As a Canadian ex-pat who's been living in Madrid for nearly half a decade, I frequently get asked what it's like to live abroad in the Spanish capital. How was the initial culture shock? What was the immigration process like? What were the pros and cons of moving so far from home?

At first, the idea of moving might seem scary but there's something about moving to Spain that just seems thrilling. Maybe it's the call of the vibrant nightlife and endless festivals; perhaps it's the draw of over 60 islands and more than 3000 km of coastline; it could even be the charms of the locals themselves, some of the most beautiful yet humble in the world.

Either way, there's something special about the Mediterranean country that has attracted around 5 million immigrants (above 10% of the population) to its shores, myself included. Since then, I've often had several curious parties slide into my DMs to ask just what life is like in España and, while I won't pretend to be an expert in Spanish culture, I've done what I can to educate myself. From becoming fluent in the language to getting familiar with historical and political figures, I've also maintained several friendships and romances with Spaniards from all across the Iberia Peninsula.

Thus, I'd like to at least think I have enough experience to have an objective opinion on the best and worst aspects of living in Spain, Madrid in particular. So, to remain as neutral as possible, I even polled my friends similarly living la vida loca (both foreigners and natives) for their top picks and these were our honest takes to (as always) be taken with a grain of salt, for better or worse. Adelante, amigos!

1. The Preferrable Good

2. The Disappointingly Bad

3. The Unsurprisingly Ugly

4. The Logically Great

5. The Lawful Neutral

6. The Pleasantly Good

7. The Inconveniently Bad

8. The Depressingly Ugly

9. The Thrillingly Great

10. The Neutral Good

11. The Reassuringly Good

12. The Annoyingly Bad

13. The Shockingly Ugly

14. The Intoxicatingly Great

15. The Chaotic Neutral

16. The Encouragingly Good

17. The Unnervingly Bad

18. The Bafflingly Ugly

19. The Neutral Neutral

20. The Endearing Best

Final Thoughts

1. The Preferrable Good: The weather is pretty mild year-round

Compared to the rest of Europe, Spain has some of the most temperature weather conditions in the continent, experiencing over 3000 hours of sunshine annually. Sure, northern regions such as Galicia, Asturias, and Cantabria are known for being cold and rainy in autumn and winter, however, regions like Andalucía, Murcia, and the Canary Islands are pretty balmy even around winter holidays.

The perpetual sunshine has led to a strong terraza culture where most people prefer to eat on outdoor patios even in the dead of winter. Plazas (public squares) are you usually find with most year-round terraces, usually equipped with parasols in summer and space heaters during colder seasons.

There's a reason that other European snowbirds consider Spain the ideal escape, with nearly 84 million tourists traveling there a year at its peak (pre-pandemic figures). Even in the summer months, Spain is the place to be, from party hubs like Ibiza to Tenerife to Benidorm, and temperatures can readily soar, reaching 50 degrees Celsius on average in the south.

For frioleros like me, scorching days are a welcome change for the harsh, months-long winters back home. Summer seems to take up half the year in some areas and even the north can be pretty sunny in wintertime. Madrid has some of the best weather, boasting blue skies nearly year-round, but for ex-pats who long to live near the coast, Catalonia or Valencia are your best bets.

*San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, Basque Country* (January 2019)

2. The Disappointingly Bad: Spain has one of the weakest economies in Western Europe

While Spain has one of the top twenty GDPs in the world, compared to the rest of Western Europe, it has one of the highest unemployment rates as well as some of the lowest salaries. Both these factors mean that competition for permanent contracts is high since most companies tend to keep new employees only temporarily contracted for the first couple of years.

Therefore, many locals feel pressured to remain in stressful jobs with little rewards due to the instability of the employment market. It's not hard to see why as the economic crisis of 2008-2009 hit Spain particularly hard and the effects are still being felt by the current generation of workers. Many young Spaniards tend to leave Spain for greener economic pastures, most only returning after saving up enough to buy their first home.

