Building your own property in Spain

We’re often told that you need to compromise when you’re buying a house. This may be true, but if you are building from scratch there is more opportunity to ensure that your vision of the perfect home is translated into reality.

In this article from Spain Explained we outline some of the key points to be aware of if you do decide to build your own:

Why compromise? Build your own in Spain

Health care in Spain

Continues to be a very important subject for those spending any amount of time here. What are you entitled to and how do you access it? Our Spain Explained article covers some of the main points you should be aware of:

Taking care of your health in Spain

A good market summary

The website Spanish Property Insight is a good one for those with an interest in the property market. This article provides a good summary of the situation to date. At the time of writing, it looks as though Spain could well have a government soon, removing the need for a third general election.

Q3 2016 property market report from Survey Spain including Brexit effect

This is another good article with graphs and commentary to clarify what’s happening out there:

Home sales bounce back in August, but Brexit effect starting to show up in Alicante and Málaga

At last, a new Spanish Government

By the time you receive this newsletter it is likely that the new Spanish Government , in the form of the PP party, will be in place. It’s been a stormy year that’s seen two general elections and all manner of disputes between the major parties. Now with the PSOE having agreed to abstain as a party there are just the formalities to go through during the last days of October.

To follow the final arrangements as the PP comes again to government:

New Spanish government: the countdown to the investiture of Mariano Rajoy

Don’t forget to turn the clocks back

It can seem like a rather depressing time of the year when the clocks go back. It can also seem to be rather random which timezone countries find themselves in. In this article, the Guardian reports how the Balearics  are trying to resist the turning back of the clocks:

Happy hour: Balearics try to keep summer time as Spain turns back the clocks

Halloween in Spain

Spain has embraced Halloween with an enthusiasm  that is hard to rival. Perhaps the Spanish love of ‘disfrazarse’ (dressing up) has something to do with it. Eitherway this last week of October is perhaps noted for the extensive Halloween displays in the supermarkets and the various ‘scary’ parties on offer.

We thought we’d bring together a couple of halloween items for you to browse.

The Local’s advice on eight creepy Spanish Halloween costumes:

Eight very creepy Halloween costumes ideas from Spain

Expatica’s detailed look at the truth behind Halloween:

The truth about Halloween you didn't know

Spain in a day

What’s the best way of capturing the spirit of a country? You probably never can, but the film ‘Spain in a Day’ is a very interesting idea - get lots of people to send in clips of ordinary life there. The link below isn’t to the full film but the trailer gives you a taste of what you can expect if you do manage to search out the original:

Thousands share clips of life for 'Spain in a Day' film

Ferrovial in line for more big projects in the UK

Ferrovial are the operator most frequently associated with the railway network in Spain. However, what many people may not realise is that amongst this Spanish company’s activities are airport investment and operation.

Now it looks as though they are going to be awarded the contract to build a third runway at Heathrow. Ferrovial have been involved in buiding work for Heathrow for many years and have interest in and ownership of other UK airports too:

History of Ferrovial Airports

Moving from America to Spain – how was it for you?

Most people like to read about others who are considering or who have made the same life-style decisions. Whether you are American or not, you might find this Q and A session with an American family living in Spain of interest:

An Interview with an American Family in Spain

Who is San Mao?

This well-known, travelled and enlightened writer may not be known to the majority of readers of this newsletter but hopefully we will be able to get to know more soon. San Mao was a Chinese writer from Tawain. She was linked to Spain during her travels and wrote about her experience of living in the Western Sahara, which at that point belonged to Spain.

She led a tragic life in many respects but her works are reputed to be quite unique. They are still, however, relatively unknown in the Engish-speaking world although this is apparently expected to change:

Sanmao: a Chinese woman’s tragic love story in Spain

A Collection of San Mao
 

More culinary conflicts

Jamie Oliver really put his foot in it when he suggested that you might add chorizo to a good Spanish paella! El País wrote about the furore that it has caused:

Jamie Oliver’s paella tweet sparks anger, hilarity and political analysis

International number ones

This rather bizarre world map picks up one thing that each country is ‘best’ at. From coffee drinkers to facebook addicts, the categories are varied and, no doubt, controversial. Might provide an interesting coffee break topic:

Because Every Country Is the Best at Something

Which are the most lucrative languages?

This short article and graph show which second language acquisition  will leave you better off if you are in the UK. You might be surprised:

These are the second languages that will get you paid the most in the UK

An interesting alternative to the guard dog

Guard dogs, perhaps even geese on duty, but it must be rather rare to come across a bull being used to deter burglars. Spanish News Today includes this rather interesting story:

Valencia breakers yard uses fighting bull to deter theft

The best and worst airlines

Who do you believe offers the best and worst flying experience? Expatica has published a recent global poll that might surprise you:

The best - and worst - airlines in the world

What interests you?

We would welcome any suggestions for future themes you would like us to cover either in the newsletter or in an article on Spain Explained.

Please let us know by email at newsletter@abacoadvisers.com.

Thank you!