No I doubt it, not as you mean it I think anyway ... we certainly don't have problems of that nature ... we see the fireworks because we are on the side of a mountain and we see them at eye level!

I know there are after care homes in Spain, but thats right down South. I don't think you would be left to starve in hospital if there was no one to look after you

What about the smoking laws - is smoking allowed everywhere, or is it banned, and if there is a ban, is it followed?

thankyou all once more!

do a search on the forum for smoking, you will see that there is a fairly healthy discussion regarding it.

are these questions for real ?? seriously neighbours chatting should be th last of your worries

in the summer months mostly, you will see the Spanish older folke sitting outside on their chairs nattering away til the early hours but I think thats a great thing that they can do that without being beaten up or mugged!!!!!!

if you buy on an urbanisation that has rental places you will probably be disturbed a lot more by holiday makers coming and going at all hours - something you may want to consider when house hunting

most people agree, rent before you buy - you will never get a a feel for an area properly until you have lived in it

If you have real issues with the amount of noise levels then Spain may not be for you. The Spanish people talk fairly loudly, dogs bark incessantly, and the motorbikes as Mitzy says are loud. There are fireworks very regualrly and not just the pretty ones as they use huge banger type fireworks to celebrate just about everything, often these are used to wake the town up on important Saints days so that people do not miss any of the fun. Children play outside until quite late in the evening.

Noise to the Spanish people denotes life so therefore they glory in it and the only time it is almost guaranteed to be quiet is between 2 and 4 p.m. for siesta but this may vary from area to area.

Rosemary

it is veeeeeeeeeeeeeeery humid here this summer

we have been here nearly 4 years, and yes, we work, and yes, you do gradually get used to the spanish way of life

we eat much later than most brits, but not quite as late as the spanish, especially when the kids are at school, as we still like them to go to bed at a reasonable hour - in fact, the teachers at school are trying to get the spanish parents to adopt english ways!

during the 3 month summer hols though, it is not unknown for them to be in the communal garden with all their spanish friends until 1am

this is hard for our english neighbours who holiday here to understand, (20+ very noisy kids playing outside thier door!) but I explained that it really is too hot for the kids to play outside during the day, so the night is their playtime.

they don't like it, but are, I think beginning to understand & accept it

I hope................

we live on an urb like that - not too many holiday renters though, the owners have to get permission from the commitee to hol let, so that there are only a few like that

we don't get many problems - & anyway, it's for maybe 6 weeks a year!

very good point, and one which I wish more people reaslised before buying holiday homes/moving here

Actually I think I was being too polite when I said that the Spanish talk fairly loudly, they talk very loudly and it really amuses me when 5 or 6 are having a conversation because they all talk at once so the noise level can be quite high.

Love it

Rosemary

it amuses you

and me too - I love the way they really get excited over the smallest things

it is the one thing that annoys most of the brits who holiday here

They do not need things to be hugely hyped up to appreciate things. As you say they get excited over small things and I think they glory in life itself and that is why they are so lovely to live amongst.

Rosemary

I think we should be on the Happy Thread today

I overlook Montgo but have no probs with damp or shade. However my friend´s villa is very high up the Montgo and her house gets very damp and has no sunshine for 3 months of the year.

It is typically spanish where I am and the noise used to keep me awake as I sleep with the windows open. Now, though, I just sleep through it all.

you just get used to it, don't you?

I do get pi$$ed off with the fireworks sometimes - when they go on all night til 5am, and then start again at 8am!!:curse:

The original poster asked the same question in the Canada expats at 2.21 p.m. yesterday and has not been on here since.

Rosemary