Originally Posted by Lou P.

Honestly! Some people must spend their whole time looking for holes to pick and things to sneer at.
Hip999, I have horrendous vertigo + panic at heights. It's not a phobia - it's a physical symptom which is so terrifying and truly dangerous (i could easily fall off a rampart or drive over a cliff.) It started as part of M.E. years ago (M.E. being mainly neurological, it's not a surprising symptom) and gradually worsened. I think it's stable now, but I can't stand on the table to change a light-bulb - wheeow, crash - and driving across a viaduct or high bridge or on a mountain road got harder and harder. I know exacvtly what you mean about heights, especially when driving - Aaaargh! I don't drive now.
However, I managed, before I let my licence expire, to travel around most of France and most of Spain. You just have to plan ahead as far as possible and when you get to the impossible, find a way. Once I ound myself entering on a very higherduct in France, towing an 8m caravan, panicked, slammed brakes on in middle of road, burst into tears, shaking all over.. ..A nice man fetched the motards and I had a gendarme to drive the van and a6-bike police escort across the frightaduct. They weren't at all cross. One time in Spain, I found a taxi in the nearest village, about 20km from the fearfuil bridges, and paid her to drive very, very slowly in the middle of the road, with her winkers going, while I crawled on her tail, just watching her back bumper and not looking up or to the side. We made it and i hugged her! One time I spent a whole day stuck up a mountain until dusk (too dangerous after dark, but by day I could see more than I wanted to.) But mostly, as long as you don't try to come through the middle of the Pyrenees (which I'm glad I did while I still could) you'll survive. You may have to do nearly twice the length of journey, but you have adventures and see more places and people.

But no-one should think the O.P. is joking. Whetehr physically or emotionally caused (and it's usually physical) such vertigo can be really debilitating, as well as limiting.

The levante is another matter. Some people cope with it easily, but for many it's crippling. Of course one forgets it as soon as it stops, but it does blow a lot, often, sometimes for ten days at a time. I hated it. Here, we have the Solano, which is horrible, but not nearly as bad. You get a lot of sand-storms in the west - apparently from the Sahara1 It sticks to fresh paint, dammit, and scratches babies' eyes and makes your head ache and your temper bad. But the beaches are long and golden-silver and the Atlantic is much less polluted than the Med.

I've also crawled down from high pueblos at 5km/hour with both winkers flashing and a queue behind. better safe than sorry.

Originally Posted by hip999

Thanks Lou P .... a friend of mine (a doctor) could never understand my phobia or anyone else's .... until he got one of his own and now cannot cross any bridge (now he understands it!) ... so just waiting until Moses2013 and cricketman (or someone close to them) get a phobia. I understand all you say and praise your courage for doing things you find so difficult (that is the true definition of 'courage'). I think I could do one flight somewhere (having sedated myself) but not sure I would want to do a second one..... so it is very important that I pick the correct place the first time. I realise that everywhere has problems... so I suppose I have to pick the place with the problems which are less troublesome to me. Keep up your good work.

Originally Posted by Lou P.

Have you been to any of the Spanish costas or islands? because other people's descriptions may not match your experience - lots of people adore the Costa de la Luz/Viento and the beaches are superb, there's lots to do, plenty of British if that's what you want.
Could you travel round the coast by train or bus, spending a week in in each of three or four places? (If you're clever, you could arrange to visit British expats in each place - take them a present and stay a few nights and get them to show you round.) I only know Spanish people, but I didn't come from the U.K. - I'd spend time with French people if there were any, as France had become home. So I'm guessing you'll want some Britfriends and in fact I think one is less likely to have Spanish friends on the coast, as they're more used to seeing foreigners come and go and they're seen more as business.

Google Earth is great for seeing which places are high up.

Originally Posted by hip999

Thanks Johnnyone.... that is the sort of positive response I am pleased to see here. Valencia is emerging as a favourite, but what is the situation there with the Levant and sandstorms please? And are house prices still depressed or climbing again?

Originally Posted by hip999

Thanks Johnnyone.... that is the sort of positive response I am pleased to see here. Valencia is emerging as a favourite, but what is the situation there with the Levant and sandstorms please? And are house prices still depressed or climbing again?

Originally Posted by johnnyone

I do not think the Levante is a problem in Valencia and do not recall any sandstorms although others may know better. There is the gota fria where you get heavy winds and rain for a few days, generally around this time of year.
I think property prices are at the bottom and possibly slightly on the way up in some areas depending on the location.
If you buy allow 13% for fees etc. Also the exchange rate can make a significant difference. Renting in the short term may be sensible.

Originally Posted by hip999

.... the beaches require a boat trip to reach and beaches

Originally Posted by hip999

Thanks for that .... not somewhere I had already considered. I have thought about Faro in Portugal but the beaches require a boat trip to reach and beaches would be important to me. My quick check on AYAMONTE (InfoAyamonte) only throws up the lack of English-speaking medical staff as a concern.

But thanks again and maybe one day Ayamonte may be the place I will reside in.