The BIGGEST Lies About Spain People Keep Believing...

👉 Get your FREE 'Move to Spain' resources

Yoly and I dismantle 10 Spain myths that refuse to die!

==== MOVE TO SPAIN RESOURCES ====

==== TRAVEL TO SPAIN RESOURCES ====

==== JOIN EXCLUSIVE LIVE STREAMS ====

==== CONNECT WITH US ====

Editor – Clément Letourneur
Thumbnail designer – Lucas Kieffer

==== WHO ARE WE? ====
Hola, Spain lovers! We're James and Yoly. James is a New Zealander, and Yoly is from Spain. We both live in Madrid. Our channel gives you a local insight into life in Spain and helps you experience this country like a local when you come to live (or visit!).

If that sounds like your kind of thing, bienvenid@!I

[spainrevealed]

👉 Get my FREE 'Move to Spain' resources

[cradock]

As a resident of Malaga which is undergoing massive renovations I can confirm how hardworking Spanish builders/labourers are. It's amazing how they hard they work even in the hottest environment. Maybe a bit chaotic - but they get the work done.

[robertodelacamara]

Productivity has nothing to do with working long hours: it has a precise, technical definition which has to do with the "added value" of your work. In other words, a country that has many workers working in high value industries is going to rank much higher than a country that has a lot of workers working of low-value services. Engineers vs bar-tenders, in short.

[catherinemori]

My observation about Spain as a tourist is that Spain is a beautiful and efficient country.

[hckicker]

My wife and I have been watching your videos for a few years...and we travel to Spain almost yearly (we are here now for 2 months). You hit on some great points...and I'm super happy you talked about permanent living in Spain. I'm looking forward to reviewing your renter's and buyer's info as I'm ready to retire and come back to teach English for a year or two.

[padders]

Thanks James & Yoly for dispelling the "myths" and "stereotypes" about Spain. Sadly there are similar "myths" and "stereotypes" about every other country in the world, none of them based on fact but just on biased opinions! Much ❤ to you both, your families, friends and loved ones!

[bugsygoo]

I'm holidaying in Spain atm. The idea that the Spanish are lazy is mad. They all seem to come out after 6pm and go shopping and eating and socialising. Shops close at 10. At 9:30 tonight I walked past a subarban barber and it was full! The garbage is collected at night, apparently. I don't know how they do it.

[kennielsen]

I'm from USA and was an Aux de Conversacion for a school year. I wasn't supposed to speak Spanish, but that was impossible with the 1st-6th graders. Outside of the big 3 cities, and tourist spots, not much English. Religious? I agree with your assessment. Only time I went to mass was when my sister and her husband visited, and we traveled on the two weekends they were here. Sagrada FC worked well, as we got in without reservations/tickets and I hadn't been to the cathedral in Valencia for years. Income taxes work the same as in USA, plus if you move to Spain, I believe you don't have to pay income taxes (on US income) unless it's over $100, 000 as you have to pay taxes even if you're not living in the USA. Yep, I took a 30-minute siesta daily, after lunch, which is usually the only full meal one eats per day. Most businesses do shut down between 1-4, then they go back to work until 8. As I wasn't working 80 hours a week, I cooked (Covid in full swing), walked the coast and got skinny. Spain is awesome!

[AlfonsoSegundo]

My dear friends, the word "productivity" in the context means monetary value generated per hour or per year. Then It is right that this value is smaller than Holland or Denmark, because salaries in Spain are very low. To generate an income of 1, 000 € an average Spanish has to work 30 or 40% more time, although the number of produced units of the same product can be the same. Please don't misunderstand produced units with monetary value of the produced units.

[bkm]

What a fun yet educational vlog, James you and Yoli are so good at this, it just gets better and better. Also want to thank you, and wish you a Happy New Year!🎉🎆👍

[steveath]

When we first moved to the Canary Islands over 20 years ago, we used to order 1 meal each - but not for long. The cafes & bars are extremely generous with the portions but no doubt teenagers would manage, no problem!
Always great value!

[michaeldianewynne]

Siesta does happen in Spain as regards being in the building industry (especially in southern coastal areas) Builders where we live start at 8am. They then go for a break (10am to 11am) to eat. They then take a break between 2pm to 4/4.30pm (Siesta? + lunch) and then go back and work till 8pm. Why would they not? Far too hot to work outside in the sun when summer temperatures can reach into the high 30s Centigrade.

[mrmojo]

Great video as usual. You mentioned in passing that there are regional differences and I think that this could have been given more emphasis. HNY!

[nuriaferrer]

Well, don’t forget that nowadays, the population of Spain it’s not only Spaniards anymore. We have a lot of foreigners and they don’t eat like us.

[robertodelacamara]

The worst myth about Spain, imo, is that we do things late: wake up late, eat late, goto bed late. Well, this isn't true at all, we do everything more or less at the same time it's done in most countries. Solar time that is, because the problem Spain is in the wrong time zone. It has the same time as Polandf and Germany. This means when you are having your "late" lunch in Spain at 2pm in fact it's noon solar time and you are having yor lunch at the right time pf the day- My advice when you visit Spain is stop looking at your watch and pay more attention to sun linght, or, adjust your wtach to UK or Portugal tie while in Spain and you will see everything makes mores sense.

[RichD]

Love your content guys! Keep up the great work!

[isobelmatheson]

Legumes count towards daily fruit)veg intake. They are certainly very good for you. I see a lot of veg, middling amount of fish, and not much meat eaten where I live. I'm in the Axarquia, many people still have family campos and the produce is sold from garages or doorsteps. Maybe Spain is not one homogenous country and there's variations from place to place? There's a thought...

[zsoltdekany]

Thank you guys for this interesting video. I wish you a very happy new year.

[mizginavale]

As a Valenciana (resident), the paella myth really challenges me to keep my knowledge to myself so as to not come off snooty. Paella is not a national dish of Spain (even if it is served in various parts of the country) but a regional dish of Valencia. Therefore, I know what is an authentic paella and what others might prepare and stick the label of paella on it, when it's undeserved. Thank you so much for debunking this myth.

[philgriff]

Great channel guys. Having met a wonderful Asturian girl I'm currently planning a move next year. I confess the tax issue had me worried a little, but it's not so bad. Now to research the property market!!