10 things you should know before moving to Barcelona ‹ GO Blog
Hemmed in by sea and mountains and full of unforgettable neighborhoods and surprising corners, Barcelona is a beacon for study abroad students and expats. A sunny holiday destination in many people’s minds, Barcelona life does, however, include the daily ins and outs, as any city does.
Moving to Barcelona and want to be prepared for your new routines? Here are 10 things you should know before you start your adventure.
1. They speak Catalan
While you will get by just speaking Spanish, as you start to integrate with the locals you’ll find they naturally fall back to their first language of Catalan (which is totally understandable). The good news? If you have experience with French or Spanish you’ll find Catalan a snap to pick up.
2. Transport
Barcelona is easy to navigate, largely thanks to its grid layout, like in the sizable Eixample neighborhood. To get around, you’ll be picking up a mix of services including buses, trolleys, and the subway system, featuring 12-lines and over 100 stops.
Bicing, the city’s bike-sharing system is also affordable and easy to use. On the other hand, if you decide to purchase your own bike, make it a nondescript model and get a good lock: bike theft is sadly common in Barcelona.
3. Paperwork
Staying for more than 90 days? You’ll need a NIE (número de identificación de extranjero) to open a bank account, enter into a work contract, purchase a car, and more. While the NIE can be a hassle to arrange in Barcelona, you can apply for yours at the Spanish Embassy in your own city.
Another must-organize piece of paperwork is your empadronamiento (registration with your local municipality) to enter the public health system. In short: a little bit of research will go a long way before arrival!
4. Housing
Due to supply and demand, the effects of the tourist boom as epitomized through Airbnb, and the presence of up and coming professionals moving to Spain to work in major corporations, housing in Barcelona has become decidedly more expensive.
Most young people choose to share apartments with friends to keep costs down, which is also a great way to make friends in a new city. Sublet or sub-sublet arrangements are also not uncommon – just be aware that these can offer little or no legal recourse against eviction.
5. Barcelona ≠ Barça
Get an advantage over other expats by knowing early on that Barça is not short for “Barcelona”. Nope, it’s short for their famous football team. The city does have a shortened version though, which is Barna.
6. The schedule
Depending on where you come from, it will take a little getting used to the Barcelona timetable. With dinner at 10pm and nights out not starting until after 1am, your mind and body will need to adjust. Though, once they do you’ll find it difficult to go back to eating as early as you once did!
7. Young and international
Study abroad students adore Barcelona. As a result there are (literally) folks from all over the world there holding language exchanges in cozy coffee shops and bars, and meetups for all interests that are quickly arranged over Couchsurfing and Facebook groups.
Want to practice your Catalan or Spanish? Grab a “tandem” language exchange partner, and swap conversation.
8. Transient expat scene
On the other hand, being such an attractive option for young expats does mean that not everyone stays for the long haul. As with any study or live abroad experience, strengthen the friendships you make while in the city, and be prepared for long distance friendships. But don’t forget, there are always new fellow expats (as well as locals!) to befriend.
9. Very touristy
Barcelona is never not a major attraction in Western Europe – heck in the continent as a whole. After being in Barcelona for some time you’ll start to distance yourself a little from the guiris (tourists). Especially in summer, Barcelona will seem super crowded despite its perfect size. Want to hop off the tourist trails? Ask the locals for advice, and maybe swerve Las Ramblas.
10. Family-oriented culture
On Sundays, locals are often off having long lunches with their families.
Unless you marry into a local family you may find that even after living in Barcelona for a while and having a few Catalan friends, that you’ve never been invited back to their homes.
Don’t worry. It’s not really a cultural norm to have friends over, even for dinner or to celebrate. What you will be doing plenty of, however, is seeing those same friends outside: at the park, going for a stroll, shopping, and at restaurants and cafes.
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Guide to living and working in Barcelona
Navigation
Here you’ll find advice gained from first-hand experience of moving to Barcelona from the UK and of living in Spain. This is your Barcelona guide to living and working in the Catalan capital.
Barcelona Property Finding Service
A flat finding service for Barcelona and Catalonia. A property finding service for medium to long-term rentals and purchases.
We help you rent in Barcelona. The service includes property search, accompanied viewings, negotiating and contract checking.
Long term rentals Barcelona
Long-term accommodation in Barcelona is usually for a term longer than six months. A standard long-term rental contract lasts for five years. Here you’ll find some information about how and where to search for Barcelona rental accommodation.
