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Spain was considered a bargain for tourists until the economy started booming and the cost of living increased dramatically. But now, after the bubble has burst, it does not seem like the cost of living has gone down very much, or has it?
I am thinking of spending a year post-retirement in Spain, and wonder what are some affordable areas. I have experienced Madrid, Sevilla, Granada, Córdoba, Barcelona, Sitges, Pamplona, San Sebastián, Bilbao. I love Barcelona but big cities now wear me out. In Pamplona I felt I could breathe, there are lots of parks and I liked being closer to the cool mountains and fresh air. I think I would prefer a medium-size or smaller city. Curious about Palma, Girona, Burgos.
In Pamplona you could beathe!!!! My Gosh!!!
You are talking about a highly religious and sexually repressed city controlled by OPUS!!!
If I were you, I'd choose Orense, Lugo, Ubeda, Baeza.
Palma is packed with toursts, Girona is expensive and has a nasty weather, Burgos is cold and kind of touristy nowdays.
In Pamplona you could beathe!!!! My Gosh!!!
You are talking about a highly religious and sexually repressed city controlled by OPUS!!!
If I were you, I'd choose Orense, Lugo, Ubeda, Baeza.
Palma is packed with toursts, Girona is expensive and has a nasty weather, Burgos is cold and kind of touristy nowdays.
Thanks, I'm not looking for a sex vacation.
If I'm not mistaken, I think Girona has better weather than Lugo and Orense. And Ubeda and Baeza are quite small. All are quite far from the rest of Europe. What appeals to me about Catalonia is its proximity to points north and east in Europe. But yes, I suppose it is more expensive.
Girona has a nasty weather due to the river, many people rather live outside of the city. If you are looking for a cheap and strategically located city, you could try Zaragoza, Santo Domingo de la Calzada in Rioja, Jaca, etc..or any city in Valencia.
My best memories are in Formentera island (Baleares). Pretty isolated though , and very touristy (less than neighbouring Eivissa though, one doesn't feel crowded save maybe a few days at the height of summer). Very sunny, fabulous climate (smack in the middle of the Mediterranean).No supermarkets , no fast cars, lots of bycicles. But impossible to find a job there if you're not in the tourism branch or in some "holistic" venue (yoga, macrobiotics, tattoos, etc).A strong foreign community (many older hippies with a "live/let live" attitude).
Catalunya nowadays I wouldn't approach with a bean pole (too many problems...)
Girona has a nasty weather due to the river, many people rather live outside of the city. If you are looking for a cheap and strategically located city, you could try Zaragoza, Santo Domingo de la Calzada in Rioja, Jaca, etc..or any city in Valencia.
But I've read that Valencia (city) has been hit the worst by the economy and has been called a "ghost city."
"Over the past decade, the Mediterranean region of Valencia became the beacon of Spain’s new economic grandeur, gorging on cheap credit to embark on vastly extravagant projects. But as the central government announced on Thursday its fifth round of budget cuts and tax increases in just nine months, this region also symbolises all that has gone wrong in the country."
My best memories are in Formentera island (Baleares). Pretty isolated though , and very touristy (less than neighbouring Eivissa though, one doesn't feel crowded save maybe a few days at the height of summer). Very sunny, fabulous climate (smack in the middle of the Mediterranean).No supermarkets , no fast cars, lots of bycicles. But impossible to find a job there if you're not in the tourism branch or in some "holistic" venue (yoga, macrobiotics, tattoos, etc).A strong foreign community (many older hippies with a "live/let live" attitude).
Catalunya nowadays I wouldn't approach with a bean pole (too many problems...)
There are no problems here capable of affecting visitors. Don't pay attention to media coverage, mostly leftist crap. Since they are out of government (hope for a long time), they are always bitching..and since they control the media..so you can figure out.
"Over the past decade, the Mediterranean region of Valencia became the beacon of Spain’s new economic grandeur, gorging on cheap credit to embark on vastly extravagant projects. But as the central government announced on Thursday its fifth round of budget cuts and tax increases in just nine months, this region also symbolises all that has gone wrong in the country."
Again...just biased info...Just happens that Valencia is a "rightist" city and a rightist community (PP)....so you have all the leftist media (El Pais, El Periodico, etc) pounding Valencia all the time. But Valencia is OK, yes, many "white elefants"..but who cares? Valencia is a vibrant and rich community, with a very good standard of living, superb prices, food, etc.
"Over the past decade, the Mediterranean region of Valencia became the beacon of Spain’s new economic grandeur, gorging on cheap credit to embark on vastly extravagant projects. But as the central government announced on Thursday its fifth round of budget cuts and tax increases in just nine months, this region also symbolises all that has gone wrong in the country."
No one who's ever been to Valencia would call it a "ghost city". I think it's just an excuse for the Telegraph to use the word "spending".
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