5 Things I Like About Living In Spain

If you didn't know already, I live in Spain. I moved here with my parents and my younger brother in 2001 at the age of 14 and my parents moved back to the UK due to the recession in 2006. I have moved back and forth to the UK but in December 2012 I decided to move back... 3rd time lucky!

I live in a beautiful town called Javea. Javea is the place my parents chose to move to so it feels special settling down here, it's home, it's where I grew up and it just has this magnetic pull that just makes you come back.

So without further a due, here's 5 things I like about living in Spain:

One

"I feel safe walking out at night"

According to a quick Google search "Figures clearly demonstrate that Spain is a safe environment to live in. According to the Elcano Royal Institute (2017) study, Spain is the sixth safest country in the world, following close behind Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, Switzerland and Sweden." - So there you have it. I feel safe walking out at night, I don't feel nervous at all really but I know if I was in the UK that would be a different story. Spain is very family orientated and you just don't seem to have as much bad happening here than you do in other parts of the world.

Two

"I hate summer"

I mean everyone is going to say it, and how can you not? The weather is amazing here but I hate summer. It is too bloody hot and I just hate July and August, I even hate September as well. Now a contributing factor to this "hate" could be the fact I have had two pregnancies, very close together, that both run their course from March to October so I was heavily pregnant in the height of summer. Either way, I still hate summer. My favourite times of the year is Spring and Autumn, October being my favourite month of all (and the month both my kids were born in... and my parents too actually!). Even though I hate summer, for those 3 months of pure hot hell.... aircon gets me through, although we only have it in the lounge.

Three

"You can be out at 10pm with your kids and no one is judging"

Spanish Culture is just awesome. It seems in this region (Communidad de Valencia) it's non stop party vibes and each town also has its own local fiestas too! No surprise really is it? If you get your 23 paid holiday days a year and then fiestas on top, well its a total bonus! You can be out at 10pm with your kids and no one is judging, I actually think you are judged more if you aren't out haha! The Spanish when out and about are much more welcoming, even walking down the street you say hello to a complete stranger, my daughter Hailey says hello to people now it's so funny.

Four

Nathan at the Arenal Beach in Javea

"Spain has 3,000 miles of coastline"

Spain is a beautiful country, yeeeeees it can look a little dull in summer because of how hot and dry it is but who doesn't love a palm tree? Fun fact for you that I found, in 2015, 578 Spanish beaches were awarded the Blue Flag, a certification only given if certain standards of water quality, safety, and environmental management are met. Spain has 3,000 miles of coastline, which means plenty of beaches. But it isn't just the beaches, here in Javea we have the Montgo, a beautiful mountain that never gets boring to look at. From the Javea side, Montgó resembles

the head and trunk of an elephant.

Five

"It's not a rat race"

The lifestyle here you work to live, not live to work. It's relaxed, it's laid back (not always helpful) but life is better here in my opinion. It's a slower-paced lifestyle, it's not a rat race. Some may like that, others may not, it's a personal preference. Don't get me wrong, I sway back and forth so many times with where I want to be..... but Spain always comes out on top when we consider all the possibilities.

Let me know what you think about where you live. Are you happy? Would you move to Spain?