The answers, before you have to ask for them.

At Galicia & Green Spain Property & Relocation , we understand that the decision to move to a new country is not only about finding the right property—it’s about embracing a new way of life! Our approach is tailored to meet your individual needs, ensuring that you find not just any home, but the right home for you. We are here to offer you the peace of mind that comes from knowing that your property purchase & relocation journey is in expert hands.

In this edition, we sit down with one of our esteemed clients to uncover the joys, challenges, and surprises of their relocation journey. From navigating Spanish bureaucracy and learning the language to discovering hidden gems in their new neighbourhood and making new friends, our interviewees share honest insights that can’t be found in guidebooks or online forums.

Join us as we explore the authentic experiences and invaluable wisdom of those who have walked the path before you. Whether you’re considering a move to Galicia, Asturias, or anywhere in Northern Spain, let their stories inspire and inform your own adventure!

Meet Beth and Larry Keenan: From Living in Dallas, Texas to City Life in Vigo in Galicia.

Join us for a personal chat with a couple from the U.S., about their personal journey from living in Dallas, Texas to becoming city-dwellers in Vigo in Galicia.

Pre-retirement, Larry was in an unfulfilling corporate job in Dallas and I worked remotely for a non-profit in upstate New York. We were aware that as soon as Larry was able to retire, we’d make some big changes, and the Covid Pandemic allowed us to be home together and plan it out over many months.

Our day to day now – Study Spanish, cook, walk somewhere we haven’t been yet. Travel, talk to friends, do Wordle, watch Apple TV or Netflix, read a book, nap.

There are many reasons that go into a change this big, and not all of them can even be put into words. What allows you to go? Why you would need to go?

We were allowed to leave by being retired, with no children, most of our friends either online or constant travellers, brother in Paris, parents gone.

Why we would want and need to go –

It was obvious we could grow as people and be happier elsewhere… had travelled and were attracted by the opportunity to learn a new language, learn a new culture, experience Europe and be citizens of the world. In matters of health, Larry is allergic to the preservatives put on most food in the US; we observed that he never got sick when we were in Europe.

A further factor: We had much less saved for retirement than needed to stay in the US with the life we would like. But this is a more-than-sufficient amount for much of the rest of the world.

We hit the books; we joined many Facebook groups. Could Larry get EU citizenship through his mother? (No). We looked at entry requirements and Visas for most of Europe, and we used the brilliant numbeo to compare the cost of living in the interesting cities. Highly recommend numbeo!

We made a reconnaissance trip the year before we moved, checking out cities in Spain (and Portugal) that had potential – in Spain, mainly Barcelona, Valencia, and Pontevedra.

Pontevedra won hands-down, in terrible wet November weather. It was not a contest. Galicia was already on the radar because of the Caminos, Pontevedra is known for banning cars from the historic area of the city, and general progressiveness.

SOME OF THE MANY CHARMS OF GALICIA

Galicia is a world centre for pilgrimage, something we appreciate. Galicia is cool and rainy in an ever-more-heated and dry world.

Galicia is Celtic, with bagpipes and accordion and a million t-shirts proclaiming it – and live music galore.

Galicia is more than just green; because of the relative lack of development for millennia it has pre-ice age virgin forests of oak and ash, something that has survived more here than anywhere in the world.

The character of Galicians, (which I am not qualified to address, but here it is), is reserved but very kind, with a sadness akin to Irish sadness. Straightforward, good humoured. Not in your face, not smiley, not inclined to make friends with a stranger but very much live and let live. We find this very comfortable.

I go to the grocery store and the food is more than twice as good for half the price. The seafood is justly famous, but the cabbage and onions are also unbelievable, and a big bag of lemons cost one euro. This is a wine producing area (which impresses visiting friends from the states) and the prices for these wines are hard to believe.

The expats who live here praise Vigo on Facebook groups again and again. A real city that is not as windy as A Coruna, Bigger and more diverse than Pontevedra, and not thronged with tourists like Santiago de Compostela. The Mayor is a real booster and quirky things are always happening.

City life in Dallas, even in a beautiful historic area home, was expensive, guns all around, rift with political divisions and hot as blazes. The traffic and the crazy worsened over time. A side benefit: What I used to think of as a short car trip in Texas gets me all the way to Lisbon now.

Our first apartment was an off-season rental on Playa América, in the centre of that gorgeous beach, stunning in all weather and circumstances. A complete jewel!

The place we bought in Vigo, where we are in the process of moving, is a small apartment on the 5th floor of a building next to the Corte Inglés department store and within blocks of the Vialia Train and Bus Station with its lovely new mall. It is perfect for us now, even has a balcony that looks good to grow herbs. We plan to move to a seaside house in a few years, after our Spanish is better and we have our drivers licences.