Spanish Rental Contract Check
Have your Spanish rental contract checked before you sign. We summarise your rental contract in English, point out any non-standard clauses and advise you on how to negotiate any changes necessary – liaising with the estate agent or owner on your behalf if required.
Buy Property in Barcelona
We source property for clients to buy in Barcelona. Whether you’d like to move to Barcelona to live, are looking for a holiday home, or want to invest in property. Flats and houses that are ready to move into, or property that needs partial or complete renovation.
Open a Bank Account in Barcelona
How to open a Spanish bank account. Links to banks where you can apply to open an account online, and recommendations for which banks to try in person. Includes an explication of resident and non-resident accounts and which documentation you need, particularly where an NIE is required.
How to Get Your NIE or TIE
How to get your NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero), both resident and non-resident. UK nationals now apply for a TIE and the process differs slightly and is easier if you already live in Spain. There’s an extra step for new arrivals in Spain. You’ll find a summary of the processes here.
9 Ways to Find Work in Barcelona
It’s easier to find work in Barcelona if you speak Spanish and/or Catalan. However, there are many international companies based in Barcelona, as well as small to medium-sized businesses set up by expats, which need employees who speak English.
This article gives you nine ways to find jobs in Barcelona.
Internet in Barcelona
Barcelona has good fibre optic internet, and now it’s very quick to be installed. Some providers require that you have an NIE before they’ll give you a contract, but here are my recommendations for internet providers in Barcelona.
Client Testimonial
If you’re moving to Barcelona for work and need an apartment then you must use movingtobarcelona.com. I did, and it was the best decision I could have made. Once I gave Georgia my criteria she did ALL of the work – from finding suitable apartments, to viewings. She accompanied me to each one and even checked the contract of my chosen one. The really great thing is that she is impartial – she is there to advise – not to sell. Without her I would have been lost. She even helped with advice on bank and internet options. With her help and guidance I had a stress free move and am now settling into my new life.
100% the best decision I made.
– Sam
The essentials when moving to Barcelona
- Open a Spanish bank account
- Get your NIE or TIE in Barcelona
- How to find flats to rent in Barcelona
- Get internet/fibre optic/TV connected
- Find a job in Barcelona
- Register with a doctor in Spain
Reviews about moving to Barcelona 🏰 Life in Barcelona (Spain) according to the reviews of Russians who moved
Reviews of moving to Barcelona
Other cities
Reviews of moving to Spain
The story of an immigrant from Armenia who illegally moved to Spain 18 years ago: the path from the first failures to her own business.
05/25/2022
Reviews about moving to Barcelona
Read in the interview how Spaniards differ from Russians and why changes in life are wonderful.
12/14/2021
Living in Spain
Six years ago, Elena moved to Barcelona to study Spanish and live in the city she fell in love with at first sight.
We asked her to tell us how she moved, why to Barcelona, what she likes and dislikes about Spain.
09/10/2021
Feedback on moving to Barcelona
Pavel Shiryaev is a citizen of the Earth. Thanks to the online business, he can work from anywhere in the world where there is an Internet connection. He did this for a long time until he ended up in Barcelona with his wife. Only here I wanted to stay for a long time, if not forever. How they managed to complete the documents, and how Barcelona met them, read on.
02/18/2021
Reviews about moving to Barcelona
Barcelona is a big city where a huge number of foreigners live, including Russians who have moved to permanent residence. Our people like the labyrinths of small streets, the typical Spanish atmosphere of unhurriedness, relaxation and carelessness.
11/11/2020
Reviews about moving to Barcelona
In articles on the Internet, on forums and in social networks, those who moved to Barcelona or other cities in Spain are happy to share reviews about their ways of moving to permanent residence.
In such a variety of information, it is easy to get confused and choose the wrong path to the dream of living in the kingdom.
10/21/2020
Reviews about moving to Barcelona
We spoke with a Spanish Bureau client about his move to Barcelona and life in a new country
10/19/2020
Reviews about moving to Barcelona
Moving to Barcelona for permanent residence is an important life decision. It must be approached responsibly, weigh all the pros and cons, mentally prepare and draw up an action plan. Life in a foreign city, country may not be what you expect.
10/14/2020
Reviews about moving to Spain
“At that moment we had no idea how to move to Spain correctly and legally. Fortunately, we found the website of the Spanish Bureau on the Internet, where we received answers to all our questions. At a personal meeting in Barcelona, we signed an agreement and immediately began the process of collecting documents for obtaining a residence permit without the right to work in Spain.
