It’s 11 years and a day since I moved to Madrid, a move which turned out surprisingly well, and which, as usual, I can highly recommend (especially if you are young free, single, and bored… as I was!)
We’ve just got back to Madrid after 2 months away, and boooooooy is it hot. Still.
We have to move flat in the very near future (which should make for some interesting stories), but first of all we have to decide where the hell to live! With a baby in tow we are keen to head out of the massification that is Madrid, towards greener climes…
Possibilities so far include: Sierra north of Madrid (not that green, let’s face it…), Asturias, San Sebastian… and just about anywhere else in the entire world. As one friend points out, I’ve been talking about moving out of Madrid since I got here, and it hasn’t happened yet… so watch this space…
Meanwhile, to celebrate my birthday we are holding a very special sale at our Spanish learning site, notesinspanish.com – watch the special video here for full details (while the sale is still on!)
Saludos desde Madrid – Ben
DBMark
1 Sep 09 at 4:01 pm
Move away from Madrid? Are you mad? That’s where the work is! Ok, so you work via the net, but are you sure internet connections are going to be so good on the north coast? What about education for your offspring? Most importantly – what about your regular GReat Madrid Escape meetups – I don’t think you’ve thought this through ! (well on second thoughts maybe you have
)
Victor
1 Sep 09 at 4:14 pm
Happy Birthday!
On the other hand, I live in Asturias and I recommend it to you. Don’t worry about the internet connections… I’m writting here using my 30 Mb optic fiber connection! hahahaha
Matthew
1 Sep 09 at 5:23 pm
You’ll need your in-laws more and more as time goes by. As much as it might pain you, stay within easy reach.
Aledys Ver
1 Sep 09 at 6:26 pm
Well, happy birthday to you!
I’m sure that there are plenty of places in Spain where you can settle and live as happy as a king – it’s such a beautiful country! I have friends living in the Sierra and it’s fantastic!
bill (Legazpi)
1 Sep 09 at 6:32 pm
Wherever you end up Ben, I recommend that it’s near a planned AVE station:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:HighSpeedSpain-February2008.png
That way you’ll never be too far from anywhere!
acosta
1 Sep 09 at 7:02 pm
Feliz cumpleaños ben!
acosta
2 Sep 09 at 12:17 am
Comment from bill (Legazpi)
Wow at some point all of spain will be connected.
So Ben if you move somewhere else we will have to change the names of the GME…. GM-San Sebastian…..GM-Gijon… etc
ValenciaSon
2 Sep 09 at 12:21 am
The red brick house with the green shutters on my block is on the market.
Daisy
2 Sep 09 at 6:47 pm
Happy Birthday Ben and hope it all works out ok. All housing and lifestyle decisions and priorities change radically once the littluns start appearing..!
luke
2 Sep 09 at 7:28 pm
Happy Birthday, Ben. I’m still thinking the Sierra G. would be a good move but still haven’t done it myself. The problem with green land is that is doesn’t exist without grey skies.
Graham
2 Sep 09 at 11:11 pm
Asturias Ben you know it makes sense. If it were not for the work we would never have left there 12 years ago. Brilliant lifestyle and if you can work from anywhere it makes sense.
Good point about the inlaws though
ken baldwin
3 Sep 09 at 6:46 pm
Hi Ben
Wherever you go that is new is going to be a challenge to get settled. I can vouch for Northern Spain being terrific. I´ve lived here for 10 years, the last 5 in Cantabria, where my wife and I moved to, knowing hardly a soul. The scenery and the affordability of a house near the coast was the draw.
