British communities?

[frannrod]

Hello everyone

Hubby and I are in the final year of our run up to retiring to Spain. Been learning the language for 2 years (GCSE this year!), gradually clearing 20 years of accumulated junk from the house, and doing lots of research. Things have changed in the last 2 years, obviously - especially financially - but we're keeping it real and still believe we can manage.

We still haven't decided where we want to settle. Over the last two years we've made numerous exploratory trips - started at Malaga and working our way up the coast. In a few weeks we're coming to explore the coast north of Barcelona.

Anyway - here's my question. We don't want to plonk ourselves in the middle of a large British community, but we don't want to be entirely cut off either. My Spanish is coming along pretty well, but after 2 years hubby acknowledges that it's unlikely he'll ever be able to have a decent relaxed chat with a Spaniard, and chatting is his passion. We haven't been attracted to the areas where there is obviously a large British community, but when we get away from those areas, hubby gets frightened.

Can anyone give me an idea of what sort of British community we might find in the areas where there's no obvious British presence? This is an area of our "research" that we really don't have much idea about, as all our trips so far have been about getting a general feel for the areas we've visited. Everyone tells us there are Brits everywhere, British bar in every town - but what does that really MEAN in terms of a social life?

We want to get to know our Spanish neighbours. We're not really party people. Rod likes tinkering with old cars and bikes and computers and generally mending things. I have a feeling he'll make some friends with like minded Spaniards that way. We both like music and I'm hoping we can find some live music bars wherever we end up. I play the drums and the only "pie in the sky" dream I have is to meet up with some geriatric rockers and perhaps form a band. I'm not banking on it however!

If anyone can give us some insight , we'd be grateful.

[Tallulah]

Originally Posted by frannrod

Hello everyone

Hubby and I are in the final year of our run up to retiring to Spain. Been learning the language for 2 years (GCSE this year!), gradually clearing 20 years of accumulated junk from the house, and doing lots of research. Things have changed in the last 2 years, obviously - especially financially - but we're keeping it real and still believe we can manage.

We still haven't decided where we want to settle. Over the last two years we've made numerous exploratory trips - started at Malaga and working our way up the coast. In a few weeks we're coming to explore the coast north of Barcelona.

Anyway - here's my question. We don't want to plonk ourselves in the middle of a large British community, but we don't want to be entirely cut off either. My Spanish is coming along pretty well, but after 2 years hubby acknowledges that it's unlikely he'll ever be able to have a decent relaxed chat with a Spaniard, and chatting is his passion. We haven't been attracted to the areas where there is obviously a large British community, but when we get away from those areas, hubby gets frightened.

Can anyone give me an idea of what sort of British community we might find in the areas where there's no obvious British presence? This is an area of our "research" that we really don't have much idea about, as all our trips so far have been about getting a general feel for the areas we've visited. Everyone tells us there are Brits everywhere, British bar in every town - but what does that really MEAN in terms of a social life?

We want to get to know our Spanish neighbours. We're not really party people. Rod likes tinkering with old cars and bikes and computers and generally mending things. I have a feeling he'll make some friends with like minded Spaniards that way. We both like music and I'm hoping we can find some live music bars wherever we end up. I play the drums and the only "pie in the sky" dream I have is to meet up with some geriatric rockers and perhaps form a band. I'm not banking on it however!

If anyone can give us some insight , we'd be grateful.

Why not look at Galicia (you won't find many of us on this forum!!). There's a lot of English speaking Spanish nationals around here as there are a lot of "retornados" - but no expat communities as such....you'll be able to experience that real spanish feel to living but also you won't feel so cut off either. Congrats on the GCSE by the way - keep up with it....and by the way, your hubby should not be worried - all the classes in the world are great before you arrive here, but it's really living it where you'll pick up so much more.

There are quite a few brits in places such as Pontevedra, but have yet to see any evidence of expat communities as such (and personally, that's the way I like it!!). You'll always bump into English speaking people, especially around the coast line and the towns of course and as I mentioned above, and of course with all the retornados, you'd be surprised that one day you could be saying something something aside to your hubby for example in the local village bakery and someone will start chatting to you in English! I do however agree that if your must haves include English or English speaking doctor/dentists, etc that cannot be guaranteed anywhere near as highly as in the south. People here are really friendly though (and patient) and I have yet to see any sign of the problems recently mentioned it the forum regarding Spanish starting to feel a little cold towards the brits.