”
05/30/2018
Benefits of moving to Barcelona
Barcelona is a popular city for permanent residence among Russians. This is a fairly large city, the Barcelona agglomeration accommodates almost 3.1 million people. There are many foreign schools, a large university, a rich cultural life and in general it is very interesting to live here.
Despite the fact that Barcelona is the “second capital” of Spain, the city is not without its own charm. Narrow historical streets, courtyards, wells, shady squares with benches – the whole social life of the Catalans takes place here. Sharma also adds the Catalan language, which here has the status of the second official language.
France and the Côte d’Azur are close at hand, the picturesque La Garrocha with its mountain landscapes and, of course, football! FC Barcelona games are watched and discussed by the whole city.
A big plus of Barcelona is the coast, which is not found in Madrid. However, in the reviews of those who moved to Madrid, you can find out other advantages of the capital.
Thanks to the sea, the climate here is milder and more comfortable. In summer, the temperature rarely exceeds +30, and in winter it fluctuates around +9 … +12 degrees.
About 15,000 Russians live permanently in Catalonia, of which 7,000 are residents of Barcelona. Spanish Bureau for 2019 onlyhelped several Russian families to move.
Moving to another country is a complex and exciting process. We at the Spanish Bureau strive to make the formal/legal part as easy as possible and increase the client’s chances of success. Over the 8 years of the Bureau’s work, we have helped more than 700 families from Russia to move to Spain. Some of them shared their stories of moving.
Read the reviews of those who moved to Barcelona and you will find out:
- How and why the Russians decided to move to Barcelona;
- How difficult was it to obtain a residence permit, and what is needed for this;
- How did everything go;
- How did the story of the move end and how do those who moved to Barcelona live now.
Read reviews
Still have questions?
Leave a request for a consultation and get answers to questions about a residence permit from an expert of the Spanish Bureau!
“Russians are nuts!” The Russian woman moved to Barcelona, survived the theft and the shock of local rates. Why did she stay?: People: From life: Lenta.ru
Five years ago, Yana moved to Barcelona with her husband and child from the Perm region. She saw local crime with her own eyes, withstood the harsh quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic, opened her own business and found out what Spaniards really think about immigrants from Russia. As part of a series of materials about the life of Russians abroad, Lenta.ru publishes her story about moving to Spain.
My husband and I come from a small town in the Perm Territory called Berezniki. We met in Perm and only then moved together to Moscow. I had a stable job, my husband had a business. They loved Moscow! Later I became pregnant, and my son Elisha was born.
We did not plan the move – on the contrary, we even rented a dacha for the summer in the Moscow region.
At that time, for some reason, many of our friends thought about moving to Spain. Someone talked about Marbella, a husband’s friend lived for a long time on the island of Mallorca and again decided to return with his family there. They said that in Spain it is easiest to get a residence permit and that it is very cool to raise children there.
That’s when the first thought about moving came.
I want to note that in Spain we were only in Barcelona, in August, in forty-degree heat, with crowds of tourists. I then thought: “So what? Why is everyone dreaming about this city so much?”
I began to collect information bit by bit, study Spanish bloggers, read reviews of people who have recently moved. And yes – I got the impression that moving to Spain is not so difficult. We decided to try.
Photo: provided by the heroine of the material
“I didn’t understand how to live there after Moscow”
First of all, we wanted to visit the cities that were recommended to us for life.
And so, with a four-month-old son, we flew to Marbella for a month and a half. Yes, it’s beautiful, the sea (very cold because of the current), the sun, palm trees. But … something did not skip a beat.
Marbella seemed like a luxury village. I did not understand how to live there after Moscow. What to do? And I already had some plans for activities in Spain.
Mallorca island we immediately shoaled, as the island life is not for us. In the end, they flew to Barcelona for a month, rented apartments and tried to look at life not as tourists, but as locals.
In December 2017 we arrived. It was a warm winter here (however, as always). We walked around the city, the tourists no longer embarrassed us, we studied the areas for life, we celebrated 2018. On that visit, we really liked Barcelona.
By that time I already had a plan to get a residence permit. More precisely, even two
First plan: student visa. It was the easiest way to move, and still is. There are no age restrictions, the main thing is to study at an accredited educational institution in Spain.
These can be Spanish courses, professional courses, university studies, master’s programs. So I went to a language school and paid for a year’s course (this is a requirement for a student visa). It cost 4.5 thousand euros.
After that, we returned to Moscow, submitted a package of documents for me and my son (he was then nine months old), wrote a letter of motivation (this is a mandatory requirement in Russia) and began to wait. After ten working days, the refusal came.
