Three Years in Valencia, Spain
We chose Valencia because it offers so many opportunities: wonderful public transportation, safe and easy walking, culture and nearby nature. You name it, the city ticks nearly every box for retired urban living.
The Circus Comes to Town
Early one morning we came across a small circus set up at the marina. The Raluy Legacy circus had come…
Jamie
Joy is Good Enough
With time looking both more precious due to the pandemic and more endless during the recent lockdown, I decided to…
Susan
“Start Where You Are Today”
First thing each morning Susan and I head out to the Royal Gardens. A morning walk with exercise is our…
Jamie
The Importance of Small Pleasures
We resurfaced from the Covid-19 confinement of nearly two months with a renewed appreciation and soft spot in our hearts…
Susan
How to Get a Digital Signature in Valencia, Spain
We’re up for our second visa renewal this year. When I reached out for advice from our good friends at…
Jamie
Deja Vu High School
As I sat down to write this post it dawned on me that it has been 50 years since I…
Jamie
Before the Sun: A Photo Project
My project wasn’t to create a portfolio of publication quality photos. I really just wanted to get myself to reclassify…
Jamie
Six Jam Packed Days at VaughanTown, Gredos
It’s early on a cold Sunday morning in Madrid. We join a group assembling on the street, half Spaniards, half…
Jamie
Spanish – English Conversation Exchanges: The Struggles, the Joys, and the Beauty
When we planned our Spain move people repeatedly made two comments, “You’re so lucky to be immersed in the language…
Susan
Cycling Spain’s Via Verde Ojos Negros
Spain’s vias verdes are cycling and hiking trails that have been developed along abandoned rail lines. The longest of them…
Jamie
An Independent, Family Owned Insurance Agency That’s Expat Friendly
Julija Roslova, English speaking associate, and Ángel Giron Descalzo, Technical Director. We just had our annual insurance review. I can’t…
Susan
Private Language Study with Elisa Valero, a Remarkable Teacher
We haven’t mastered Spanish yet, but 90 percent of the progress we have made has been with the consistent and…
Jamie
A Quick Note on Renewing Your Padron de Habitantes in Valencia
After being in Spain for about two years, you’re going to get a letter from the Ayuntamiento that you probably…
Jamie
Volunteering at Vaughan Day Town
Jamie and I just volunteered for the first time in Spain. Woohoo! We’ve been waiting for our Spanish to reach…
Susan
A Friendly English/Spanish Conversation Group with Maria Hidalgo
One of the reasons we decided to live in Spain was to meet new people and learn the language. One…
Jamie
How to Get a Senior Bus Pass in Valencia
The Bono Oro bus pass is for those of us over 65, pensioners and disabled people. It allows unlimited use…
Jamie
Short Trips from Valencia: Zaragoza by Train
There’s plenty to recommend Zaragoza, Spain’s fifth largest city, yet it barely registers on the international tourist meter. One reason…
Jamie
Day Trippin’ and More: Destination Teruel
Teruel is the smallest regional capital in Spain. So you might think that we’d run out of things to see…
Susan & Jamie
Day Trippin’ – Destination Requena
After spending sunny January days roaming the streets of Valencia, Susan was ready to get out of town for a…
Jamie
Using Our Tarjetas Doradas on Cercanias Trains
The Tarjeta Dorada, or Gold Card, provides reduced fares on Spanish trains for those over 60 or the disabled. We…
Susan
Flipo en Verde – A Zero Waste Shop in Valencia
During our first months in Spain, we struggled just to find certain products. Our language skills weren’t very good, so…
Susan & Jamie
Our Friends at Moving to Valencia: A Business Review
You’ve decided that you are moving to Valencia. And you want to understand just what is going to make that…
Susan & Jamie
Our Lesson in the Orchard: Paella de Verduras
We’ve been living in Valencia, the home of paella, for more than a year now. During that time we have…
Jamie
Exploring Europe
We came to Valencia with five pets, four senior cats and Lizzie (the best dog ever), so our travel adventures during the three years we spent in Europe were necessarily brief.
Go to Our Gentle Rambles
Short Trips
We explored the area around Valencia on short trips, usually by bicycle or train, occasionally by bus. It is totally possible to explore Spain without a car.
Short Trips From Valencia