What do people do daily?

Hi,

McLouis Glen 690. Mr. Custard.or Snr. Natilla. Here since 2003,.motorhome from 2004' Travelled entire life Private Sector then Army.

We travel. 

Spain.-all the Main Fiestas, the history, access to the rest of Europe. Swap your motorhome for one in Australia. We have spent 4 yrs.there since 2006.

We have 2 properties here one being an apt in Mojacar. Yawn, yawn, boredom squared. Luckily the other is a rural cottage 150yrs old-always something to do.

Or you can.do as so many do-

Pub. Restaurant, socialise, SatelliteTV/ Internet..just the same as UK but in.the sun.

Oh, & complain.

Best Wishes,

Bob and Sandra

Mojacar Playa and Puerto Lumbreras

Actually you can work working from home........too.  If interested just respond to this email.  thanks.

Hi

We live between Velez Rubio and Puerto Lumbreras, and have also somewhat unofficially "retired" early.  In terms of your specific questions:

Distance from beach - no problem.  It's an easy drive if you want to go; we were at Vera Playa earlier this week admiring (or otherwise) some of the all-over-tan scenery.   

Distance from airport - no problem.  Murcia Corvera is now our favourite at about 1 hour drive, park outside and walk in.  Almeria is about 1hr 15mins, also park outside.  Alicante is further, about 1hr 45, but with masses of flights and ridiculously cheap car hire most of the year. Even there the parking is very easy. 

Major towns - Velez actually has most things you need up to a point, Puerto Lumbreras has more, though we have found that Lorca has become something of a hub, and has a good deal more there than first meets the eye. In terms of population it is on a par with some of the larger towns in the UK.  If you go a bit further to Murcia, that would be in the top 10 UK cities by population, and has all of the warehouse stores / out of town shopping etc that you could want.  I wouldn't necessarily want to live in those towns though - it's much better away from the noise.

If you want to work from home, you can do it here as much as anywhere, subject to demands to be immediately in the UK for meetings etc.  

What do you/we do?  Well, that probably depends what you like to do if in the UK but not working.  Our life here is totally different, in that we have space - more land than we could dream of in the UK.  Echoing Dr Bob's point above, we're never short of activities around the "garden".  Other than that, we walk lots, I cycle, we just go and do stuff.  Or not, depending how we feel.  We often don't leave our boundaries from one shopping run to the next, because there is always plenty to do.  I'm still sorting out all of my olive tree prunings from earlier in the year, ready for the log burner next winter.

If we hadn't moved here, we would both be working full time, hating it and be no better off financially because of the huge mortgage.  That's what (stir) crazy looks like.  But you have to choose what's right for you.  

Paul

Just a thought again. Either on the way down or if here then June+/July you have 4 wonderful fiestas.

LA RIOJA- Battle of Wines-Haro

             ...... Battle of Clarets San Ascensio

                     Stilt Dancing Fiesta- Angiano

Navarre- Running of the Bulls-Pamplona

Just a thought.

Saludos,

Bob and Sandra

I second the Battle of Wines in Haro.  Great fun!

Paul

Hi,

We had a fabulous time in 2005 apart from The Running. The Battle of Wines  they just throw/ squirt etc. Bit cold as first thing in the morning. At Clarets they use Water Cannon, but for us it was Angiano. Attended for the 3 days it was so atmospheric. We shall record this time.

At all in La Rioja  loads of free Motorhome Parking. At Pamplona the nearest official campsite turned out to be a nightmare. We found an abandoned factory just off the town centre and the Police, if not amorous locals, didn't bother us at all. If you go to Visitor Information there are adverts of residents renting out space on their balconies overlooking the route of running. Ours was 35€ pp incl. Breakfast.

Now of course we have Park4night & searchforsites.

Happy travels,

Bob and Sandra

Thanks everyone for your replies. Unfortunately the apartment we have been looking at doesn't need any work doing to it and has no garden / land to tend to so we will be limited in that respect for finding "things to do". My hobby is photography and photo restoration and my wife makes greetings cards to keep herself occupied at times. We wouldn't want to have to constantly go to bars / restaurants to meet people. It could be that we would be better closer to the coast or trying to find somewhere in Velez Rubio to rent first before buying.

Hi,

You are correct in your conclusions. Velez gets really cold in winter & snow is not unusual. We know as the cottage outside Puerto Lumbreras.gets cold+++ & Sandra spends almost all the winter at our Mojacar Playa apt..Doesn't bother me as Afghanistan was -20C on the Hindu Kush.

You are in an unique position with the motorhome as You can move from area to area 'testing the water'.

Otherwise renting is definitely the way to go. If on the Coast you want to test out Summer &'Winter as almost 2 different countries.

Saludos,

Bob & Sandra.

Hi, yes I would rent first. There are other places nearer the coast and/or towns. We both worked for 40+ years, so just relaxing now. However we visit  towns within 2 hours from us, have the occasional overnight stay.Spain is a large country and we will never see it all. We are learning the language as this gives more opportunity to integrate. We have a big olive tree, some citrus trees, and enjoy their harvests.  

We’ve never been so busy! On top of this there are the new friends we meet  old friends who visit etc.

G