living 33km outside Granada I can say on my 2 years and the BH's 4 years exp that Granada has far more going for it than so many people realise. Perhaps it is the fault of the Spanish who I have found never seem to advertise - just everyone "knows", if you are Spanish that is. We have found so much by just walking the streets and looking.
OK no beach, but its only 80km away, mostly motorway standard roads. But is that all you want - not everyone does. And there isn't a "summer madness" other than the Spanish Madness of closing down for August - even in the middle of El Crisis
Perhaps the biggest drawback in places like Granada (and possibly Cordoba although yet to get there) is that so few speak even basic English, which is a major setback for tourists. Even the major banks have trouble finding an English-speaker if you have problems.

Another drawback is there are fewer villa type properties, mostly flat living, although many complexes have under parking and a swimming pool, but some very nice properties - and the chance to wake up to the view of the Sierra Nevada in the morning.

hth

You might want to try contacting some local music sites... here's one near us: a loose group of folk musicians in Almería: Almeria Strings. Fellow spirits and all that!

Come to Valencia! Great mountain area not even 25km away from Valencia city with villages such as Gilet, Serra, Pucol-sierra Calderona. Check the maps Seaside, 300 sunny days, low costs of living, and perfect hiking/biking. Trains to madrid (1,5hrs speed train) and in valencia city you have the Turia pard, ca 10km long. Green lung in middle of town!
Also skiing in 1,5hrs, Teruel, Albarracin, Xativa and ca1 hrs from nice bays to snorkel in Javea, Denia, Calpe etc.
Good luck with the decision and don´t hesitate to contact

As Concierge for the Spanish section of BE I would like to say hello and welcome.

BE is a very large expat website, so if you have problems finding your way around we have concierges who will try to direct you. The moderators for the Spanish forums are Mitzyboy and Fred James, moderators are there to ensure that the site runs smoothly within the rules of BE. Problems and complaints should always be addressed to a moderador who will look into the matter and deal with it efficiently and fairly. Our members who post in the Spain Forums are friendly and helpful with a wealth of knowledge of the issues of living in Spain. At the top of the page you will find a quirkily named thread called Free Beer which is full of important and useful information. Hope you enjoy your time participating in the forums.

Please let me know if you need any further help.

Rosemary

Come to Torrevieja. Apart from the weather, miles of blue flag beaches, and a few people speaking Spanish and Russian, you will not know you've left the UK.

and I presume they expect to get their benefits paid as well

Lol, if they did they'd all be here like a shot.

I do think if a country has a lot of space then we should ship the shit out there if possible, however I also don't think we should afflict it on them, but, with lower wages here, UK Benefits would go a long way, housing tax and rent would go a long way and the little shops and supermarkets would benefit, but its prolly a short term route out of a long term problem.

How many parts of society would move if it was paid for, personally I think a few would.

Well, it's one or the other - personally I'd agree with the second half but certainly not the first. Oh yes, wages are lower here are getting lower all the time:-

http://www.thelocal.es/20131126/spai...e-for-recovery

Don't you think the long-suffering Spanish people have enough to put up with in trying to cope with the effects of the financial crisis without inflicting a horde of British benefit claimants on them as well?

The original poster on this thread must be a bit surprised to find that:
1 He's apparently a benefit cheater
2 He has no interest in meeting Spaniards
3 How oddly hostile a few of the posters are on this forum
sure and we were only kidding...

must get in my local ad....

Come to Granada, sitting at the bottom of the largest mountain range in Europe, ski in the morning and swim in the afternoon, only 60km to the beach.
many hiking and biking routes, huge variety of birds and wildlife.
Spend 2 days at the Alhambra and still want more, viewpoints looking over the Poniente of Granada, marvellous food, tapas bars in nearly every street.
A huge social mix of people from across the world, and 4* hotels with rooms from €35/night.
Good access to London via Granada Airport or other parts of the UK from Malaga. Cheap local bus transport to get around or stacks of car hires by the day or week.
Come to Granada and get the best of the old world and the new.

thats all for now folks......

thank you,
I am not British, although I live in London for so long, I actually almost am
Anyway I would love to mix with local culture, music, art, everything. I did this once in London and now I want try Spanish land, culture, all.

Thanks all for positive help,
I am considering small towns around the coast, east of Malaga.
It also seems I will move to Spain sooner then I planned, for some reasons..
I hope to keep this thread alive, to find some info.
Now I need some help with administrative side, so I will create new thread for it