SPANISH LIFESTYLE

Spain is a country where its people have a real passion for everything that they do. You will find that people still take part in age-old traditions such as flamenco-dancing, bull-fighting, winemaking and cooking traditional Spanish recipes. They are very open-minded, fun loving people, who are very sociable and always intent on enjoying the outdoors and the sun.

The Spanish keep very different hours from us. They work during the morning, take that wonderful custom, the Siesta in the afternoon, go back to work and then follow that by a late dinner and socialising with family and friends until the early hours. Family and friends make up an extremely important aspect of the Spaniards’ everyday life and living without this constant interaction would seem unnatural to them.

Spain also has a full diary of fiestas that take place throughout the year, with locals from villages, towns and cities dressing up in costumes and celebrating at huge parties. A typical village fiesta lasts a few days. A fairground is sometimes set up in the village, the streets are full with market stalls offering baked potatoes, bocadillos, fast food, sweets, cakes, cerveza, sherry and local wine and all the typical stuff that no one needs. During the evening the music starts and dancing goes on until 5 or 6 a.m. when it is time for everybody to take some hot chocolate and churros. These fiestas really do demonstrate how proud and high-spirited Spanish people really are. Hardly a month goes by without some sort of celebration behing held somewhere in Spain.

Not surprisingly, the Spanish lifestyle has wide appeal to people of all ages and social groups which is no doubt why many British people have decided to buy a property in Spain. In the past, Spain was seen as a country where people relocated to after they had retired, however, research now suggests that the age of people buying property in Spain is dropping. Accept the customs, attitudes and behaviour of the warm and friendly local people and you will have a wonderful life, holiday or stay in Spain. .

WEATHER

Summer:  Although Spanish summers are hot, with average temperatures of at least 30 °C, coastal areas enjoy cooling sea breezes that reduce the ambient temperatures to a more comfortable level. The summer brings an average of 11 to 12 hours of sunshine each day with very little rainfall.

Autumn:  Even in autumn, the sea stays warm and the air temperature can reach averages of up to 28 °C, only falling to about 20 °C in November. As the nights lengthen to daily sunshine reduces to an average of 6 hours.

Winter:  Winter in Spain has a relatively warm climate with coastal temperatures averaging at 17 °C, although the country’s interior is noticeably colder, especially in the mountainous regions.

Spring:  Late spring brings warm, settled weather with the daily average rising to about 21 °C inland and about 24 °C on the Southern coast and typically 11 hours of sun a day.