“We started to take Spain seriously for retirement after spending time in a friend’s apartment in Valencia. Because I’m a native Spanish speaker, we didn’t face language barriers, and we were able to experience everyday neighborhood life — shopping at local grocery stores and bakeries, chatting with neighbors in cafés, and discovering the city on foot.

We quickly realized that living here without a car was not only possible, but comfortable. After years of long commutes and heavy traffic, it felt liberating. It’s so much easier here to meet friends, attend cultural events, and enjoy a few glasses of wine without worrying about driving home.

Las Fallas is a perfect example of a local tradition. You see beautiful customs, the incredible artistry of the ninots, and the emotional procession where falleros bring flowers to dress the enormous statue of the Virgen de los Desamparados. Like many big cultural celebrations, it’s filled with people, intense and full of energy — but that’s also what makes it so special.

In the end, moving to a new country means learning new traditions and staying open to the beauty of new experiences”.