Lifestyle Guide:

Country or Coast ?
There's no harm in having a fantasy of a little country house surrounded by nothing but olive trees and orange groves and the occasional sound of birds or the tinkling sound made by the local goatherd as they munch through the local thyme and rosemary bushes. However it's more likely to turn out that the goats turn their attentions to your clothes line and your water supply dries up because it 's been particularly hot and dry. Not to mention the leaking roof and the manyana attitude of the local builder who if he put your walls up half as fast as he put his prices up would have finished ages ago.

Joking aside if this appeals to you then you have to be the sort of person who really can cope and not succumb to stress at the first problem. Because naturally there will be plenty.

True there can be the rewards when you finish the place and get the satisfaction that comes with seeing the rewards of your own hard labour. Not to mention the money you may have saved yourself.

Just don't delude yourself that it will be easy or that you will get that hovel for a song in the first place!

By far the vast majority of us who buy homes in Spain stick to the coastal strip mostly for the reasons that they are realistic enough to know that they prefer somewhere that is convenient for getting about, has access to most of the things they have become accustomed to in a developed world , is not so isolated they never see any other human beings and can feel they would have services on hand in a crisis.

Hospitals, schools, shops and communications obviously tend to be in centres of population so if they are important to you now or you think they will be important in the near future then it is wisest to locate somewhere thata is not too remote.

Being near to water has a strong attraction to many of us even if we don't actually swim in the sea. Together with the lifestyle of outdoor living and pavement cafes and restaurants it cannot be ignored.

Villa or Appartment?
First time buyers often think that of an apartment as something people choose because they can't afford a house but the reality is that there can be advantages in both. The many apartment complexes in Spain offer bright, spacious living accommodation with sunny terraces, lush tropical gardens and often a sparkling swimming pool as well. If you like to pass the hard work of looking after all that to someone else and have the added security that there is little maintenance required whilst you are away then take a good look at the apartments on offer.

Villas on the other hand have the privacy and space that many people crave for and if they are lucky enough to be able to afford a pool as well they really have something special. Friends and family love to come to stay ( well wouldn't you) and how much more pleasure to you get from sharing something with those you are close to? Most villas and houses tend to be in totally residential areas and you can find you have neighbours of all nationalities. It is rare in those circumstances that you will find yourself without willing hands and even new friends.

Many villa owners rent out their properties and the income helps with the running costs. If you have a pool it is much easier to let for the summer season unless you are right on the beach.

Working and living in Spain:
As a European community citizen you are totally free to live and work in Spain . All you need to do is fill in a few forms, open a bank account and register with the local authorities to obtain a registration or fiscal identification number ( NIE). You will need this even to take out a telephone contract .You will also need an NIE number to get a job.

There are many agencies and companies who will help you and know their way around the somewhat different approach to bureaucracy.

Job hunting is the same as in any country . With a strong tourist industry in Spain a lot of jobs tend to be in that sector or some related service industry. Many people start out working for themselves or through someone they get to know and then by word of mouth or advertising in local papers they pick up their own contacts. Every region has its own English speaking paper.

Language
Learning the Spanish language should be high on everyone's agenda even if they will only use it occasionally. Failure to even attempt to learn the language is blamed as one of the main reasons why people fail to settle in a new country. With some lessons, a good phrase book , a willing mind and a smile you can get a long way with most situations. You're not "making a fool " of yourself if you can accept that everyone has to start somewhere and that if you get the "dos cervezas" you ordered and they were beer then that is a result!

Spanish is a collection of languages with the most popular being called Castilian. Throughout the world it is spoken by around 300 million people.

The others are Basque , which is found in the area close to the French border in the north, Catalan which is found close to Barcelona and north east Spain and Galician which is centred around the north west provinces. Sometimes signs etc are in dual languages . Whilst Franco discouraged the use of these minority languages modern governments have actively encouraged them.

Once in Spain even the most tentative attempts to speak Spanish are appreciated and lessons are widely available. You will find that if you are prepared to open your eyes and ears you will gradually pick up essentials. It is amazing that even with only a little knowledge , a smile ,some body language and even the odd drawing you can get through most situations. Many people speak some English but it is both courteous and admirable to attempt to speak in the language of the country you are in.

Currency:
Like many other European countries Spain uses the Euro. This is made up of 100 cents . The daily conversion rate can be found in most newspapers and at banks.

Religion
Spain has been a largely Roman Catholic country since 1492 . There are also many other denominations represented throughout the country. St James the Great is the patron saint.

Religious festivals are celebrated with many colourful local traditions

Often including folk dancing and processions. Corpus Christi is a major celebration on the second Thursday after Whitsun with towns vying with each other for the best celebrations.

Holy Week sees the most fervent demonstrations of religious zeal with extended processions in most areas.

Christmas is observed as a religious festival with the maian exchange of presents being held on Dia de Reyes (Epiphany0 on the 6 th January. Special cakes are often made at these times and it is tradition on New Year's Eve to eat 12 grapes as dessert.

National Public Holidays

1 st January - New Year

6 th January - Epiphany

Maundy Thursday

Good Friday

1 st May - Labour Day

15 th August - Asuncion de la Virgen

9 th October - National Feast Day

1 st November - All Saints Day

6 th December -Constitution Day

8 th December - Immaculate Conception

25 th December- Christmas Day

In addition each town has a public holiday for its own saint . There are often other fiestas and holidays . Sometimes it seems its just because they feel like it and have been known to be blamed for the non arrival of a delivery or person!

Telephones
The dialling code to Spain from the UK is 0034 .

Telefonica is the equivalent of BT and they install the lines. You can arrange for your bill to be paid by direct debit so that if you are absent from Spain your phone won't get cut off. Costs are about the same price as the UK for installation and line rental. There are many companies who offer cut price calls and schemes which usually involve dialling a prefix .