Living in inland Spain.
#1
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Joined: May 2009
Location: Alicante province
Posts: 5,753
Living in inland Spain.
We attended an English wedding yesterday at Hondon de Las Frailes, a beautiful, laid back Spanish town, in a valley surrounded by mountains, a perfect setting in all respects. The Spanish justice of the peace and other officials conducted the ceremony with dignity and we all applauded their sincere efforts, mostly English but some Spanish guests too.
We then had another civil ceremony at the newlyweds home, a small finca nearby in an idyllic setting, with breathtaking mountain views and the sort of neighbors you could die for. As confirmed townies, my wife and I looked at our surroundings and wondered whether we should once again consider a move to inland Spain, we felt totally at peace with the place and the people.
Near to the end of the civil ceremony, an elderly Englishman fainted and severely banged his head on concrete on falling. Several qualified people tended to him and an ambulance was called.
We left two hours later and the ambulance had not yet arrived. Apparently the local hospital was some 30 miles away and there just weren't any ambulances available on a Saturday afternoon.
The injured man made a sufficient recovery to make his way home, he lived two houses away, but blood was still pouring from his head wound.
We then had another civil ceremony at the newlyweds home, a small finca nearby in an idyllic setting, with breathtaking mountain views and the sort of neighbors you could die for. As confirmed townies, my wife and I looked at our surroundings and wondered whether we should once again consider a move to inland Spain, we felt totally at peace with the place and the people.
Near to the end of the civil ceremony, an elderly Englishman fainted and severely banged his head on concrete on falling. Several qualified people tended to him and an ambulance was called.
We left two hours later and the ambulance had not yet arrived. Apparently the local hospital was some 30 miles away and there just weren't any ambulances available on a Saturday afternoon.
The injured man made a sufficient recovery to make his way home, he lived two houses away, but blood was still pouring from his head wound.
#2
Re: Living in inland Spain.
We attended an English wedding yesterday at Hondon de Las Frailes, a beautiful, laid back Spanish town, in a valley surrounded by mountains, a perfect setting in all respects. The Spanish justice of the peace and other officials conducted the ceremony with dignity and we all applauded their sincere efforts, mostly English but some Spanish guests too.
We then had another civil ceremony at the newlyweds home, a small finca nearby in an idyllic setting, with breathtaking mountain views and the sort of neighbors you could die for. As confirmed townies, my wife and I looked at our surroundings and wondered whether we should once again consider a move to inland Spain, we felt totally at peace with the place and the people.
Near to the end of the civil ceremony, an elderly Englishman fainted and severely banged his head on concrete on falling. Several qualified people tended to him and an ambulance was called.
We left two hours later and the ambulance had not yet arrived. Apparently the local hospital was some 30 miles away and there just weren't any ambulances available on a Saturday afternoon.
The injured man made a sufficient recovery to make his way home, he lived two houses away, but blood was still pouring from his head wound.
We then had another civil ceremony at the newlyweds home, a small finca nearby in an idyllic setting, with breathtaking mountain views and the sort of neighbors you could die for. As confirmed townies, my wife and I looked at our surroundings and wondered whether we should once again consider a move to inland Spain, we felt totally at peace with the place and the people.
Near to the end of the civil ceremony, an elderly Englishman fainted and severely banged his head on concrete on falling. Several qualified people tended to him and an ambulance was called.
We left two hours later and the ambulance had not yet arrived. Apparently the local hospital was some 30 miles away and there just weren't any ambulances available on a Saturday afternoon.
The injured man made a sufficient recovery to make his way home, he lived two houses away, but blood was still pouring from his head wound.
so I guess you're staying in town then?
it's horses for courses, isn't it?, and each place has it's pros & cons
we complain about the noise here sometimes, but I'm sure being in the middle of nowhere would get me down on a long term basis
of course the ideal would be to live in town & have a country bolt hole
I suppose a girl can dream........
#3
Re: Living in inland Spain.
Climate is another factor to consider if you move inland, particularly if you're after those magnificent mountain views. Many places in inland Spain have surprisingly cold temperatures in winter. Perhaps a compromise would be the coastal strip of northern Spain - the towns and villages bordering Santander have good facilities and communications, yet the scenery is great (Picos de Europa in the background), things are still done in a traditional way and the winters are mild up to a short distance inland. However you have to accept higher rainfall there (and cooler summers), and you don't go far inland before snow and cold weather is a common annoyance in winter. I suppose what I'm saying is there are always pros and cons to wherever you live. I'm more of a city person myself, but I can see the appeal of a country place as I get older.
#4
Re: Living in inland Spain.
You know you can still be a townie AND live inland. "Inland" Spain isn't just tiny little villages and goats you know!
BTW - Why do people use the word "inland". Never in my life have I talked about inland UK and I wouldn't use it here either. So why do some people say "inland"? Surely they are referring to the campo?
BTW - Why do people use the word "inland". Never in my life have I talked about inland UK and I wouldn't use it here either. So why do some people say "inland"? Surely they are referring to the campo?
#5
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Joined: May 2009
Location: Alicante province
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Re: Living in inland Spain.
I hope the old guy is OK?
so I guess you're staying in town then?
it's horses for courses, isn't it?, and each place has it's pros & cons
we complain about the noise here sometimes, but I'm sure being in the middle of nowhere would get me down on a long term basis
of course the ideal would be to live in town & have a country bolt hole
I suppose a girl can dream........
so I guess you're staying in town then?
it's horses for courses, isn't it?, and each place has it's pros & cons
we complain about the noise here sometimes, but I'm sure being in the middle of nowhere would get me down on a long term basis
of course the ideal would be to live in town & have a country bolt hole
I suppose a girl can dream........
