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…
What’s with the Jamon?
Spaniards like their Ham and for good reasons. Whether it is Serrano or the finer and more expensive Iberico, Spanish hams are delicious. Ham is ubiquitous in Spain. Featured on every menu in bars and restaurants, you will see them hanging from ceilings everywhere as in this small tapas bar in Nerja. It is a…
We got married and it is all because of Spain! Find out why here.
Terry and I have been together for exactly 30 years this year. I have always said that we were “more married than many married people”. We owned and managed a business together for over 25 years, shared all bank accounts and investments and owned two properties jointly. We do not have children and in Canada,…
Do we feel like we would have stayed in Spain instead of returning home to Canada for the summer?
Coming back home to Vancouver from a glorious 6 months in Spain for the second time feels even stranger than the first time. We bought a house on the costa del sol last January and very much enjoyed our incredible new winter home for 3 months before returning to Canada. We did not feel like coming back…
Transferring money from Canada to Europe
I did a lot of research when it was time to transfer a lot of money to buy our dream house in Spain. It can be overwhelming to find the best way to move large sums of money in a timely manner at the best possible currency exchange rate. The first step will be to…
We bought a house in Spain!
You may have been wondering why I have not been writing much lately. I have been very busy. On January 31, 2019, we moved in our new house in Spain. Yes! We bought a beautiful house on the Costa Del Sol. After much research and soul searching, we just could not resist buying our own…
The single most question I am asked is: What to wear in winter on the costa del sol?
We have been in the south of Spain since October 28 and the weather has just been fantastic. We only had a handful of overcast days and hardly any rain. Temperature ranged from 18 to 24C on average. Quite pleasant for walking, hiking, biking and sitting on a terrace, sipping wine and watching the world…
Life in Spain: why the Spaniards live longer
A new study came out this week from the Health Metrics and Evaluation in Seattle USA which forecasts that people in Spain are predicted to have the longest life expectancy in the world by 2040 beating Japan into second place. The comprehensive study finds that much of the reason is to do with the way…
My first full text in Spanish (translated as well)
As you know, Terry and I are learning Spanish. We have a weekly class with a private tutor every Thursday and we will go back to school in January. Our tutor, Patricia, asked us to write a one page text on the differences between where we live and Spain. Here is my text before being…
Home is where friends are. Part 1 of the advantages of going to the same destination.
(Amy Lou and Perri her best friend in Spain) Six months away is a long time. It is a totally different experience than going on a 2 or 3 week trip. When you are spending so much time away, going to the same destination has many advantages. For us, coming back to Spain immediately felt…
Two Retired Canadians & a Dog in Spain 