on your…
A few tips about getting ready to go away for six months.
We are getting ready to go away for the winter again this year. This will be our 3rd winter in beautiful and sunny Spain and we are getting quite good at getting organized and packing for us and our dog Amy Lou. First of all, if you go to your destination like us, by plane,…
Blog 10 things to do in Spain besides going tapas or visiting la Sagrada familia
I recently watch a You Tube video, Spain Revealed with James Blick. This man is married to a Spanish woman and has regular videos about customs and culture in Spain. Here are his top 10 things to do in Spain beside tapas, paella and la Segrada Familia. I added my own commentary to his tips….
Estate Taxes in Spain
If you acquire a property in Spain as we did, you need to know about inheritance tax. Unlike Canada, there are taxes to pay in Spain on inheritances and they can be quite hefty. The level of tax varies depending on the relationship to the deceased and the region in Spain and it is the…
Two Retired Canadians & a Dog in Spain 