Thursday 27 December 2012

How to get to Badajoz

Travelling from the UK to and from Badajoz can be a challenge. Badajoz isn't exactly in the easiest to get to place. Located just next to the boarder with Portugal and in the most rural and isolated part of Spain limits transport options but there are still a few you can choose from.

Travelling by Plane


Although Badajoz does have it's own airport, flights aren't frequent (one or two a day at the peak of summer) and are only from one airline (helitt) from Spanish and sometimes Portuguese airports. The flights aren't the most expensive and are on a small plane frequently full of passengers.
These flights come from:

  • Barcelona, 
  • Madrid,
  • Melila
  • Malaga
  • Victoria (Portugal)  
So the only real options are to fly into Barcelona or Madrid.

Travelling by Bus


Travelling by bus opens up a couple of other options for Airports. Both Sevilla and Lisbon are very close (around 2 and a half hours away). This is the most common way that I travel to and from Badajoz as it is cheaper and takes you right to the centre of the city rather than the outskirts where the Airport is.


Other options?


Of course you can hire a car and drop it off at the local point in Elvas (over the border in portugal) or even cycle across the country but I would imagine most people will choose to fly or take the bus. Trains still aren't the most common method of transport here.

I hope that helps. Drop me a message if you have any more questions about travelling to Badajoz

Thursday 13 December 2012

my job

Ike the majority of British expats here in Badajoz I'm an English teacher with the small academy Badajoz English.

I've been teaching English for two years and a bit now originally in Ukraine but now out here in Badajoz, Spain.

I teach all sorts of ages and abilities from 3 year olds to 60 year olds who used to live in New York. I love the various groups as each has it's own challenge.
The difference between a group of teenagers and a one to one lesson can mean that everyday (and even within the day) is a different challenge.

Teaching English is a very common way for expats can work in another country or just earn extra cash in their retirement. I've even written a blog about how to start teaching English abroad.

People often think that Teaching English is an easy job and a great way to travel, and whilst it can certainly help people get around the world and experience a culture in a completely different way to just travelling through a country or place it isn't necessarily an easy ride. Earning enough to get by and have a little left in the bank is possible but many places require high working hours and extra duties not just in the contract. (then there's the conversion rate which can massively reduce any money earned abroad)

But despite this there are some nice features about being an English teacher abroad, getting to see different places, having time during the middle of the day to do whatever you want, the length of the holidays, meeting amazing new people all the time.

Yeah it's safe to say that I like my job here in Badajoz.

Sunday 9 December 2012

Introduction

Hi My name is Chris Wilson and I'm an English Man in Badajoz.

I moved here at the end of September 2012 to teach English as a foreign language in an academy here.

My aim of this blog is to provide some reviews, rants, pictures and generally bloggatry about what it is like living here in Badajoz so if you've never been to Badajoz or even Spain at all then you will still get an idea of what it is like living here.

Speaking of living here I have a small three bedroom flat about 5 minutes from the centre of Badajoz just of the main street. It wasn't that expensive and the rooms are comfortable. It also has a bathroom AND bonus toilet! A big plus.

However, it doesn't have any central heating which is very common amongst the flats that I looked at here in Badajoz. I didn't think it would be too bad as my image of Spain was a perpetual Summer (especially here on the way South, though not AndalucĂ­a by any means). Boy was I wrong. The winter here is actually fairly comparable with England, with temperatures dropping occasionally bellow zero. It IS warmer but not as significantly as it is during the summer.

Getting a heater for a flat is a big plus.

Oh yeah proper ovens are also pretty rare in flats here too. I saw one in all the flats that I looked at. I know my budgets wasn't the highest and if I had looked at houses to rent the situation would certainly have been different but it is a big annoying.

I have two housemates, Both of whom are Spanish and very nice. I'll tell you some more about them next time.