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You are here: Home Life in Expat voices Expat Voices: Debbie Jenkins on living in Spain

17/02/2009Expat Voices: Debbie Jenkins on living in Spain

Bypassing the usual expat cities in Spain, British publisher and author Debbie Jenkins ends up falling in love with a cave house on the Costa Calida.

Name: Debbie Jenkins
Nationality: British
City of residence: Murcia
Date of birth: 09-01-1970
Civil status: Married
Occupation: Publisher and author
Reason for moving to Spain: I was looking for a better quality of life, more time to relax, a better sense of community…
Lived in Spain since:
2004

What was your first impression of Spain?
After many trips to inland Spain (Extremadura), which we adored, we ventured to the coast. We were unimpressed with the Costa del Sol – too touristy; Alpujarras - too cliquey; and Almería - too plasticky. Not being at all picky (yeah right!) we ended up on the Costa Cálida in the Murcia region, with low expectations and little information. And that’s where we bought our cave house!

Marcus and Debbie in fiesta clothes. THe cave house is in the background.
Marcus and Debbie in fiesta clothes.
Their cave house is in the background.
 
To conclude, our first impressions of Spain were great, but the coast didn’t impress us at first!


What do you think of Spanish food?
I adore Spanish food, probably a little too much! I have been a participant in two Spanish cookery courses in Spain – I was the only foreigner on both courses and learned how to create some of the local Murcian dishes of zarangollo (like scrambled egg), cordiales (Christmas cakes) and flores (little cakes in the shape of a flower).

What do you think of shopping in Spain?
Local shops are excellent, providing great fresh produce and all the bits and pieces you could need. The supermarkets are well-stocked and have everything.

But the best is city shopping. Possibly the best shopping street in Murcia is the Calle Jabonerías. Located in the heart of the city, this is where the top designers have their lairs. Go window shopping in the lead-up to Christmas and you’ll find the street red carpeted so you don’t scuff your Manolos!

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