Going to Live in Spain: A Practical Guide to Enjoying a New Lifestyle in the Sun

Contents......Page 6
Preface......Page 10
Acknowledgements......Page 13
Facts, facts and more facts......Page 14
Governing modern Spain......Page 17
Pros and cons of life in Spain......Page 20
The big number one – climate......Page 23
Summary......Page 27
The heritage of the Moors......Page 29
Conquering the world......Page 31
The Franco era......Page 33
Stunning national parks......Page 35
Diverse farming......Page 37
Distinctive architecture......Page 41
More than just Dali......Page 42
Quixote, Lorca, Hemingway and others......Page 43
Summary......Page 44
The documents required......Page 46
What clothing to take......Page 50
Taking your pets......Page 51
Learning the language......Page 52
Moving your furniture......Page 54
Organising your travel......Page 56
Summary......Page 58
Planning your income......Page 60
Keeping healthy......Page 66
A new lifestyle......Page 67
The frequency of moving house......Page 68
The results of the International Passenger Survey......Page 70
Statistics from Newcastle......Page 72
Seeking more that pleasant amenities......Page 74
Summary......Page 75
Equal opportunity......Page 77
Casual, seasonal, part-time or full-time work......Page 78
Teaching......Page 80
Your contract of employment......Page 81
The black economy......Page 85
Having your own business......Page 86
Getting started......Page 90
Business on-costs......Page 93
Summary......Page 94
Deciding where to go......Page 95
A roof over your head......Page 104
Property rental......Page 110
Summary......Page 112
Considering the pros and cons of each house type......Page 113
The people involved in buying......Page 117
Understanding the legal documents......Page 123
Money matters......Page 126
Summary......Page 129
8 The Education System......Page 130
Secondary school......Page 131
Vocational training......Page 132
Private schools......Page 133
Summary......Page 136
The romantic culture of old Spain......Page 137
El toro (the bull)......Page 139
The Spanish character......Page 145
Summary......Page 154
Classic dishes of Spain......Page 156
Eating well......Page 159
Regional food......Page 162
Eating out......Page 164
Tapas......Page 166
Bar or café......Page 169
Introducing wine......Page 170
Classifying wine......Page 172
Sangria, sherry, brandy and others......Page 175
Summary......Page 177
Enjoying a new lifestyle......Page 179
Enjoying sporting activities......Page 180
Involving yourself in social activities......Page 188
Holidaying in Spain......Page 189
Summary......Page 191
Knowing banks and currency......Page 192
Dealing with red tape......Page 194
Learning about taxation......Page 200
Summary......Page 205
Understanding the health system......Page 207
Instituto Nacional de la Salud......Page 210
What to do in an emergency......Page 211
The beginning...and the end......Page 212
Keeping within the law......Page 215
Summary......Page 217
Forget Marks & Sparks......Page 219
Best buys......Page 224
Purchasing utility supplies......Page 228
Summary......Page 229
Travelling by road......Page 231
Meeting motoring regulations......Page 236
Travelling by train......Page 238
Telephone communications......Page 242
Postal communications......Page 245
Getting the name and address correct......Page 246
TV, radio, newspapers and books......Page 247
Summary......Page 249
1 Gibraltar – a Rock in a hard place......Page 251
2 The British Embassy and Consulate – what do they do?......Page 255
3 The Spanish Constitution – extracts......Page 258
4 Income and expenditure checklist......Page 260
5 The best of Spain......Page 262
6 Saying hello......Page 265
7 Classic Spanish recipes......Page 267
8 Public holidays......Page 270
9 Clothing and shoe sizes......Page 271
10 The Communities of Spain and their Provinces......Page 272
11 Useful addresses......Page 276
12 Further reading......Page 280
C......Page 285
F......Page 286
M......Page 287
S......Page 288
W......Page 289