Moving to area - Page 3

I don't live there permanently but have an apartment in Vera Playa.  I feel the bus service leaves a lot to be desired, our last bus to Mojacar from our place is 20.10 in the winter with the summer timetable starting on 25th June, not sure how long that goes on til but some time in September I would think or maybe earlier.  I feel Vera Playa is a bit quiet in the winter and agree with others that Garrucha would be a much better choice.  Also, please know that there is a naturist area in Vera Playa, just in case you get a shock.

I thought it was helpful....It was my original post....most appreciated.

And being helpful is most definitely  applauded … but describing Turre as a “typically Spanish town” to someone who doesn’t know the area is not very helpful and more than a little misleading.  It is in no way “typically Spanish” having a large number of British migrants, British Sports Bar, a supermarket that caters for international tastes etc etc.

If you want “typically Spanish” try Lubrin, Garrucha is somewhat more Spanish in flavour than Turre but still has a large amount of tourists.  Even Vera is more “Spanish” than Turre.

It’s good to support the town you live in, but please be balanced and don’t try and present it as something it most definitely is not.

Thanks for the reply...Yes the naturist thing could be a bit embarrasing but not something I would worry about...there seems to be alot of places to rent in Vera playa, but not certain which would be the best location to try to rent on the playa.....(and avoiding the great unclothed if possible !)

The Playa plays host to Europe's premier naturist resort / area and there are restaurants, chiringuitos, hotels and entire Urbanizaciones dedicated to Naturists.  I used to live right on the edge of the naturist area and you quickly got used to the sight of unclothed people walking around - this is Spain, its natural, no big deal.

The Naturist area is from the back of Consum all the way down to just shy of Avenida de Palomares, and goes from that line all the way to the beach.  If the sight of naked people is likely to shock or make you feel uncomfortable, it would be best to stay away from this area.

Excellent advice from both Matthew and Dario - who I now see are, deservedly, labelled as a " LEGENDARY helpful members". Well done boys! 

I understand where you are coming from. Wherever you decide to settle it's vital that you socialise with all nationalities and especially with Spanish people. It's all to easy to end up living on a UK migrant urbanisation and it's no exaggeration to say that this is where often people seem to form intense friendships ( all very well until there's a falling out.... this certainly happens) which can put paid to developing your facility with the Spanish language. Again, no exaggeration but so many immigrants here - a lot who've been living here full time for a decade or longer - can just about order a beer or coffee but beyond that they find themselves relying on and paying for translators to help them out, claiming they're too old to learn whilst at the same time  bemoaning the fact that the Spanish don't speak English! Please try not to become one of them! Eat in Spanish run family restaurants, buy your food from street markets rather than supermarkets, employ Spanish workmen, watch Spanish TV, listen to Spanish radio and chat at every possible opportunity, in Spanish. Best of luck with your move. 

I wholeheartedly endorse this.  Learning the language is so much more than being able to handle your own medical appointments, Ayuntamiento matters or the plethora of other issues, challenges and just day-to-day necesities that will arise.  I’d like to add to Susi’s post as well and say “don’t come here expecting England with Sunshine”. - you may laugh but I fear many do.  Many have been influenced by TV series such as “Benidorm” … it’s really not like that.  Spain is as distinct, as different and indeed as foreign as would be Africa, India, Japan or China.  It’s not just the language (and remember, English is NOT one Spains four official languages), the culture is different, the food is different, the way of life and indeed attitude to life is different.  Be prepared to be flexible and try integrate and you’ll have a fabulous time … stay in an “enclave” and you’ll likely end up one of those frequenting an English only bar bemoaning that “the Spanish” are rude, arrogant, won’t speak English, take forever to get anything done and love buteaucracy.  Or in other words end up incredibly unhappy in this most wonderful of places.

That last point incidentally is true - Spanish officialdom has a lust for bureaucracy that is beyond unhealthy … my advice? Learn to love it or it will drive you insane 😁

We drove Manchester to Almeria in 2018, with our dog. We rented in Roquetas having spent several holidays across the years checking out places along the coast from San Juan de los Terreros to Adra. And we rented out our house in the U.K. 

I drove our car back to the UK 2 months later, sold it and flew back here. We had intended originally to use public transport whenever necessary but having a large dog to get to the vet in a potential emergency plus realising the distances to hospitals at Almeria, Poniente, etc we ultimately decided to buy a new small car here. We have not regretted it. 

Hope this helps.

Chris

Exellcent suggetions Dario and Susi and here are  thirteen suggestions for dealing with bureaucracy that I have found on the this is Spain to be very helpful-

Don’t expect it to be straightforward. Multiply the time you think something will take by at least 6 and you might be somewhere near it. Then if it is quick and straightforward – it’s a bonus!

Don’t expect people to speak English. People over a certain age, were not taught English at school, but French. Young people are often able to read English but may speak it badly.

Remember that the first person you confront is NOT the person making decisions, even if they behave like it.

Don’t be intimidated, they are acting a part and following instructions. They don’t really know the law in depth, or understand all the finer points, but they are not going to admit that to you. They will make sure they do not lose face.

Keep calm, it’s pointless losing your temper. If you have a problem you should keep insisting politely. Even with bad Spanish you can say “lo siento, no entiendo” and keep repeating your question. They will want to get rid of you, but when they see that they can’t, they will eventually pass you on to someone who can either speak English, or even be able to do something about your problem.

Recognise when you’re being fobbed off. A good ploy for getting rid of a troublesome person is instruct them that they have a document missing so should go away and come back with it. By the time you’re back, there’ll be a different person behind the desk, and they’ll tell you it wasn’t necessary to get that extra document. In other words, the first person achieved their aim, which was to get you off their back.

If you are getting nowhere with one person, go away and come back when someone else is behind the desk. You might have more luck.

Deal with things in person, not in writing. Spain has a face to face culture. Writing a polite or even an angry letter will not work, it can just be put at the bottom of a pile. The only written submission you should make are on an official form with an official number, such as you get in the Town Hall if you wish to make any kind of complaint or application, a denuncia at the police station or a “hoja de reclamación” – complaints form. All of these are officially controlled and therefore can be traced and have to be followed up. Otherwise, go in person (with a translator if necessary) and ask to speak to relevant person. Be prepared to wait for them.

Don’t expect to be informed when something is processed. Go yourself and find out. However, any important legal decision made about you will be sent to you by registered post.

If you think that you are living in Europe and therefore the rules should be the same here as everywhere else, don’t bother saying it to anyone. You are right, of course, but in fact Europe has no power to oblige member countries to enforce its rules, and if they don’t your only option is to complaint to the European courts. Good luck.

Never attempt to bribe in any way, shape or form.

Learn to live with ambiguity. The Anglo-Saxons like black and white, right or wrong, legal or illegal. The Spanish way is ambiguous. If you push the point you’ll be told what the rule book says. Officials are used to accommodating unofficial ways of doing things. If they want to they can throw the rulebook at you, but if you don’t cross them, they probably won’t bother.

Remember the expression “en tramites”. It means “in process” or “in the pipeline” and will often suffice to prove that you are in the process of applying for something, even if it hasn’t yet been granted. You must keep copies of receipts of applications, which prove they are “en tramites”.