Spanish Practices – Living in Spain: Real Life, Real Spain

Spanish Practices is taking a short summer break... but I didn't want to leave you without something to enjoy!

So, for the next few weeks, I'm giving you a FREE audiobook – The Marlborough Court Mysteries. Join former Scotland Yard detective Horace Finch as he investigates a baffling murder beneath the streets of 1960s London in The Vicar's Last Confession. Expect classic British detective storytelling, Cold War intrigue, hidden conspiracies and plenty of Swinging Sixties atmosphere.

Perfect listening by the pool, on the beach, or wherever your Spanish summer takes you. Normal Spanish Practices returns after the summer.

© 2026 Creative Radio Partnership Ltd. All rights reserved. The Marlborough Court Mysteries and all associated characters, stories and audio productions are the intellectual property of Creative Radio Partnership Ltd and may not be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form without prior written permission.

This summer, Spanish Practices takes a different turn. Join me for the first of The Marlborough Court Mysteries, a series of bite-sized 1960s detective stories featuring private investigator Horace Finch. From Cold War conspiracies beneath London to pirate radio murders and the first package holidays to Spain's Costa del Sol, these atmospheric mysteries blend real history with classic British crime. Perfect listening by the pool, on the beach, or wherever your Spanish summer takes you.

What really happens in Spain after San Juan? In this episode of Spanish Practices, I explore the great Spanish summer getaway — from midnight sea rituals and bonfires on the beach to empty town halls, vanished officials, delayed paperwork, Amazon delivery chaos, packed beaches and fiestas everywhere. A funny, affectionate look at why Spain seems to shut down for summer… and why normal life doesn't really return until autumn.

Have you ever felt that the customer is always wrong?

In this episode of Spanish Practices, I explore the fascinating, frustrating and often hilarious world of customer service in Spain. From a refrigerator that was dropped down a flight of stairs, to a missing-key tuna tin that somehow found its way back onto a supermarket shelf, these are real stories of refunds, complaints, bureaucracy and consumer rights on the Costa Tropical.

I also take a look at Spain's consumer protection systems, including the OMIC (Oficina Municipal de Información al Consumidor) and the famous Hoja de Reclamaciones, the official complaint form that every business is required to provide.

Along the way you'll hear tales of impossible refunds, luxury car dealerships, recalled water heaters, telephone contract nightmares and the mountains of paperwork that can appear when only a few euros are at stake.

A humorous look at what happens when Spanish bureaucracy meets everyday consumer problems—and how things may finally be changing for the better.

#Spain #SpanishLife #ConsumerRights #ExpatLifeSpain #CustomerService #OMIC #HojaDeReclamaciones #LivingInSpain #CostaTropical #SpanishPractices

Need a phone charger, a frying pan, a garden hose and a plastic flamingo during siesta? In Spain, there's a shop for that...

If you've ever wandered into an ALE-HOP for a phone charger and emerged twenty minutes later carrying a flamingo-shaped lamp, a beach towel and a notebook you didn't need, this episode is for you.

This week I explore two of the most familiar sights in modern Spain: the famous black-and-white cow standing outside every ALE-HOP store and the seemingly magical Chinese bazaars that somehow stock absolutely everything.

Why has a family-owned business from Alicante become one of Spain's biggest retail success stories?

Who came up with the idea of putting a full-sized cow outside the front door?

And how did Chinese-owned stores become the place Spaniards turn to when they need a light bulb, a bucket, a birthday card or a garden hose during siesta time?

Along the way, I uncover the fascinating story of Chinese migration to Spain, why so many families chose entrepreneurship, and how these businesses became such an important part of everyday Spanish life.

Plus, I explain why a childhood encounter with a small shark permanently cured me of any desire to go sea fishing—and why I nevertheless found myself considering the purchase of fishing tackle in a Chinese bazaar.

It's a story of cows, commerce, immigration, entrepreneurship and the peculiar shopping habits we all develop after moving to Spain.

In this episode:

🐄 The surprising origins of ALE-HOP

🛍️ Why you never leave with only what you came in for

🇨🇳 The rise of Spain's Chinese bazaars

😴 How they became the heroes of siesta time

📈 The growth of Spain's Chinese community

🎣 The fish story that put me off sea fishing for life

And a question that still puzzles me:

How can one shop sell literally everything?