All this said, as an ex-pat from another “first-world” country, I've never had an issue finding work in the country. In my first month, I had seven interviews (six of which offered me a job) and have been gainfully employed ever since. True, as a language specialist, my skills are high in demand but that doesn't mean I haven't had to work two-three jobs at a time just to keep a roof over my head. About 40,000€ a year is enough to live like a king in Madrid but, for British and American ex-pats, that figure may seem like chump change. Communities like the Basque Country and Catalonia also have some of the highest salaries but the cost of living rises comparably, too.

3. The Unsurprisingly Ugly: The bureaucracy is a nightmare

If there's one aspect that everyone in the country, from foreigners to natives, can attest to, it's that the bureaucracy is total chaos. It can take weeks to replace or renew official documents (triple that timeframe for immigrants) and most of the time government offices won't have any available appointments open for weeks on end.

Every process, especially for immigration, is lined red tape; every appointment requires a prior appointment, even to receive basic information. If you try to call any of their hotlines, be prepared for automated voice messages to loop you around until they eventually hang up. When agents do pick up the phone, they're quick to transfer you to another department if your question is even slightly outside their jurisdiction.

A huge part of the problem is the foncionarios (civil servants) behind the entire infrastructure from taxes to social security. After passing their entrance exams, they receive a tenured salary, which makes it also impossible for them to lose their jobs. This factor leads to gross incompetency among them, but subpar customer service seems to be the norm culturally. Often unhelpful and/or rude, many agents will test your patience but they're only a cog in a system that can easily grind you down if you let it. Madrid has some of the slowest processing times in the country since, with a city of 6 million inhabitants, you can count on delays.

*Mallorca, Balearic Islands* (September 2020)

4. The Logically Great: Spain's location makes it well-connected to other global hubs

One of the greatest things about living in Spain is its proximity to other top travel destinations and thanks to its international political ties, there's almost nowhere you can't go. Madrid, Barcelona, Murcia, and Mallorca all have international airports with flights departing across Europe, the Americas, Africa. Asia and the Middle East every day.

For travelers who love to jet-set, Spain is the perfect launching pad for weekend trips to other European cities or even week-long holidays to the Caribbean and South America. From Madrid, you can readily find direct flights to London, Paris, Miami, New York, Toronto, Istanbul, Medellin, Havana, Dubai, Cairo, and Hong Kong, most for cheap if you book far enough in advance.

If you're a digital nomad looking for a new place to settle down without being pigeon-holed, Spain is the perfect place to be. There are large ex-pat communities in every major city so you're bound to meet people from all walks of life who also tend to travel the world over.

*Castillo de Butrón, Basque Country* (January 2019)

5. The Lawful Neutral: There may be language barriers depending on where you resettle

As a linguaphile, I tend to relish the challenge of learning new languages (although my Korean is now atrocious), but one of the first things you'll learn upon moving to Spain is that Spanish comes in several dialects. Locally the Spanish spoken in most Latin countries is referred to as Castellano (from the Kingdom of Castile that began unifying the country in the 15th century) but, depending on where you reside in the country, you might end up having to learn a third language.

In Galicia, it's not uncommon to learn locals chatting in Gallego, in the Basque Country most are fluent in Euskara, in Valencia many know Valenciano, and in Catalonia, they proudly speak Catalán. Due to new legislation as of 2020, most schools can now educate their pupils in the dialect of their choosing, meaning ex-pats with kids might need to take that into consideration.

Even for adults, it can be difficult to find work in these regions if you're not fluent since you might have difficulty navigating the intricacies of some office politics. Thankfully, in many of the major cities, many locals speak English but that's not always a guarantee so make sure to pick up a translation dictionary to brush up on your preferred choice of español. You just might be the hang of it and if not, there are always language schools.

6. The Pleasantly Good: The locals are generally friendly and accepting

One of the biggest fears I had when arriving in Spain was what my social life would be like. As a bit of a social butterfly, I'd accumulated large groups of friends from my time living in Orlando, Miami, and Montreal, and I was extremely worried about making new friends, especially since I didn't speak a word of Spanish.

However, there are several meetups for both ex-pats and travelers every week in most major cities, making it easy to get to know other new arrivals as well as some curious locals. Spaniards tend to be warm, sociable, and rather chatty and are usually interested in making foreign friends from far-off places (if only to improve their English for work). While it might be harder to make friends with locals in smaller towns (it's typical for close-knit groups to have history dating back to nursery school), many Spanish people leave their hometowns to work in more prosperous metropolises.

