Living in Europe, we sometimes forget how good we have it. That is, until our American friends visit and their jaws drop when we explain our “normal” benefits. No, we’re not trying to brag (okay, maybe a little), but in 2025, these differences are more striking than ever. From casual conversations with our visiting friends …

And why it has nothing to do with dirt, and everything to do with design, water, and cultural priorities Walk into an average bathroom in Spain whether it’s in a friend’s home, a café in Madrid, or a roadside rest stop and you might see something that instantly unsettles American visitors. It’s not the tile. …

You sit down at a restaurant in Spain, and before you have even ordered, a basket of bread appears on the table. You did not ask for it, but you eat a slice or two while you look at the menu, as anyone would, and think nothing of it, because where you come from bread …

You check into a hotel in Paris or Rome, hand over your card at the desk, and a little later that evening your phone buzzes with an alert: a chunk of money, sometimes a few hundred euros, has vanished from your available balance. You have not bought anything at all. You have not even paid …

Bifanas are one of Portugal’s most iconic street foods, featuring thin slices of pork marinated in garlic, white wine, and spices, then cooked until tender and served in a fresh crusty roll. This simple yet flavourful sandwich is deeply rooted in Portuguese culinary tradition, often enjoyed at local festivals, football matches, or as a quick …

Our guide on the most popular Whisky cocktails to try in the world. Whisky (or whiskey) is a versatile spirit that can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or as the base for many classic and modern cocktails. Whether you prefer the smoky, peaty flavors of Scotch, the smoothness of bourbon, or the robust character …

Like a lot of people, I wear a watch that quietly counts my steps all day, a number I have always mostly ignored. But on a recent trip to Europe I happened to glance at it one evening and did a genuine double take, because the figure was one I had genuinely never come close …

Buying groceries is such a basic, automatic task that you never think about how you do it, until you try to do it somewhere else. Step into a European supermarket for the first time and a series of small, unexpected obstacles appears between you and your dinner, from a shopping cart that simply will not …

Falafel is more than just a street food favorite it’s a cultural icon of Middle Eastern cuisine, beloved for its crispy exterior, fluffy interior, and bold flavors of herbs and spices. Whether stuffed in a pita, served on a platter, or eaten as a snack, falafel delivers a satisfying bite that’s both hearty and naturally …

A couple from a small Iowa town moved to Granada in September 2018 with $125,000 in combined retirement assets. They were 60 and 58. By American retirement planning standards, this asset level should not have supported a comfortable retirement. It has supported eight years of comfortable Spanish life and a sustainable trajectory into their seventies. …

The usual version of this kind of experiment runs the other way entirely. Someone moves to Spain, adopts the famously late local dinner hour, and reports how surprisingly well it suits them. I wanted to try the reverse. I already live in Spain, surrounded by people who sit down to dinner at nine or ten …

Somewhere around half past ten in the morning, all across Spain, something quietly but universally happens: work pauses, the bars fill up, and people sit down to eat again in earnest, only a few hours after their first breakfast. This is the almuerzo, Spain’s second breakfast, a genuine, sit-down mid-morning meal that has no real …