Browse Topics
Tools
Editor's choice

Spanish food recipe: Pollo Asado

Prepare a perfect Spanish roast chicken by following Sandra Piddock’s recipe.

Top 10 restaurants in Madrid

Here's our pick of the top ten restaurants in the Spanish capital.

Spain's North-South divide

Sun-seeking pensioners live in southern Spain, while arty young entrepreneurs move to Barcelona or Madrid. True or just cliché?

Favourite restaurants in Barcelona

Blogger Jeremy Holland on where to find good, old-fashioned American hamburgers, rich authentic Italian pasta and traditional Catalan bocadillos.

Internaxx Stock Market
Index Last Var.(%)
BEL 20 2119.3 0.50
DAX 5252.45 1.50
IBEX 30 10726.8 0.59
CAC 40 3377.59 1.40
FTSE 100 4564.5 0.79
AEX 276.85 0.95
DJIA 9096.72 -0.13
Nasdaq 1975.51 0.39
FTSE MIB 20341.67 1.65
TSX Composite 10570.54 -1.74
ASX 4148.9 -0.60
Hang seng 20135.5 -2.37
Straits Times 0.00
ISEQ 20 442.48 0.27
You are here: Home Life in Lifestyle On the antiques trail

07/10/2008On the antiques trail

The Antiques Diva explains how Europe became her playground and her house became ‘just her!’ She shares her knowledge of antiques shopping in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Germany, and Switzerland.

When we accepted our first expat assignment, I orchestrated the move, while my husband went ahead to start his new job in Paris. When our shipment arrived months later with only a forth of our furniture in tow, my husband was baffled. As he desperately scanned the living room for a chair to sit on, he asked incredulously, “Why didn’t you bring all of our furniture?”

Europe as the playground

As the consequences of his not sharing in the coordination of our international move finally hit home, I gave my husband an answer that would define nearly a decade of expatriate life: “As an expat, Europe is now my playground.  A person’s home should reflect not only who they are, but where they’ve been and where their going.”  By bringing only our favourite possessions, I had given us room to grow into the people we’d become through living abroad.

Lacking a dinner table as well as the china to set on it, we began searching the flea markets of Europe, letting our travel choices dictate our décor.

The Antiques Diva and Husband shopping“Darling,” I rang my husband’s office one day, “We need a buffet and I’ve just read an article on the selection of antique side boards available in the Costa Blanca.  Shall we go to Spain this Easter to see the procession and stop by an excellent source for richly carved chestnut chests?”  Weekends were passed ‘flea-marketing’ in the French countryside as we filled our home, and stomachs, while sampling the regions’ specialities. Along with our expanding waistlines, we’d return to our 6eme Parisian apartment with spoils such as a shabby chateau canapé, which groans when sat upon and Napoleon III side-tables lacquered and adorned with mother of pearl embellishments.  

Antiques

0 reactions to this article

participate in the forums
ask your question
find the business you need
Discussion Forums

Jobs

Part Time Work Needed in Madrid and Barcelona, by marthaa

Soapbox

Books on Spain for Christmas, by shuggie

Travel & Transport

backpacking in Australia, by Zuri

Discuss Spanish Culture

Are Spanish people Tactless and arrogant or just forthright?, by john4efc66

Jobs

cvExpres, work in Spain as a teacher in a private school or academie, by santi21

participate in the forums

Inside Expatica
Checklist for expats moving to Spain

Checklist for expats moving to Spain

Before you head out to explore the new city, make sure your paperwork's all done by referring to our guide.

Job hunting in Spain

Job hunting in Spain

Looking for a job just got harder with the global recession. Here’s a guide to make things a tad easier.

How to open a bank account in Spain

How to open a bank account in Spain

Expatica's guide to opening a bank account in Spain.

Unique festivals in Spain

Unique festivals in Spain

Too many fiestas and too little time; Expatica presents our pick of the top monthly festivals in Spain so you won’t miss out on the action.