Another major plus, is that Galicia building has never been thin/single walled for summer holiday only properties - it can be cold and damp here and the level/quality of construction reflects this so that winters might not be as personally cold as they can be in the south.

Local foodstuff/fresh produce abundant - yes you can still live fairly decently (well, depends on your definition I suppose) quite cheaply and the quality of life is wonderful. Culture, art, music and a ton of celtic history in abundance is celebrated to the maximum here and makes all the local free fiestas, bbqs, ferias, well worth visiting.

OK, that's enough and I promise you I don't work for the Galician Tourist Board!!! Oh yes, and you can fly back to the UK really cheaply (as little as 60 euros each way).

Tallulah.x

[Cazzy]

We live in a small village about an hour Inland from Malaga. There are about 10 British families here and many others in the surrounding villages. The British here integrate well with the Spanish who are very friendly. The Village has a Womans Association Which most of the British women belong to, they organize outings, meals and such like. The village puts on regular coach trips in the summer, which are very cheap. There are also keep fit clubs, dancing classes and loads of other stuff. In the summer there is a swimming club at the municiple pool. There are Tennis courts and a football pitch. Everywhere the British are encouraged to mix with the Spanish. I don't know if all villages are this friendly, but ours certainly is!!!!

[decgraham]

Originally Posted by frannrod

Hello everyone

Hubby and I are in the final year of our run up to retiring to Spain. Been learning the language for 2 years (GCSE this year!), gradually clearing 20 years of accumulated junk from the house, and doing lots of research. Things have changed in the last 2 years, obviously - especially financially - but we're keeping it real and still believe we can manage.

We still haven't decided where we want to settle. Over the last two years we've made numerous exploratory trips - started at Malaga and working our way up the coast. In a few weeks we're coming to explore the coast north of Barcelona.

Anyway - here's my question. We don't want to plonk ourselves in the middle of a large British community, but we don't want to be entirely cut off either. My Spanish is coming along pretty well, but after 2 years hubby acknowledges that it's unlikely he'll ever be able to have a decent relaxed chat with a Spaniard, and chatting is his passion. We haven't been attracted to the areas where there is obviously a large British community, but when we get away from those areas, hubby gets frightened.

Can anyone give me an idea of what sort of British community we might find in the areas where there's no obvious British presence? This is an area of our "research" that we really don't have much idea about, as all our trips so far have been about getting a general feel for the areas we've visited. Everyone tells us there are Brits everywhere, British bar in every town - but what does that really MEAN in terms of a social life?

We want to get to know our Spanish neighbours. We're not really party people. Rod likes tinkering with old cars and bikes and computers and generally mending things. I have a feeling he'll make some friends with like minded Spaniards that way. We both like music and I'm hoping we can find some live music bars wherever we end up. I play the drums and the only "pie in the sky" dream I have is to meet up with some geriatric rockers and perhaps form a band. I'm not banking on it however!

If anyone can give us some insight , we'd be grateful.

Well I'm biased as we have a place in Pedreguer just outside Denia. We came across Denia by accident in 2002 on our way back from Valencia popping in to the various villages and loved it. We came back a year later and it already felt like home, we will be retiring there next year and can't wait. The area boasts of some of the best air and water quality according to the WHO and you are just 100 Km from Valencia (which is a beautiful city in my opinion) and the same from Alicante. There is a British presence but not over powering, Stravinsky has a place in Javea just next door to Denia so he’s the expert on the area and can probably give better advice. We have only been coming there for summer (4 weeks) and winter (1 week) holidays for the last 7 years. Google the area and you’ll find a lot of information comes up. Where ever you choose good luck.

[Guiri]

Originally Posted by Cazzy

We live in a small village about an hour Inland from Malaga. There are about 10 British families here and many others in the surrounding villages. The British here integrate well with the Spanish who are very friendly. The Village has a Womans Association Which most of the British women belong to, they organize outings, meals and such like. The village puts on regular coach trips in the summer, which are very cheap. There are also keep fit clubs, dancing classes and loads of other stuff. In the summer there is a swimming club at the municiple pool. There are Tennis courts and a football pitch. Everywhere the British are encouraged to mix with the Spanish. I don't know if all villages are this friendly, but ours certainly is!!!!

wow whats the name of your village ??

