2020 - Good Riddance - or a Sign of Times Ahead?

More climbing in 2021 - let's hope so

A year ago we saw the end of 2019 at Chez Arran, the same as we have done for quite a few years now, before heading down to the Costa Blanca to work on the new book. There were already rumblings about a virus in China that might be 'the big one' but no-one was ready for the tidal-wave that engulfed the planet. We made it back to the Ariege in mid-March before the shutters went down across Europe - it was a pretty pleasant place to spend 'the Great Confinement'. When we were finally let out 16 weeks later we continued our wanderings, climbing up through the Alps on our slow way back to the UK.

The winding road ahead

Then of course there was the other big issue on the horizon - Brexit. We have spent a fantastic 10+ years wandering through Europe at our leisure, from Spain to Norway to Greece and Turkey, popping back to the UK when required - and now that great adventure has to end - we are not best pleased about that.

After a lot of research/reading around we decided getting Spanish Residency might be the best way to sidestep the coming restrictions so we relocated to La Mata/Torrevieja in October to look into it in more detail. In the event, Spanish Residency doesn't really do what we wanted, it requires spending at least six months a year in Spain (no big chore tbh), paying tax on your 'Global Wealth' in Spain and changing your driving licence amongst other things. 

So back to square one? Well maybe not - we are now 'allowed' (cheers for that, Brexit voters) to be in the EU for 90 days out of every 180 days - but there are options - Turkey, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria and Cyprus aren't included in the restrictions - you are allowed 90 days in EACH of these without it affecting your EU entry/exit days - looks like there may be a plan forming there. 

Of course there is the small matter of the role out of the Covid-19 vaccine, but at least that has started, so maybe there really is a little light at the end of the long, dark tunnel?

It Was All Going So Well

Climbing at Ambol

Almost four weeks since I last blogged - everything seemed to be ticking along quite nicely back then, we had got a rental contract and the NIE - the number that lets us interact with the Spanish system. With them we submitted our Padron application to Torreveija Town Hall and since then - four weeks of deadly silence. We have everything else we need but without the Padron we can't begin to apply for the Residency - TIE. On a positive note, apparently if you are/were resident in Spain before 20 December you have until June to complete the process.

Callosa across the Salinas

We have talked to our solicitors who suggested we called in at the Town Hall which we did. That was fine in theory but a policeman on the door won't let you in without an appointment. Of course we had previously tried to get one - the phone lines are never picked up and the website says there are no appointments available. Eventually a passing stranger helped with some translation - it turns out if you have applied on line (we have) you will get notification in 'about a month' - so the wait goes on.

A deserted Calpe

We have continues to explore the local area - and know it pretty well by now, everywhere is pretty quiet which is just  how we like it. We have also had three very pleasant trips to Calpe, climbing and working on the next book. The highlight for me was the first curry in over a year, followed by two more - might risk a Vindaloo next time :-)