Nothing approaches the challenge of the NLV (Non-Lucrative) Visa Application pledging you will not work for money in Spain. The process is quite involved and many of the parts expire – the marriage certificate and the doctor’s attestation could not be more than three months old. We had to do several items twice. It takes a long time to finish, and you spend a constant dribble of money with no real idea whether the application will work or not. The Houston Consulate is famously picky, with requests to resubmit information etc. We read many horror stories posted in real time on Facebook. When ours came through in two weeks we were amazed. We’re STILL amazed.

The apartment on Playa America was wonderfully located for view but we needed to lease a car to get groceries and get around – the buses run on the hour, take an hour to get to Vigo and are often late. Also, it’s the lodging problem – this is a seasonal rental. Putting down roots requires a rental we could have all year, or a purchase. What we saw more and more was that purchase was the way to go, especially as much attention as Vigo has been getting lately; we didn’t buy expecting to see appreciation on the property, but by all the signs that is likely to be the case.

Caroline Harris’ name came up over and over in our reading, in glowing terms – checked out her website and that was who I could find for help with a relocation to Galicia. So we emailed, and set up to talk to Caroline one evening – and the rest was history.

We had no way of making it happen other than Caroline . Unlike more sensible people, we did not speak Spanish, or have a Galician relative or friend. Caroline found the beachside apartment for us. The landlord lived in the US and was very helpful with the visa paperwork required at that time. Caroline was also very good at answering the questions we had to get set up.

On the day of our arrival in Galicia, she met us at the airport, was able to get all our bags into her car, and took us immediately to the grocery store to have food and toiletries. Which laundry detergent. We did not know what a lot of things were, so just grabbed… and then we got to the apartment. Wow! On the water. At the beach.

She let us settle in for a few days and then helped us with the bureaucratic interactions we had heard would be difficult – and Caroline picked us up, took us, and handled it, talking to the people at the Concello (the local townhall) – and we had our Padron. Even more amazing, in a few months, after another expedition with lots of signing papers and then a pick-up of cards, we had our residency, and the treasured card with our NIE number.

Equally important was our bank account, another potentially very problematic interaction – Caroline helped us and sorted that for us nicely, and we now have a debit card.

When you are so new in foreign country, the first people you know are your neighbours, the people who sell you food, your Spanish teachers, and the relocation expert helping you. All these people give tips and introduce other people, and every interaction helps to fill in a bit of the puzzle. There are, again, Facebook and WhatsApp groups – and gathering in different areas, with everyone welcomed. We’ve been to a few.

After some months, Caroline took us to see a few more apartments, which helped us understand more about what is available at what price and what to expect. After talking to people and hearing stories about extreme efforts to find a good long term rental in Vigo, we realized we were in a position to benefit from a purchase instead – and so Caroline helped us look for a house, first in Moaña just across the estuary from Vigo, and then at apartments in town. Every property we saw taught us a bit more about the prices, the circumstances and what to expect.

The green, the water, the ever-changing weather, fishermen, para-skiers, surfers, camino pilgrims, the right VPN means you WILL be able to watch Netflix – cooking the excellent food – cafes – we are very happy here, body and soul.

I was surprized by the Starbucks and malls, the chic of Cortes Ingles, that people in the US and the people in Vigo don’t dress all that differently (athleisure mostly).

Never in my life will I live somewhere with more varieties of white asparagus in glass jars available to me. Never!

The water is too cold for open water swimming without neoprene – ah, well. It’s great for splashing in the waves.

What we have to do to get a Spanish Driver’s License is quite involved – no agreements like the UK.

The bread is too good and your clothes get very tight if too much of it is eaten. Same for the wine, and pastries.

Español is challenging but we are improving! (Our Amazon delivery people want to emigrate to the United States)

We miss knowing how to do everything. We miss a latte with friends in person – now I text them and send a photo of the place.

People here are always working to connect us with other groups, a person they think we’d like, an apartment coming up – they are very kind and we hope to pay this kindness forward.

Yes, at first we studied with Jock’s English in Nigrán – he was an invaluable resource for language and life in Galicia. Jock gave us a lot of political and other background, and local stories. Some Gallego language, too – important.

Also Vanessa at This Way language school in Vigo – usually taking one conversation class and one individual instruction class. We are painfully slow but improving. I’m very embarrassed, but for the most part enjoy it, while Larry is actually on his way to competence if not fluency.

After we moved to Galicia, we flew to Paris at Thanksgiving, to London for Christmas, and drove to Porto for New Years. That was proof of concept that it is easy to get around in Europe, and it connected us to friends and relatives, but we got sick after every trip. Better to go one place at the holidays, or better yet, make them come here!

Do the homework – visit where you are interested and see how you like it beforehand. Visit at an off time of year. Join lots of Facebook groups in the area and observe what they like, and what they complain about.

See an accountant to gauge taxes in this double-income tax situation. Have a Spanish accountant and a US accountant that work together well.

