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The subject of this forum is where to go when one is fed up with their country. My answer: Southern Spain. Great weather, sea, interesting, good tasting and healthy food, laid back culture, inexpensive, beautiful landscapes, modern infrastructure and development. The negatives to me: The government can exercise more control than I think is necessary (like the months where no one could leave their homes with only a few exceptions), people can be aholes more than anywhere I have ever been and the humidity can be high, unlike similar climates like coastal California or Chile.
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I agree with many of the pros. As for cons:<br />
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<li data-xf-list-type="ul">Never experienced people being assholes more than anywhere else. The only exception may be super touristy areas but that's similar in other places as well where natives are tired of ignorant tourists and/or expats.</li>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">Very high taxes and a very socialist government (and population, too).</li>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">Very hot summers that can make it difficult to enjoy many activities during the day.</li>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">A very unhealthy (from my perspective) lifestyle with people eating and staying up super late (dinners at 10-11 pm are normal). Also, because of their <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2013/11/30/244995264/spains-been-in-the-wrong-time-zone-for-seven-decades?t=1626894334029" target="_blank" class="link link--external" rel="noopener">wrong time zone,</a> sunrise is very late which, at least for me, an early riser, is terrible.</li>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">While winters are generally mild, houses are poorly insulated and most don't have central heating. If you're out in the sun it's fine but mornings and evenings can be incredibly cold. When indoors in the winter, colder countries with properly built houses and central heating are WAY, WAY more comfortable than southern Spain. In fact, some of the times when I felt the coldest in my life were all in Spain and/or Greece (another country with a similar problem).</li>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">A lot of traffic. Parking your car anywhere in the city center is close to impossible. It's also generally better to have a small car to be able to maneuver it more easily. Some towns in southern Spain have streets that are so narrow that even a compact car barely fits after folding the side mirrors.</li>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">You need to enjoy driving 30 km/h because these are the new regulations in cities.</li>
</ul>Also, not sure if right now as well, but last time I was there (November to December last year), Spanish people were some of the most "well-behaved" citizens as in they were OBSESSED about wearing masks. As far as I know, to this day many still wear them even though they're no longer mandatory outdoors. Southern Spain was a bit more lax in this aspect than northern Spain, though, but overall, the country was beaten into submission with their harsh lockdowns.</div>