And yes, we'll be staying in town, although we had another long discussion this morning. A nearbyinca in Las Frailes is for sale, one of many. Without saying too much, it's got six bedrooms on 14,000 metres, with a good swimming pool, for the price of a two-bedroomed flat at Javea Port, or a townhouse in Torrevieja.
An hour before his fall, I was talking to the man, asking him about inland Spanish life. He explained that he came from a village in Sussex and was used to country life, and was blissfully happy in Spain.
I know his village in Sussex and also know that his nearest hospital there was a good 20 miles away, and I wondered what would happen if an ambulance was called there? But what's the point of such an argument? I don't even know the answer, I've lived in London for most for my life.
We don't need six bedrooms, I'm struggling with a 900 metre garden, and even with binoculars I can't see any significant mountains, but, if pushed I could walk to two hospitals from where I live.
But, I'm still thinking of the 14,000 metres with mountains all around. We're not going to get ill, are we? Are we? Not with our Mediterranean diet and I walk the dog every morning. A few beers at times? A few beers? Why have I got a headache today and a churning stomach? What a lovely wedding though and what lovely people.
#6
Re: Living in inland Spain.
You know you can still be a townie AND live inland. "Inland" Spain isn't just tiny little villages and goats you know!
BTW - Why do people use the word "inland". Never in my life have I talked about inland UK and I wouldn't use it here either. So why do some people say "inland"? Surely they are referring to the campo?
BTW - Why do people use the word "inland". Never in my life have I talked about inland UK and I wouldn't use it here either. So why do some people say "inland"? Surely they are referring to the campo?
#7
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 614
Re: Living in inland Spain.
So far as hospitals and ambulances goes - yes, be aware. My place is inland. I can't get a landline phone installed (too far from the nearest telegraph poles) and mobile coverage is lousy. Plus the house is up a track, off the "main" road. I'm under no illusions that under those circumstances, getting emergency aid is pretty dam' near impossible: from the lack of signal (even if you could reach a phone after a fall while on your own, say) to the lack of language - trying to describe how to get here, merely giving an address is no help whatsoever, to the time it would take to get here as the nearest hospital/town is a 30 minute drive (so 60 minute round trip) away and the twisty roads just don't support high-speed driving.
The only solution I can think of is to not have any accidents and don't get ill.
#8
Re: Living in inland Spain.
Yes, having used the ferry from Santander, I was surprised to see that even in late April, there was snow at the side of the roads. And that was while driving around the mountains on the A67, rather than going "over the top"
So far as hospitals and ambulances goes - yes, be aware. My place is inland. I can't get a landline phone installed (too far from the nearest telegraph poles) and mobile coverage is lousy. Plus the house is up a track, off the "main" road. I'm under no illusions that under those circumstances, getting emergency aid is pretty dam' near impossible: from the lack of signal (even if you could reach a phone after a fall while on your own, say) to the lack of language - trying to describe how to get here, merely giving an address is no help whatsoever, to the time it would take to get here as the nearest hospital/town is a 30 minute drive (so 60 minute round trip) away and the twisty roads just don't support high-speed driving.
The only solution I can think of is to not have any accidents and don't get ill.
So far as hospitals and ambulances goes - yes, be aware. My place is inland. I can't get a landline phone installed (too far from the nearest telegraph poles) and mobile coverage is lousy. Plus the house is up a track, off the "main" road. I'm under no illusions that under those circumstances, getting emergency aid is pretty dam' near impossible: from the lack of signal (even if you could reach a phone after a fall while on your own, say) to the lack of language - trying to describe how to get here, merely giving an address is no help whatsoever, to the time it would take to get here as the nearest hospital/town is a 30 minute drive (so 60 minute round trip) away and the twisty roads just don't support high-speed driving.
The only solution I can think of is to not have any accidents and don't get ill.
#9
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2009
Location: Alicante province
Posts: 5,753
Re: Living in inland Spain.
You know you can still be a townie AND live inland. "Inland" Spain isn't just tiny little villages and goats you know!
BTW - Why do people use the word "inland". Never in my life have I talked about inland UK and I wouldn't use it here either. So why do some people say "inland"? Surely they are referring to the campo?
BTW - Why do people use the word "inland". Never in my life have I talked about inland UK and I wouldn't use it here either. So why do some people say "inland"? Surely they are referring to the campo?
#10
Re: Living in inland Spain.
(I'm guessing he's not Spanish?)
#11
Re: Living in inland Spain.
I live in the campo, 1.5km from the nearest tarmac, and would strongly advocate anyone living anywhere, campo or otherwise, to be able to describe where they live. I would hate to be in an emergency situation & have to hope the operator (if, as someone already pointed out, I could get signal) spoke English. Do UK 999 operators speak other languages as standard? That's not to say I wouldn't get the odd tense wrong, or splutter & stutter a bit, but I would definitely be able to do it.
#13
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Joined: Dec 2006
Location: Living in a good place
Posts: 8,824
Re: Living in inland Spain.
True So many brits living "Inland" from the coast now they need a new word. Can't think of one though, only "Inland-Inland"
#14
Re: Living in inland Spain.
Where does this "one of those brits that live on the Costa" come from then, bit of a sweeping statement. ;-(
#15
Re: Living in inland Spain.
I guess inland instead of campo is similar to calling ourselves expats instead of immigrants.