So when the view outside your bathroom window is of orange groves and a mountain, it’s really hard to justify coming back to Maidenhead… but we’re back.
Our first trip to Spain of 2009 (our second trip there so far) has come to an end and left us with the ever-solidifying feeling that it may be where we belong. The pace of life suits us, the diet suits us, the climate suits us… I could go on!
We stayed in the same resort that accommodated us last autumn and have another week booked for later in 2009. It’s at the more residential end of Dénia (the south side) and is a short walk to a beach, our favourite restaurant (Manduka), and has a superb view of the mountain Móntgo. The property market in the area has taken a hit in the economic downturn and there are plenty of tempting villas with either a mountain or sea view — or even more fortunately — a view of both. Neil and I are hatching a plan to raise some mortgage money and it won’t be long before we know if Spain is the place we want to buy. If we could do it tomorrow, I think hesitation would be in short supply.
I’ve uploaded lots of panoramas and photos from the trip to my flickr page and I’m sure I’ll have a couple of stories to tell in the next few blog posts. Hookers in orange groves, crazy Brazilian dancing woman, a town with roads made for toy cars, no one can escape The Girl from Ipanema, and more. Spain, you have our hearts!
Technorati Tags: holiday, Maidenhead, Neil Dixon, regularjen, Spain
10 Comments
Oh! That view is utterly, utterly gorgeous.
My mum realised her dream of moving to France some 10 years ago now and hasn’t looked back. If you have a dream…
Thank you Tom! Yes, an absolute joy to look out of the window in the morning. The balcony faced into a very nice pool and mature garden, but nothing like the beauty in the photo above.
The only thing that stops us is money… and that is a changeable situation.
Fantastic view — I highly recommend following your hearts! For the first time in my life it feels like I’ve landed where I belong, and it’s the last place I ever imagined. I hope you’re able to make the property jump, I mean how can you resist hookers in orange groves??
Hi Tango! I’m so happy to hear you’re adjusting well to Portugal!
Yep, we’re working out financial plans and details. Just driving around today in the UK was a wake-up lesson in how much more relaxed we were in Spain. There is such a tangible stress level here and it is almost impossible to remain unaffected. I love my life in the UK, but we were measurably more content in Spain.
As for the hookers, happy to report they seem to be on a very defined stretch of road… not behind the resort!
We moved to Spain in 2000, we are in the hills behind Malaga.
http://www.hotcosta.com/Cartama.info
Fantastic country, fantastic people.
..and if you can work over the internet, as I do (and it sounds like you might do, or might be able to do), that caps it all.
No jobs here, but still lots of work.
Hi Pete! Nice to hear you’re having a good experience. We do do a lot of work on the web, so that would certainly be factored in as a location independent job.
We’re currently working on what will get us out there fast but also be flexible. We’re considering an apartment first and then a finca. The apartment could then be used as rental income later. We’re very much at the loose planning stage, but we’ll get there.
Hi Jen,
I came across your ‘Have we moved to Spain?’ link.
I am in the process of setting up a Facebook fan page to supply free info to people like yourselves who are planning to move to Spain!
I as a Brit have been living here in Jerez de la Frontera, Cadiz for nearly 8 years now and really enjoy the lifestyle our family has down here.
If you think the page is any good and you would like to contribute I would love any input or suggestions.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/My-Move-to-Spain-FREE-information-on-how-to-successfully-move-to-Spain/114232351939007
BR
Paul
Hi Paul – Welcome!
We have our plans and information already, but perhaps the links can help some of my readers. Good luck with your new Facebook page.
Cheers!
Hi Jen,
Another beautiful day in North Cornwall. Even Bodmin is sparkling this morning.
Just wanted to say how much I’ve enjoyed trawling through your website and your blog. It seems you are a really interesting person with lots of fascinating stuff to say and share and I really appreciate your use of language. You are indeed a ‘wordsmith’ in the truest sense.
However, I have one question: how can you possible countenance a move to Spain after experience the glory of God’s Own County/ Duchy/ Country of Cornwall?
Hi Nick! Thank you for having a look around
I know… I had no idea I would find this much joy! Cornwall has certainly hooked us. Spain is still very alive in our thoughts, and likely will be a residence at some point, but we’re definitely in less of a hurry to get there.
2 Trackbacks
[...] like Jen, I too left my heart in Dénia last [...]
[...] my love of both Spain and absinthe, I have yet to find a place in my heart for Hemingway’s writing, but I’ll [...]