When Susan and I decided to move to Spain, we were living in a 2400+ square foot home that we‘d managed to comfortably fill during the 15 years we’d spent …
A Few Surprises on Our Sweep Through Andalusia
Our sweep through Andalusia was not the typical slow travel we prefer. Jamie’s sisters, our travel companions, had a tight calendar and we had only five days to experience five …
Buen Camino, Pick the Right Camino for You
There is something magical about doing a walk that’s been done by pilgrims for over 1,000 years. Most people (92 percent) who make this journey state that they are doing …
Seven Traditions When You Finish the Camino
View PostMy Downsize Push Back… Can I Be Helped?
The culling that happens with any downsizing effort should kick the twin beasts of want and really want right in the butt. But not always. You would think that after …
Adventures in Applied Spanish – Buying Cat Grass
After adding a pot of Mexican Feather Grass to our Valencia terrace (at a very dear price), we struggled to keep our cats from eating it down to the nubs. …
Ryanair Helped Us Lighten Our Load on the Camino
When Jamie and I decided to walk the Camino Inglés, one of several route options of Spain’s famous pilgrims’ way the Camino del Santiago, we made two choices that changed …
Me Taxi, Go Airport
When living abroad minor obstacles can loom larger than they should. That’s how I felt trying to help my friend and first U.S. guest get a taxi in the middle …
Our Simple Approach to Banking in Spain
We were still living in the United States when we had our first experience transferring funds across international borders. We had to cover the fees and deposits for the flat …
Finding a Rental Home in Valencia, Spain
View PostParis Unplanned
Awhile back Jamie noticed that RENFE, the Spanish Rail Service, was having a sale on trips between Barcelona and Paris, €25 in Tourist Class and €39 in First Class. He’d …
Important emergency telephone numbers in Spain
The responder will speak a number of languages. It is possible to fax or SMS the emergency number in case of disabilities. For medical emergencies you can visit the Emergency …
Day Hiking Around Valencia With Our Dogs (and no car)
A walk in the city, no matter how pleasant, isn’t a walk in the countryside. When we long for the quiet of a hillside trail far from hustle of the city center, we hop on a train…
Day Trippin’ (and More) – Destination Cuenca
Cuenca has a rich history that dates back to the Muslim domination beginning in the early eighth century. Then there’s the breathtaking Karst geology of the La Mancha plateau. It’s …
Day Trippin’ – Destination Xátiva
We were finally feeling settled enough to think about leaving Lizzie and her four cat buddies behind and doing a little trippin’ out and about, at least for a day. …