August is around the corner and Valencia is going quieter. Fewer events and plans, fewer friends around to gather with, and — especially — more visitors. The signs are clear: there’s only one thing to be done. Go to the beach, like all Spanish people do on a Sunday. But not all beaches are good…

I’m always divided when the conversation topic shifts towards how Spanish and foreign cultures clash. I have stakes on both sides of the argument: as a local, and as a host to international residents. I try to explain the histories, the causes, the players, and the woes of our values and traditions, breaking them down…

With kids, it’s always birthday season. Receiving that first invitation soon after arriving in Spain feels like a milestone — the little one is being included in the local social circle, and parents finally get a chance to properly meet those faces they’ve been nodding at during the morning and afternoon school run. What nobody…