Spain To Go

In a few days I'll be 43 years old, and I had a bit of a disorienting experience the other day as I realized exactly how much time has passed. Here are a few thoughts on middle age and living the good life. More online: https://expatmadrid.com/middle-aged-wisdom/ Donate to the podcast here, anything helps. Thanks: https://expatmadrid.com/donate/ Also, check out Devour Tours for food tours in vario...

A bit of a roundup of Spanish news stories from recent weeks. First up, a German pastor in Costa del Sol gets a big surprise about his family history. Then, the lost (and found) Picasso painting in Madrid. And finally, Carlos Mazón who was (probably) the most hated man in Spain, finally resigns as president of the Valencian Community... sort of. More on the web: https://expatmadrid.com/himmler-pic...

I've gotten a lot of interesting questions and feedback from listeners and readers in the last few weeks. Here's a new format, then, where I answer everything together – let's call it Mr Chorizo's Mailbag. Donate to the cause at https://expatmadrid.com/donate/ More on the web https://expatmadrid.com/mr-chorizos-mailbag/ Thanks to everyone for listening, reading, donating and commen...

Well, it finally happened! I'm now officially a passport-carrying Spaniard, whatever that means. In this episode I contemplate the concept of "home" and what being a Spanish citizen is really about. More on the web: https://expatmadrid.com/becoming-spanish-citizen/ Check out my supporters Devour Tours at https://expatmadrid.com/devour/ for food tours in Spain (Barcelona, Madrid, San...

The recent Vuelta a España bicycle race ended in chaos as anti-Israel protestors made several stages impossible. Turns out, the government is on their side, and now wants a broader boycott of Israel and Israeli products... Will Spain leave Eurovision over the participation of Israeli artists? Will the national team skip the 2026 World Cup? It looks like every option is on the table. Donate to the...

I had a bit of a run-in with Spanish police the other day. It was pretty stupid, but at least I got some content out of it. So today's episode is about your rights in Spain (as a resident, tourist, or whatever) when dealing with Spanish law enforcement. Know your rights in a police stop and if you've been arrested. As usual, talk to a lawyer if you have doubts! Here's the article: http...

Hey hey! I've got a bit of an update on my Spanish nationality process, as well as some new data about Spanish demographics. Turns out the population is booming due to immigration. More on the web: https://expatmadrid.com/population-explosion/ Support the podcast at https://expatmadrid.com/donate/ Or sign up for a walking tour in Madrid, Barcelona, etc with Walks Tours using my affiliate link:...

What is a belief? And to what extent are our beliefs just a performance for an online (or offline) audience? Sponsored content, TikTok politicians, Elon Musk, nepo babies and much more in this new episode. I've got all the irreverent musings you expect from Mr Chorizo... Support the podcast here: https://expatmadrid.com/donate/ Check out the full article here: https://expatmadrid.com/identity-...

In today's episode, we've got political corruption, prostitution, and the (poorly-named) rise of the far right. Yes, things are changing here in Spain, and people are mad. Far right groups were causing all kinds of havoc down in Torre Pacheco, Murcia over the weekend, after three Moroccans beat up a Spanish grandfather – allegedly for TikTok content. All in all, it's a bad time to be a Spanish vot...

Lauren Aloise started leading food tours in Madrid during the Great Recession, and had soon turned Devour Tours into a thriving business. Learn how Lauren went from recipe blogger to travel entrepreneur, her favorite regional Spanish foods, what she thinks about the future of Spanish tourism (and the risk posed by anti-tourism protests) and more. Book a food tour in Madrid, Barcelona or elsewhere...

Immigration is a hot topic, and I've been an immigrant myself for more than 20 years. My wife Morena is also an immigrant, from a wildly different background. What is immigration? With 250 million migrants in the world, nobody is really "typical". Here's my story, and a few thoughts... Donate to the cause here at https://expatmadrid.com/donate – I appreciate it! Check out my friends over at https:...

It's been a while since I've done "a day in the life", but the news this week sucks and I don't feel like making top 10 lists. So here's a few things going on in Barcelona, from your favorite gym bro / spiritual seeker / history nerd. Donate to the podcast here: https://expatmadrid.com/donate/ You can also support the project by signing up for tours (in Spain or elsewhere) with one of the followin...

