The Word on the Street - News and Information from Spain

News and Information from Spain

International Edition - July 2017

Welcome to the July issue of 'The Word on the Street'. This is your monthly news and information from Spain provided by Ábaco Advisers. We hope to keep you in touch with the news, events and just a little bit of gossip.

How much does it cost to live in Spain

How much does it cost to live in Spain

Just how cheap is it to live in Spain? Is it cheap now at all? There is no doubt that in the early years people were surprised at just how little they needed to live here. The difference might not be as great any longer but there are definitely some costs that are much less expensive and make living in Spain a very viable option.

In this article we outline a personal view of what the costs are. It will not be the same for everyone and it’s certainly not a very spendthrift budget. However, it shows what you might get by on if you are counting the pennies and provides some advice too:

How much does it cost to live in Spain?

Luxury siestas

Luxury siestas

During the long, hot summer, a siesta really is a good option during the afternoon. But it can’t always be easy to take. Finding somewhere quiet where you won’t be disturbed can be tricky and, if you’re working, by the time you get home and back again, there really is very little point in trying.

Now a business in Madrid has come up with an idea that solves these problems. Siesta & Go is a siesta café where you can lose the shoes and take a quick nap:

Siesta and Go: The Spanish startup revitalising nap culture and helping tired workers

Interested in Spain’s history?

Interested in Spain’s history?

The more you know about Spain’s past and the more you understand its present. The Spanish Civil War and the subsequent dictatorship had consequences not just in Spain but across Europe. Records of exactly what happened are sparse. Dictator Franco made sure that many records were destroyed. Some of those that still exist were down to the efforts of those visiting the country and able to leave. In this case it was an English man, Alec Wainman who managed to make a pictorial record of life at the front.

The Englishman whose photos captured the smiles of the Spanish Civil War

A thought-provoking article

A thought-provoking article

It’s not perhaps the happiest of subjects but this article on growing old and facing the prospect of dying in Andalucia is a very straight forward and lucid reflective piece. It is well worth reading whatever your age might be:

Last days - An expat's reflections on ageing and dying in Andalucía

Best beaches

Best beaches

Just looking at this selection of beaches is enough to make you want to drop everything and reach for your flip flops. Even if your local beach isn’t mentioned here, it’s probably not that different. Spain is blessed with hundreds of spectacular beaches, and these will do for a start:

Spain's top ten best beaches for summer 2017

Best plazas

Best plazas

It’s another article from The Local, but it’s perfect for the summer season when lounging under a sunshade in a Spanish plaza drinking a long drink is exactly what you need.

Like the ‘best beaches’ it is probably the work of a few people in the office who pool their thoughts on what the best plazas might be. It doesn’t mean that they have it right but there are some good suggestions and, of course, you can compile a list of your own.

If you would like to nominate either your own ‘best beach’ or ‘best plaza’ then let us know and we will publicise it in the next newsletter.

The most beautiful plazas in Spain. What's your favourite?

Do you remember the Barcelona Olympics?

Do you remember the Barcelona Olympics?

What will perhaps stick in many people’s heads was the song ‘Barcelona’ sung by Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé. However, for Spain not only was this Olympics a fabulous exercise in marketing one of its favourite cities but it also led to a huge rise in the number of medals for the country.

It’s not unusual for the hosting country to do better than usual at the Olympics. However, for Spain, who did not have a particularly great medal-winning record, the number of medals in Barcelona far surpassed expectations. El País even suggest that the Barcelona Olympics  proved to be the platform for Spain’s future sporting successes. Interesting reflections on a very special Olympics:

The Games that changed Spain: 25 years on from Barcelona '92

Explore Lorca castle

Explore Lorca castle

If you’re in the area in August and tired of the hustle, bustle and heat of the beaches then you might just want to visit Lorca castle. In this article on the Murcia Today website you can find out about the tours that are available in English as well as Spanish. 

The tours are scheduled for the evening starting at 7pm, so you won’t fry and you can enjoy a tapas menu when you’ve finished exploring the castle. 

Nocturnal visits to Lorca castle during July and August

What interests you?

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!