Re: Why Spain
 

Well you're still very short of that list, and even in the items you quote it very much depends on which part of the country you happen to live in.
Try finding Art, Culture and Drama away from the big cities in the north, you'll find the drama easy enough but it won't be of the cultural kind!

And no I'm not turning this into a p***ing contest between Spain and the UK. There are many things I like about England and equally many that I don't, it's just personally I find the quality of life here so much better and much more satisfying.

Re: Why Spain
 

Neither am I looking for such a contest. I love Spain but can't justify carrying on with my plans to semi-retire there at the moment. Apart from the weather I currently see little advantage.

Re: Why Spain
 

As a retired expat Spain is a great place to live, but was it necessary to earn a living then that's a whole different ball game and Spain would not be in the running for us!

Re: Why Spain
 

A big point you should consider is whether you actually enjoy Spanish culture or not.

Do you have an interest in all things Spanish?

If not, then the appeal will be very limited. if you do then there is an endless list of things to discover and enjoy

Re: Why Spain
 

To a large extent I think you are the architect of your own demise, telling us things like you wake up to sun every morning, that your husband was that ill it was necessary to visit a UK doctor every two weeks, now suddenly with a bit of sun he's seemingly cured. I can understand the sun can make you feel much better but I don't believe it has the magical curative properties that many claim. Perhaps it's all in the mind?

Re: Why Spain
 

I don't think it's that the sun has magical curative properties, more that the cold and damp aggravate existing conditions. Remove the cold and damp by moving to Spain and many people seem to be magically cured.

Re: Why Spain
 

Possibly, but I'm sure I'm not alone in living in a house in UK that is neither cold nor damp, certainly with double glazing, C/H etc a lot warmer than most Spanish houses in winter. ;) Reading this and similar forums, damp is a big problem in many Spanish houses in the winter, people telling us about water bottles, electric blankets, bizarre clothing they wear to bed, and despite what the other poster tells us, Spain can get very wet and cold. Ex neighbours of ours living just over the border in Portugal tells us she'd love to swap her smokey old wood burner for the C/H she had in UK. Her house is like an icebox away from the burner. Overall Spain certainly is warmer, which should prevent most getting their WFA! ;) I think the sun has a placebo effect, you think you should feel better, so you do.

Re: Why Spain
 

Seems to me as many on this forum are always at the Doctors/hospital and pill pushing by their posts....if not they are certainly bleeding experts on the subject:rofl:

Re: Why Spain
 

It also depends on what they define as Spanish culture, for some it seems to be flamenco, fiestas and a bloke riding past on a donkey:lol:

Re: Why Spain
 

and are over 50 years old and love to moan..:thumbsup:

Re: Why Spain
 

so Jacky got up with a hangover this morning ??

:rofl:

Re: Why Spain
 

It's true then:lol:

Re: Why Spain
 

Good question. I'm not sure I can define Spanish culture. I've read the books and watched the processsions and been to the fiestas but only ever standing on the sidelines. I have never really joined in nor particularly understood what's going on or it's significance. And that for me is the hurdle. I don't feel that I belong there, always see myself as an outsider looking in. If I'm honest the only time I have been made to feel welcome is when I'm spending money.

Re: Why Spain
 

Then really you'd only be coming for the weather

I don't like religious processions or fiestas (most Spaniards dont either!)
but I do love travelling around Spain to understand the different regions in terms of culture, food, geography, nature etc

Spanish movies, music, books etc is a brand new world to discover but requires very good language skills, as does socialising with anybody who is not British.

All these things are reasons for me to be in Spain, otherwise its best to just visit for a bit of sun every now and then.

Re: Why Spain
 

Agree. Without the language skills it's virtually impossible. I have been studying for the last couple of years and now have some help from a Valencian girl who has just moved into the village. I cannot tell you how excited I was when she actually understood me. Where I'm benefitting most from her is with pronunciation. If you study on your own the danger is that you make up the pronunciation of seemingly difficult words, for me these include the verbs and their declensions of 'llegar' and ,trabajar' amongst others.