Living in El Maestrat – an introduction

Hi, I enjoyed your article in ‘The Local’. And, to some extent, empathised with it. Just over 19 years ago, I stood in the window of a modern town house with spectacular views over the city of Pontevedra and pondered whether I really should buy that place instead of a finca on which I could have built the sort of stone house I really wanted. but couldn’t find. Luckily for me, my 18 year old daughter was by my side and said: “Dad, you’ll be back home in the UK dealing at a distance with builders you don’t know and can’t trust, when not speaking a word of Spanish. You’ll be taken to the cleaners.” Fortunately for me, I listened to her and abandoned my dream, which I’ve never regretted. I bought the town house and moved into it a few months later. Five or six years after that, I set up a business to give legal and practical advice to foreigners looking to buy property in the Spanish jungle. Many years later, in the hands of my then Spanish (business) partner, it’s still going strong. Two of my key bits of advice were never to believe a word a Spanish gent told you – especially one who smiles a lot – and never to accept their recommendations for anything. By the way, I’m not sure there was anything you could have done to avoid the local gossip. Without data, they’d have simply fabricated.it. I hope you enjoy your beautiful home for many years. Best wishes. Colin Davies P. S. I’m from Birkenhead and I’ve been writing my blog since 2003.