As a country, it is not an exaggeration to say that the number of appealing attributes Spain holds seems rather endless – from stunning scenery, to delicious tapas and endless cultural celebrations. For many of us, however, one of the biggest appeals of moving to Spain was likely to have been the climate. Certainly, in my case, I had just about had enough of the cold greyness of England, where I had been living for the last five years, and could not wait to move to Barcelona, where the winters are far milder, and the summers actually guarantee sunshine.
Despite this, it is unfortunately still pretty unavoidable that the post-Christmas winter months will bring some form of seasonal sadness, making it necessary to find ways to pass the time and fight these feelings. Hence, the inspiration behind this blog – just a little inspiration for fighting the winter blues.
Explore your city from another perspective
While the sun shines and the weather’s warm, the allure of the outdoors is pretty difficult to resist. But considering most Spanish cities’ charms don’t end with their beaches and parks, the cosy winter months could be the perfect time to explore our new homes in a different way. In Barcelona, for example, the chill in the air offers the perfect excuse to explore the inside of one of Gaudí’s iconic houses or spend a few hours strolling the galleries of the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (free every Saturday from 3 pm). As an added bonus, many attractions offer holiday discounts such as Casa Battló’s ‘Winter Night’ exhibit, which is not only a ‘must-see’ spectacle but makes for a far more affordable means of entry thanks to the 2×1 offer on residence tickets. Whatever the city, there are likely to be similar attractions available, making these colder months the perfect time to explore the area in a new light and provide a perfect means of passing the time.
Host a themed girls’ night
There’s nothing like a good girls’ night to distract you from any (arguably all) low moments, especially when you bring in a little childhood nostalgia and centre it on a fun theme. For January, a night of ‘Margaritas and Manifestations’ (or mocktails for those doing ‘dry Jan’) is a great way to kick off the new year in good spirits. Come February, the date of Valentine’s Day and National Pancake Day align almost too perfectly not to combine the two into a Galentine’s pancake evening for a night of sugary indulgence and celebrating friendships. If by March there is still a lingering chill in the air (although let’s hope not), a St. Patty’s themed celebration, such as charm-bracelet making, could be on the cards. The great thing about this is that there is no need to stop after the weather becomes more appealing; the tradition of a monthly gathering can easily be carried on into the warmer months, simply with more options available on where or how the hosting happens.
Find a new hobby
The fact that winter coincides with the new year in some ways makes it impossible to find an excuse not to pursue any of those resolutions to take up a new hobby that were made in good spirits on January 1st. Given the appeal to curl up on the couch is significantly higher during this period, why not use it as an opportunity to get cosy under a warm blanket and start working on whatever new hobby takes your fancy? In fact, this could even be combined with the idea above and turned into another excuse to gather the girls together – a win-win.
While my personal preference is definitely summer, the short period of time where we have the opportunity to be in Spain means the desire not to waste a single moment is high, and so finding ways to make the most of the experience in every season is (in my opinion) rather non-negotiable.
Author: Grace B.