Category Archives: Lifestyle

Starting from zero in Spain at 70 – The personal story of Hollywood director & author Marsha Scarbrough

Ex-pat, Lifestyle, Spain, Spanish society, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Thinking about moving to Spain? Think it’s too late?  Join me to hear the inspirational story from Marsha Scarbrough who proves it’s never too late to say yes to a new life in Spain. Marsha left her native California to start afresh in Madrid when she was 70 years old after losing everything in the … Continue reading Starting from zero in Spain at 70 – The personal story of Hollywood director & author Marsha Scarbrough →

Ask me anything! Part 1 – Your questions on my story, moving to Spain, Covid & the podcast

Barcelona, Ex-pat, Lifestyle, Madrid, Spain, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

I asked you guys, the listeners to “ask me anything”! (About Spain that is – and my life here) In part 1 I answer your questions about how and why I came to live in Spain, where to live in Spain, the situation with Covid-19 and why I decided to start the When in Spain … Continue reading Ask me anything! Part 1 – Your questions on my story, moving to Spain, Covid & the podcast →

Living in La Mancha – Valdepeñas, Wine, Quixote & small town life in Spain

Castilla la Mancha, History, Lifestyle, Spain, Spanish culture, Teaching English, Work, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

In this episode of the When in Spain podcast I take a weekend trip two hours south of Madrid to the town of Valdepeñas with three friends, one of whom spent a year living the Spanish small town life in deep Castilla la Mancha before moving to the Spanish capital. With the help of Matt … Continue reading Living in La Mancha – Valdepeñas, Wine, Quixote & small town life in Spain →

20 things you should and shouldn’t do in Spain – Insights for an authentic Spanish experience!

Lifestyle, Moving to Spain, Spain, Spanish culture, Spanish society, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

A round up of do’s and don’ts to make your experience in Spain as authentic and enjoyable as possible. Spain, like any country when we’re not too familiar with it at first, can feel complicated and overwhelming. Especially when we don’t have any kind of cultural compass to guide us along the way. Whether you … Continue reading 20 things you should and shouldn’t do in Spain – Insights for an authentic Spanish experience! →

Self-sufficiency in Extremadura with author Paul Richardson – Hooch, hogs & homemade soap

Books, Eating, Extremadura, Food and Drink, Lifestyle, Nature, Spain, Spanish culture, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Author and journalist Paul Richardson joins me to talk about life living off-grid on his farm El Chabolino (The Little Shack) https://chabolino.com/ in deep Extremadura. Paul and his husband are almost completely self-sufficient and live from what they produce on their 12-acres of Spanish countryside. Which means tending fruit trees, olive groves and making wine … Continue reading Self-sufficiency in Extremadura with author Paul Richardson – Hooch, hogs & homemade soap →

Málaga & The Costa del Sol with travel journalist Lisa Francesca Nand

Activities, Andalucía, Beaches, Ferias, Ferias, Food and Drink, Lifestyle, Málaga, Moving to Spain, Spain, Spanish culture, Tapas, Travel, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

This week I‘m joined by travel journalist and host of The Big Travel Podcast, Lisa Francesca Nand.  Lisa spent her childhood living on the Costa del Sol from the age of seven when her parents relocated from the north of England to the fishing village of Los Boliches near Fuengirola. Lisa recalls her childhood memories … Continue reading Málaga & The Costa del Sol with travel journalist Lisa Francesca Nand →

Comedy as an antidote to the frustrations of living in Spain – Laughter is the best medicine with Richard Marshall

Ex-pat, Language, Lifestyle, Madrid, Moving to Spain, Spain, Spanish culture, Spanish society, Theatre, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

British comedian Richard Marshall from Madrid Stand Up Comedy talks to me about the frustration and isolation we can face when moving to Spain. Richard shares with us how he’s used comedy as an antidote to overcome the anxieties of immersing himself in a new culture and language. We also had lots of laughs examining … Continue reading Comedy as an antidote to the frustrations of living in Spain – Laughter is the best medicine with Richard Marshall →

Moving to Spain a little later in life – a journey of personal growth & reinvention with Cepee Tabibian

Lifestyle, Madrid, Moving to Spain, Spain, Work, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Are you thinking of starting a new life in Spain but feel like you’ve left it too late? Do you want to break free of your routine and start a journey of reinvention, self-discovery and personal growth? Is it too late to change your life when you’re already in your 30s, 40s, 50s and beyond? … Continue reading Moving to Spain a little later in life – a journey of personal growth & reinvention with Cepee Tabibian →

Secrets of the Menú del Día – The history & future of Spain’s lunchtime meal deal

Daily routine, Eating, History, Lifestyle, Madrid, Spain, Spanish culture, Spanish society, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Join me and journalist, Fiona Govan from The Local news website as we eat our way through a Menú del Día – Spain’s great value fixed-price lunch menu which you can find in pretty much any restaurant in Spain, although often tourists and visitors are not sure what it is or what it includes. Find … Continue reading Secrets of the Menú del Día – The history & future of Spain’s lunchtime meal deal →

Moving to Spain checklist with relocation coach Molly Piccavey

Accommodation, Apartments, buying property in Spain, Daily routine, Ex-pat, Language, Lifestyle, Looking for work in SPain, Renting, Spain, Spanish culture, Spanish society, Work, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Are you thinking about making the move to Spain? Wondering where to live and how to buy or rent a property? Do you want to look for work or retire to Spain? If the answer is yes to any of these questions then this episode is for you. I chat with Molly Piccavey who runs … Continue reading Moving to Spain checklist with relocation coach Molly Piccavey →