Life on the Costa del Sol
Vida
Stories of the people, culture and everyday magic of life here.
You Moved to Spain. So Why Are You Trying to Make It Britain?
You've moved to Spain for a different life. But if you're still avoiding the language, complaining about the heat and expecting everything to work like Britain, have you really embraced living here?
FLYING CARS, FLYING PIGS — AND STILL NO BLOODY WATER BILL
Life in Spain after thirty years together was never going to untangle itself overnight. But between Spanish bureaucracy, missing water bills and technology that refuses to recognise me, going solo in Mijas has become an adventure fuelled by Red Bull Light, custard creams and a determination to keep laughing.
Michel Doing Spain Solo: Garlic, Missing Post and a Premature Christmas
What begins as a simple trip to the post office turns into a day of garlic-laden breakfast, missing bank cards, premature Christmas shopping and unexpected kindness. For Michel Euesden, it's another reminder of why Spain is home.
Growing Up in Spain: Why Moving Back to Britain Would Mean Leaving Home
My parents brought me to Spain when I was six. Now, raising three multilingual children, I understand just how much that decision gave me — and why I'd struggle to leave it behind.
Flying Cars? We Haven’t Mastered Indicators.
Flying cars are apparently the future, but Michel Euesden isn't convinced we're ready. From Costa del Sol roundabouts and missing indicators to Christmas kindness and remembering a much-loved friend, she asks whether we should focus a little more on the people around us.
Thirty Years in Spain. Too Spanish for England. Still Too English for Spain.
Thirty years in Spain. Too Spanish for England. Still too English for Spain. Benjamin George reflects on growing up on the Costa del Sol, finding his identity between two cultures and the question he still gets asked: “When are you going home?”
Working in Spain: Can You Live on €1,300 a Month?
Can you afford to work in Spain on €1,300 a month? Benjamin George explores Costa del Sol wages, rising rents, hospitality jobs and the cost of living.
Red Bull Light and Five Chips: The Year That Nearly Broke Me
Starting over after 60 wasn't on Michel Euesden's wish list for life in Spain. But in a year that nearly broke her, friendship, faith and five homemade chips helped her find her appetite for the future.
Been Around the World… Came Home a Marriage Referee!
Red Bull Light, two penthouses and the Englishwoman with the nails. After a whirlwind of travel, Spanish bureaucracy and unexpected marriage mediation, Michel Euesden discovers that life after separation can lead to some extraordinary new opportunities.
Sex Clubs & Swingers’ Clubs in Spain | Michel Does Spain Solo
Michel Euesden explores sex clubs and swingers' clubs in Spain, comparing attitudes to marriage, affairs and consent with her trademark humour.
Spain’s Housing Crisis: Where Was Your Heart? | Michel
Michel Euesden reflects on Maricarmen Abascal’s eviction, Spain’s housing crisis, loneliness and why home and community matter more than ever.
Estepona Says Farewell to American Rocker Danny Vaughn
After 12 years living in Estepona, American rock singer Danny Vaughn and his wife Melissa have relocated to the countryside near Vélez-Málaga. But there's little time to settle in, with Tyketto embarking on a European tour following the release of their latest album, Closer to the Sun.
Maricarmen: How an 87-Year-Old Became the Face of Spain’s Housing Crisis
The eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen from the Madrid home where she had lived for more than 70 years sparked protests across Spain. Her case has become a symbol of a much wider housing crisis — but what is driving it, and what rights do tenants in Spain actually have?
Sunview Park Zip Line Málaga: Michel Takes Flight
Michel Euesden takes on the 1,350-metre Sunview Park zip line in Alhaurín de la Torre and discovers one of the Costa del Sol's most memorable adventures.
Ryanair Faces New Complaint in Spain Over Customer Service Phone Lines
Spanish consumer group FACUA has filed a complaint against Ryanair, alleging that the airline’s customer service phone lines make it impossible for passengers to speak directly to a person — something the organisation argues breaches Spanish consumer law.
Simply Spain: We Had No Google. We Had Pepe.
Thirty years ago, Michel Euesden arrived in Spain with no Google, no Spanish, nowhere to sleep and a trailer full of baked beans. Today, AI can plan a new life in seconds — but perhaps the Spain we fell in love with was found in the wrong turns, unexpected conversations and people like Pepe.
