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Spain isn´t perfect. For the majority of expats, Spain will never feel truly like ´home´.
But recently, I´ve got to thinking about the simple things in life, and now appreciate Spain so much more for being able to offer the simplest pleasures in life on a regular basis.
The weather is the key. While the UK and Northern Europe languishes in a dreary, grey blanket of cloud, incessant rain and freezing temperatures, Southern Spain basks in 320 days of sunshine. Continue reading »
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Easyjet – I´m moaning again!
I know I know, I´m the guy that loves Easyjet – I´ve flown with them for years and never had a bad experience. Whenever any of my friends would dare to criticize the company, I would strike back within seconds, defending my loved one to the hilt and extolling the virtues of their ticketless system, speedy boarding, superb timetables and great value for money…..blah, blah, blah.
But it´s all gone wrong! I feel like a fraudster. Continue reading »
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I recently returned to my Marbella property from the UK, having visited for a few days prior to Xmas. Sure, I was excited about seeing my friends and family, and was looking forward to an evening in the local pub and a spot of shopping in Liverpool´s latest shopping haven, Liverpool One.
Nothing could have prepared me for the reality. Is it just me, or is England ´going to the dogs´?
First of all, when you arrive at Liverpool airport, the first thing to greet you as you leave the plane is the howling wind and incessant rain as you descend the steps to the tarmac below. Has nobody ever heard of air-bridges in the provinces? Continue reading »
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Every visitor to the Costa del Sol, every person who has taken a holiday in Marbella - one thing is for sure, they will all have heard of Puerto Banus, and most will have paid it a visit.
Puerto Banus is the Spanish version of Monte Carlo, it´s where all the rich and beautiful people hang out. It´s the jet-set marina of the southern Mediterranean. It´s full of multi-million dollar yachts, designer boutiques and plastic faces. It´s beautiful yet vulgar, picturesque yet pretentious, a real melting pot of people.
Continue reading »
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For the first 7 years of my expat life on the Costa del Sol, i became accustomed to the typical Spanish supermarkets, amongst them Mercadona, Supersol, Euromarket. Imagine the scene in each – a row of bread, a row of olives, a row of tuna…oh, and a row of jamon. Ok, maybe this is an exaggeration, but for years I would be crying out for a little variety and a selection of ready meals.
In fact it got so bad that whenever I left my Marbella property to venture to the UK, I used to stand transfixed in Tesco, just dumbfounded by the range of products and the choice of fresh and chilled food available….and don´t get me started on Marks and Spencer food – my God, if there was one reason to return to the UK, this was surely it!! I swear I had to be dragged out of the Edinburgh M&S food hall the last time I went to see my sister!
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There really are some great Spanish property bargains available at the moment, particularly if you are looking to purchase in euros from a UK based vendor.
British sellers who are looking to repatriate their funds can now afford to discount their Spanish properties by even more than before, with sterling sinking to around 1.12 euros.
Let´s take this example. In the good old days when £1 was worth around 1.45 euros, a sales price of 200,000 euros would allow a UK based vendor to take their proceeds back to Britain at an equivalent value of £137,931. Continue reading »
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Winter finally arrived on the Costa del Sol last week.
After a period of mild weather, temperatures plummeted and snow fell on some of the higher ground. If you drive from Puerto Banus to Malaga, you will see a dusting of snow on the Serrania de Ronda and La Cruz Juanar. The emblematic peak of La Concha that protects the properties in Marbella from the harsh northerly winds has not yet surrendered to the snowfall, but perhaps it won´t be spared for much longer.
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I am a great fan of Easyjet. With a property on the Costa del Sol and with friends and business interests in Liverpool, Bristol and London, I probably make 20 journeys a year with the famous no-frills airline.
In over 10 years of travelling with Easyjet, I have so far (touch wood!) never encountered a serious problem – no missing bags, no cancelled flights, and no grumpy staff!
One of the key aspects of Easyjet´s service has been its excellent timetable…..but since the publication of their latest Winter timetable, something has gone horribly wrong. Continue reading »
