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How To Retire Without Money
By Bob Belmont
CHAPTER 9 SPAIN
Page 2 of 19
When I first entered Spain I didn't know of this requirement
until I'd been living in my own house for nearly four months.
So one day I went around to the police and told them I wished
to register. They asked me why I had taken so long and I
shrugged and told them I didn't know there was such a
requirement. So they looked at me for a minute, as though they
didn't know what the hell to do, and then shrugged too and
listed my name and new address in their books.
If you are thinking in terms of retiring permanently in Spain,
or even living in the country for several years you might well
consider bringing with you a used refrigerator and/or a used
butane-gas type stove. These are ultra-expensive in Spain but
you are allowed to enter with used ones, tax free, if it is
for your own use and not for sale. Other household equipment
comes under the same regulations.
TRANSPORTATION. Spain is almost as easy and as economical to
reach as are England and France, but not quite. All of the
great airlines have services between New York and Madrid: TWA,
Pan American, BOA, KLM, SABENA and Swissair. At this writing
1st class is $3,500 one way, tourist class, $620.30.
In the past couple of years there has been a great increase in
the number of travelers who sail directly to Spain when coming
to Europe, rather than landing in England or France. In fact,
the facilities in Gibralter and Algeciras are currently being
strained to accommodate the visitors landing from Italian
Line, American Export Lines, Home Lines and a score of other
shipping lines ships. The Italian Line ships start at $400
tourist class, New York to Gibralter, in off season. American
Export, at $510. You can also get passage by liner or
freighter to Malaga, Barcelona, San-tander, Bilbao and Cadiz.
Transportation within the country has its grim side. There are
some swank trains, particularly those running to Madrid from
the French border, and the 2nd class diesel trains whose
tickets are premium priced aren't too bad, but as a rule
Spanish trains are not the best and schedules are poorly kept.
They are apt to be crowded in all but first class and except
for the special trains mentioned above, very dirty. The
government is currently spending a good deal of money
revamping the railroads but how long this will take is a
question. However, rates are very cheap and this is one
country in which we recommend that you travel first class,
particularly if you want a seat.
Roads are no better than railroads. There are a few passable
highways, once again mostly stemming from Madrid which is, of
course, centrally located and dominates Spain as Mexico City
does Mexico.
If you planned to buy a car in Spain upon arrival I strongly
advise against it. At this writing it would cost you from two
to three times as much to buy a car in Spain as it would in
the United States or one of the other European countries.
Taxes on cars are sky-high. Usually, Americans residing in
Spain buy their car in Gibralter, Tangier, France or England
and then drive it into Spain as a tourist. Under this
arrangement you are at present only allowed to have it for two
and a half years, then it must be taken from the country, and
you are not allowed to return with it for another six months.
Happily there are rumors, at this writing, of the law being
changed. I suggest that you check with the A.A.A. if this is
one of your problems.
>>> CHAPTER 9 SPAIN
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