Living in Andalucia

For those of you who have spent time in Spain you'll be familiar with the "manaña" mentality.

Manaña means tomorrow, and Andalucia is the capital of mañana mentality, which actually turns out to be "semana" (week) mentality at various times of the year, like for example Semana Santa (Easter Week). So from maybe waiting an extra day to get something done at Easter and other fiesta times here in Andalucia it can then be delayed from 1 to 2 weeks, or even more.

Having said this I love living here for lots of reasons.

Mañana mentality is dualistic, in so far as it is part of what makes the atmosphere so laid back and pleasant, but can really heighten your blood pressure when you need to get something done.

When I first moved to Andalucia a few years ago from Catalonia (which is north Spain including Barcelona & Tarragona), it didn't take me long to notice that life was extra slow here.

If you speak or understand any Spanish you can actually notice this through the way the Andalucians speak!

They are a bit too relaxed to bother saying the complete word. This wouldn't be too bad if it were just the odd word once in a while that this applied to, but no, I can tell you....it's a lot of what they say.

So you may have some level of Spanish but believe me in Andalucia they cut up the words.

For example the word for "nothing" which actually is used a lot in the context of "de nada" literally translated means "for nothing" but is really "you're welcome."

The Andalucians say "na" instead of "nada." They swallow the "da." I wonder if this is good for their health?

But regardless of all of the mañana and semana mentality it's a great place to live. In some ways it is like an Irish country village in the 1970's.

People are friendly, if you are eating a meal in a restaurant a perfect stranger will say to you "Buen proveche" - "have a good meal."

Spain and Andalucia even more is very family orientated, so if you are travelling with children they will be doted on.

The life here revolves from one "fiesta" to another one. If you had the time you could travel from one to another, have a great time and get some free food and drink.

Actually the organising of the fiestas are the only thing that I know about where the mañana mentality does not apply.

The infrastructure on the streets and plazas (town squares) for the fiestas is often in place weeks before the fiesta is due to start.

Surrounded by sun, sea, sangria.......Andalucia has a vast share of beauty to enjoy.