Figure out how to run your financial life as someone living in another country.

Learn how to use Wise to your advantage. Excellent way to get money back and forth.

Work on your Spanish before you move to Spain!

Thank you for taking the time to chat with us about your relocation journey. We hope you will keep us updated about your future adventures as you are settling into your new life in this beautiful corner of the world!

Just wanted to close by emphasizing the role that Caroline Harris played in getting us here and settled in, helping us through the initial bureaucratic necessities with great patience and charm. We learned to pay very close attention to anything she would tell us; likely it would come up later. We feel our move was very successful and she was crucial to this.

Told by the family themselves, in their own words, on this site since it was first published.

At Galicia & Green Spain Property & Relocation , it is our mission to help families find not just a house, but a home and location where they can thrive. Our tailored approach ensures that each family’s unique needs are met, providing peace of mind and expert guidance throughout the property purchase and relocation process.

In this edition, we sit down with a family of five who embarked on their journey from the UK to Galicia in search of a better life for their three children. They share their stories about adapting to a new culture, navigating the Spanish education system, making new friends and discovering the hidden gems of their new neighbourhood. Their insights offer a firsthand look at the realities of moving to Galicia as a family, far beyond what you can find in guidebooks or on social media.

Join us for a personal chat with a MUM and her FAMILIY about their personal journey from Brighton to Gondomar in Galicia.

Brighton (UK) is a pretty cool city to live in. We had the sea, it was multicultural and quite arty. We lived super central; I had a cargo bike instead of a car for me and the kids to go places as everything was on our doorstep by cycling and loads of cycling lanes.

I was working from home 5 days a week; my husband was a carpenter working on building sites across Sussex. Our two eldest children were going to a Spanish bilingual school 20 minutes away from home, and our little one was looked after by a nanny.

We basically ran around all week getting things done and making sure that the mortgage and the nanny were paid. I had panic attacks once a week, my husband’s credit card was constantly in the red even though we had 2 good jobs and he’s not a spender. Our kids were going from insane birthday parties to more ludicrous activities, they were becoming very spoilt. Our calendar was filled with commitments for the 3 months ahead, there was no rest.

I had been ready to move to Spain for about 3 years but my husband was not. However, one day in January 2022, he came back from work and told me he had enough and that he wanted better for the kids.

We wanted simplicity, community feel, and rest. I wanted to go back to the continent. I’m French but I went on holidays for a month in Spain every year as a child and I just loved it every time. Kids running free until late in the evenings, playing all together in the communal parks or the main plaza while we can enjoy a drink, the loud music in the streets, the fiestas, the food, the reliable summers… None of that was available where we lived and the kids were never able to run free, they were never really welcome either when we went places (and they are relatively good kids), there was always a fear in the back of our mind that they would be abducted or run over by a car.

Of course, it was an easier decision for us to make as I can work from anywhere in Europe and carpenters are in demand in Spain. So we were moving with several safety nets.

We wanted to be near the ocean rather than the Med or inland, we wanted the kids to learn surfing, and we wanted a place that promotes nature while still being close enough to a biggish town. Bilbao was our first choice until we looked at the price of properties and realised it would also mean having to learn Vasco. My husband being Irish, I think we liked the idea of Galicia too as it has a Celtic history.

So we decided to book a trip to Galicia to check it out. We scrapped enough money to spend a 4-day weekend, it was important to go with the kids and check out areas together so we could project. It had to work out because we couldn’t do this again for probably another year. So we had to plan well: I did lots of research online, then went on Facebook to ask questions to people, and this is where I met Caroline for the first time. She told us to come and check out the Val Miñor, that the kids would love it as it was super kids friendly (Caroline raised 5 kids in Gondomar, so I thought she would know what she was talking about 😉).

Someone else mentioned Pontevedra as a car-free city and as a cyclist I liked that idea. So, we booked 2 days in Sabarís where we could explore the Val Miñor, and 2 days in Pontevedra. Out of the 4 days, Gondomar won our heart: It felt like a small town with a strong community from the get-go, there was a park, a skatepark, a small river, 3 plazas for tapas, and all amenities: Primary and Secondary Schools, a small A&E unit for kids’ big bumps, supermarkets small and bigger, and the beach was super accessible by car or bike. Gondomar is part of the Val Miñor, an agglomeration of 60,000 people over 3 municipalities (Gondomar, Nigrán and Baiona), everything you need is mostly not more than 15 minutes away. Then, Vigo, the largest city in the area is 20 minutes away and Porto just 1 hour and 15 minutes. It ticked all our boxes for us.

It went surprisingly well! We sold our house very quickly (3 months from putting it on the market) and then we organised the move and it went without too much stress and we’re not very organised people! I think the excitement gave us wings.

