I've pretty much decided to spent the winter in Torrevieja area. I read some stuff about it here in this forum, and apparently it is not a good place if one is looking to meet lots of people in busy bars during winter months. But luckily, I only need to meet a few. :-)

I understand there is a quite large British expat community there? I know there are some Finns as well, but quite frankly I'd rather socialize with locals and Brits than Finns when outside Finland. Nothing wrong with Finns and I am, of course happy to meet them too.

I am 48 years old - I work remotely part time. I'm still not sure if I will be going alone or with a friend. Will I get bored?

If you get bored with three dogs and a "friend" + half of england, the locals and a smattering of Finns, then I don't know what to say

I'm not really worried about getting bored, it was just to reflect the earlier thread here, where someone decided not to go there because it is not a party town.

It all depends on you guys. :-) I really miss Brits, I used to live there.

First I lived in Dorset then in Northumberland. Preferred the people up north, they were more like real, ordinary people. (My spellchecker does not recognize Northumberland, keeps telling me to change it to Cumberland!)

As I said, I may be going alone, but I am really talkative and social, so I have no problem talking to strangers, some of which will hopefully become acquaintances if not friends.

Obviously opinions differ. But you could a lot worse than spending some time in a smallish community called Benimar, between Rojales and Benijofar - About 14 Kms inland from Torry. Good selection of bars and restaurants. One in particular has a Pub style atmosphere with good entertainment and a quiz.

As far as I know Torrevieja is one of the most heavily populated ex-pat areas there is, certainly on the East Coast.

There are quite a few busy all year round pubs in that area.

Check your PMs.

The major expat area is to the south, Playa Flamenca, La Zenia, Campoamor, Punta Prima etc. I would stay clear of Torrevieja itself, parts do not have the best reputation at night.

Grdner, I have replied to you yesterday.

Thanks for the tips about the areas. I'm not planning to stay in city centre, I am hoping to find an area close by with some public transport. I am most likely flying in and will not have a car.

Torrevieja is the most cosmopolitan city in Spain with over 140 different nationalities registered at the town hall. That kind of racial and cultural mix is not for everyone.

The most recent wave of immigrants has been from Russia, three thousand of them arrived officially in 2013 while four thousand British expats left in the same year, many having sold their houses to the Russians.

It will take some years for such a mix of incomers to settle down into a cohesive society, just like it did in places like New York or London's East End.

The city centre can get a bit hairy at night.

Russians get everywhere. We naturally have plenty of them here in Finland, because Russia is just there over the border. I live in the countryside in the middle of nowhere, they have not found their way around here in large numbers yet.

So I'll get to brush up my Russian as well. It's been a while since I've used the language. Prijatno!

I'm not planning to walk alone in the city centre in the middle of the night. Well, you never know, give me some Guinness and I'll forget all my good intentions.

You won' find decent Guiness in Torrevieja -it's mostly lager or Spanish beer

OMG, how will I survive?

I may have to settle for the cheap Spanish stuff. I don't mind some local white wine either. I'm so flexible!

Yesterday I was thinking about health care. Brits have often written about it. Don't you have European social security cards? They are valid in all EU countries up to a year I believe. Certainly good enough for winter stay.

The EHIC cards are only good for emergency treatment.

Not quite just for emergencies, any necessary medical treatment is covered in public healthcare.

It is for illness that occurs on holiday for which treatment cannot wait until you return home not general health care therefore emergency cover only.

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=833741

Rosemary