Out of Pod Experience

When it's about the crimes in Costa del Sol, i'm not worried as it's enough crimes here i lives to. So as a normal person in Costa del Sol, i believe you are all fine and have nothing to worry about.

There is crime everywhere.

It's there, it's just that you are not willing to look for it.

That said, "Terrorism in Spain" is pretty much laughable. ETA has surrendered long ago, and while there is animosity, it's quite civil.

As for protests, they only went wrong in Madrid. Pickpocketing happens in any "famous" capital that has a high tourist count, from Lisbon to Paris (last time I heard, Oslo is a bit too expensive and too cold to be considered a great tourist attraction).


In sum, crime happens yes. There are issues, yes, but you're blowing it far, far out of proportion. This isn't Bagdad or Cairo, ffs, it's just Iberia

LOL, we even have one person with Ebola here in Norway now, so i'm not afraid about that.

Ofc, that person is under fully control and isolated, so no danger of letting the Ebola virus to be spread out so far.

Meh, i will be fine. I actually believe that i will be much safer in Spain than i would ever be in USA for example.

But calling Spain for a criminal hell isn't true, because if it had been that, i would know all about it from the media. Not only that, but as alot of Scandinavians are down in Costa del Sol, i would absolutely know about the crimes if those crimes had been any serious by the Norwegian / Scandinavian newspapers.

And lastly, even this website says the crimes in Marbella is lower than Tromsø (where i lives now).

But the thing is that the bad guys in Tromsø can do the same to .

ITT : Europeans talking about "crime" ...

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Besides that, no Op, you are not crazy. Enjoy! I would love finding a job there or anywhere not in Africa/Middle East/Caucasus Region/Former CCCP countries. So Cheer up!

Spain is a very nice country, I have lots of Venezuelan friends there, compared to regular Third Wold Latinamerican crime, Spain at most you can get stabbed or perhaps mugged with some swollen joints and bruises, a gunshot or two and an occasional hate crime in the subway that ends in murder, but it is livable. Also the Golden Rules of the expat:

1) Know where you at all the time, stick to the "safe" zones

2) Get acquainted with local customs/taboos

3) Beware friendly strangers with "ideas" (for parties, meetings, etc)

4) Use local law lawyers of established firms over the "friend of a friend" when on legal matters of any import and/or involving
money (have EVERYTHING on paper with copies and notarized , trust me on this part, Notarized papers are your last and best resort, saved me more than once)

5) Never let anyone know how much money you earn/where you live/what you have, downplay your income and status to others

6) Never mix with a married woman or man romantically or sexually

7) Learn most crimes upon individuals usually happen either for money or passion, plan accordingly, don´t be a target

8) Enjoy life for what it is, take care of yourself, specially when the local government/laws and regulations favor citizens/nationals over you (and keep in mind things you took for granted in your country are non existent in the new one)

9) Always have a way for others (family, close friends) to know your whereabouts or current doings or people you are going out with (in my 5 years here in Panama for example, I have seen no less than 4 murder cases being solved for people taking pictures and posting them online for friends/family to see of the persons/entities they were dating or doing business with)

And I could probably go on and on, but the basics are there.

I have lived abroad in several countries for as little as 6 months and as long as 6 years, and I have been burned badly mostly due to inexperience and yet, I enjoy moving around. Nothing beats the experience of LIVING in a country instead of just passing through as a tourist. Once the honeymoon phase is over, you learn new things. Gives you a broader insight, can make you grow even, as a person and a human being.

My only tip out of the good advice some people have been giving you is LEARN BASIC SPANISH, it really helps a ton, when going into new countries and learning the language even if it just to have the most basics of "convos"

As a native Spanish Speaker I can tell you it is a very "Sexy" language too

If you like, once the deal goes through, keep us informed how is it going there for you, I love stories of people that travel and live in other countries, for me "cultural shock" is a huge fountain of fun and discussion when chatting with expats

Good luck man!

o/

Thanks for the posts so far .

Now, i have a question about peoples driving cars in Spain in general. I hear that someone says that peoples drives like crazy or idiots down there. Someone says that you have to be really careful to not step out on the roads if a car comes driving towards you as that can be dangerous.

Is there any truth to what they are saying?

Now to the Spanish tax rates again when it's about the income from the job you are working for. After what i have been reading here, i have understood that if i earn all from 0 to 17707 Euros each year, then i have to pay 24% tax on my income.

But as i will earn more than 17707 Euros each year in this job (yes, i can reveal that, but i wont say anything more about what i will earn each months or in a year), then i'll guess i will land under the 17707 to 33007 Euros each year rate where i have to pay 29.3% tax on my income.

Is that right?

pretty much kinda the same here in Portugal: if it's any like PSP and GNR over here, the Guardia Civil will be always on the lookout for any infraction caused by you, so that they can fine you, pretty much hunting for it.

in addition, from what I gather, in spain, if you park your car in a city that is flat (Madrid, for example), it is better for you to keep the car in neutral and with the handbrake disengaged. Spanish people like to park their cars in a quite.... "cozy" manner.

When it comes to transports in Fuengirola. How good is it there?

I believe i will be using busses quite alot there, so it would be nice to have some good bus transportation .

Anyone have any info on this?