Paul Whitelock has lived around these parts for going on 17 years.

First of all in the pueblo blanco Montejaque for some three years and subsequently in the campo outside Ronda.

Here he lists the things he loves about living here. 

[Photo courtesy of Secret Serrania]    

What I like?

I like:

• waking each morning beside the woman I love and watching the sun rise through our window
• listening to the early morning chattering of the birds in the olive tree in our garden
• hearing the church bell chime Ave Maria at half-past eight each morning
• taking early morning coffee in a busy bar with local workers

^{[Photo courtesy of TripAdvisor]}    

• the outdoor way of life on the streets and in the bars and cafes
• nattering with my Spanish neighbours about the weather and the cost of living
• being treated with kindness, respect and trust by the locals

• being known as the guiri that speaks good Spanish
• knowing personally the local cops and my bank manager
• foraging for firewood up the mountain near our house
• not needing to wear socks from April to October
• relaxing in the pool after a hard day’s work
•  

    [Image of a "guiri" unattributed]

• visiting one of the many pueblos blancos in the area, each of them a gem in different ways
• going for a paseo in the early evening  and then for tapas with friends
• before going home to the woman I love and watching the sun set behind the mountains

[Photo unattributed]

What don’t I like?

I can’t think of a single thing…!

Well, there are a few things, in actual fact: 

bureaucracy,

litter,

noise,

animal cruelty,

Spanish drivers,

the andaluz accent,

and, worst of all, CRUZCAMPO lager!

[Heineken]    

But they're the subject of another article .....

Further Reading:

Early morning coffee

What is a guiri?

© Paul Whitelock

Acknowledgements:

Cruzcampo, Heineken, Karl Smallman, Secret Serrania, Trip Advisor, 

Tags:

andaluz accent, animal cruelty, bureaucracy, campo, Cruzcampo, early morning coffee, Early morning coffee, foraging for firewood, guiri, Heineken, Karl Smallman, litter, Montejaque, noise, outdoor way of life, paseo, Paul Whitelock, pueblo blanco, Ronda, Secret Serrania, socks, Spanish drivers, tapa, Trip Advisor, What is a guiri?