For example, most Spaniards in Madrid aren't from Madrid but it only takes a few years of living in the capital for new arrivals to become proper Madrileños. Madrid has also been voted one of the most LGBQT+-friendly cities in the world as well as the best place to study abroad. Major hubs like Barcelona, Sevilla, Valencia, and Cádiz aren't far behind, with the latter being known for having the nicest inhabitants in the whole nation.

7. The Inconveniently Bad: Finding adequate housing is usually a hassle

Upon arrival in Spain, you'll find that the price of decent housing might not be too high (as long as you're not searching in Madrid, Barcelona, or Valencia), but the competition will be stiff to find an apartment with all the amenities you could ask for. Stumbling upon a place with ample space, a terrace, and an American-style kitchen (with a convention stovetop and oven) is nearly impossible without some serious patience.

European apartments are known for being small and cramped, particularly compared to North American standards, and rarely come equipped with central air-conditioning or central heating. Moreover, many apartments in Spain are interiores, meaning all their windows face toward an interior patio as opposed exteriores, whose windows face outward toward the street and more direct sunlight (expect to pay more for the latter). Furthermore, most studios are located in sótanos (basements), making for damp and chilly accommodations in winter or humid and muggy lodgings in summer. Some older buildings still rely on gas, meaning you could be in charge of changing your own tanks ever so often when they run out.

Worse yet, if you want to rent a flat for yourself rather than do a flat-share, you can expect to pay a realtor agency a whole month's rent for showing you the flat, on top of a month or two's deposit plus the first month's rent. In Madrid and Barcelona, the situation is a bit direr since Erasmus students and the demand for AirBnBs tend to drive up the price of housing by limiting the supply. If you're not ready to jump on a place as soon as you see it, don't be surprised to find it snatched up by the next day, even if it was practically a dump. Perseverance will be your greatest strength while on the hunt for a home.

*Santiago de Compostela, Galicia* (August 2020)

8. The Depressingly Ugly: Racial microaggressions, misogyny, and homophobia are still rampant

In 1975, Spain emerged from a 36-year dictatorship underneath Francisco Franco, a former companion of Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini. Although his militant regime might have (arguably) benefited the Spanish in some ways, basic human rights for women and those who associate as LGBQT+ were practically non-existent until his death. So, like most nations, Spain has a dark history with individuals deemed different from those in power but, unlike other current world powers, the country is stuck in the Dark Ages in some ways.

It's not uncommon to hear close circles of friends make derogatory jokes at the expense of Latinos or Moroccans when they think no one else is listening; or for Spaniards to refer to all Eastern Asians as Chinese, no matter where they're from; or for them to assume that all dark-skinned black men are African migrants indebted to the mafia. To locals, words are just labels (like gordo or moro) and such things aren't as culturally impactful (which is why you can expect to see a lot of black-face around Christmas and Carnaval).

Personally, I'm a light-skinned Afro-Latina who's frequently stopped by metro police when no one else is. There are also entire groups on Facebook full of POC ex-pats who gripe and share about their brushes with the bigotry that still remains in the country, and the stories can get wild.

As a female, I can't say I've ever experienced overt sexism although many of my Spanish girlfriends in male-dominated careers have. Several others, along with myself, have also realized we're being way underpaid compared to male colleagues with similar experience and tenure. The situation is no different from the one at home so there’s really no surprise there.

Nevertheless, Spain is currently one of the most progressive countries in the world so I would've chalked up all these microaggressions as ultimately harmless (e.g. no one will ever ostracize or attack you for not blending in with the natives). However, in 2021 the murder of Samuel Luiz, an openly gay man, in Galicia stunned the nation, showing that with only less than 50 years after Franco's reign ended, some old views have yet to die off.

9. The Thrillingly Great: The nightlife is nearly unbeatable globally

A little-known fact about Spain is that it has more bars per capita than any other country in the world, numbering around half a million in total (pre-pandemic figures). This abundance means you could go to a different bar every day for the rest of your life for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and it would take you still take you nearly 500 years.

