Iberostar official blog where we can meet and decide our next travel destination
Header

An American in Spain

abril 23rd, 2012 | Posted by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts in Local Characters - (0 Comments)

Ronda, Spain

 

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!

, , , , , , , , ,

A Love Story in Spain: Erin Ridley

marzo 30th, 2012 | Posted by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts in Local Characters - (0 Comments)

Who would have thought a 15-minute conversation in a Madrid bar would change Erin’s life forever? Over five years after the first meeting, Erin Ridley no longer lives in San Francisco, but in Madrid, Spain, with that same Spaniard with whom she had that brief conversation.  And she is living the adventure of a lifetime, exploring new corners of Spain every weekend and writing about it on her blog, La Tortura Viajera.

As an expat in Spain, Erin is now living a life she loves, teaching English and writing about her adopted country for travel magazines and websites. She speaks fluent Spanish, cooks Spanish cuisine and she’s also visited all  the states in Spain, from Andalusia in the south to Galicia at the country’s northern edge.

Adventures in Spain

Erin started her blog as a personal diary for herself to keep track of her time in Spain, but now it’s become a very informative source for readers who are visiting Spain. On her website, you’ll find anecdotes from her adventures all over Spain: from celebrating Las Fallas festival in Valencia to sampling pintxos in San Sebastian and visiting villages in Catalonia. There are also city guides, récipes of typical Spanish dishes and tips and tricks for travelers visiting Spain.

The Best of Spain

As Erin says, Andalusia is her favorite region in Spain, although Galicia comes in at a close second place. “Nothing is more Spanish than the South – the weather, the food, the architecture, even the people . Andalucia is the source of Flamenco, gazpacho, and the very best olive oil.” Indeed, Andalusia epitomizes Spain at its most authentic. Wander through the Moorish palace of the Alhambra in Granada, head on down to the beaches of Marbella, or watch flamenco dancers kick up a storm in Seville – Andalusia is sure to surprise you.

Erin also worships Galicia, the offbeat region located in northwestern Spain. “With the ample supply of rain, and its location so much closer to the more northern countries of Europe, you may not even recognize it as Spain at first.  The landscape is vibrantly green and overflowing with life, while the music you hear will often be filled with bagpipes.  In Galicia they also speak their own language – a hybrid of Spanish and Portuguese called Gallego.  It’s a wonderful world of its own.” We can’t agree more.

Photo | Nellie Huang

When you visit an Iberostar hotel in Andalucía Spain, you will experience the best of  Flamenco, gazpacho, and the very best olive oil.

, , , , , , , ,

Teaching English in Italy: A Day in the Life of Kate Greenaway

febrero 22nd, 2012 | Posted by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts in Local Characters - (1 Comments)

 

When Kate first left the United States for Florence, Italy, she somehow knew that it was going to be the start of a lifelong love affair. And she was right – since that semester of living in Florence as an exchange student, she’d instantly felt the magnetic pull of Italy, returning over and over again – until a permanent move to Florence was in order. Now that Katie has built a life for herself in Florence, she cannot imagine planting her roots anywhere else.

As a teacher and freelance travel writer, Kate Greenaway spends her time in Florence exactly the way she’s always dreamt it to be – teaching English, hanging out with local friends, discovering new parts of Italy she never knew existed, and writing about her beautiful adopted country.

Florence Living

For Kate, life in Florence is simple but fulfilling. She starts her day off in the early morning and bikes her way to the school. Florence is an excellent place to get around on two wheels; during her daily commute to work, she gets to whizz past traffic while soaking in the undercurrents of the city. She then spends the morning preparing for her classes before grabbing lunch at a nearby bakery/café where she either treats herself to some simple but outrageously tasty pasta or a piece of pizza topped with fresh zucchini.

Back in school, Kate usually teaches one class after another from 2pm to 8.30pm – most of her students are adults looking to improve their language skills, hence the late teaching hours. But Kate has no complaints – she loves her job as much as the country. “I love being able to witness my students improve with every lesson, it’s extremely rewarding.”

Work  and Live in Italy

For Kate, finding a teaching job in Italy wasn’t too difficult – holding dual citizenship (English and American), she was able to apply for residency and working papers in Italy. Most Americans on the other hand find it difficult to get proper documentation to work in Italy. Kate advises anyone who wants to teach in Italy to get proper qualifications and start hunting for a job online months before making the move.

On her free days, Kate shares her love for Italy with the world through the internet. She’s the local expert for the popular Nile Guide Travel Florence website, where she writes travel tips, guides and local favorites. Weekends are spent exploring various corners of Italy or uncovering new parts of her adopted city.

Italy’s appeal might be magnetic, but without determination and serious passion, Kate wouldn’t be leading her dream life. To those who are chasing a life like this, don’t lose hope because you might just be the next Kate.

Photo | Kate Greenaway

, , , , , , , , , , , , ,