Life in Spain: I Moved to Spain, Not Just the Patio
After 20 years beside the Mediterranean, Michel Euesden is discovering that living in Spain means more than maintaining the house and getting through the paperwork. It means saying yes, getting involved and actually enjoying the country on her doorstep.
Remembering 9/11: The Day Palma Fell Silent
Twenty-five years after the September 11 attacks, Michel Euesden remembers an afternoon in Palma when football, laughter and excitement suddenly gave way to fear — and the overwhelming need to get home to the people we loved.
Life in Spain: Are Expats Really Embracing the Spanish Way of Life?
Spain offers more than sunshine, cheaper tomatoes and a slower pace of life. From family meals and sobremesa to putting down our phones, perhaps the real Spanish lifestyle is about reconnecting with the people around us.
English-Language Theatre, Comedy & Cinema on the Costa del Sol
If you’re missing English-language entertainment, the Costa del Sol has more to offer than you might think — from theatre and musicals to stand-up comedy, literary festivals and films in English.
Helicópteros Sanitarios Costa del Sol: Why I’m a Member
When a medical problem strikes, knowing professional help is only a phone call away can make all the difference. For Costa del Sol resident Michel Euesden, membership with Helicópteros Sanitarios is one thing he simply refuses to live without.
Can British Expats in Spain Vote in UK Elections? What You Need to Know
British citizens living in Spain can vote in UK elections, but problems with registration and postal voting can make exercising that right difficult. With the Conservatives calling for an independent review, the debate over overseas voting is back in the spotlight.
Living in Spain in August: Why You Need to Slow Down and Go Poco a Poco
August in Spain operates by a completely different set of rules. As Michel attempts to juggle work, appointments, dogs, traffic and an ill-advised electric gym session in the Costa del Sol heat, she discovers that perhaps the Spanish have been right all along: sometimes you simply need to slow down.
Living Alone in Spain: Why Expat Communities Matter on the Costa del Sol
An unexpected August storm in Andalucía leaves Michel thinking about something more important than flooded terraces and Saharan mud: what happens when expats living in Spain suddenly need help — and why stronger local communities could make all the difference.
From Acapulco to Marbella: The Surprising Story of How Padel Took Over Spain
Padel may have been invented in Acapulco, but it was Marbella that helped introduce the sport to Europe. From the first European court at the Marbella Club to more than 17,000 courts across Spain today, discover how a Mexican invention became one of the country's most popular sports.
Douglas Days in Teba: The Scottish Festival in Málaga Province
Every August, a small town in Málaga Province becomes an unlikely meeting point for Scotland and Spain. Teba's Douglas Days celebrates the extraordinary story of Sir James Douglas, Robert the Bruce and a medieval Scottish connection that has survived for almost 700 years.
Spain's Love-Hate Relationship With Tourism: Is the Costa del Sol Full?
Spain continues to welcome record numbers of visitors, but growing pressure on housing, rents and local communities is fuelling a debate about overtourism. On the Costa del Sol, where tourism is vital to the economy, the question is becoming increasingly difficult: how much tourism is too much?
Why Does the Costa del Sol Feel Quiet Despite Record Tourism?
Spain is heading towards another record year for international tourism, with visitor numbers approaching 100 million. Yet across parts of the Costa del Sol, hotels, restaurants and local businesses are reporting surprisingly quiet periods. So where are the tourists — and is the way they spend their money changing?
Support in Spain: The Essential Help and Advice Website for British Expats
Whether you're newly settled in Spain or have lived here for years, knowing where to turn for help isn't always easy. Support in Spain is a free online resource connecting British expats with charities, public services, healthcare providers and community organisations across the country.
Costa del Sol Summer: Florence, Furnaces and Flannels
Surviving summer on the Costa del Sol takes air-conditioning, patience, excellent healthcare and medicinal custard creams. Florence is clocking off—and Michel is coming back.
Could Venezuela's Frozen Gold Help Earthquake Victims? The UK Dilemma Explained
As Venezuela struggles to recover from devastating earthquakes, renewed attention has turned to billions of dollars' worth of Venezuelan gold held by the Bank of England. Could those frozen assets help fund reconstruction, or will politics continue to stand in the way of humanitarian relief?