We chose a house with a swimming pool for the first few months to help the process of acceptance for the kids. It sounds silly and it was more than we had planned to spend on rent, but it was the right move and totally worth it at the end. The kids were excited and that little less sad to leave their friends once they jumped in the pool. But most importantly, we were giving them perspective of our new life.

The hardest was that my cargo bike became useless because it is very hilly and mostly country back roads and one big urban road to go from A to B, so I have given it up. It’s hard to walk anywhere too if you don’t live in the centre as there’s not many pavements and again, it’s very hilly. We take the car a lot more but it’s to go to amazing places so that makes up for it. I did buy an electric bike and it’s perfect when I’m on my own, some insane views are always along the way.

As I said, the Val Miñor has everything we need so it didn’t feel like we were moving from a big city to a small village. It felt more like we were moving to a town and it’s perfect for us.

2 main challenges for us:

First, though myself and my husband are European citizens, the kids were English (they have Irish citizenship now) and that part was super tricky and was an added cost in legal fees that we hadn’t planned and a lengthy process too.

Secondly, day 3 of the kids starting in their new school, my husband happened to drop some paperwork at break time at the school and saw our middle child on his own with no friends around, and that day my husband felt really bad, of course. That was the saddest moment of the move for sure. But then, by day 7 he was flying…

The language was of course a little challenging at first but I have to say that everyone has been so patient with us and making us feel so welcome. All the paperwork needed, because everything is connected: Getting the padrón (registering with your local townhall) first, then bank accounts, then NIE because you cannot have a car without the NIE, which you can’t apply to without the padrón, etc… It was very overwhelming! Thankfully, Caroline was with us all the way for this!

How did your children adapt to the new school, languages, social and lifestyle in general? Our children were 9,7 and 4 when we moved. We chose to go for public school for two reasons:

The school was absolutely amazing. From registration process through to when they felt comfortable, the kids were up to speed academically and with friendships. It took my kids different timings: Our 9yo took longer with language but faster with friendships (figure this one out!), our 7yo and 4yo flew through both Castellano and Gallego but took longer to make strong friendships.

One great thing too was moving to a smaller set up, classes are smaller, made of 17 kids at most. It’s so much calmer, the kids are nowhere near as tired as in the UK after a term.

They also love the summer holidays that go from June 22 nd to Sept 7 th (11 weeks of summer break that is)!

Currently, after 1 year and half, they are fully adapted, academically on track and we’re back to being invited to too many birthday parties. 😉

The best part is that after years of wondering where we belonged, my husband and I finally see ourselves settling here. We adore every aspects of our new life and the feel we had when we visited was right. Gondomar is a wonderful town with a community feel, the kids meet their friends in the park or on the plaza at the weekend and we go for a drink and pinxos on the side of the park.

We’ve made a good mix of Spanish and international friends. There’s so many accessible activities for the kids too: Free skateboarding lessons, cheap holiday camps and we’ve started surfing together.

The hardest is that winters are much tougher than in the UK, you really have to hold on tight to the thoughts of spring coming! It’s challenging, everything is humid, your clothes that stay longer in the cupboard get moldy, and it’s hard on the mood at times.

[Editorial Note] : Winters in Galicia typically see abundant rainfall with mild temperatures, especially along the coast. Last winter, however, has been particularly rainy in comparison to previous years.

And finally, public transport is bad, there’s very little option here, a car is needed or at least bikes but even then because it rains a fair bit 6 months of the year, you would need to be well equipped for that.

Well, Caroline was our rock: From welcoming us when we arrived, to helping us with getting our NIE, checking out and picking the right school, and finally finding us our dream home, she was there all the way… Super personable, she cares about people having the best experience possible and really gets out of her way to make sure the home purchase works out. Everything would have been so messy and stressful without her.

Soooo easy! We got overwhelmed by their warm welcome actually… I remember the first Friday after the kids started school, we headed to the local park to help the kids integrate and there were about 10 kids screaming their names to ask them to come and play. It felt so lovely that day. Their parents did the same with us.

Another anecdote was when I went to a local shop to purchase 40 € worth of shopping and had forgotten my wallet. I asked the owner of the shop if she could keep it aside until I came back and she answered:” Take it, you might need it tonight, you can come back tomorrow to settle the bill.” There is no way a shop in Brighton would have done that. Similar things have happened since, it was not just a one off. People are just like that here.

We love that people don’t plan a month in advance, all gathering tend to be spontaneous, and nothing is super fancy. We do hikes, picnics, a beer on the seafront, comidas at someone’s house, meeting at a park in the mountains and we all chip in something. We love that if someone comes for lunch on a Sunday, they will arrive at 3 pm and leave at 9 pm, that’s lunch here… That was a surprise the first time! We love that they truly care and if they ask you how you are, they actually listen to the answer and engage…

Also, it’s super clean! Of course, the rain washes off a fair bit 😉, but the houses are looked after and the gardens are tidy. Because of the rain/sun combo, we all spend a lot of time cutting grass, you always hear lawn mowers or bush cutters.

