Where would you live in Spain?
Dec 20th, 2000, 06:53 AM
#1
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Where would you live in Spain?
Hypothetical question: If you decided to move to Spain, which city would you pick, and why? What if you had two children, ages 11 and 5? Just curious. <BR> <BR>Also, thanks to those that helped me with my honeymoon itinerary. I've got some very good ideas now! <BR> <BR>Greg
Dec 20th, 2000, 10:36 AM
#2
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I haven't been to Spain since Franco died and the Socialist were a lock. Stayed with friends (in El Escoreal / sp?) outside Madrid. Very heady days. I loved the laid back nature of El Escoreal, right on a short train ride into town (Madrid). Loved Madrid, good coffee, great food, plenty of young single woman and lots of excellent (and inexpensive) Rioja. I could do it all again, and yes, take my three teens with me and feel very comfortable in Madrid. I still stay in touch with my friends, but now we seem to be old (and very practical) socialist conversing about the Euro, international banking, the EU, kids and "getting away". Actually, my next "getting away" is in la Toscana. Ciao.
Dec 20th, 2000, 11:05 AM
#3
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I've been to Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, and Granada, and would say definitely Seville. It's a beautiful city, very safe, lots of cultural attractions and it's just the right size. The only downside would be hot weather in the summer, but I haven't been there in the summer. Barcelona would be my second choice, a very cosmopolitan city, saw a couple of schools there they looked nice. Madrid is the only city where we felt a bit uncomfortable regarding safety.
Dec 20th, 2000, 03:17 PM
#4
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I spent a semester in Sevilla and while I enjoyed it, I couldn't imagine living there long-term. It's just a little bit too provincial. Madrid seems a little impersonal. I think maybe Barcelona - it's got a nice combination of cosmopolitan-ism and old-world-ness.
Dec 21st, 2000, 07:49 AM
#6
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Hello: <BR> <BR>I lived in Barcelona for 2 years, and for me it is the best city in Spain. I mean, you get every thing that Madrid offers but in a more manageable size, you can go to the beach in the summer, skiing in the winter, it is elegant, modern, has a great transportation system, is closer to France, Mallorca is also close and Madrid will be 2 hours away in a couple of years when they finish the AVE (high-speed train). <BR> <BR>As for the children, I think that Barcelona is "gentler" than Madrid. Not to mention the Aquarium (which is excellent), lots of parks, the beach, the Parks at Montjuic and Tibidabo and Port Aventura... (good schools, too). <BR> <BR>
Dec 21st, 2000, 10:21 AM
#7
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I took my 8 year old daughter on a tour of Spain in February. We went to all the major cities except Barcelona. <BR>I would prefer to raise my daughter in any city in Spain that I visited than to any city in the South USA that I have visited and/or lived in. <BR>Children and teens were very respectful in the streets. They would open doors for you and walk arm-in-arm with their parents. <BR>I would love to move abroad and raise my children in Europe. I can't imagine you picking a wrong city. <BR> <BR>Take a tour then make your own decision. Each parent has their own priorities for their kids. <BR> <BR>As an aside, my top choice would be Burano, Italy. It is a small island in Venice that is a fishing village.
