Spanish Lessons: How one family found their place in the sun: Beginning a New Life in Spain - Softcover

After a long career as a globe-trotting journalist, and stints living in the United States, Canada, Ireland and Gibraltar, writer Derek Lambert decides to settle with his wife and young son among the citrus groves of the Spanish countryside. A mouldering white casita near a quant village on 'Spain's Meditteranean Costa Blance becomes his new home. As he sets about restoring his house and learning to live the life of a Spanish villager, Lambert introduces us to a Spain far removed from the matadors, tapas bars and sangria swillers. He uncovers the real Spain- a nation of passionate eccentric, often contradicotry but always enchanting people. With warmth and affection lambert describes how he adapts to the personalities of his neighbours, survives Spain's first snowstorm in ages, battles a lemon-grove fire, clashes wills with a subborn-as-a-mule gardener, and bumbles through Spanish lessons with a mocking classmate who challanges him to a public arm-wresting contest. Unpredictable, often hilarious and animated by colourful characters, SPANISH LESSONS presents a delightful portrait of off-the-tourist-track Spain.

In the shrewd, comical spirit of Peter Mayle and Bill Bryson, Derek Lambert discovers the charms and idiosyncrasies of Spain as he experiences the rewards and frustrations of beginning a new life there.