Photo: courtesy of the subject
“Such thefts are common in Spain”
But we had a “plan B”: no lucrativa visa. This method was suitable for our family, but there were several difficulties: we could not open a bank account in any way and could not rent a house. And for this type of residence permit, it is important to show the money in the Spanish account and Spanish housing owned or rented.
Husband flew to Barcelona several times to rent accommodation, but without success. Help came from an unexpected place.
At that moment we were in Perm and took private Spanish lessons, preparing to move. Our teacher was Catalan and had an apartment in Barcelona. He helped us, provided documents for housing.
On one of his visits to Barcelona, my husband managed to open an account. It turns out that the package of documents for the visa was ready. To obtain a residence permit no lucrativa then, five years ago, it was possible to show remote work (or business), which we did. Now, by the way, these conditions have changed – now it is important to show passive income.
The term for consideration of documents for this type of residence permit is three months. We decided to wait out this time in Barcelona. And in April 2018, we fly away on tourist visas, looking for housing for three months. By some miracle, we managed to rent an apartment in just two days. The apartment turned out to be overlooking the sea: the first coastline, three bedrooms. At a cost of 1.8 thousand euros. It is almost always in season in Barcelona, so yes, it is expensive, but huddling in hotels is much more expensive.
So we paid the agency. Immediately I had to make payment for three months of accommodation and two months of a deposit, which is returned after you return the apartment.
I loved this apartment so much! Protected area, concierge, clean, beautiful. I thought: “Wow, cool, like in Moscow!”
I started taking a Spanish course that I paid for for my student visa. I decided not to waste time and take the chance to learn the language.
On the third day my husband and son met me after school in the park of our new district. Together they went upstairs, entered – things were lying all over the apartment. The husband rushed into the living room. No watch, no laptop, no tablet – everything was taken away by thieves. It was terrible that they took all the documents: Russian passports, driver’s licenses, they took all the ruble trifles out of my wallet.
The door was not broken, someone opened it with their key. Later, we found marks in the entrance – as it turned out, these were messages from thieves.
Called the police and told them. Well, as they said, in Spanish then we only knew hola (hello) and una copa de vino (a glass of wine). The police accepted the statement, sympathized with us, and that’s it.
Later I found out that such thefts are common in Spain. When you move into a new home, the first thing you need to do is change the lock. More precisely, the larva of the castle. Which is what we did after everything that happened.
Photo: courtesy of the heroine of the material
“There were apartments that made me horrified”
The worst thing was to live in this apartment further. The agency refused to return the money, refused to move to another apartment. There was no way out, I had to stay.
To be honest, at that moment I thought that my husband would say: “Is this Spain surrendered to us, if there is theft at every step and the police do not work?” But we stayed. I tried to find a good one and decided that we had paid our place in the sun.
The next three months passed without incident, I learned Spanish, we walked a lot, enjoyed the sea and the sun. At the end of June, they called from the consulate and said that we had received the cherished favourable (approved).
Without regrets, we said goodbye to this temporary housing and flew to Russia to put visas in our passports, say goodbye to our relatives, and collect the rest of our belongings.
Returned to Spain in August. We thought that if last time we managed to quickly find housing, then we will succeed now. But no
There were apartments that made me horrified. We had a budget of 1500 euros and we definitely needed two bedrooms. When we went to the inspection, I saw that one bedroom overlooks the well, or, it happened, no windows at all. It didn’t fit in my head. Especially for such money!
There were very good options, with windows, our documents were taken for consideration, but refused. Once a good option turned up – with three bedrooms, with a balcony, with a large laundry area and even with normal furniture.
The owner was Chinese, we provided all the documents, two hours later he gave the go-ahead.
The contract was signed the next day. Despite the quick agreement, he put forward the following conditions for us: we had to pay a deposit for six months, not two, because we did not have a working contract – “for security”.
There was nowhere to go, I liked the apartment, and I already wanted to start settling in. There was money in the Spanish account, so we agreed to all conditions. And we moved into the apartment.
Photo courtesy of the heroine of material
“We are emigrants like Moroccans and Pakistanis”
We have wonderful Catalan neighbors: one of the neighbors once studied Russian and was several times in Moscow and St. Petersburg. There were a lot of Russian speakers in the parks, we easily made new acquaintances. So we learned about the center for four hours for kids, where we immediately ran to register our son. A month later, they found a normal kindergarten and gave the child for the whole day.
