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…
Category: Spanish life
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…
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….
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…
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…
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…
Last post about our six month experience in Spain.
Photo: Nerja, Spain Six months away from home is a long time, but for us, it felt like we actually were home in Spain. It is easy for a Canadian to feel at home in Spain because it is very easy going and the people are similar to Canadians in many ways. Here are the…
Spain’s Semana Santa is all about tradition and devotion.
Semana Santa is Holy Week in Spain, the week which leads to Easter. This is a BIG event for Spaniards. Some say that it has been celebrated since the 12th century, for certain since the 16th century, in Sevilla. At first, you might be surprised by such a display of religion but Semana Santa in…
What happened to sunny everyday Spain?
Look at this Vancouver Canada style of rain we are having today! As I have reported before, rainy days in Spain are rare. We have been here for 4 months now and only had a few days of rain. It rarely last a full day or 2 days at most before the warm sun returns….
Road trip to Barcelona: Should you drive or fly within Spain?
The nice thing about Spain and Europe in general is that if you drive half hour in any direction you are bound to meet a village, town or city to explore and discover. The land is populated by quaint white-washed villages called in Spain, Pueblo Blancos, beautiful seaside towns along the coast, spectacular mountain villages…
Christmas in Spain
How do the Spaniard celebrate Christmas? The Holiday season in Spain spans from December 24th to January 6th and is refer to as Navidad. The Christmas shopping season is officially kicked off on November 24th with the lighting of the Christmas lights. Take a look at Malaga this year. Just spectacular! Christmas is celebrated on…
Why do the Spaniards call red wine vino tinto instead of vino rojo and what the heck is Tinto de verano?
The color red in spanish is rojo but, for red wine, they say vino tinto, not vino rojo. Why, you may ask? It essentially relates to the latin origin of the word “tinto” and also to the process of wine making. “Tinto” comes from the Latin word “tinctus”, which means “dyed”, “stained” or “tinted”. If…
In Spain, you say going Tapas, not going to eat Tapas. Find out why here.
One of Spain’s true joys are Tapas. These are the small dishes now so popular around the world who originated right here in Spain. A Tapa is simply a small snack or appetizer traditionally consumed at lunch or in the early evening before a main meal. They are always enjoyed with a glass of wine,…
Madrid and driving on Spain highways
Madrid and driving on Spain highways We are just back from a great 3 days getaway in Madrid. Here are our tips and notes which you might find interesting or helpful if you plan to go someday. We drove from the costa del sol on highway A4 and it took us 6 hours including 2…
Madrid’s Mercado San Miguel, an absolute Foodie’s paradise
We just got to Madrid and discovered the Mercado San Miguel right next to the little apartment we rented for 3 nights by Plaza Mayor. What an amazing place. Muy maravilloso!!! We have never seen anything like this. It is an epicurean’s delight of food to buy and eat on the spot with a glass…
Here is my Spanish language friend Sandra!
I completed my first two week Spanish course but I need much practice. I therefore found a friend to speak with a couple of times a week. Here is the gorgeous and fun Sandra. She is mucho guapa y muy sympatica!! We talk of everything and nothing and she is very patient even if I…
What is the weather like in southern Spain in the fall?
We got here on November 1er and so far, we had one cloudy half day and an evening of thunderstorm. I did not have to use my umbrella in 3 weeks! This is a first for me. In fact, this is the longest stretch of sunshine I have ever been exposed to in my entire…
Two Retired Canadians & a Dog in Spain 