Although New York is often referred to as ''The City That Never Sleeps,'' it's a local consensus that the title should be awarded to Madrid instead because there's literally always something to do around the clock. I can't count the number of times the sun has beaten me home, even amongst protests from friends who still plan to keep partying past the crack of dawn.

Barcelona, Cádiz, Valencia, Benidorm, Ibiza, Tenerife, and Málaga could also give the Spanish capital a run for its money so no matter where you are, get ready to boogie. Clubs in Spain tend to close around 6 AM (admission usually comes with a drink included) and bars at 3 AM, but there are always plenty of after-parties to ensure that you won't have to head home if you don't want to.

Let's not forget the endless stream of festivals nationwide (over 1000 annually) like Carnaval in Cádiz, Feria de Abril in Sevilla or Las Fallas in Valencia. Combined with several cultural events centered around art, music, or sports, you'll have lots of activities to keep you entertained from sun-up to sun-down and beyond. Just make sure to take a siesta beforehand to fuel up for a long night.

Bilbao, Basque Country (January 2019) — *Bilbao, Basque Country* (January 2019)

10. The Neutral Good: Public transportation is normally reliable but can be pricey

Anyone living in Spain long enough will tell you that although the most convenient way to travel around the country is by train, flying is often cheaper. The country has two major airlines, Iberia and Air Europa, whose round-trip tickets start off as low as 20€ nationwide if you buy them a couple weeks in advance.

Still, getting to and from the airport can usually be a struggle so many opt for train or bus tickets. The former is by far the priciest option with round-trip fare between Madrid and Barcelona averaging 50€ (thankfully, now there's a new cheaper bullet train), while the latter option could take up to 12 hours depending on your destination. No problem with having less leg room and no bathroom on board? One-way bus tickets start as cheap as 5€ from Madrid to anywhere in the country when bought in advance.

As for commuting, if you live far from the city center or work out in the boondocks, you can expect to shell out 50€+ for a monthly transport pass since the fare is charged by distance. In Madrid, commuters under 26 years old only pay 20€ for their abono, but older ex-pats will need to pay full-price unless they're older than 65. That said, the metro and long-distance trains tend to be reliable, safe, clean, and well-maintained by patrolling attendants, a definitive leg-up compared to New York, London, and Paris. Just don't put your feet on the furniture, they absolutely hate that.

11. The Reassuringly Good: The country is one of the safest in the world

Having lived in Orlando and Miami (two of Florida's most dangerous cities), I can confirm that Spain's safety level is basically on par with Canada and South Korea, some of the safest countries in the world. The widespread gun violence that plagues the US and the knife violence rampant in the UK isn't nearly as prevalent as in Spain.

Although the most common crime is pickpocketing (make sure to ALWAYS hold on to your belongings in crowds), the frequency of muggings in Barcelona and Marbella has been increasing but not nearly at the global average. Besides these atrocities, violent crime is minimal which is why cases such as The Wolf Pack 5 and Alberto Sánchez Gómez's cannibalization of his mother rocked the nation.

As a female of tiny stature who frequently walks home late at night, concern for my safety rarely crosses my mind though many friends but I have been pickpocketed a few times (which would rarely happen in Canada or South Korea). While you should always be mindful of your surroundings when alone outside after nightfall, I've never felt an ounce of dread in Spain that I had when living in the States or traveling around tourist crime hotspots like London, Bangkok, Manila, or Bógota. Keep your wallet close and you’ll be fine.

Tarragona, Catalonia (July 2019) — *Tarragona, Catalonia* (July 2019)

12. The Annoyingly Bad: The banking system is a joke

As someone who hails from a nation with one of the world's best banking systems, known for its excellent customer service, secure transactions, and speedy resolutions, I can honestly say I can't stand banking in Spain. You can't normally even open a Spanish bank account unless you have a Spanish ID card, which makes it a hassle for students waiting to receive money from abroad or for foreigners waiting for their IDs to be processed (which usually takes a month).

On top of all of the hidden fees (such as charges to open accounts, deposit checks or replace stolen cards), their opening hours are also ridiculously short, usually spanning from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM. For those whose lunch breaks start after 2 PM (as they often do in Spain), this means you'll have to take time off work to speak to a bank teller about why your own bank has been robbing you blind.