Five years on and we´ve made some great friends. As you may remember we´re parents to twin girls (who just turned two) and we run a busy online travel agency and we do this without very many problems, from a relatively rural area. We have an excellent medical centre 5 minutes from our house and several more 10 minutes away. We have a very good hospital (Laredo) just 20 minutes away and in 30 minutes you can be in Santander. Our girls go to a lovely creche (also 5 minutes from our house) for a half-day from Monday – Friday and this is an affordable 120 euros each per month. We have a very spacious office less than 5 minutes from our house and the rent is very low compared to the city. The natural areas around us, I think, are to die for and they cheer me up constantly. While we have had plenty of challenges, I feel that moving here is one of the best things we have ever done and even though we don´t have family near us, our kids are having a great upbringing, experiencing country life, meeting new people and enjoying seeing family when they do visit. With the climate change that is predicted over the coming years, I think that the lush green north may not be a bad place to be based. Access to Madrid from the north is getting better by the day and the motorway between Madrid and Santander will be completed in the not-too-distant future. Santander Airport has several connections with Madrid including an often low-cost Ryanair flight. While we do know several expats here, they are in the minority so having the Spanish language is really a necessity if you are going to get settled. Not a problem in your case.
There is a very good quality of life in Northern Spain. The climatic conditions here provide for an amazing variety of food and wines. Dare I say that many places here could be described as unspoilt Provence or Tuscany. They certainly have many of the ingredients.
While Cantabria is lovely, Asturias I think would be a wonderful place to live too. You know how beautiful it is and the people there are especially friendly. Perhaps, on average, the friendliest people in the north. San Sebastian would be terrific too though after Barcelona it is one of the most expensive places to buy a home in Spain but if you can afford to live in the city then you will certainly enjoy a great lifestyle.
Anyway, good luck with your choice and you´re welcome to stop over in Cantabria if ever you wish. Best wishes Ken
luke
4 Sep 09 at 9:56 am
http://shine.yahoo.com/event/tastefulliving/the-worlds-happiest-cities-508202/
For you Barcelona is probably out of the pan into the fire but interesting to see it’s supposedly the 3rd happiest city in the world.
Ben
6 Sep 09 at 10:30 pm
@Ken, thanks for the encouraging comment, you make it sound more tempting than ever!
Thanks to everyone else too, lots of thinking to do!
John Wolfendale
8 Sep 09 at 10:32 pm
Come and live in Granada – it has everything, great food, free tapas, beautiful views, mountains, beaches, skiing, culture, pretty girls, great nightlife, great daylife. I’m happy to answer questions by you or anyone else on this topic.
Is my facebook account attched to this email? If it is friend me.
John Wolfendale
8 Sep 09 at 10:33 pm
oh yeah happy belated birthday, saludos John
Sara
13 Sep 09 at 11:31 pm
I vote for GRANADA! The climate is very nice. It does get pretty hot in the summer, but since it’s near the mountains, it cools down in the evenings which makes it such a nice time to dar una vuelta en la calle.
The winters aren’t nearly as harsh as in north and central Spain, really they’re pretty mild in general.
It’s also BEAUTIFUL! and not too big, either. It’s easy to get around too. And, like John says, both the beach and the mountains are right next door.
Granada bonita! Granada! Granada!
Ben
14 Sep 09 at 8:36 am
Hi Sara, if we head south, Granada is a strong contender for sure, we love it! Right now though, the north is looking appealing – less heat in summer!
luke
14 Sep 09 at 11:06 am
Although I’ve been to Northern Spain in the summer and loved it there, after watching the Erice’s film ‘El Sur’ I had my doubts. Erice makes it look very grey and depressing. I know this reflects the storyline but the general theme is that the good life is in the South. The stats for weather in Santander are nearly the same as London (a little more sun, a little warmer but more rain than London). Anyway, I recommend the film for an atypical look at Spain.
bill (Legazpi)
14 Sep 09 at 4:33 pm
If I were to leave Madrid then I think the north would tempt me as well. I don’t mind the rain that much, what I never liked about the UK was the dark winters. So even if the north gets nearly as much rain as the UK, the fact that you still get daylight until about 6pm in the middle of winter makes it attractive.
Of the places in the north that I have visited, one that has really appealed is Santiago de Compostela. It has a good combination of culture, nightlife, quirkiness, and has some beautiful old streets and buildings. It is also relatively cheap. The only problem might be it’s size – it might seem a bit small after living in Madrid.
Ben
14 Sep 09 at 4:48 pm
@Luke and Bill – I can cope with the rain, I think, if not we’ll just head back! Santiago is lovely it’s true, there is something really special about that city. And I think after Madrid, anywhere will feel small…