Hello and Welcome! LIVING ON THE COSTA BLANCA Climate Climate 'Superb' should cover this subject but it may help if we clarify it a little more! The climate in this section of the Costa Blanca is, according to the World Health Organisation, "...the healthiest in the world". It's a frequently quoted fact that doesn't actually convey anything of the simple pleasure of never having to take both sunblock and wellies to the beach 'just in case'! Whilst the weather here is also subject to variations from year to year and the weather forecasts are as reliably unpredictable as in Britain and elsewhere, the fact remains that we have on average more than 320 days of sunshine every year. The climate of the Costa Blanca owes much to its Mediterranean coastline and to the mountain ranges which protect the coastal area from the colder winds from the inland regions of Spain. The temperature variations from season-to-season for the Alicante region - of which we are part - are officially quoted as follow... Average maximum temperatures: January 16C - April 22C - August 32C - November 21C .... from our own experience of the particular areas within which we operate, we would consider this to be a reasonable guide but to add that July and Auqust tend to peak higher at about 36C. Winters are usually wonderfully mild with many people being able to eat their Christmas Dinner 'al fresco', at worst needing to wear a light pullover. In fact, last Christmas we took our children to Las Marinas (adjacent to Denia), one of the loveliest beaches this side of the Caribbean. Some people, particularly those of greater years, may be concerned about their ability to tolerate these higher temperatures but we ourselves have noticed the speed with which people become acclimatsed and to the degree that within a year or two and during the winter period the 'old hands' will usually be seen wearing bodywarmers or pullovers while drinking their glasses of whatever outside the restaurants and bars. The recent arrivals, and particularly the tourists, will probably be wearing shorts and teeshirts while sporting their sunburn! Food and drink For those who who previously depended upon pre-cooked and frozen convenience foods the 'local' shops here won't offer much in terms of variety; you'll have to visit one of the many local mini-markets or Supermarkets in the larger villages and towns. However, for a serious food-lover the problems are now over. An abundance of fruit and vegetables, locally grown apart from the more exotic imports, are of high quality and allow a wide choice. As in most cases, food prices are generally about half those in the UK. Meat and the various meat products are superb(whichever misguided advertising man was the first idiot to say that Scottish beef was the best had obviously never tried a Spanish reared T-Bone!). Meat is far cheaper here than in the U.K., particularly pork, lamb and chicken. You'll soon find that a barbeque is a 'must have' over here, and the majority of homes have a big one on the terrace. Having a group of friends around for a meal is a great pleasure in the sunshine and with the barbeque going on the patio. Spain, in common with other Mediterranean countries has a wonderful variety of fresh seafood of all kinds. Many of the coastal villages and towns have their own small fishing fleets, with the result that you may choose to buy your seafood directly from the local fish markets. Denia harbour, central in our area, is a regular stopping-off point for both residents and tourists alike who may either buy or simply enjoy watching the sales progress. Wine? Oh, what a blessed land this is for the friends and acquaintances of Bacchus!! A Coke costs you about 50 pence in a village bar but a brandy is only about 10p more. Total 60p for what would be a triple measure in a British pub. The downside is that if you want a decent Cognac, say a mid-range such as Courvoisier it'll cost about £1. The Spanish equivalent would be, for example, a glass of 'Magno' at about 70p or go overboard with a 'Carlos 1', a fine Spanish brandy at about £1.50. A litre of decent table wine will start at about £1 a bottle. A 'single' is roughly equivalent to a treble from an optic in the U.K. Wine, like the cheeses to go with it, will provide months of tasting before you finally select your household stock. In general the red wines are far better than the whites but good white wine can be found although more expensive than an equivalent red. Spared Britain's outlandish taxes, wine is cheap here, along with every type of spirit. Scotch, as a yardstick, will cost about £6 a bottle but that's for Johnny Walker Black label. Cheeses are produced in quantity and the sheer variety will provide a lot of pleasurable experimentation with various types. I'd start with the 'Manchego' cheeses and then work down the price range; there are many excellent Spanish cheeses at misleadingly low prices. Like most dairy products cheese is much cheaper here but you'll pay heavily if you buy imported British cheeses - or anything else - from an 'English shop'. Lovers of Double Cream can lose some weight here as you simply can't buy it anywhere. Shame about the sauces we'll nevermake again! To summarise, without writing a book on the subject, you'll find a greater variety of fresh fish, meat, fruit and vegetables here at lower prices and the learning curve is very enjoyable. Eating Out Restaurants abound here to suit every taste or occasion and vary widely where cost is concerned. Many people opt for the Menu of the Day (menu del dia), which is a fixed price meal usually of three courses including a half bottle of wine per person. The price is around 8 Euros (£5) per head in a mid-range restaurant and excellent value. If we meet during your house hunting we'll be pleased to share our local knowledge with you. Education For those with young children you can choose between the fee-paying 'International' schools where the pupils are predominantly expatriates or the Spanish schools where education is free and the number of foreigners attending varies according to the size of the local expat population. Children normally enter Spanish schools from the age of four years and typically attend between 0930 - 1230 and 1500 -1700, half day Wednesday finishing at 1200. Young children acquire a language very quickly and they should be speaking Spanish within a few months. In our personal opinion a Spanish school is preferable as it simplifies the child's integration within society. However, for the older child, say 8 yrs and over, to learn a new language is more daunting and an International school may be a better option. It all boils down to a matter of individual circumstances. Fiestas Spain thrives on Fiestas which are a fundamental part of Spanish life. Every city and town, down to the smallest villages, enjoy their fiestas. The 'National', or countrywide fiestas, lead to a virtual close-down of Spain in all but the essential services, restaurants and bars. Every region publishes guides to the various Fiestas and cultural events and they are so common that you could, if you wished, attend a different fiesta every day and night from early Spring to the end of September and all within a short drive. Frequently these fiestas run for 24 hours a day, for a week or more, with the hardcore attendees snatching a few hours sleep before coming back for more. Massive firework displays, bulls running in barricaded streets and continual vibrant music are hallmarks of these celebrations. Drunkeness is exceptionally rare as the purpose of the whole thing is to enjoy the occasion, not to suffer for it later! The streets are thronged with crowds, pavement restaurants and bars do a roaring trade and in the larger towns enormous processional floats move slowly through the streets as those on board throw sweets and toys to the crowds of surrounding children. For a Western European it comes as a pleasant surprise to see so many people, from babes in arms to their grandparents, mutually enjoying such friemdly and good natured exuberance; we ourselves have literally dragged our young children away from Fiestas, protesting loudly, at 4am! Recreation Apart from the comparatively few expatriates who work or run businesses here the majority are retirees who are inclined to spend much of their time socialising. As a result there are numerous groups and organisations catering to every possible interest: alternative medicine, hill-walking, bridge, scuba diving, golf.... there's something for everyone! Public Transport Immaculately clean, always running on time and very low fares. Coming rom the U.K., for example, you'll find standards that have never existed there. Regular luxury coaches - all airconditioned - operate between the larger towns and serve the smaller villages although there may only be a few services each day on the quieter routes. A car is really essential here as elsewhere. Car prices are considerably lower in Spain and a Spanish-registered car is an advantage in every way, not least because the steering wheel is on the correst side! A British car is a liability as resale prices are very low and the only likely purchaser will be someone returning to the U.K. Motorway travel is a joy here as the motorways (toll roads) are in excellent condition and generally very quiet. Those who are familiar with the M25 or M1 will be in motorway heaven here as travel is fast and easy with traffic-jams restricted to Madrid and Barcelona and then only at rush hours.