The food diversity and quality is unbelievable, I have bread better than in France, the seafood is super fresh, and you can grow so many exotic fruits and veggies, it’s a dream!

The nature is splendid, it’s like a rainforest in Europe… We love that we can drive down to Portugal for the day and come back feeling like we have been on a mini holiday. But mostly, what we love most is that people are humble and kind.

Well, this winter was challenging to say the least. We expected rain but didn’t realise it would be that much!

Also, the administration side of things is a little outdated and often lengthy and energy draining, I still struggle through some of it… Trying to connect our water waste to the main has proven to be challenging even though we’re just 1km away from the city centre of a 15,000 inhabitants’ town.

Social security (NHS type) is not as good as people had told us it was, the waiting list can be very very long. We’re now considering private insurance on top.

Being autónomo (self-employed) turned out to be more expensive that we thought. The first year was great but now we’re being hammered with fees and taxes so we had to review our budget.

Yes of course, we miss our friends! Some came to see us, others haven’t, and we miss them dearly. We also miss the English sense of humour at times, it is very different here, less witty and a lot more innocent. We also miss Taskmaster! and the atmosphere of a Sunday pub lunch in the middle of winter…

Yes, to both! We find that we get along best with Spanish that have lived overseas but some of our closest friends have lived in Gondomar or Galicia all their life. It took us about a year to feel like we had settled on that front so a little longer than in the UK I think.

I haven’t taken courses, just practice through the kids’ school WhatsApp groups, kids homework, hardcore administration duties, and chatting to friends. I’d say that I have the opportunity to speak about 4h/5h of Spanish per week on average (I work online in English and French). I understand about 80% and speak a decent level though struggle with tenses but it’s coming along. Being French helps obviously.

My husband who is Irish finds it much harder. He took private classes for a year and he’s definitely improving but nowhere near having a casual conversation yet. It’s tougher for him and he’s quite upset about it.

I would allow a budget to outsource all paperwork including driver’s licence swap, even if it meant giving a little extra cash, you will actually save otherways (unnecessary trips to Vigo come to mind). My husband would have started Spanish classes in the UK before we left and probably taken an intensive crash course at the start. I would have probably pushed him to work locally much earlier as there’s no better way to learn a language. As for the kids, I wouldn’t have done anything differently, they are so happy here and adapted so easily!

If you work out a budget to actually make the move to Spain, add 50% on top of that budget for unexpected circumstances: i.e. we had to pay extra fees for the kids’ visas, buying a second-hand car was more expensive and took longer than we thought so we had to rent a car longer too. It’s hard to find a property to rent so you might have to pay a little more per month to get what’s right for your family, and as for buying, you don’t know until the end the amount of taxes you are going to pay so assume the worst. I’m pretty good at budgeting but there’s so many things to consider that I still missed the above.

Thank you for taking the time to chat with us about your family’s relocation journey. We hope you will keep us updated about your future adventures as you are settling into your new life in this beautiful corner of the world!

Told by the family themselves, in their own words, on this site since it was first published.

Learn how dreams can become reality by reading our interview with our client Caroline, who moved from the San Francisco Bay Area in California to O Rosal in Southern Galicia .

I was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. In my former life there, I was working in Biotech/Drug Development for an international Big Pharma organization where I enjoyed my work and my colleagues. In addition to my “paying” job, I’ve always been into volunteering in various capacities and recently had a 5-year docent-naturalist volunteer position within the California State Park system along the Santa Cruz coast.

California is full of many different landscapes and beautiful places to visit with mountains, sea, snow, and National Parks all very accessible. To be honest in my personal experience though, I have seen California go through a lot of change over the years. I started to feel it was becoming a bit suffocating dealing with intense traffic, the high cost of living, the crowds, and all the time I was spending in my car getting from point A to point B. Climate change has also affected California immensely. Wildfires, drought, an occasional very wet winter from the onslaught of atmospheric rivers barrelling in from offshore that could cause flooding; what had been more of a predictable seasonal pattern had changed dramatically. It left me a bit on edge especially as one of the biggest wildfires on record came within a couple of miles of my home in 2020. (Remember those apocalyptic orange skies you might have seen on the news?)

I have been visiting Spain regularly since 2016. Now that I’ve actually moved and am living here, my current day-to-day is still evolving. I’m getting used to the late sunset close to 10 p.m. as well as a more humid climate than California. Beyond that, I am regularly in awe of the stunning beauty, so many places to explore, and the vastness of Galicia. A typical day now, as I’m getting settled, involves meeting new people, excursions all around the area and to Portugal, reading, practicing Spanish, enjoying wonderful food and restaurants, never feeling rushed, no traffic to speak of, and acclimating to the culture and pace of Galicia. I’m in a constant state of “ descubrimiento ” and all 5 senses are satiated daily!

