A couple of days ago, I had a wonderful day out bird watching in Valencia – something that none of my family thought I would do (let alone enjoy the experience). Well, it was a revelation! Probably like most women, I tend to get caught in the house during the Christmas period, barely able to escape from the constant round [...]
In January 2002 the Euro became the currency of Spain, replacing the Peseta (which had been introduced in 1869) as the nation’s currency. This set in motion two matters, both of which had a profound effect upon the cost of living in Spain. One of the first effects of the demise of the Euro was an explosion of Spanish property [...]
So, 2011 gradually ebbs away – a year that many people in Spain will be pleased to see disappear, hoping that 2012 will herald better times ahead. Unfortunately, I fear that may not be the case and there are compelling arguments to suggest that 2012 may be more difficult and challenging for Spain than 2011. So, how does one round [...]
So, Christmas is almost upon us again and with it the chance for a rest – after a year that has been testing for most people – with the Spanish economy ‘melting down’ and the Eurozone problems of worry to any expatriate living in Spain. Thankfully, for a few days at least, that can be forgotten. In any event, Spain [...]
Well, I think if I was in Spain in charge of marketing Spanish property to the British (if there is such a person!) then I would probably finally have my head in my hands. Either that or I would be looking frantically for a wobbly, three legged stool and a short rope. Why? Because the UK press has recently been [...]
Are you due to fly on Iberia on the 29th December 2011? If you are – then be aware that 118 Iberia flights scheduled that day have been cancelled. This is due to a Spanish air strike by pilots of Iberia who are protesting about the creation of a new Spanish budget airline – although the reasons for their discontent [...]
Spain’s capital and its largest city, Madrid is a wonderful place for tourists to enjoy an environmentally friendly trip. The foothills of the Sierra de Guadarrama act as a scenic backdrop for this young, dynamic city which has seen huge growth since the end of the Franco period. Madrid has more green surfaces and trees per resident than any [...]
Earlier this year, I wrote a couple of articles about the problem assessing the true scale of debt in Spain. This was at the time that Prime Minister Zapatero was being applauded by the EU for bringing in austerity measures to bring the national debt and spending of Spain under control. My concern was that the EU and other economists [...]
Did you see an interesting article in El Pais a while ago about working in Spain? The article is fascinating because it illustrates an extraordinary problem and one that you may not necessarily appreciate, least of all if you are thinking of coming to Spain to work. In short, Spain has an ‘over qualified’ workforce – with 31% of Spaniards [...]
Did you know that if you have a holiday home in Spain that you are liable to pay an annual tax and that you must file a tax return, every year, with the Spanish authorities? In fact, you are liable to pay two different annual taxes in Spain on your Spanish property – to be strictly accurate. Almost everyone knows [...]
Throughout Spain around lunch time, you cannot fail to notice the numerous blackboards outside of restaurants boasting various renditions of the ‘Menu Del Dia’ or Daily Menu. For those not familiar with the concept, this is a set menu in Spain providing anywhere from two to eight or more choices of ‘primero plato’, (first plate), ‘segundo plato’ (second plate) and [...]
Recently, I was having a chat with Rod Younger of Books4Spain about the sales of books and the revolution in the way that books are sold. This, of course, is of some importance to me as the author of five books with my new book, The Laptop Entrepreneur, out this week. The question, of course, is how to buy books [...]
One thing that always saddens me about living in Spain is the level of corruption in Spain – despite the country priding itself upon its First World standards. Certainly, no-one who has lived in Spain, or tried to work here, would ever deny that corruption in Spain exists and that it is a malign influence upon many aspects of life. [...]
I am delighted to announce that a book that I have written with a pal of mine, Graham Hunt, has just been published. This is (appropriately) called The Laptop Entrepreneur. The Laptop Entrepreneur is all about how to earn a living on the Internet and how to use the Web to create or promote your business. It has everything to [...]
Did you know that as a resident of Spain that you could be eligible for cheap holidays in Spain? These are available to all nationalities but you must come within certain parameters including being over 65 or a widow of 55 (or over) receiving a widow’s pension or over 60 but on an early retirement pension or government invalidity pension. [...]