When Christine Medina first moved to Spain in 2009, she had no idea that three years later, she would still be here and absolutely in love with her adopted country.
Christine’s love affair with Spain started out serendipitously. She’d graduated university at the height of the recession – and when her dreams of becoming a corporate slave evaporated before her, she decided to fulfill her other dream: to see the world. So the young Seattleite found work as an au-pair in Spain, packed her bags and ditched her life back at home to embark on this adventure.
Spain just does that to people. It has the power to captivate and then get you hooked to its charms. After almost three years of living in Spain, Christine now works as an English teacher and freelance writer. She shares details of her unconventional life with readers on her website, ChristineinSpain.
La Vida Loca
When asked what she likes most about living in Spain, she said, “I think most people move to Spain for the same reason: the lifestyle. There’s a reason why it’s a lifestyle envied worldwide–Spaniards know how to eat well, drink well and live rather than just exist.”
Christine is based in Algeciras, a port city in the southernmost tip of Spain. It’s just a 1.5-hour drive from the popular beach city of Malaga, which makes it a great place to explore during your Iberostar vacation. Algeciras is also the gateway to Morocco, as it’s just 14km away by boat from the exotic African continent – so if you’re planning to hop over to Morocco, you’re sure to make a stopover here.
On weekends, she’s usually found hiking around the area, meeting friends for tapas or going on short trips to nearby cities. Since moving here, Christine has explored many parts of Spain, her favorite parts include “the landscapes and food of Basque Country, the cosmopolitan-quirk of Barcelona and the rich Moorish history found in Andalusia.” Christine is also a huge fan of San Sebastián as it combines her love for great food, beautiful beaches and chic urban living all in one.
Photo | Nellie Huang
It’s said that Spaniards know how to eat well, drink well and live rather than just exist. When you visit an Iberostar hotel in Andalucía Spain, you will experience the best of Flamenco, gazpacho, and the very best olive oil. Live rather than just exist!