I have been visiting Spain since 2016 on Camino de Santiago walks – 3 times doing sections of the French Way, and I also trekked along the Costa da Morte on the far west coast of Galicia. From the first visit to Spain, I literally fell in love, so it’s been a journey in the making to relocate here for about 8 years.

I found myself thinking about Spain all the time and how I could move my life from California to Galicia. The motivation for me was that having worked all my life, I wanted my hard-earned nest egg to go further and I found that Spain and Galicia in particular could align with my budget so much better than in the expensive Bay Area. I also found that my values were not in sync as they once were with the culture of the U.S. The draining political climate is hard especially in election year cycles, and the ongoing gun violence problem hurt my heart and was so unsettling.

So once the seed had been planted back in 2016, I didn’t need much in the way of motivation. What I needed was a catalyst! And that catalyst came in the form of a global pandemic that emphasized the reality that life is truly so short and we need to follow our dreams. Then along came an offer of a package from my employer. The stars had aligned, and I knew I was on my way.

I must admit that I’d been charmed by a lot of other areas in Spain (and I haven’t even visited the South of Spain yet!). I love Madrid and Barcelona, the Costa Brava, and many cities along the north like Pamplona, Logrono, Leon, Burgos, Astorga, so many places with incredible nature, cathedrals, landmarks, and UNESCO World Heritage sights. And I was so fortunate to be with guides who brought the Camino and Spain to life for me with their extensive knowledge and historical context of the different areas we were walking through.

But with every Camino Walk culminating in Santiago de Compostella and its vibe, history, food, and energy, I thought it would be where I’d buy a home. During the pandemic I had started to research more about Galicia and home buying but unfortunately didn’t get too far with several international real estate agencies I was engaging with. It was really when I found Caroline Harris and her services that she shared so much pertinent information about Galicia and the lower estuaries of the Rias Baixas where I have settled down in O Rosal.

For me personally, since I’d been convinced, I wanted to leave the U.S. and live in Spain for such a long time and had visited multiple times, it felt less like a transition and more like a coming home. I almost felt like I’d been living in two worlds, my fast-paced California life and then focusing on trying to make a move to Spain happen and all that goes along with that. Many aspects and areas of Spain were already known to me. So, in an interesting way, I just kind of knew that this is where I’d be eventually.

The relocation itself had its challenges. It’s a never-ending to-do list and it can feel overwhelming when you’re in the middle of it. But it’s interesting, as you get through things one by one – consulate appointment, preparing your home to sell, all the visa paperwork and requirements, then they all kind of fade into the background and quickly become distant memories or great stories! Then it’s time to give yourself a pat on the back!

Now that I’m in my home there are a lot of things to get into place. My electric gate & remote need repair. There is a problem with a hornet nest. I need a T.V. and a clothes dryer. I need to get a Spanish phone number; I want to get some bookshelves built, and get my pool cleaned and filled. So, it’s one day at a time.

Caroline Harris and Galicia & Green Spain Property & Relocation were exactly what I needed. I can honestly say that working with Caroline is what helped make my relocation possible. I had been engaging with other international real estate agencies and just was not getting very far. But from that first interaction with Caroline when I discovered her website in late 2022 – it was a game changer.

I had just returned from Spain and another Camino trip and had taken a few extra days to look at homes. Unfortunately, none of them were what I was looking for. Either too much work to restore, not the area I was interested in, or price was a bit out of reach. I honestly went back to work feeling I was no closer to finding a home and was almost ready to take a break and re-evaluate.

But when I reached out to Caroline with a long email – even though she was on a brief holiday – she responded with a phone call very quickly. And in that 30-minute phone call, she shared so much helpful information! She educated me on why some of the areas I was thinking about may not be the best fit, whether they were a bit isolated, the weather was more extreme, or services not as readily available. She spoke a lot about southern Galicia and its wine growing region, moderate climate, quick access to Portugal, and about all the villages along the Rías Baixas. This one phone call convinced me to not give up – and I found myself within about a month returning to Spain to see some homes. I was so appreciative that she also shared other websites so I could explore more properties online.

It was late November, and I arrived in Vigo in the pouring rain! But Vigo had just began their incredible holiday decoration show that I could see from my hotel balcony every night. It felt so festive. Caroline picked me up and drove me inland and along the coast looking at homes and I just recall being amazed at the gorgeous coastline and the restless, beautiful power of the Atlantic. The home I purchased in O Rosal was the last home on our journey. I felt that inner voice saying “this is the one” but I had to get over the fear of actually buying a home in a foreign country. There was no pressure, only encouragement from Caroline to think about it and let her know if I wanted to make an offer. The rest is history.