No longer live in the same city where you initially opened the bank account? Plan to travel from wherever you are now to resolve issues. Customer service agents are basically useless over the phone and will always redirect you to go to your main branch. And don't ever expect their reasoning to be consistent even in person; the answers you'll get will vary widely from agent to agent, just meaning your problem is never likely to be resolved. I've had my wallet stolen twice since living in Madrid and have never been refunded the amounts, even after filing police reports.

My advice: Keep your money abroad and open an account with Revolut, which will let you transfer cash instantaneously and take it out in the local currency as long as your current bank is based in the EU, the UK, the US, Australia, Switzerland, Japan or Singapore.

*San Sebastian, Basque Country* (January 2019)

13. The Shockingly Ugly: Nationalism/Regionalism can run high

To say that Spain has an intricate history is an understatement yet as someone who comes from a country with a similar background, I get it. Originally, made of several warring kingdoms during the late-Middle Ages, its unification began around 1479 when Queen Isabella I of the Kingdom of Castille married King Ferdinand II of the Kingdom Aragon. Together, they would reconquer the peninsula from the invading Moors who'd been occupying it for nearly 800 years and their descendants would go on to annex the rest of their rivaling kingdoms to unify the country for better or worse (their grandson was Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor).

During its storied past, there have been several rebellions and revolts as separatists from more combatant regions contested the Spanish central authority. The Basque separatist group, ETA , terrorized the nation for over 40 years, killing hundreds and injuring thousands with their kidnappings, bombings, and assassinations before disbanding in 2018. Also, as recently as 2017, Catalonia tried to declare independence via an illegal referendum which saw the regional president, Carles Puigdemont, fleeing to Belgium to escape persecution for treason. Several protests and demonstrations still occur to this day and it's rather common to see regional flags flying high and proud depending on where you are.

As a result, nationalistic right-wing parties such as Vox have seen a rise in support as many civilians in other communities fight back against regionalism. Established in 2013, they've become one of the biggest political parties in the Spanish parliament and show no signs of slowing despite their highly conservative agenda. Like in many countries, politics are a very controversial issue in Spain so never broach the subject if you don't already know where everyone stands. Better to play the ignorant guiri (foreigner) and keep the peace.

Buitrago del Lozoya, Madrid — *Playa de Rodas, Cíes Islands* (August 2020)

14. The Intoxicatingly Great: Spain has the most blue-flag beaches in the world

Comprising over 3000 km of coastline and more than 60 total islands, Spain is famous for its gorgeous golden-sand beaches and crystalline waters. Partially for this reason, it's been awarded 615 Blue Flags since 1987, making it the world leader for this prestigious accolade.

The iconic honor was started by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) as a way to acknowledge nations who promote environmental conservations efforts such as drinkable, swimmable, and fishable water. Besides water quality, beaches, marinas, and ports are also judged for providing high-quality services and following safety procedures, meaning that receiving a Blue Flag is a testament to just how tourist-friendly some shores are.

Spain has easily beat out several top contenders like Greece, France, Turkey, and Italy for the premier spot for this award. From the beaches along the Balearic, Canary, Ons, and Cies Islands to the pristine stretches of coast that make up Costa Blanca, Costa Brava, Costa da Morte, Costa Dorada, Costa del Sol, and many more, you'll have plenty of playas to sunbathe at all summer-long.

Aranjuez, Madrid (February 2021) — *Aranjuez, Madrid* (February 2021)

15. The Chaotic Neutral: There are lots of national and regional public holidays

Spain is still a devoutly Catholic country (nearly 70%of the population identifies as such) so many religious holidays attributed to saints pop up throughout the year. Whilst there are national holidays celebrated across all 17 autonomous communities (basically states/provinces), each region also has its unique celebrations such as San Isidro in Madrid. These holidays can normally be paired with the weekend to form longer holidays colloquially referred to as puentes (bridges) which means several days off in a row if you play your cards right.

