LOOKING AT THE PROS AND CONS OF LIVING IN SPAIN

Spain isn’t all sun, sea and sand. Living in Spain for long periods is very different to a fortnight’s package holiday. The country may be the same, but the exposure to its people, customs, culture and attitudes is radically different. As with all countries there are a few downsides which aren’t mentioned in the holiday brochures and are only apparent when you live there. Nothing alarming, you understand, but forewarned is forearmed.

Climate

Hardly surprisingly the overwhelming attraction of Spain is its excellent climate. It has a large landmass, with extensive high plateaus and mountain ranges. The influence of the Mediterranean and Atlantic produces a wide range of climatic conditions. Summers everywhere are hot. In winter the north is the wettest, the Costas and the Islands mild and surprisingly the interior can drop below freezing.

Some parts of the Costa Blanca have been described by the World Health Organisation as having one of the healthiest climates in the world, a fact not overlooked when promoting features of the area.

Climate has to be a balance. Not too hot, not too cold, a little bit of rain to grow the crops, but not too much to deter people. Some snow in the mountains for recreational purposes but not enough to affect communications. Northern Spain has its lush green pastures. The Costas offer sun and sand coupled with the clear blue waters of the Mediterranean. The southern rolling hills of Andalusia attract little movement in the blistering summer heat. The Balearic and Canary Islands are always pleasant. Madrid, the capital, is either freezing or roasting. Cordoba in the south is noted as the ‘frying pan’ of Europe.

The Mediterranean region has the best climatic balance:

• 320 days of sunshine per year
• 11.5 hours of sunshine per day in summer
• 14 inches of rain per year
• Average spring temperature 7 to 27 degrees centigrade
• Average summer temperature 17 to 36 degrees centigrade
• Average autumn temperature 9 to 30 degrees centigrade
• Average winter temperature 1 to 23 degrees centigrade.

While northern Europe is being deluged with rain, battered by wind, its roads closed by snow and ice, you can almost

guarantee that Alicante and Malaga will be bathed in sunshine. But not all of Spain enjoys a Mediterranean climate. Here are some less attractive variations:

• San Sebastian – 41 inches of rain per year
• Madrid – average lowest winter temperature – minus 5 degrees centigrade
• Extremadura – average highest summer temperature – 41 degrees centigrade.

While there may be other reasons for coming to Spain, climate is the big, big number one. It is healthy, makes one feel good and, equally important, keeps the heating bills and domestic costs low.

Cost of living

Spain is no longer the cheap and cheerful country it once was. The cost of living has increased considerably over the last decade. However, with the exception of the large cities, the cost of living is still lower in coastal and rural areas than it is in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany and France. It is significantly lower than the cost of living in the Scandinavian countries and is on a par with Florida.

Of course a dominant factor in such a comparison is the relationship between the pound sterling and the Euro. British ex-pats who were paid in sterling during the first few millennium years received unprecedented exchange rates, but these are unlikely to be repeated as European monetary integration takes place.

The Spanish economy too affects the cost of living. Domestic running costs are less. Low central heating costs and low energy demand contribute to this. There is an abundance of locally produced food and wine, not only fresh from the market garden of Europe, but also cheap and plentiful. The beneficial effect of sunshine on day-to-day living costs is truly amazing. Sure, utility bill unit charges for water, electric, gas and telephone may be slightly high, but they are under government scrutiny and reducing annually. Thus overall, the total cost of living package is very much cheaper than its northern European equivalent.

Something for everyone

There is more to life in Spain than the Costas. Only a few miles inland, traditional unspoilt Spain opens up. The transformation is remarkable as high rise modern buildings, set in equally clean cities, are quickly left behind to be replaced by small white-walled villages and then, even further inland, by individual white houses scattered over hillsides. This is best typified on the Costa del Sol where, a few miles from the major city of Malaga, the white village of Competa is completely surrounded by thousands of individual white properties nestling on hillsides or sheltering in valleys.

There is a clever tourist poster of Andalusia which emphasises the diversity that Spain offers. It starts at the top with blue sky and sun, slightly lower down it has skiers on the snow capped Sierra Nevada, in the middle drawings of Moorish Granada, Sevilla, and Cordoba, near the bottom flamenco and bullfighting, and at the bottom the tourist resorts of Marbella, Malaga and Torremolinos facing a beach and Mediterranean sea. There really is something for everyone in Spain.

Some cities, which in the past have received negative publicity, are now recognising that their prime source of income is from tourism and have embarked on programmes to attract family groups. Benidorm, once home of the package holiday, now has manicured beaches, internationally recognised entertainment, top class restaurants, several theme parks and, on the outskirts, residential areas. Again, something for everyone.

The people

Anyone who has spent even a short time in Spain will know that its people are friendly. If you are polite, smile, and offer locals a greeting in their own language it will go a long way to establishing and maintaining relationships.

However, it would be fair to say in tourist resorts a perceived need to extract the maximum Euros in the minimum time has eroded some of the natural charm of the Spaniard. Some estate agents can be greedy. A few Spaniards too find it difficult to handle their new found wealth. But it would be wrong to characterise the whole country for the behaviour of a few.

Polite, welcoming and eager to please would be an accurate description of the average Sefior and Senora. Perhaps a little bit slow, slightly shy, inward, and a little frustrating at times. Definitely bureaucratic in business, and sometimes unaware of a need for customer service. But unquestionably charming at all times.

As one might expect, there is a contrast between the older and younger generations. The more elderly Spaniard will have endured the repression of the Franco years, may be illiterate and have worked in agriculture. In contrast his offspring will be vibrant, computer literate, with a city based mentality that embraces new cosmopolitan values.

Medical facilities

Medical and dental facilities are among the best in Europe. There are many new hospitals staffed by highly qualified doctors and nurses. A high percentage of the cost of this service is provided from private resources. In addition to the local doctor’s surgery, the chemist occupies a unique position in the medical hierarchy by providing remedies for simple ailments.

Crime

Spain does have a high petty crime rate. Homes have to be protected by security grilles on doors and windows. Cash, passports and electrical goods are the main targets. The theft of motor scooters is so high that insurance companies do not accept this risk. The police seem unable to reduce these incidents, so homeowners need to ensure protection of their own person and property.

Pickpockets, operating in gangs, are active at all open-air markets, indoor markets and within some supermarkets, particularly when thronged with people during the busy summer season.

It is wrong to point the finger at any nationality, social or occupational group because this is the result of increased prosperity within a tolerant society. While murder, bank robbery and crimes of passion are reported in the popular press these are a rarity. As long as sensible precautions are taken, the streets of Spain are safe for both adults and children.

Red tape

Unfortunately Spain is a nation of bureaucrats. Red tape stifles simple daily transactions and frustrates all nationalities including Spaniards themselves. It is very difficult to deal with, and most people opt out of the cycle by employing their own personal ‘red-tape-cutter’ known as a gestor.

Mañana

The last major downside of Spain is its cultural feature called mañana – never do something today if it can be put off to tomorrow, or the day after, or perhaps never to be done at all. To live successfully in Spain it is necessary to come to terms with its culture. Coping with mañana is a necessary skill that just has to be acquired. It is best seen with builders, repairmen, or when a car breaks down or indeed any occurrence requiring a commitment to a time or date. A shrug of the shoulders, an upturned hand, a slight bow of the head, a moment of silence is mañana in progress. Do not fight it, as no single person can change the culture of a nation. No matter how difficult, learn to live with it.