Crime .... I didn’t mention it in my initial response because it really is so low as to be unnoticeable - YES, you still get break-ins - most often at unoccupied holiday lets .... but violent crime is very low. Guardia Civil / CNP are much MUCH less forgiving than English / Scottish polic...
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...e. Even Policia Local are very heavily armed. Basically ... you just don’t screw with the police. At all.
Roads ... get used to no one using indicators - I mean entering a roundabout here is at best a guessing game, but there are very few accidents for all that. I find there is an order of magnitude LESS road-rage here than UK. Maybe it comes from a more relaxed lifestyle but drivers seem to be a lot more courteous. Just remember not to get worked up when the car in front of you stops in the middle of town so the driver can chat to his friend 😂
Integration: we chose specifically not to live in an expat heavy area, as we wanted to immerse ourselves - we came to Spain to live in Spain; It was a grand dream ... and it forces you to learn Spanish!! In Vera, some English is spoken, but in Correos, Ayuntamiento - all official offices here, forget it - it’s Spanish only. I believe up around Arboleas / Albox there is a much greater Expat presence and English is more prevalent; but to really integrate, to involve yourself and be part of the Spanish community .... learn Spanish. There are four official languages in this country. English is not one of them.
Noise levels: we live at Valle del Este - it’s a stones throw from the E15 and I hear NO traffic, nor dogs barking (ok, dogs bark occasionally, but certainly not all night) it is exceptionally quiet around here. Arboleas? Couldn’t tell you. Have driven through but haven’t stopped there for any length of time.
Parcels: now that might bug you 😂 Spanish couriers have a habit of saying “address incomplete” or “recipient absent” if they are running behind time - that way they don’t get penalized for late delivery. Correos / Correos Express are pretty good, but if you live out in a campo, chances are you are going to have to find a local garage / shop that’s known to courier drivers and have parcels delivered there. SEUR are about the worst for that, but it really comes down to where you choose to live and how well the individual drivers know the area. Generally if you live in an urbanización or pueblo you’ll have less problems getting parcels.
Don’t expect things to happen quickly here either. This is Spain and the more relaxed pace of life translates into every facet of life .... embrace, love it, live it and you’ll have a wonderful time..... fight against “the way”, complain and get stressed when things don’t happen as quickly as you are used to and you will live a life of anxiety and frustration 🤣
Wouldn’t swap it for anything.
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