Snats I think your right,OMG Sam the pics are lovely,but I was shocked to see the guys in them thick winter coats,Ahhhhhhhh the little lad with his snowman looks smashing.
I was shocked to hear you have two duvets on the bed Sam,I don,t have one here in the winter ,just a sheet and a thick throw ( mind you I have the heating on) I,m not going to have that anymore by the sounds of it.
Wendy I would never of believed in a million years one would need thermals,OMG I was about to throw my winter coats and body warmers in the bag for charity ,better revise the shopping list ,extra duvets ,rugs and water bottles,and I want to live in the mountains better get myself knitting I think,whats Africa like in the winter anyone know

No it was a general comment, the Appt we were in had maybe 50% of the walls as true external walls, and there was an appt above, the windows were double glazed and it had the PVC roller shutters on all the windows also. Heating was via 2 heating A/C units, which we left on full pretty much 24/7. And still we were uncomfortable with the cold.

I can only imagine that the U value of the external walls is "zero" and that the tiled floor acts an an heat sink - If the main living areas were carpeted and the walls lined in 30mm of HD foam and 12mm plasterboard, the cost could be recouped in a few years on energy savings - it would likely be cooler in the summer also. But most importantly it would be comfortable in the chilly winter months.

Yes but it isn't relly that cold, just that we get used to the warmer temps. We go round in winter in warm clothes and perhaps a fleece, but see the tourists just out from the UK in shorts and t shirt, it's what you get used to, as I said originally in Wnter 2005-2006 we nearly had a frost one night, no frosts last winter at all, but yes you do put heaters on in winter, because you get used to the heat of summer.

I am a cold mortal anyway mikelincs, I was born in the desert.

I know what you mean about the tourists, you can spot them a mile away. We are all in coats & they are in shorts, T shirts & sandals

Wendy x

In Madrid I have experienced summer highs of 44 degrees C and winter lows of minus 8 degrees C.

In the inland mountains of Andalucia - summer highs of 46 degrees C and winter lows of minus 17 degrees C.

In the city of Granada - summer highs of 44 degrees C and winter lows just about freezing.

Winters do happen in Spain. However, even in the mountains in January you can find yourself wearing a T-shirt on sunny days and burying your head into the duvet by night.

Generally, on the high plains the frost is very hard. Someone once said 'Three months of winter followed by Six months of hell'.

The South coast benefits from very mild winters. The snow of a couple of years ago was a rare event.

Then there are valleys a short drive from the coast that have there own unique micro-climates. The only subtropical valley in Europe is near Almunecar for example.

Spain's a very big country with very diverse geography and geology. The farther inland and the higher you go the colder the winters. The North is affected more by the Atlantic and has winters that are very similar to UK winters - wet and cold.

Anyone looking at property in Spain during summer would be well advised to keep an eye on their height above sea level. It can be very deceptive - huge mountains towering above you whilst you're already over 1000 meters above sea level. Personally I wouldn't buy a property in Spain unless I had viewed during January and February. Not unusual for some villages to get snowed in for days or, even weeks!

just being a pedant here, but there are a few.

Really? Where? I was told it was the only true subtropical valley in Europe. I'll believe anything me.

for starters the Po valley in Italy, and much of the Toulouse region in France.

There are also scattered areas in The Balkans along the coast line that have similar weather patterns.

Not that its important as it wasn't the point you were trying to make, just thought I would make a comment that's all.

I live there and it's no more subtropical than the rest of the south coast.

The Costa Granada was renamed The Costa Tropical to differentiate it from the Malaga coast normally referred to as the Costa del Sol.

The only thing Tropical about it is the fact that it has a higher abundance of "tropical" fruit growing in the area.

Torrox Costa just west of Nerja has a huge sign on the boundry proudly proclaiming that Torrox has "The best climate in Europe". That's probably just the opinion of the local tourist office!

Just how cold does it really get?????

BLOODY COLD!

It has actually got a micro climate, but it in no way unique in Europe, and there are several micro climates along the cost and further in land.

Excellent website here for all environmental info on Spain. I tried to post in the Big Spider thread, but it didn't work for some reason.

http://www.iberianature.com/

You have to have so many posts before you canput urls on, until then they have to be moderated.;-)

Hi Fred James,

Its not quite the same thing but the WHO have studied and proclaimed that the middle bit of the Spanish Med coast and its hinterland is the healthiest place in Europe to live and climate must be one of the factors considered.

Regards,

John.

I certainly wouldn't disagree with that John!