FAQ’s

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FAQ’s -In no particular order!

Can I ask you some general / specific questions?

As of 1st April 2010 If you need further information….

My family and I are very content & settled living here so this site is really just a bit of a hobby for me where I share my enthusiasm for Girona, Costa Brava & Cataluyna.  In this way our experiences and contacts may help others who are interested in the area.  My site generates over 35,000 hits a month and, as you can imagine, this does create many emails with lots of questions for all sorts of different reasons. It has even led to some good friends!  However, with a young family and my work which takes up most of my time I can’t answer any enquiries (except for advertising) at the moment. Thank you for your interest in MyGironaspain. com.

How can I watch English TV, like BBC iPlayer ?

Other than having a Sky dish you can subscribe to a monthly service which let you watch all your favourite ITV, BBC and Channel 4 programmes via your PC, Click Here

Do you have more photos of Girona and the Costa Brava?
Yes, I’ve decided to post and host them on a different site. Click here to see a lot more, larger photos. If you want to use any please contact me via email, otherwise copyright rules apply.

Are there many English people in Girona?

Well, I would probably say no, not that many that I know about. We have met a few Brit’s whilst being here, who live in Girona itself, others live on or near the coast which I normally associate with retired people. If you want to get acquainted with some of them there is a weekly meeting in Girona of English speakers from many nationalities not only British. They meet for coffee every Wednesday between 11.a.m. and 1 pm at the La Farinera cafe, for more details look at their website  www.gironagrapevine.co.uk

Is it expensive to live in Girona?

When I compare what we used to spend on our utilities bills, Council Tax etc. in the UK we spend much less here and we don’t pay any Council Tax (but thats not to say there isn’t any). Also, we do live in a flat rather than a house which reduces your energy needs and don’t forget the climate is warmer! That said, it’s known as one of the top 3 most expensive places to live in Spain. Back in the old days when the Peseta was still around things were different. Locals moan that since it’s introduction prices have risen rapidly, even for basic everyday items.
My wife remarked on the fact that many foods you see in the supermarkets are probably at comparable UK prices these days, with the sole exception of wine and ciggies!
Update 09: Now that we’re at near parity with the £:€ things seem even more expensive. I know I get paid in euros but still!

When’s the best time to visit Girona?

Girona is a good all year round destination and even at the height of summer it doesn’t feel that packed. If you like festivals then Girona’s own Festival St. Narcis which runs for several days is certainly worth seeing, at the end of October (see our Girona Festivals page).

How easy is it to find work in Girona?

If you don’t speak Spanish to a near fluent level then I’m afraid you are going to be in competition with the migrant Spanish workers from South America who obviously do speak Spanish, and will make it harder for you to find something. If you are a native English speaker or of another nationality and speak English fluently then teaching English would be my advice. There are quite a few English schools in Girona so a direct approach could result in getting some work.

Update, Jan. 2009. The current worldwide economic crisis is also biting here as we begin to see more local factories, shops and offices closing. Seems the jobless figure is already at 3 million and set to rise further. This region of Spain however, has a slightly lower than the national average % unemployment rate. (If you’re looking to live & work in Girona and would like to teach young primary school kids-send me an email to TeachinSpain@yahoo.co.uk).

What’s Winter in Girona like?

After enduring many, many an English winter I have to say that the last two I’ve lived through here in Girona have been the mildest yet! January can start cold and frosty but by mid-day have highs of almost 20 degrees. February seems to be the coldest month. In general, you just don’t get those endless, grey, dull and overcast days like I remember in the U.K.

And the weather in general?

Well, I’ve noticed that even though it’s hot and very sunny with temperatures running into the low 30′s, in does still rain in August and when it rains it really buckets-down. I’ve seen the roads flood from the amount of rain that falls so quickly that the drains can’t cope. Traffic comes to a stand-still as many traffic lights stop working and cars get stuck in flooded roads. But, overall I really like the climate.
When you do experience a spell of bad weather it never seems to last for more than a few days and then the sunny spells return! At the time of writing this in March, it’s been mostly sunny with temperatures at an average of 20 C. (versus yuk! in the UK )

Is renting property in Girona expensive?

It’s probably cheaper than the UK when you compare like for like. Expect to pay around 500-550€/mth. for a 1-bed flat, though I’ve also seen some at 450€. Sharing is even cheaper and a bed-sit would be about 250-300€/mth. plus bills. As with most cities location does play a part in monthly rentals and most people live in flats. If you’re after say, a 2 bedroom flat with parking and in a good location, expect to pay between 600-700€ and between 800-900€ for a 3 bedroom place. The only problem with renting if you’re new in town is showing the agent sufficient proof that you can pay the rent. Some agents ask to see proof of your last 3 salary payments. Offering to pay a bigger deposit or six to twelve months rent in advance could convince them.