Who are some famous Spanish people? Here you'll find some information about Spanish actors, athletes, musicians, and much more. Donate to the cause at https://expatmadrid.com/donate/ Sign up for a food tour in Madrid, Barcelona, San Sebastián or Sevilla at https://expatmadrid.com/devour/ Or a walking tour in Spain, Italy, or elsewhere at https://expatmadrid.com/walks/ And don't forget bike...

Do Spaniards hate expats? Are they tired of Americans? It's a bit complicated. US-Spanish relations didn't start yesterday, and expats (whoever they are) have been moving to Spain since at least the 70s. Here's my take on the expat vs immigrant debate, as well as anti-American (and anti-expat) sentiment in Spain. Donate here: https://expatmadrid.com/donate/

An update with a few random thoughts about things going on in Barcelona and Spain. First, a bit of petty crime in my life. Then the official update about the causes of the massive Spanish blackout from two weeks ago. Finally, another anti-tourism protest with squirt guns... ¡Vaya! Support this podcast right here: https://expatmadrid.com/donate/

In this episode I explain several aspects of the housing crisis here in Spain. It's a big issue, with multiple factors like rising rent prices, absurd housing laws, okupas, youth unemployment and more. Also, I talk about some possible solutions, and the national blame game about who's ultimately responsible. More on the web here: https://expatmadrid.com/housing-crisis/ Donate to the cause...

The big scandal in Spain last week involved the government trying to cancel a contract for 15 million bullets it ordered from Israel. Are your bullets ethically sourced? More on the web: https://expatmadrid.com/fifteen-million-bullets/ Donate to the cause here: https://expatmadrid.com/donate/

Here are some of my favorite books about Spain. My tastes are a bit less mainstream, so you've got some books here that aren't on the typical list. Check out the links on https://expatmadrid.com/best-books-spain/ Donate to the cause at https://expatmadrid.com/donate/

These days, a lot of people move abroad because of the glamour. It sure does look fun on Instagram! But there's a reality to living in Spain or elsewhere that you should know about before moving. Is Spain overrated? Find out in today's episode. Donate to the cause here: https://expatmadrid.com/donate/ More on the web https://expatmadrid.com/ Learn Spanish with Daniel on YouTube: https://yo...

I talked to Natasha Kennedy, an entrepreneur who's started an educational empire in Madrid, about integrating into Spanish society and much more. Natasha is the founder of the TT Madrid TEFL school as well as the BLC Spain satellite university teaching business skills and Spanish language fluency. More from her at https://theblcgroup.com/ Donate to the cause here at https://expatmadrid.com/donate/

Is Daylight Saving a fascist plot to steal our sunshine? Maybe. Here in Spain we've been in the wrong time zone since World War II, but there may be an end in sight. More about Franco and Spanish time fascism on the web: https://expatmadrid.com/spains-daylight-saving/ Donate to the cause here at https://expatmadrid.com/donate/ Thanks for listening, and happy spring!

A few thoughts on Spanish customer service, local shops, gentrification, living in Spain with only one last name and much more. Check out the article on the web: https://expatmadrid.com/customer-service-spain/ Donate to the cause here at https://expatmadrid.com/donate/

I recently had a really nice foodie experience here in Barcelona, at a place called Table by Ona. You can check them out at https://ona.restaurant But I'm not a foodie, really, or even someone who wants to write restaurant reviews. So here's what I think about food, and luxury, and farm-to-table, and hipsterism in general. Donate to the cause here at https://expatmadrid.com/donate/

Recently, there have been a few "sex scandals" involving Spanish politicians. First, there's the Minister and the Escort (a real-life Pretty Woman story?), then there's the allegations against Podemos founders Íñigo Errejón and Juan Carlos Monedero. None of it sounds good for the feminist-leaning coalition government. The other day was Women's Day here in Spain (and internationally) and I wanted t...

In 2023, after almost 19 years living in Spain, I applied for Spanish nationality. Today, I finally have an answer from the government. Here's some info (and personal experiences) about applying for Spanish nationality in 2025. What you need to do, papers to get to gather, and my personal story with Spanish nationality. More on the blog: https://expatmadrid.com/getting-spanish-nationality/ Che...