Not only did Caroline help with the home search but she assisted in so many other critical details. She helped me set up a bank account, hire an attorney, get my NIE ( foreign identification number ) and so many other details.

I’m sure a lot of people at the real estate companies in Spain have the skills and the tools to get things done. However, for me relationships are key! Caroline and I were building that relationship from the beginning. I found she was consistent and trustworthy and always was available to me, even with the 9-hour time difference. She maintained professionalism and acted with integrity throughout every interaction and was clear with her communications. It was perfect to have a Spanish and English speaker available to me, I could never have navigated everything on my own. To me, it’s more about having that relationship component and not feeling like it’s just another transaction to somebody. She checked in with me regularly and answered every question. I also love that she has a sense of humour! When you’re going through something incredibly stressful, it helps to laugh now and then!

She was also there for the signing of the papers and other details to see the home sale through. Now that I’ve relocated, she continues to be available for questions or for a coffee. I can honestly say that she, her contacts, and her knowledge are sensational. The way she interacts with clients in my viewpoint, comes from a place of wanting to genuinely help people. I feel so fortunate that our paths crossed and will be forever grateful.

I enjoy very much being out in the community and surrounding areas. I love engaging with new people so really the only thing that’s stopping me from interacting more with the locals is the language barrier. I have several wonderful neighbours but our conversations are very short – about the weather, about how things are going…I want to get to know them and them to know me.

Every restaurant, shop, etc is an opportunity to interact more with the locals. I find Galician people to be helpful, maybe a bit reserved at first, a little curious, but they have been gracious. I like that in Spain people make eye contact with you. Some people might find this a bit unsettling, but I like it coming from a culture where people generally don’t make a lot of eye contact with strangers or look away.

I really enjoy seeing the locals in the area going about their day. The bread deliveries, the tractors on the roads (that sometimes pop out of nowhere!) and people working hard on their properties and in the community. It’s a nice buzz of activity always going on around me.

I would say that being in my home now in Galicia I find so much of the noise has dropped away. No more crazy traffic and all the things that felt smothering in California. Living in Galicia I just enjoy the pace, the incredible nature I’m surrounded with, and the time to really reflect on my life and this next evolving phase without the added weight of so much mental clutter weighing me down. Those quiet, peaceful times taking in my awesome view, going to the sea, taking a dip in the Atlantic, walking gorgeous paths in nature – it’s the mental balm I was craving and has allowed me to be more present.

Surprises – Yes of course there are some. Adapting to life in a new country is going to include some surprises. But embracing my new surroundings rather than wishing for something more familiar has helped me to settle. Galicia is starting to embrace me back!

Is there anything that you don’t like or find challenging about living in Galicia?

I feel there’s so much to like that any challenges or inconveniences are just part of the process. It’s all a part of making a big move like this and learning about the culture and rhythm of life in Galicia and assuming your new role in it.

But on another note, a couple of the challenges are:

It goes without saying that I miss my family, friends, volunteer work, and the familiar places I would spend time in all over the state. Really all of the Pacific Northwest is an awesome playground.

In a more pragmatic sense, what I really miss most is that I understood how things worked, how to get things done, systems. Living now in Spain is a dive into the deep end of the pool – and I find myself at a bit of a loss sometimes how to get simple things done, or where I need to go to take care of a particular task or issue. I understand a lot of Spanish words, but I don’t speak Spanish well enough yet so I’d venture to say some of the feelings of being lost are heavily related to the language. But as much of a challenge as the language has been, I intend to learn Spanish and I truly believe that will help me acclimate more easily. There will be mistakes, but that’s how you learn.

I think it’s a good thing to stretch yourself and get out of your comfort zone to keep growing and learning.

I knew a couple of people in the area already. I felt grateful that Caroline introduced me to a WhatsApp group where I have met other people who have moved to Spain from many different areas of the world. A wonderful group with so many great people sharing local knowledge, experience, and advice! I also have made some new acquaintances when out and about who are part of the local community. There have been get-togethers and lunches so I don’t feel lacking in meeting people. Everyone I’ve met has been super nice, all with their interesting stories & journeys and I’m sure this will just continue to expand as time goes on.

I think I have a small advantage in that my mother was a Spanish speaker, but unfortunately, we didn’t speak Spanish in our home growing up in California. So, I have an ear for the language and if I listen closely, I find I can pick out many words that I understand.

One of my top priorities is to study and learn Spanish, I think it’s absolutely critical to living in Spain. I’ve been looking into potential tutors or maybe even an immersion course where I just focus on Spanish for a week or two. No matter which route I take – it’s high on the list.

There are SOOO many details to attend to when relocating to a new country. I found myself in a very reactive state most of the time, checking things off lists and doing what needed to be done in the moment. If I were to do it over again maybe I’d give myself more time to research all that needed to be taken care of, even though I’d been planning this for years, when the clock started to sell my home, it was a frantic sprint to deal with all my personal belongings, preparing for the shipment of stuff to Spain etc. Don’t underestimate that you will have to touch every single thing in your house and garage and make a million decisions of what to do with it!

