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Retirement In Europe Can’t Be Beat
Kat Kalashian
Last year, I vacationed in Barcelona for the first time in about 15 years… and far from disappointing after the hiatus, this city is better than ever. I fell in love with Spain and Spanish culture all over again.
My husband and I are tossing around the idea of buying a place there eventually—they are affordable enough!
Or maybe taking a month or two to come and spend some winter weeks here while Paris is gray and cold…
The incredible food, the friendly people, the easygoing culture, the fact that Spanish is such an easy language to pick up…
Portugal—the world’s top retirement haven for years running—is home to Europe’s best beaches, 1,115 miles of coastline, and 300 days a year (3,300 hours) of sunny skies… but to think of this special place as merely a beach getaway is a mistake… The upside of all of this history is that you’ll never run out of ancient places to discover… The entire country is a cross between a national park, a museum, and a coastal resort—all with the constant, ever-present charm of the Old World.
Plus, this is one of the few countries in Europe where you can enjoy a round of golf.
You can indulge in any interest you could imagine here, from boating, diving, and hiking to regular nights out at the theater and museum and gallery afternoons.
The entire country is a cross between a national park, a museum, and a coastal resort—all with the constant, ever-present charm of the Old World.
France arguably offers the world’s most sought-after lifestyle. It’s the good life defined. The food, the wine, the art, the shopping, the history… This country boasts the most beautiful and romantic city on Earth, plus the best of country living and dramatic Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts. It’s a country steeped in culture, history, and that ineffable joie de vivre.
From Paris to the vine-covered countryside to the beaches on its multiple coastlines, the lifestyle options on offer here are many and varied, but all your choices mean Old-World living at its best.
If you’re looking for quintessential Old World lifestyle, Italy deserves your attention. The old towns are charming, and the countryside between is pleasant. Even excluding the big cities like Rome, there is enough here to keep your interest and to support a fully appointed life on the Continent. What’s more, life here can be much more affordable than back home.
The food and wine, the ancient ruins and espresso, the great weather and street markets, the beautiful walled cities and art museums, the green hills covered with sunflowers and cypress trees… Italy is nothing short of a classic. Florence, Rome, Venice… these cities are museums unto themselves and home to some of the world’s most distinguished works of art.
The wonderful Italian people themselves are reason enough to come to Italy—friendly and sociable are understatements. The streets are always crowded with people strolling (passeggiata) before dinner, after dinner, in winter, in summer. They stop for espresso, wine, gelato, outdoor music, or a street festival. People meet, chat, go out for dinner or drinks. There’s always something happening, and no one wants to stay at home. The locals are so warm and outgoing that it’s easy to make friends here.
An outdoorsman’s paradise, Italy’s natural endowments pack a punch for the country’s small size. Its diversity of geography and resulting climates mean the country can offer nearly every form of outdoor recreation you can think of. The mountains offer countless opportunities for climbing, trekking, skiing, and snowboarding. Thousands of small towns and villages cling to these slopes, settlements that have evolved over thousands of years of humans trekking their livestock through the region. Discover these mountains and all their secrets on foot, bike, horseback, or ski.
Whether on the Mediterranean Coast or the Adriatic, Italy offers just about any sea-related entertainment you can think of. The topography ranges from pebbled coves to dramatic cliffs to powdery sand, populated by lidos, restaurants, bathing and tanning areas… and just as many secluded, removed areas perfect for those who prefer some solitude.
And, of course, the food. Any mention of Italy would be incomplete without a mention of its delicious local wine and cuisine. Italian recipes are a cut above the rest of the world, but Italian recipes cooked by Italian chefs using fresh Italian ingredients simply cannot be beat. Paired with a glass of local wine (for just a few euros), you’ve got the perfect meal. No matter where in the country you settle, the food is extraordinary, and, for the most part, it’s also cheap, whether you’re in a supermarket or a restaurant. There are outdoor markets all over the place, and you’ll find many varieties of wine and cheese that you’ve never heard of and are hard to get outside the country. Italy also has strict food purity laws, so you won’t find as many artificial colorings or preservatives.
Outside the bigger cities and tourist centers, most Italians don’t speak English, so you’ll need to learn Italian moving here. If you’re up for that small challenge, then Italy offers a truly enviable lifestyle…
