| Spain or South America?
Posted: 5/13/2009 6:32:41 PM | | Hey, I'm thinking of buying a Villa on the Mediterranean coast of Spain and live there for a few years. (maybe Valencia?) I have had this desire to live there for years and I can finally make it happen so I've been looking into it and there are some really beautiful ones there. The issue is, I recently was looking at Brazil, Columbia, and Panama and they look even more beautiful (as do the women!). It wouldn't be a great idea to live in Brazil for the simple fact that, I can speak Spanish but not Portuguese unfortunately. Anyway, now I'm kind of torn between the two areas. Does anyone have any insight they would care to share about either one of these places? | |
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| Spain or South America?
Posted: 5/13/2009 6:35:44 PM | | I have travelled to Panama and Loved it. Would love to live in the Kuna Islands but the natives wouldnt let you. Other then that Columbia is just a boat ride from Panama! buy a boat and live in the seas! | |
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| Spain or South America?
Posted: 5/14/2009 6:02:06 AM | I would opted for Spain .. you would have most of Europe as neighbors ... also look at the Nerja area ... another place I found by accident was San Jose in Almeria .. quiet beach area with Europeans but no huge tourist cattle calls ... I love the people in Spain but I am prejudice since I was born in a litttle village in Northern Spain .. Bet to you, I am jealous!   | |
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| Spain or South America?
Posted: 5/14/2009 2:21:35 PM | apart from the language and historical links, Panama or Colombia have nothing to do with Spain.
Spain is an European country within the European Union, also the 8th or 9th economy in the world.
i wonder why being born in the north of Spain makes someone prejudice | |
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| Spain or South America?
Posted: 5/24/2009 9:05:57 PM | Spain is beautiful! The architecture, culture, people, food, music, sports, history, art, ....it is it's own paradise. One of my favorite places to be.
Also, as Pedro said right above me, Spain is part of the EU/Europe. That is an entirely different situation as compared to Brazil, Columbia, or Panama. Apples and Oranges. | |
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| Spain or South America?
Posted: 5/28/2009 6:15:11 PM | How Lucky!!
What about visiting Cartagena in Colombia before deciding, so you can make up your mind. It is a marvellous place, I guess it is also more unexpensive to live there than to llive in Spain.
mariacba | |
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| Spain or South America?
Posted: 7/20/2009 2:19:08 PM | | Spain for sure. Other than Valencia, look for places in Southern Spain... phenomenal locations there. | |
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| Spain or South America?
Posted: 7/22/2009 5:54:44 PM | I lived in Andalucia , Spain for 3 years. In Malaga.
People are great and the women are warm-hearted. The girlfriends I had there were very "traditional" ,almost prude, but that was just my experience, so you never know.
I really like Spanish women!
As far as Brazil goes, I hear the women are much more liberal about sex; you gotta learn a little Portuguese, don't speak Spanish to them. | |
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| Spain or South America?
Posted: 7/23/2009 1:45:29 PM | Visited Brazil last year, north east coast Natal region, absoloutely beautiful no problems, people very hospitable although i think it doesnt come cheap. Got along with people although i dont speak portugese or spanish. Believe there are no longer direct flights and you have to go via Portugal, as with some of the other south American countries unless you are visiting the cities! You may find it a lot easier to go backwards and forwards to Spain, although too many non Spanish people there.
Anyway good luck, let me know how you get on. | |
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| Spain or South America?
Posted: 7/25/2009 8:59:01 AM | | I would go with Spain personally. When you factor in political considerations, you have to worry about the potential for instability in South American countries (obviously some places more than others) | |
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| Spain or South America?
Posted: 7/25/2009 12:37:52 PM | | I grew up in Valencia and left in 1996. Feel free to ask me any questions about the city. | |
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| Spain or South America?
Posted: 7/27/2009 8:32:20 AM | | Avoid much of the Costa del Sol - it's a depressing hellhole full of ne'er-do-wells. Having said that though many British people are moving back with no doubt the Russians/eastern Europeans moving in. | |
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| Spain or South America?
Posted: 8/4/2009 2:37:20 PM | hi, well i had same question for myself a few yrs ago. i bought a place in spain but costa almeria, real spain i call it because tapas bars and lovely coves, not burger bars and drunks like some parts of spain.
i can travel from local airport and be in my apartment within a cpl hrs or so of leaving.... great for short breaks in the sun long weekends etc.
kev | |
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| Spain or South America?