#Spain #SpanishLife #LivingInSpain #ALEHOP #ChineseBazaar #SpanishCulture #ExpatLife #SpainPodcast #CostaTropical #SpanishPractices #LifeInSpain #SpanishRetail #MovingToSpain #ExpatPodcast #SpainStories

Why is jamón ibérico considered one of the world's finest foods? In this episode of Spanish Practices, I explore the fascinating 2,000-year history of Spain's most prized ham, from the Celts and Romans to the Reconquista and modern luxury dining. Discover why the famous black Iberian pig produces such extraordinary flavour, how hams are cured in mountain villages like Trevélez, the role pork played in Spanish religious identity, and the artistry involved in carving the perfect slice. Plus, I look at animal welfare, wine and cheese pairings, and why visitors to Spain are often astonished to find entire ham legs hanging in supermarket aisles.

A delicious journey through Spanish history, culture, food, and tradition.

#Spain #JamonIberico #SpanishFood #SpanishCulture #Trevélez #Andalucia #FoodHistory #SpanishPractices #SpainPodcast #Tapas #SpanishHam #LivingInSpain #ExpatLifeSpain #SpanishTraditions

Barcelona wants to phase out thousands of tourist apartment licences by 2028, but is this really the end of Airbnb in Spain's most visited city?

In this episode of Spanish Practices, I explore the truth behind the headlines, the growing backlash against overtourism, and what record visitor numbers mean for property owners and investors. I also look at whether holiday let investing still makes sense in and around Barcelona, the legal risks buyers should understand, and the towns with strong transport links that are attracting attention as alternatives to the city centre.

Whether you're a property investor, Airbnb host, expat, or simply fascinated by Spain's changing tourism landscape, this episode explains what's happening and where the opportunities may lie next.

#Spain #Barcelona #Airbnb #PropertyInvestment #HolidayLets #SpanishProperty #Overtourism #ExpatLife #TravelSpain #RealEstateInvesting

Is marijuana really legal in Spain? Why do so many Spaniards still smoke cigarettes? And how big is the illegal tobacco trade from Morocco?

In this episode of Spanish Practices, I explore Spain's complicated relationship with smoking. From packed café terraces and rising cigarette prices to cannabis clubs, marijuana laws, health risks, cigarette smuggling, and the devastating wildfires caused by discarded cigarette ends, this is a fascinating look at a habit Spain just can't seem to quit.

I also examine the bizarre hospital explosion in Torrevieja allegedly caused by a patient lighting a cigarette near his oxygen cylinder, along with other remarkable smoking-related incidents from across Spain.

Will Spain ever become smoke-free, or will cigarettes and cannabis remain part of Spanish life for generations to come?

#Spain #Marijuana #Cannabis #Smoking #SpanishLife #ExpatLife #TravelSpain #SpanishCulture #WeedInSpain #Health

PAELLA ON TRIAL!

This week I put three legendary British TV chefs before the Spanish culinary courts for possible crimes against Paella.

Mary Berry goes elegant but dangerously oven-friendly… Jamie Oliver commits the ultimate Spanish sin by adding chorizo… while Keith Floyd cooks dangerously close to authenticity with wine in hand and chaos in the pan.

But who creates the MOST authentic Paella?

I explore the fascinating history of Spain's most famous rice dish, ask whether Paella is REALLY the national dish of Spain, reveal the secrets of authentic Valencian cooking, explain the battle between gas, induction and open-fire cooking, and uncover why Spaniards are fiercely protective of their beloved socarrat.

Plus: • What equipment you REALLY need for authentic Paella • How to spot terrible tourist Paella • The truth about seafood vs Valencian Paella • The best places in Spain to eat it • Why Jamie Oliver caused outrage in Spain

If you love Spanish food, cooking, travel and a bit of culinary controversy, this episode is for you.

#Paella #SpanishFood #Spain #Valencia #JamieOliver #MaryBerry #KeithFloyd #SpanishCooking #FoodPodcast #TravelSpain

Benidorm is famous for sunshine, cheap beer and wild nightlife — but beneath the neon lights lies a darker side. In this episode of Spanish Practices, I explore the reality of drugs, muggings, organised prostitution and tourist scams in Benidorm's notorious English Zone and "The Strip."

I also take a look at Spain's unusual prostitution laws, the rise in police raids, drink spiking concerns, and why some visitors now avoid "Muggers Alley" altogether. Plus, why Benidorm Old Town offers a very different side of the Costa Blanca resort.

A fascinating and sometimes shocking look at one of Spain's most famous holiday destinations.