Update Dec.2008. With the dramatic slowdown in the housing market there seems to a be a bit more rental property on offer. Monthly rents are looking a bit more realistic, possibly falling slightly, and I’ve met people who have managed to reduce their rents by bluffing about leaving for a cheaper place and finding the agent/owner agreeing a lower rent, just to keep a tenant. Update May 2011. Prices are much keener and you can certainly take your pick of places.

What areas should I avoid?

Without going into too much detail try not to live in any of these areas: Salt and Font de Polvra.

Is Girona safe to walk around at night?

Yes, generally speaking in contrast with somewhere like Barcelona which it has to be said has a significantly much larger population. I’ve heard of a few, rare instances of opportunistic bag-snatching and muggings in the old town, often very late at night and directed at lone women, and distraction crimes within the station, directed particularly at tourists. It’s easy to relax when on holiday and let your guard down a bit. Overall I think it’s a safe place and have never encountered any fights or rowdy behaviour ( I must be going to the wrong places!)

Is Catalan difficult to learn?

They say that if you speak languages like French, Italian or Romanian it makes understanding Catalan easier. Find a good teacher of attend a language school. Or, find someone who wants to do ‘inter-Canvi’, which is free language exchange with a person who wants to improve his/her English language and will teach you some Catalan in return, and doesn’t involve having to spend any money on courses, books etc. The website www.loquo.com (Girona option) has a ‘language exchange’ section where you can place a free ad.

Where can I buy English/British food in Girona?

The best place is the El Corte Ingles supermarket on the bottom floor of the Hipercor/Girocenter building (C. Barcelona) which has ‘International food’ items like curry sauces and well known branded products which are not particularly cheap! Coastal tourist resorts may also stock English food and I’ve been told that the Carrefour supermarket in Playa d’Aro has English food but only during the summer months. Lloret de Mar has a small English-run shop selling just U.K foodstuffs.

Where can I buy an English newspaper in Girona?

There’s a newsagents shop inside the train station, in the corner, left of the ticket desks where they have a paper stand with some English papers. Also, the kiosk in Pl. Independencia.

Where’s the best place to learn Spanish or Catalan?

There are many language schools in Girona that run course for foreigners, though your best bet when you get here may be to attend the official language school (Escola Oficial d’Idiomes). Courses here tend to run from September to June on a daily basis although they often run short or intensive monthly courses.
Here’s a very useful site I found for help in learning Spanish:
Learn Spanish with SpanishPod.com
Learn Spanish with free lessons, vibrant community, web review, vocab study & more.

Do the schools in Girona teach only in Catalan, Spanish or both?

State schools teach in Catalan and kids have Spanish classes as part of their timetable which varies from school to school. It may only be 3-4 classes each week but the emphasis is still on kids learning Catalan. On a personal note, in the state school where I teach the kids seem to talk to each other mostly in Spanish (particularly in the playground!), so they will pick it up in the playground and from watching TV also.

Do you know any estate agents in Girona?

I’m know one reputable agent based in the centre of Girona which is part of a much larger international real estate franchise, so if your’e looking to buy or sell property in this region please contact me via email at TeachinSpain@yahoo.co.uk

Do you know any good property rental / letting agents in Girona?

Yes, I know a couple, one of which we rent our own property through and they have an English speaking Catalan lady who works there. Email me for their contact details.

Best places to buy property in Girona?

I guess this depends a lot on what you need, can afford and so many other variables but these are some of the places good for houses rather than flats and considered posh or exclusive by locals.
Golf Girona. Just five minutes by car from the centre of town and near a golf course. Palau is an expensive part of Girona. Both Palau and Golf Girona have mainly houses, for apartments try Devesa, Quimics, Montjuic, Migdia and Montlivi.
For older properties with maybe a bit more character choose the old town area.

What about outside of Girona, any nice places to live in that you recommend?
One or two come to mind, like Sant Gregori and the Vall de Sant Daniel, both which are just a few kms. from Girona. Just on the outskirts of Girona there’s also Fornells de la Selva which is quite nice and has had a lot of new developments. About 20 minutes away there’s also these two places which we thought looked OK, Caldes de Malavella and Macanet de la Selva.

Any public loos in town?
Ah, yes they’re not really big on public loos anywhere in Spain it seems, and Girona is no exception. There are some just by the former main tourist office in the old town La Rambla, in Devesa park and in the Placa Independencia. Get caught short? just try walking into the nearest cafe or bar which is taken as the norm, although I have seen signs in the windows of some bars saying that you must be a paying customer to use the toilets (serveis / lavabo).

What about the medical services?
I’ll cover this big subject in more detail within the ‘Living Here’ pages when time permits but my own experience and that of my wife’s have been positive. We both work here and pay into the social security system so don’t have any private medical cover.