moving from Malta to Canary Islands

[mvj1]

Hi there,
This is my first entry so not exactly sue how to proceed, so here goes!

My wife and I moved from the UK to Gozo,Malta, aproximately 2 years ago. At first things appeared OK, but after a while it became obvious that integration would be difficult even with local language skills. Admittedly, we made the mistake of living on the waterfront, which creates some frustration during the summer months, but more importantly excludes our day to day exposure to a constant community as such.

Without wishing to appear defamatoury, it has been very difficult to establish relationships. Even our 10 year old son, who is very popular at school, has struggled to integrate outside school due to the local attitude, of insular living.

We would wish to find a simple life without too many pre-conceived conditions, by attempting to have eveything we had in the UK, accompanied by wonderful weather.

We have lived abroad for two years now and have some experince of the sacrifices one has to make. However, the combination of an apparent lack of passion, social integration and dissapointing winters, have lead us to search out a new start in the Canary Islands and would ask if anyone could offer any kind assistance ?

We have only visited Tenerife and Fuerteventura previously, and therefore have no experience of the other Islands. I would suspect that Gran Canaria & Lanzarote, along with Tenerife, may be the more appropriate to offer a few more options for my son as he matures.

Once again, thank you for any anticipated co-operation !

Online

[jojo]

Originally Posted by mvj1

Hi there,
This is my first entry so not exactly sue how to proceed, so here goes!

My wife and I moved from the UK to Gozo,Malta, aproximately 2 years ago. At first things appeared OK, but after a while it became obvious that integration would be difficult even with local language skills. Admittedly, we made the mistake of living on the waterfront, which creates some frustration during the summer months, but more importantly excludes our day to day exposure to a constant community as such.

Without wishing to appear defamatoury, it has been very difficult to establish relationships. Even our 10 year old son, who is very popular at school, has struggled to integrate outside school due to the local attitude, of insular living.

We would wish to find a simple life without too many pre-conceived conditions, by attempting to have eveything we had in the UK, accompanied by wonderful weather.

We have lived abroad for two years now and have some experince of the sacrifices one has to make. However, the combination of an apparent lack of passion, social integration and dissapointing winters, have lead us to search out a new start in the Canary Islands and would ask if anyone could offer any kind assistance ?

We have only visited Tenerife and Fuerteventura previously, and therefore have no experience of the other Islands. I would suspect that Gran Canaria & Lanzarote, along with Tenerife, may be the more appropriate to offer a few more options for my son as he matures.

Once again, thank you for any anticipated co-operation !

Online

I dont think any of the regulars on here come from the Canarys, all I( know of it is that its a beautiful place with slightly warmer winters than the rest of us!!!!! As for intergration, well I guess its much the same as any other holiday island????

Jo xxx

[SteveHall]

Well,It's certainly got the weather and with prices tumbling it would not be a bad time to see whether you foud it was what you wanted.

I know Tenerife best but it is STILL an ISLAND and I know many get claustrophobic. The twin terrors of Los Cristianos/Las Americas are very touristy and definitely somewhere I would NOT want to live 12/365. Others might. The capital Santa Cruz is still very Spanish and is most definitely somewhere where I WOULD like to live. (La Liga next season!) I love the north - Puerto Cruz is a favourite city where I could live or die. I nearly made it there a couple of weeks ago but Jojo bottled it. (You will find she always loses at spoof!)

[mvj1]

Originally Posted by jojo

I dont think any of the regulars on here come from the Canarys, all I( know of it is that its a beautiful place with slightly warmer winters than the rest of us!!!!! As for intergration, well I guess its much the same as any other holiday island????

Jo xxx

Hi Jo,
Thanks for the reply !
It would be really helpfull to find some in depth opinions from expats living within any of the islands.

[SteveHall]

Check recent threads and you will see some opinions.

[mvj1]

Originally Posted by SteveHall

Well,It's certainly got the weather and with prices tumbling it would not be a bad time to see whether you foud it was what you wanted.

I know Tenerife best but it is STILL an ISLAND and I know many get claustrophobic. The twin terrors of Los Cristianos/Las Americas are very touristy and definitely somewhere I would NOT want to live 12/365. Others might. The capital Santa Cruz is still very Spanish and is most definitely somewhere where I WOULD like to live. (La Liga next season!) I love the north - Puerto Cruz is a favourite city where I could live or die. I nearly made it there a couple of weeks ago but Jojo bottled it. (You will find she always loses at spoof!)

Hi Steve,

Not sure about the Jojo conection, but appreciate your feedback. After living in Gozo ( approx 9 x 4 miles ) Tenerife may appear like a continent !

I agree the likes of America's & Christianos would not be fore my family and I, and having visited the North before, found it to be much more authentic in feel.
Would you be able to supply any more in depth info on the region ?

[jojo]

Originally Posted by mvj1

Hi Steve,

Not sure about the Jojo conection, but appreciate your feedback.

Its a private joke?????? Steve invited me to join him on a visit to the Canarys as I´m quite keen to see what its like there too. I´ve heard it had a good all year round climate and is a beautiful place to live????? But I "bottled out".... well I´m a respectable married woman Seriously tho, I´m watching this thread with interest cos I´m keen to hear more

Jo xxxxx

[SunnySpain]

Originally Posted by mvj1

After living in Gozo ( approx 9 x 4 miles ) Tenerife may appear like a continent !

having visited the North before, found it to be much more authentic in feel.
Would you be able to supply any more in depth info on the region ?

We have friends living in La Laguna near to Santa Cruz, they seem to like it and have recommended it as the best place to live on the Island.

Might be worth a visit at least.


Cheers, Dave

[SteveHall]

Strange - I was going to say that I would not recommend La Laguna. It's very rainy there. I have left Puerto de la Cruz in the sun, driven through the rain of La Laguna and then dropped down the looooooooooooong hill into Santa Cruz where it was brilliant sunshine again. For that reason alone I personally would not consider it.

As we always say, you need to come over and see what works for you!

[mvj1]

Originally Posted by SteveHall

Check recent threads and you will see some opinions.

Thanks Steve,

Will check out !

Mark