I do! Some of the tips are more practical, but several relate to mindset and outlook.

Practical tips: Start early! I have never moved to another country before and so the list of requirements and logistics felt overwhelming at times.

Plan how much time your Visa application will take and understand all the requirements. For example, I had never heard of a Hague Apostille certification until I learned I needed one, and had something rejected because it was not Apostilled. Also, much of your paperwork for your Visa will need to be translated into Spanish.

It’s a ton of work to decide what to do with all your “stuff”. I think this was a great exercise for me personally in the value of stuff (or lack thereof) and what I would pay to ship to Spain and what I would not. I gave away 95% of my furniture and much of what I owned. I sold my town home, my cars. I pared my pocessions down to books, artwork, important papers, photographs, clothes, outdoor gear, things I felt I didn’t want to or couldn’t easily replace here.

Patience: This process takes a lot of patience and when you are used to a fast-paced lifestyle like the one I had in California – practicing some humility and patience goes a long way.

Mindset and Outlook : I really had to take that leap of faith – and let go of fear. You can get hung up on all the what-ifs and start to feel a bit scared. But then I realized I was more afraid of regretting later in life that I didn’t follow what my heart was telling me, especially as a window of opportunity had cracked open. COVID really reinforced that life is bloody short and while it appears there’s plenty of time – there’s none to spare.

I also think trusting in the process and trust in general are key to bringing about the things you want in life. I had been visualizing for years what I wanted my life in Spain to look like, and I believe that our thoughts bring about our circumstances, both negative and positive. When you let go and trust you create that fertile ground where things grow.

A word about dreams : I’ve always loved a quote from the poet Maya Angelou that says, “I believe that the most important single thing, beyond discipline and creativity is daring to dare”.

I have said to people that this entire journey has felt like jumping out of an airplane which I actually did one time in California. This is my personal metaphor for moving your life to a new country.

No airplane should have an open door at 18,000 feet, and below your feet as you stand at the edge of the door – is just an open abyss. Then the thoughts of what if the parachute doesn’t open, what is the landing going to be like, what am I doing? Then you jump! That first 40 seconds or so traveling at terminal velocity (~120 miles per hour) are thrilling and terrifying at the same time. But once the parachute opens, it’s so quiet and you’re just floating down to earth again. The views are amazing and what an adrenaline rush!

And then just like now, my feet are firmly planted on the ground. In Galicia!

Dreams are never easy to follow, life throws in some obstacles and wrenches along the way. Your family and friends may not understand what you’re doing. But you need to cling tightly to your cheerleaders – the people who encourage, support, and believe in you. You’re leaving the comfort and familiarity of your life behind for something different. My advice if you’re thinking about relocating to Galicia is to follow your dreams and what’s in your heart. You might like it

Thank you for taking the time to chat with us about your relocation journey. We hope you will keep us updated about your future adventures as you are settling into your new life in this beautiful corner of the world!

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Told by the family themselves, in their own words, on this site since it was first published.

After eight wonderful years of retirement on Spain’s Costa Blanca, we found ourselves facing an unexpected challenge – the increasingly hot and humid summers. Despite our love for the Spanish sun (it’s why we chose Spain, after all!), we found ourselves spending most summer afternoons hiding in air-conditioned rooms, counting down to the cooler months.

We knew we needed a change, and Northern Spain – specifically Asturias – caught our attention. But having never visited the region, we felt lost trying to find the right location. That’s when we discovered Galicia & Green Spain Property & Relocation , and it changed everything.

Working with Donna as our relocation specialist opened up possibilities we hadn’t even considered. We had a clear wish list: a central coastal location, walking distance to bars and restaurants, and access to coastal hiking routes. Donna didn’t just listen – she delivered, presenting us with three carefully chosen coastal towns, complete with insights about tourism levels, microclimates, and (our favorite part!) the local food and drink scene .

When Donna suggested a property in Ribadesella’s historic centre, we knew we’d found our match. Having her expertise saved us countless hours of aimless searching and uncertainty . While our Spanish is passable for daily life, navigating property purchases and legal matters would have been overwhelming without G&G’s support.

From attending viewings as our interpreter to organizing surveys, handling contracts, and even negotiating a better price , Donna made the entire process seamless. She even arranged for power of attorney to handle our January completion while we’re away and helped us set up our local bank account.

For anyone considering a move to Northern Spain , we can’t recommend Galicia & Green Spain Property & Relocation enough. They turned what could have been a daunting relocation into an exciting new chapter of our lives. Our only regret? Not finding them sooner!

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Told by the family themselves, in their own words, on this site since it was first published.