[Cazzy]

Originally Posted by Guiri

wow whats the name of your village ??

Isla Redonda, there are only about 300 houses, so it's not on many maps

[Tallulah]

Originally Posted by Cazzy

We live in a small village about an hour Inland from Malaga. There are about 10 British families here and many others in the surrounding villages. The British here integrate well with the Spanish who are very friendly. The Village has a Womans Association Which most of the British women belong to, they organize outings, meals and such like. The village puts on regular coach trips in the summer, which are very cheap. There are also keep fit clubs, dancing classes and loads of other stuff. In the summer there is a swimming club at the municiple pool. There are Tennis courts and a football pitch. Everywhere the British are encouraged to mix with the Spanish. I don't know if all villages are this friendly, but ours certainly is!!!!

Hey Cazzy,

Maybe Carnosa has read this post of yours already, but she's got a sister in the Malaga area and is looking for somewhere for her and her disabled daughter - maybe you know something regarding activities for the disabled in your area? Her daughter has a learning disability and is finding it hard to make friends - wants to do drama and singing....Carnosa's on the thread regarding benefits.

Best regards,

Tallulah.x

[Cazzy]

Originally Posted by My_Name_is_Tallulah

Hey Cazzy,

Maybe Carnosa has read this post of yours already, but she's got a sister in the Malaga area and is looking for somewhere for her and her disabled daughter - maybe you know something regarding activities for the disabled in your area? Her daughter has a learning disability and is finding it hard to make friends - wants to do drama and singing....Carnosa's on the thread regarding benefits.

Best regards,

Tallulah.x

I don't know about disabled facilities. Do you know how old her daughter is? There is a disabled girl at the local school. She seems to be very well accepted.

[Stravinsky]

Originally Posted by decgraham

There is a British presence but not over powering, Stravinsky has a place in Javea just next door to Denia so he’s the expert on the area and can probably give better advice.

Ahem ........ much as I like visiting Javea, which I do on a weekly basis, I wouldn't want to live there.

I actually live outide Oliva on a mountainside.

We went for a meal in Pedregeur the other night as it boasts a very good Indian Restaurant.

I would heartily recommend the Northern Costa Blanca to the OP. By that I am talking about the borders to the Costa Del Azahar which is Gandia, Oliva, Cullar etc.

The countryside around here is beautiful, only minutes inland you have national parks and some lovely towns. We have the benefit of blue flag beaches should you require them, numerous good "Spanish" restaurants, friendly locals and good transport links to both Valencia & Alicante Airport.

There is an English presence here, as you will find in most areas of the Costas .... but I dont find it overpowering .... and we had more or less the same requirements as you when we moved here

Can I just say it is so refreshing to see someone who seems to be doing things absolutely correctly. The language, the research ...... if more people did this then they would not be dissapointed when they came here. I always say ..... go visit your chosen area in January or February and see what you think of it then.

Good luck, if you want any further info on this area then let me know

[Cazzy]

Originally Posted by Stravinsky

Ahem ........ much as I like visiting Javea, which I do on a weekly basis, I wouldn't want to live there.

I actually live outide Oliva on a mountainside.

We went for a meal in Pedregeur the other night as it boasts a very good Indian Restaurant.

I would heartily recommend the Northern Costa Blanca to the OP. By that I am talking about the borders to the Costa Del Azahar which is Gandia, Oliva, Cullar etc.

The countryside around here is beautiful, only minutes inland you have national parks and some lovely towns. We have the benefit of blue flag beaches should you require them, numerous good "Spanish" restaurants, friendly locals and good transport links to both Valencia & Alicante Airport.

There is an English presence here, as you will find in most areas of the Costas .... but I dont find it overpowering .... and we had more or less the same requirements as you when we moved here

Can I just say it is so refreshing to see someone who seems to be doing things absolutely correctly. The language, the research ...... if more people did this then they would not be dissapointed when they came here. I always say ..... go visit your chosen area in January or February and see what you think of it then.

Good luck, if you want any further info on this area then let me know

People just don't realize how cold it gets!!!!!!!!!! We bought our house in the snow