Still, although countless bank holidays might seem like a Godsend, if you need any paperwork pushed through, expect major delays. These include possible government appointments you may require, the mail service, plus the opening hours of several shops and more. Except for major chains, most mom-and-pops could be closed for days on end so it's always prudent to stock up on supplies before holidays hit. Unless you need to get something time-sensitive done, bank holidays are often more of a blessing than a curse.

On the other hand, many workers with overseas clients and collaborators can also anticipate a boatload of work awaiting them on Monday morning. Keep in mind that if you have kids but your job doesn't recognize certain regional holidays, you'll be stuck having to figure out childcare as schools might be closed. As a childless frequent traveler who works in education, I'm usually pro-holidays since they normally work in my favor. Can you say, 'Weekend trip to Paris?'.

16. The Encouragingly Good: The lifestyle is quite affordable

Albeit, even though Spain has a weaker economy than other western EU allies such as Germany and France, the lifestyle is far more affordable. In terms of entertainment, you can expect movie tickets (cheapest of Wednesdays), concerts and theatre shows to cost just a fraction as much as they would anywhere else.

Nourishment such as food and alcohol can also be found for dirt-cheap in many places, especially if you buy them in a supermarket. High-quality brands such as Mercadona, Lidl, and Aldi regularly sell bottles of wine for around 1€, beer for even less a can, and bottles of liquor for what you would expect to pay for a cocktail in a bar.

In comparison, I could easily for through $100CAD a night just for a nice dinner and a couple drinks back home whereas I'd be dining like a queen for the same price in Madrid. Bear in mind that taxes are already included in most prices in Spain and tipping certainly isn't obligatory (though it's gaining popularity in major hubs). Nonetheless, I usually spend one-fifth the amount as before, especially on groceries and going out with friends. Most drinks come with tapas (appetizers), particularly in Andalucia and Extremadura, and you can normally order a media-ración (half-ration) of any plate rather than a whole one.

Rent has been increasing as more outsides move to more urban areas but for the cost of a flat-share in downtown London, you could easily live alone anywhere. The lower cost of goods is also yet another reason why Spain is Europe's top travel destination since shopping is normally a bargain. Sunshine, shenanigans, and shopping, could you ask for more?

Playa de las Catedrales, Galicia (August 2020) — *Playa de las Catedrales, Galicia* (August 2020)

17. The Unnervingly Bad: Business hours and eating schedules are insane

You've probably heard of the siesta, that mystical time of the day when Spaniards take naps after lunch, or heard that Spaniards generally eat dinner around midnight. These are both often true but did you also know what Spanish people eat up to five times a day with lunch lasting nearly two hours?

Even though most locals will eat a small desayuno (breakfast) at home before work, you should still anticipate your Spanish colleagues to stop for their almuerzo (mid-day snack) around 10-11 AM. If you work in a traditional office setting, it's also likely that you'll have a two-hour block for la comida (lunch), which can be super inconvenient if you live far from your job and have nothing to do in your downtime.

If you plan to be productive and multitask by getting other things done around that time, not so fast! Apart from mega-chains, many mom-and-pops will close around that time so the owners can eat as well. Need something last minute from the corner shop or to get a document mailed or printed? It's probably better to leave such tasks until after work when shops open back up. Still, need to kill the time? Better get a gym membership.

In a strange reversal, restaurants tend to only open for lunch and dinner, meaning it can be difficult to find anywhere to eat a merienda (mid-afternoon snack) between 4 to 7 PM during the weekdays. It's more likely that you'll have dinner around 9-10 PM and meet friends at a bar near midnight before going dancing around 2 AM.

Can't hang with the Spanish night owls? Blame Francisco Franco since he's the one that put Spain in the wrong time zone to be more in line with Nazi Germany (and yet, somehow, the clocks still haven't changed back in almost 50 years!).

18. The Bafflingly Ugly: Bars are loud and rowdy while the restrooms are crummy

I'll be the first to admit that I like my bars lively and packed but the ones in Spain take the cake. Don't be surprised to open the front door and hear a deafening wave of noise come over you from all the chattering inside. The Spanish are famous for talking over each other and are typically quite loquacious so there are bound to be several conversations going on even in the same group of friends.

