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 Leading a life of 'holidays' in Spain

09/05/2008Leading a life of 'holidays' in Spain

Expatica Spain's latest blogger left her city three years ago and has since been living in a less than “real life’’, or so say her friends.

Spain is a sunny country. Most months average less than two inches of rainfall, some less than one. It ain't Seattle.

This delightful meteorological fact has created a widely believed myth perpetuated by my umbrella-toting friends at home: I must be on holiday. All the time.

I've spent three years here in Madrid; long enough to establish that I'm not on perpetual holiday, one would think. I've got a healthcare card, I can vote in the mayoral elections. I work in an office five days a week.

Granted, the café con leche breaks are liberal and it isn't New York's nine-to-five, but it is a full workday. I make phone calls, I send emails, and I frequently deal with Ricky Gervais-style office tedium.

But, by living and working in a popular vacation destination, everyone assumes that I get to enjoy the museums, the plazas, the nearby beaches, seven days a week. Because I have chosen to live in a place where people often jet for a weekend of fun and sunshine-filled debauchery, I am constantly told how oh-so-lucky I am not to have to be a part of the maddening daily grind.

A friend of mind recently called and vented about her recent work headaches - run-of-the-mill moanings about working in customer service that anyone who's dealt with the public has experienced and can empathise with.

I began to commiserate, telling her about the stressful changes brought about by a new boss. She politely listened for approximately 90 seconds before interrupting, "Yes, but at least you live in Spaaaain."

Does geographical location really make me incapable of experiencing life's daily stresses? Clearly, this friend has never waited in line to renew her NIE.

Relaxing on the beach
Contrary to my friends and family’s' beliefs, I do not spend my days sipping sangria and fanning myself while they strap on neckties and keep the world spinning and the chequebooks balanced.

2 reactions to this article

Mike posted: 15-05-2008 | 11:51 AM

About the most balanced article I´ve read as one who has also made Spain "home". Well done, hits the proverbial nail on the head! We too have experienced the same reactions from friends and family which made reading the blog almost spooky!

Louisa posted: 15-05-2008 | 8:06 PM

What a boring, repetitive, misleading, mediocre rant....what nearby beaches in Madrid? cheap to rent? - Madrid is one of the most expensive places per sq meter in the world.....the inclusion of the landlords origins ???....I suspect the writer has fallen pray to that all too typical Madrileno racisism towards los Andalu's. ...

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.