Just emigrated? Five essential buys for life in Spain

Are you ready to tackle the daily delights of life in Spain?

Sling the sombrero, cast away the castanets and chuck the chorizo – if you really want to slip seamlessly into your new life in Spain, you’re going to have to do better than that. Here are five essential purchases you should make either before you board the plane to your new life in the sun, or as soon as you arrive…

1. Sunglasses

Nobody looks good squinting. Don’t believe me? Feel free to give it a go right now in front of a brightly lit mirror. See that face? That’s what sophisticated Spaniards are seeing every time you step outside without your sunglasses.

The Spanish – while proudly stylish – are also a practical people, and nothing screams ‘unprepared’ for the searing Spanish sun more than a naked-eyed new-native wandering around the blinding alleys of a whitewashed Costa del Sol pueblo with palm perched on brow as though proffering a sweaty-handed salute to the sun deity.

Not only do sunglasses look good (in both a sartorial sense, and in the way they allow your face to return to its normal, non-wrinkled self), but they also protect the eyes, which is particularly important in southern Spain, where solar radiation is far higher than anything experienced in northern Europe.

See also: Suntan lotion, loose-fitting cotton clothing

2. A good mop

You remember your mop from back home, stuffed away in the utility cupboard and given its annual airing whenever the neighbour’s dog would scamper uninvited into your kitchen? Well, get ready to spend a lot more time with your mop in Spain than you did before.

Because of the climate, Spanish homes are rarely – if ever – carpeted. And unlike northern European nations, which tend to prefer hardwood flooring that simply requires the occasional sweep and polish, properties in Spain usually boast a sparkling marble or tiled floor.

Which is great. Until that first indiscernible white wine spill. Such spillages can easily go unnoticed for a few days, but they soon start attracting dust, crumbs and young children until your dining room floor begins to look like a Blue Peter version of the moon’s surface – pockmarked with tiny, sticky craters. This doesn’t happen with carpets, of course, but once you see the amount of dust balls the average home in Spain has blowing around them, you’ll be glad that at least now they’re out in the open and easy to mop up, rather than lurking for years in a carpet that is browning faster than a sausage on a grill.

See also: An electric heater, an electric fan

3. Olive oil

The Spanish relationship with olive oil is kind of like the British relationship with tea. No, they don’t quite drink it, but it’s not far off. A staple at nearly every meal – from breakfast bruschetta to dinnertime drizzling – the gold stuff is treated with near reverence in Spain.

And for good reason. Olive oil exports are great for the Spanish economy. The health benefits of a diet rich in olive oil are well known, and the taste is almost universally divine. So whether you have aching bones, a squeaky door, overly dry bread or simply need a little dash of home comfort, olive oil is your friend for all occasions.

See also: British tea bags, daily bread (not pre-sliced)

4. Proper beach attire

Plonk a Brit on a British beach and they’ll do just fine so long as they have an ice cream to lick. The rest can be improvised – trousers and sleeves can be rolled up, t-shirts can be taken off and used as impromptu pillows, and the various rocks dotted about many beaches can either be used as seats or projectiles for a gentle spot of skimming. Easy.

In Spain, however, things get a little more serious. You need large (nope, larger) beach towels. A coolbox for your beer, wine, oversized bags of crisps, bread and – yep – olive oil. Preferably some fold away chairs. Maybe a wind breaker. Oh, and something to provide overhead shade. And perhaps two sets of shoes: one for walking on the hot sand, the other for exploring the shallow surf, which may turn rocky. Some sort of boogie board would be a good addition, too. Because you’re going to be here all day.

Got it? Good. Now all you need is a suitable beach bag to carry it all in, and a beach-ready body to make the whole charade look effortless.

See also: Bright swimwear, sunglasses, suntan lotion

5. Strange new crockery

Side plates, tapas dishes, olive bowls, tagines, sangría jugs, salad tongs: if you were living in the same neighbourhood as Jamie Oliver back in Blighty and felt you had to keep up with the Joneses, then you may have some of these items already. Good for you, you’ll need them.

If not, get yourself down to El Corte Inglés immediately if you harbour any notions at all of having Spanish friends round for dinner, like, ever. You can try getting away with serving Toad in the Hole on plates as big as manhole covers, but your guests will be far happier (and more impressed) if you can lay on a spread that doesn’t require endless “que es eso?” explanations.

A new diet isn’t just about the ingredients, after all. It is about the presentation and ambience. So if your new home has outdoor seating, for example, invest in decent patio furniture and a good barbecue. Solid wine glasses and replacement plastic drinking vessels (for when guests head to the pool) are also a fine shout.

See also: Good local wine, endless supply of ice and Coca-Cola