Comments on: Guest Blogging: Rod’s Spanish ‘Nightmare’ Home

By: Denham Springs Sunrooms

Denham Springs Sunrooms — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 23:38:34 +0000

Nice story, I enjoyed reading. That’s the real problem with moving to a hot country that you’re not used to, you expect it to be hot, but never realize just how hot it can be. When I moved to Spain 2 years ago for the first few weeks I had nothing but constant sunburn, thankfully my skin has gotten used to the sun now but I do still get burnt often.

By: pj

pj — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 03:45:17 +0000

Two worlds, can you share info on your position? I am interested in finding something similar when the kids are in college… a year or two.

By: rod

rod — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 19:56:07 +0000

I wouldn’t worry too much, Two Worlds, my tale was meant to counter the idealised image of southern Spain as a place of eternal summer that British television property programmes tend to promote, and it was mainly about a particular type of property. In my case, the house was an old unmodernised picturesque one typical of those featured in such programmes, located as it was in a hilltop pueblo particularly exposed to the elements. When I moved to a flat in Sevilla around the end of January, it was perfectly fine, even if it didn’t have central heating.
Like Greytop suggests, it is better to go for the practicality of a new or modernised property rather than a place which appears to have lots of ‘character’ – like John of Valencia’s igloo with its parquet tiles ). Central heating may not be usual in Andalusia, but if a place is well insulated it should be perfectly comfortable with other forms of heating.
Regarding how long winter lasts I would say that winter lasts from mid-November to mid/late February.
And how cold you feel it is of course depends on what you’re used to. In Britain, or southern Britain at least, the winters have been so mild that I can’t remember the last prolonged cold spell, so my experience in Spain came as a bit of a shock, but for you it might be different.
Eight months being paid to work in Andalusia sounds great – I am sure you will have a fantastic time. If you don’t already, why not participate in our forum here.

Denegras – "it is cold even outside!â€. LOL – how do you say that in Spanish then?

Princess Banter – yes, despite my ‘nightmare’ I had an incredible time on my eight month break in Spain, and would recommend it to anyone.

By: two worlds

two worlds — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 18:15:52 +0000

These stories I am reading are terrifying me. I will be moving to Andalusia, not sure where yet, to teach English for 8 months for the Spanish Dept of Ed. Coming from the Northeast U.S. where it is quite cold and damp in the winters, I was looking forward to a hiatus. Can anyone recommend a way of staying warm or the best kind of housing to look for so I don’t freeze?? How about the south side of a mountain? The heat doesn’t scare me but the cold does. Looking forward to Spain and a suitcase full of woolen sweaters and socks. And by the way, how many months does this cold last?

By: greytop

greytop — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 07:20:43 +0000

We had the same problem with our first town house. It had a wood fuelled fire that could burn logs faster than you could carry them home but we at least could heat one room well. Since then we have moved into a modern aprtment with air conditioning which both heats and cools – heaven! As they told me in the army – any damned fool can be uncomfortable

By: leftbanker

leftbanker — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 22:02:33 +0000

I feel your pain. Here is a bit of an essay I wrote back in the cruel 20 degree winter or 07 I survived here in Valencia:

Nanook of the North, Scott of the Antarctic, make room in the igloo for John of Valencia. An igloo sounds so warm and cozy right now, an igloo with a nice whale blubber fire burning in the hearth, or whatever the hell igloos have instead of a hearth. Whatever they have it’s more than what I have here with my parquet floors and no central heating.

I lived through that ordeal and swore that I wouldn’t complain about the heat here during the summer. I have kept my promise so far but it isn’t summer yet. I am going through 30 sfp sunscreen almost as quickly as cheap wine.

By: denegras

denegras — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 20:57:11 +0000

This cold houses you only find in the south of Spain (very few houses have central heating), as they are “prepared” for hot weather.
On very cold days, there is a saying here in the south of Spain that goes.. “it is cold even outside!”
which describes quite well Rod’s nightmare

By: Franklin Liao

Franklin Liao — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 16:36:16 +0000

I’d like to go to Spain and learn to cook, take advantage of the glorious cuisine and nail down my Spanish. I visited Valencia back in the summer of ’04 where I had the best restaurant experience at ‘Restaurante Torrijos’ Since I’ve been trying to get a job at the restaurant, but haven’t been able to even get a response. Valencia would be perfect because it has the nice mix of city and water life; of course because of the America’s Cup attraction.

By: princess banter

princess banter — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 10:09:15 +0000

Sounded like you had an incredible time! Makes me wish I was there too

By: Gary

Gary — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 22:21:56 +0000

As a city dweller through and through I can certainly relate to the need for street lighting, traffic and errr.. something to do with my time. Gill reckons I’m the only person in the world that can go stir crazy outdoors – takes about 3 days. She is however happy to take advantage of this fact by finding me a succession of missions and errands to perform whilst she completes her daily sojourn, usually in a horizontal position on the nearest beach.