Could Andy Burnham Finally Deliver Compensation for WASPI Women in Spain?
Andy Burnham's arrival in Downing Street has reignited hopes for millions of WASPI women seeking compensation over State Pension age changes. For thousands of British women living in Spain, any policy shift could have a direct financial impact, making the long-running campaign more relevant than ever.
Wild Boar Wars in Mijas: When a Quiet Dog Walk Became the Costa del Sol Grand Prix
Michel wanted one quiet, drama-free evening with her Pomeranians. Then an enormous wild boar appeared—and the streets of Mijas became the Costa del Sol Grand Prix.
Michel Does Spain: One Englishwoman, a dark Málaga road and a very confused Guardia Civil officer.
Driving in Spain at night should have been a simple 37-minute journey home. Instead, Michel battled a Spanish hospital car park, a homicidal satnav and a Guardia Civil officer who accidentally became her personal escort through Málaga.
The Woman Who Decided the Costa del Sol Deserved Better.
Joyce arrived on the Costa del Sol in 1992 with nothing but determination and a pair of scissors. Thirty-three years later, she runs one of the region's most important homeless shelters — and she's only just getting started.
Michel Does Spain: Who Cares for Xpats After Surgery?
When Mr E’s latest battle with his inner Peter Pan resulted in eight screws, four supporting frames and 33 clamps, Mrs E became Florence Nightingale once again. But behind the familiar Euesden chaos lies a serious question for everyone living in Spain: who looks after the xpats facing surgery alone?
MICHEL DOES SPAIN: BRANDY FOR BREAKFAST, GIN BY THE BUCKET AND BUBBLES AT 3AM
Drinking Culture in Spain: Brandy for Breakfast and Gin by the Bucket
Tea and Coffee in Spain: The Tea Bag Spain Boiled Alive
Thirty years ago, Spain offered coffee three ways, tea almost no ways at all and brandy whenever anybody fancied it. Michel arrived in red lipstick, impossible heels and a cloud of Giorgio—and attempted to explain a proper British brew in her very best Spanglish.
When Shovit Was a Make of Car: Costa del Sol Traffic Then vs Now
A personal and data-driven look at how traffic on the Costa del Sol has evolved from the 1990s to today, exploring rising vehicle numbers, congestion, and possible solutions.
Eating Out in Spain: When Lunch Needs a Medical Degree
Food allergies, vegan diets and slimming jabs are changing eating out in Spain. Michel Does Spain asks when ordering lunch became so complicated.
After Starmer: Why Andy Burnham Is Labour's Leading Contender
Sir Keir Starmer's resignation as Prime Minister has triggered a new chapter in British politics, with Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham emerging as a leading contender to reshape Labour's future. But does success in regional government translate into leadership on the national stage?
England vs Norway: Can the Three Lions Stop Haaland and Reach the Semi-Finals?
England face one of their toughest tests yet as they prepare to take on Norway in a high-stakes international showdown. With Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard leading the Scandinavian challenge, can the Three Lions rise to the occasion and book their place in the semi-finals?
Full Throttle Freedom: What A Harley Ride Through Spain Teaches You About Life
When Spain stopped for football, the roads of Andalucía opened up — and from the back of a turquoise Harley, life suddenly looked faster, funnier and far more beautiful.
Wi-Fi, Visas and Viva España: Rediscovering Real Life in Spain After Brexit and Lockdown
After COVID, Brexit, digital nomads and enough online coaches to fill a Marbella networking lunch, Spain reminds us that real life is still found in coffee, chaos, community — and a very patient María with a set of keys.
Spain's New Cycling Laws: What Every Driver on the Costa del Sol Needs to Know
Spain's Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT) is introducing significant new cycling regulations that will change how motorists share the road with cyclists. From mandatory speed reductions when overtaking to new rules allowing cyclists greater road positioning, here's what drivers across the Costa del Sol need to know before the changes take effect.
England's Grit, Glory and Team Spirit: A Memorable Victory Over Mexico
England delivered one of their finest team performances in recent memory, overcoming a hostile atmosphere, controversial refereeing decisions and determined opposition to secure a memorable victory over Mexico. From Jude Bellingham's commanding display to Harry Kane's leadership and Jordan Pickford's heroics, this was a night England fans will not forget.