Posted: 8/4/2009 5:52:05 PM | | Brazil, you will never regret it. In the south, Florianopolis is paradise and it is safe and the people are wonderful. When I say Florianopolis I really mean the Island of Santa Caterina, commonly called Floripa. LOL, yes it is confusing but once you get to the island you will think you died and went to heaven. Forty two beaches, lots of variety. Some crowded in the summer, others almost empty. Look it up on the internet. It is a little to cool for me in the winter and it is nothing like your images of Latin America. It is very European, like Argentina and Uruguay, which are also wonderful. SE Brazil is populated by Azorean Portuguese, Italians, Germans and Spanish. Floripa is very modern, hi tech and reasonably inexpensive, though not "cheap." The city is partly on the island and partly on the mainland and there is a large lake in the middle of the island. Oh, just go. You will not be disappointed and you will not have to put up with poverty and crime. I love the south end of the island and Jurere International in the north. In the south go to Pantana de Sol and Acores beaches. As for language, spoken Portguese is not close to Spanish but you will be able to read it if you know Spanish. English is not spoken much either, but I am sure you can find a nice woman to help you with the language. Get on BrazilCupid or LatinCupid and make some friends. The women are friendly and very nice. It is probably one of the hidden gems for living in the whole world. Yep, that is what I said. Good luck. | |
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| Spain or South America?
Posted: 8/15/2009 2:38:48 PM | Hello Constantine,
Well, I'm brazilian and i can tell u if u like to visit Brazil it's not a problem if u dont speak portuguese, i mean if u speak spanish u can learn portuguese quite fast and people here are very friendly....I'm sure u'll love this country, the culture and the nice places and mostly good weather all year, like its a very tropical country.
Good lucky! | |
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| Spain or South America?
Posted: 8/18/2009 3:39:05 AM | | I would choose the European option first because Europe is rich in history and the only place where you can enjoy the wealth of the culture of the mother lands is in the motherlands. Colonial architecture is also worthwhile, especially in Brazil, as the Portuguese Royal family actually lived in Brazil and brought the wealth of high Portuguese culture to Brazil. But to understand the influenced you need to be familiar with the culture that did the colonizing. There is no replacing a thousand or more years of history and cultures where all of the practical arts and art, that is food, wine, architecture, sculpture and even science are intertwined. That being said once you do have your bearings on European culture and history, the ancient native Indian cultures of South America are well worth investigating. Different parts of South America are a mixture of different European cultures, Indian heritage and African influences brought in by the slavery. Argentina, for instance, is greatly influenced by the high cultures of Spain and Italy. Parts of Brazil were also colonized by the Dutch, the South was heavily settled by Nazi war criminals who escaped Germany after the War. I would, if I had the money, settle in a part of Europe that would be a good base for everything I want to see. The rural culture of Europe is highly under-rated and in these days of globalizing big cities are beginning to become indistinguishable from one another, are losing their distinctive character. If you want to spend time in Brazil you may better choose Portugal first; Portugal is the world's best kept secret. But I wouldn't choose the Algarve to live as it is too touristy. You can get a lot of bang for your buck in the smaller villages. Then you could get a car, visit the wineries, tastes the foods, attend the art exhibits and ateliers, tour the monuments, palaces, castles, churches ... there are so many layers of history in Europe it is not uncommon to find the floors of palaces dug up because they are excavating the Roman ruins beneath! Whatever European country you chose to go to take some courses in the language before you go. Even if they tell you it is not necessary it does open doors. People appreciate the effort. Italians and French are downright rude about it whereas the Portuguese are anxious to have the opportunity to practice their English and you may have trouble using your Portuguese but some knowledge of the language is essential when you are in a bind. Not all exhibits are in English in foreign countries either. You can't do the samba unless you know what the lyrics are because the dance acts the lyrics. If your whole point is picking up women, scratch all of the above and head straight for one of the megacities of Brazil buy a condo and some condoms and head straight for the beach. | |
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| Spain or South America?
Posted: 8/19/2009 10:35:03 AM | Do you want first world or third world?
Spain is semi-tropical. Panama, Colombia and Brazil are tropical-tropical.
Spain, IMHO, has the best cuisine on the planet. Sorry France & Japan.
Where ever you go, actually physically go to that location and live there for a few weeks - long enough that the stars wash out of your eyes. Preferably during the off-season. Try January in Panama. | |
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