What surprised me: the garden was located in the apartment on the second floor, there was no separation of zones that we were used to. The son spent the whole day in the same office: the children played here, then they were fed right there, and after that – mothers, hold on! – they were given cribs, although it’s hard to call them cribs, and they put them to bed. The children were playing on the balcony. In general, everything is not the same as ours. And it costs 500 euros.
I partially returned the money from the language school. Since there was a refusal on a student visa, they were obliged to return. I went to learn the language in an official language school, few of the visitors know about it. There, of course, cheaper than in private. In addition, such schools are not suitable for obtaining a student visa, only for learning the language. The only negative is that there are 30 people in the group. It’s a lot.
In the first years there are all: Moroccans, Pakistanis, Koreans, Chinese and Europeans.
Our compatriots do not really like this school, they consider themselves, apparently, special in comparison with the Moroccans and Pakistanis. Although in fact we are the same immigrants as they are
In chat rooms I met a group of Russian women and started going out to dinner with them. Most often, these were women with children who moved to Spain for the sake of their future, while their husbands remained to live and work in Russia. They did not plan to work themselves, they were engaged only in everyday life. I was a little out of such companies, because I knew what I wanted to do.
In Russia, I worked in the exhibition field: I organized large exhibitions with a large number of participants. At the same time, I had a tourism business, I was organizing author’s tours: yoga tours to India, fitness tours, sightseeing tours, and so on.
Even before moving, before obtaining a residence permit, I decided that in Spain I would organize tours for Russian speakers. And she even immediately created a working page on Instagram @open_your_spain (the social network is banned in the Russian Federation; it belongs to the Meta corporation, which is recognized as extremist in Russia and banned) .
Many laughed at me. And I thought, gaining knowledge, getting to know people. But I still didn’t do anything in my work account, it was scary – after all, the country is new.
Photo: courtesy of the heroine of the material
“Grandfather-neighbor said that we Russians are being fooled”
In the end, I nevertheless organized a sightseeing trip to France. I always do things like this because I want to. I thought: “I want to go to France, I want to go to a place where everyone eats oysters! I’ll try to organize a group and go.” And it turned out: a full bus for 55 people. They were all Russian speakers living in Barcelona and the suburbs. Not tourists.
After me, various restaurants and hotels began to invite for cooperation. Plans were scheduled for weeks, months ahead. And suddenly after March 8, 2020 – the curtain. More specifically, quarantine.
Everyone was shocked! Nobody understood what to do. It was scary. You can’t go outside. Only for products.
Everyone thought that this was all about to end. In the first week we found a house for rent on the Costa Brava, this coast towards France, a very popular and beautiful place. We went there, we thought that for two weeks, as a result, we lived there for almost two months of quarantine.
In quarantine, my friends and I kept in touch with each other, drank vino in zoom, cooked according to Spanish recipes. During the quarantine, I have developed a stronger communication with friends
The Spaniards did not surprise us in the best way. It would seem, such infidels! But they began to knock on the neighbors, call the police. If you walk “out of time”, they could snitch on the police from the balcony. There were no complaints against us, but many of my friends did.
In quarantine, I read in women’s chats that many homeowners made a discount on rent. Many were left without work, the business stopped, and this was logical on the part of the owners. Our agency went into denial.
Grandfather-neighbor said that we, Russians, were being fooled, that the agency had no right to take a deposit for six months, and that they would not give it back to us. And advised us not to pay rent.
We wrote a letter saying that since the agency does not give a discount, let them credit the money from the deposit towards our accommodation. All six months. And so it happened. We didn’t pay for six months.
We were just planning to move to another apartment, closer to our son’s school. The fact is that schools in Spain start at the age of three. Of course, this is, in fact, a kindergarten, but it is no longer a nursery. It is very difficult to get into good schools, two years before my son’s third birthday, I traveled to all private schools. I did not understand what their advantage was, and the price absolutely knocked me out. From 1000 to 1.7 thousand euros per year, although this is, in fact, a kindergarten for a three-year-old.
I was recommended a number of semi-private schools.
One I really liked. In such schools, funding comes partly from the regional budget, partly from parents. And the payment is on average 400-550 euros. In our school – 500 euros, which is already more pleasant than 1000 and 1500.
In May 2020, quarantine ceased to be strict, there were certain hourly periods of time for walking. After being locked up around the clock for two months, I wanted to relax in a female company. I wrote to a hotel near Barcelona, asked if it was possible to come with friends, if the hotel could make a permit. As a result, I accidentally recruited almost 30 girls, we left for the weekend without husbands and children and just had a great rest. It turns out that I resumed my work.
