NOT SO DAFT
I have never been anything other than enthusiastic about the joys of living in Spain nor have I ever pretended to be other than utterly biased about La Drova as the place in which to live. Indeed, I daily thank our good fortune in choosing La Drova which is, to my mind, the perfect place in which to live permanently in Spain.
La Drova is a terrific, rambling estate within a stunning mountain valley some fifiteen minutes away from Gandia – which is within the district of La Safor in Valencia province. Over the past forty years, the estate of La Drova has slowly grown up around an ancient monastery (long disused), so that it now comprises a few hundred properties, virtually every one of which (thankfully!) is different.
The estate rambles along the bottom and sides of La Drova valley and is gloriously irregular, covered in pines and greenery, with terrific views over protected land in all directions. The valley is criss-crossed with delightful paths and is a paradise to anyone who enjoys rambling. However, perhaps best of all, La Drova has a mixed population of Spaniards and Britons and is beside a traditional, rural, Valencian village (Barx). The latter is notable for its friendliness and the fact that it appears to have remained in an enchanting time warp that has little or nothing to do with ‘tourist’ Spain.
If La Drova seems miles from anywhere then this would be a false impression. Vibrant Gandia (80,000 people) and its fabulous Blue Flagged beaches (and nightlife) is only a fifiteen minute drive away. Meanwhile, Valencia city and its international airport is a one hour drive or 50 minute train journey. This has made living in La Drova nothing if not convenient.
Living in La Drova is, unavoidably (and gloriously!), about day to day life in real Spain. Frustrating it can sometimes be – but that is the fun and challenge of living within an unspoilt Spanish culture and something that you will never experience if you base yourself on a ‘ghetto’ estate ( however up-market!).
Of course, you may be gettting the impression that life here may be pretty difficult to start with (La Drova and Barx being so ‘Spanish’). However, that would be to miss the liveliness of the expatriate (mostly British) community. To their credit, almost to a person, the expatriates in La Drova have integrated into local life – both Spanish and expatriate.
Indeed, many expatriates are involved (to their credit) in the local animal rescue centre (SPAMA) whilst others help at a Gandia Franciscan Hospice. Meanwhile, a number of expatriates are active within the village and attend Spanish ladies nights (hilarious, I gather!) with still others raise funds for good works during village sales and fiestas.
Gloriously, there is also a La Drova men’s ‘club’ with the wildly politically incorrect title of DAFT (Days Away From Them). ‘Them’, of course, refers to wives and girlfriends! Today was a DAFT day and involved a morning go-karting, followed by lunch – and an opportunity to speak freely without any worries about ‘Them’ finding out what was said! Great fun and a fine example of the lively, good humoured and rewarding social life available to La Droverites.
I mention all of this because moving to Spain permanently is a committing undertaking, particularly if you are retiring and possibly worried by a rather ‘blank’ and potentially inactive future. You may be comforted by the thought of living in a great villa with a pool of glittering water under eternally blue skies – but that dream can pall, surprisingly quickly.
The truth is that choosing exactly the right location (as opposed to focussing just on a desirable property) is really important – if you want to have a full life over here. I am not suggesting, for one moment, that La Drova is the only place in Spain that provides this – nor that it would suit everyone. However, it is a good starting point and many of its qualities are invaluable, worth recognising and well worth looking for when you are searching for somewhere to live in Spain…
You have changed the look of the blog Nick. Nice.