So, Torrevieja was about seeing what a real expat place would be like. I am already in one, but Torrevieja is even more like that, at least in my imagination: The Bognor Blanca. It didn’t disappoint.
I really didn’t like Torrevieja. I get it would be easy to live there as a Brit – everyone else there would be exactly like you – but it just felt a bit less classy than it could be (one night, one meal, might be being very unfair)
I went to the worst Irish Pub I’ve been to anywhere in the world, then went to a Spanish bar around the corner. Lovely staff and a beer. They brought gildas (a little kebab of olives, anchovies and pickled chillis with some crisps on the side). 1,60€!
Overall, I get why you would live in Torrevieja; it’s one thing to be able to get by in Spanish, or even speak it well, but it’s a different thing to make friends, understand and be able to join in with jokes, and all of the other stuff that makes people happy when they socialise. Living where there are lots of other people like you makes sense.
But it isn’t beautiful, it isn’t particularly well-connected, and all expat-heavy places are more expensive than the rest of Spain.