Photo: provided by the heroine of the material
“Now it is more difficult to move, but there is nothing unsolvable”
In the summer we traveled around Spain and flew to Russia to visit relatives. In September, the son went to school, which we were very happy about.
Yelisey is the only Russian child in the class, he is treated well by both teachers and classmates. Most likely, my son will be even more Spaniard than Russian.
After five years, we can apply for Spanish citizenship. Will definitely do for my son. I’m not mentally ready yet. But, you see, in five years I will be the first to run.
Before moving to Spain, I didn’t know anything about the country at all, I had no idea about it. And now, despite all the disadvantages, I really love both Barcelona and the Spaniards. The only thing that worries me is the level of crime, especially theft. But no matter how much I travel, no matter where I return from, I feel at home in Barcelona.
Many people here love Russia. And even visited large Russian cities. Although about Perm, of course, they know nothing. In general, there is a good attitude towards the Russians. I even asked my friends what they think about Russians. Here is what they answered me.
- “You Russians strive for luxury, you care a lot about appearance and image. You like to be different”
- “Serious. Vodka, Russian salad»
- “Kind, cultured people who can be proud of their history and traditions”
- “Russian women are very fond of taking care of themselves, they are always wearing makeup in the morning, they don’t know how to relax and enjoy freedom”
- “Hardworking, it’s nice to do business with a Russian person, women are very beautiful, but insidious”
- “Have bears as pets, drink vodka instead of water, and are immune to cold weather”
- “Serious, unable to relax, always in a hurry”
- “You are nuts!”
You like to be different” I opened an association of Russian-speakers, we provide a full range of services for moving, choosing a school for children, real estate, organizing events. Now I am looking for a home for my business and I really want everyone who moved to Spain not to feel abandoned and to know that they can come to us and solve any problem.
Yes, moving has become more difficult now, but I always say: nothing is unsolvable! Yes, you need to make a lot of effort, water does not flow under a lying stone.
It’s difficult, many can’t stand it: now, after all, emigration is forced, but when I moved, I sincerely wanted it.
Photo: provided by the heroine of the material
“Everyone drinks. And they go to work»
Not everyone likes life in the same Barcelona, for many there is no better life than in St. Petersburg, Perm and even Berezniki. Personally, I will always choose Barcelona. And I like to come to Moscow for a walk. We usually fly to Russia once or twice a year. When I arrive, I enjoy Russian service, cinemas, and what kind of children’s centers we have … There is no such thing in Spain!
In Russia, the service is better, it must be admitted. Many people come, live here, and then they’re like: “Fu, how dumb it is in this Spain, here we have restaurants and cinemas”
It is believed that our people do everything better. The entire beauty industry, for example. The best salons are those with Russian-speaking masters. I once went to the Spanish.
All my friends on the Internet prayed for me! Spaniards do not know how to do as we need. No one will bother – chik-chik, that’s all.
Many women who move here and think about their own business always think of a beauty salon first. It seems to everyone that it is beautiful, simple and profitable. In fact, if you yourself are not a master, then it is very difficult to earn money. Plus, there are crazy taxes.
The second type of business that our compatriots open is cafes. There are a lot of cafes, the “del dia” menu pleases here – something like our business lunch. A meal usually costs 12-15 euros and more, depending on the area and the cafe itself. At first, it was unusual that they poured you at lunch. And it would be nice to have a glass, but in some restaurants they put a bottle on the table. And it’s everywhere! And everyone drinks. And they go to work.
I can tell you more about medicine. With my Spanish insurance, I go, believe me, to a Russian doctor. I come, I say: “I need to check up, assign all directions, please.
” And everything is ready! At the reception, you have to die at the reception, invent pregnancy, hair loss, poor health, so that you are sent for tests.
I have never heard of an ambulance being called here. In some cases, of course, you can, but usually you yourself go to the ambulance. If it’s really bad, they immediately accept it, if you don’t die, you sit in line. The last time we sat with a child in the fall for two hours. Runs, of course, terribly. And even with paid insurance in a private hospital, you are sitting in line.
Now everything has risen in price: gasoline, groceries, gas. My separate pain is that for home internet and two SIM cards we pay 70 euros per month! For heating sometimes in winter comes 150-250 euros per month. I am glad that it is cold in the apartment for a couple of months a year. The Spaniards do not believe that somewhere it is minus 30 °C.
By the way, there is not enough snow in winter. But Barcelona is beautiful because two hours – and you are in the mountains, in Andorra.