Besides, the ear-ringing volume in the most popular watering holes, you might see napkins and tissues littering the floor, a common sign that the food is good. Ironically, however, there is rarely a shred of tissue paper to be found in most washrooms, which begs the question, what do the servers use?

Many nightclubs won't even give napkins with their drinks so, ladies, make sure to always carry a spare packet of tissues because you'll likely need them unless the venue is particularly classy. Fellas, carrying some hand sanitizer wouldn't hurt either since hand soap isn't always a given. Better to come prepared than to be left high and (not so) dry.

19. The Neutral Neutral: The Spanish are very family-oriented

Living in Spain it will be very common to hear your Spanish colleagues talk about heading back to their pueblos (hometowns) for the weekend. Many Spaniards residing in metropolises like Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia are actually from smaller towns and moved to the Big City for work.

Thus, they often head home to catch up with grade-school friends who've also come back for an event like a local festival or someone's birthday. It's typical for some circles of friends to stretch back even to nursery school so their ties are close. Sundays, in particular, tend to be important for most families as they usually gather for lunch, sometimes dozens in mass so it won't be surprising to see several reserved tables lined up on some terraces.

While maintaining healthy familiar ties is always warranted, some never know when to leave the nest. With a few exceptions, Spanish men are notorious mamas-boys with most males moving out around 30 years old, about five years later than the European average. Spanish women fair roughly the same so both might be equally likely to have their mothers do their laundry or whip them up a homecooked meal during a visit even after moving out.

Sure, most attribute their inability to fly the coop to the instability of the economy, which is why around 80% of under-30-year-olds still live at home. Still, don't be taken aback if you're new Spanish friends tend to disappear around the weekend only to pop back up during a weekday looking well-fed and partied-out. They'll invite you along for an epic weekend eventually.

20. The Endearing Best: Spain has a magnificent landscape

The second most mountainous country in Europe and with one of the longest coastlines, Spain's topography has everything one could ask for, especially if you love the outdoors. For nature lovers, regions like Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria are coveted for their lush, emerald-green forests and gorgeous hiking trails (like El Camino de Santiago). For beach bunnies, the Balearic Islands, Catalonia, Valencia, and Murcia should be your top picks for their white-sand beaches and aquamarine waters (Cabo de Gato is particularly magical).

Are you an avid skier? The Pyrenees Mountains which extend through Navarro, Aragon, and Catalonia are packed with world-class resorts and make the perfect winter destination. Do you prefer to surf? The Canary Islands have just the waves and surf camps you need. Can't resist trekking through the desert, like me? Visit the only desert in Europe, the Tabernas Desert, located in Andalucía.

More of a foodie or wine connoisseur? Some of the best gastronomic dishes come from Galicia, the Basque Country, Andalucia, or Catalonia while the best wines arguably hail from Castille y Leon or La Rioja (for reds) and Galicia (for white wines). Either way, the products are high-quality thanks to the fertile countryside.

Spain's natural landscape means weather-wise there's something for everyone, from cooler mountainsides to tropical beaches. Several te regions are also bursting with gorgeous architecture like Madrid, Catalonia, the Basque Country, Valencia, and Andalucia (the Plaza de España in Seville is absolutely breathtaking). No matter what you prefer like rainy days in the mountains or clear, blue skies at the beach, you're sure to find your niche.

Final Thoughts

Moving abroad can be difficult for anyone, especially if relocating thousands of miles/kilometers away. While Spain is a popular Western European destination for vacations, living here is an entirely different story since many aren’t prepared for the culture shock. Spanish culture is quite unique despite its proximity to other nations and any potential ex-pats would do well prepare themselves for a big change.

That all said, I really enjoy living among Spaniards in the Iberian peninsula and don’t see myself going anywhere else for the foreseeable future. From the typically balmy weather to the late-night fiestas to the affordable lifestyle, what’s not to like? For fellow Canadians under 35, check out this article bought how you can make the move to Spain in a snap (of a very slow bureaucratic hand). So what are you waiting for, any invitation? Take a chance because Spain just might be the country of your dreams (I know it’s mine!).

Still need more insight or help planning the move? Ask away in the comments!

May you get lost in the wonder,

M