Lanzarote Relocation

Cathy has just recently celebrated her 1st anniversary of living in Lanzarote, and whilst she was waxing my eyebrows recently (which look fab by the way) she talked about some of her experiences. She has very kindly agreed to share her thoughts with you in here… so enjoy reading!

Name
Cathi Hart

Where did you move to Lanzarote from?
I’m originally from London but had been living in Edinburgh for 4 years prior to the move

When was this?
Exactly a year ago… October 2010

Where on the Island do you live now?
Playa Blanca

Did anyone move over with you?
My then partner, now fiancé, Andy

Why did you decide to move to Lanzarote?
I’d been holidaying here for about 10 years & had totally fallen in love with the idea of living here.  It just took a while to work out how!

How long after deciding to move, did you actually arrive?
After a false start 5 years ago (I stuck a pin in the map and moved to Edinburgh instead!) it was actually about 18 months of plotting and logistics before we did it.  Our first port of call was actually LZ Relocation…. and it really did offer invaluable advice! (Thanks Cathi – that’s what it’s there for! Elle xx)

Is there anything you miss from UK?
Actually not much!  Shopping mainly… it never occurred to me how spoilt we were in the UK.  I’d give anything now for a couple of hours in Boots!

How often do you return to UK?
I went back for a couple of days in June to see my Mum.  Seeing my Mum was great but I hated being back and couldn’t wait to leave!

What are the real benefits to you personally in having made the move?
It’s been a total lifestyle change.  I had a tough few years before we moved and being here has enabled me become a lot more positive and optimistic.  It really is an island full of opportunities.

What are the downsides if any, of having made the move?
None really.  The only thing I’d say that it really is a small island and the ex-pat community does have that ‘village’ culture.  There’s not much goes on here without people knowing about it!  That can also be a huge plus though… there are some amazing people on this island

Your friends in Lanzarote – what country are they from, predominantly?
Mainly British but not for want of trying!

Could you speak Spanish before you arrived?
Er, no.   I could order a bottle of wine but I don’t think that counts?

How is your Spanish now?
I’m actually pretty pleased with how far I’ve come in a year.  It’s constantly improving.  For the first 6 months I threw myself into everything.  I went to classes, the Intercambio groups and had private lessons.  Now I just have private lessons and accost as many Spanish people as I can along the way.  It is hard as most Spanish / Canarians speak excellent English, so finding people to practice with can be difficult.  I do get frustrated with Brits who’ve lived here for years but make no effort to learn.  There really is no excuse.

Is your lifestyle healthier, or less healthy, since moving to Lanzarote?
100% healthier!  In the 18months prior to moving I really let things slide.  Since we moved here I’ve dropped 2 stone and am so much fitter.  I do 4 spin classes a week and swim.  I have a lot more energy than I did.  Touch wood, I’m rarely ill now.  I’m sure a lot of it is down to the weather. Sunshine cures all! If there is a downside to all this though it’s the lure of cheap cigs and cheap vino…..

With hindsight, is there anything you would have done differently?
All the advice before we moved was to bring as little as possible with us and to buy new here.  Big mistake!  Furnishings and furniture are so expensive here and choice is very limited.  If we did it again I would ship everything and then decide what we wanted to keep!

Tell us about what you do for a living here?
I’m a beautician and run my own home salon and mobile service – Bliss.  I offer a full range of treatments, from manicures and pedicures, facials and tinting, to waxing and body scrubs.  I also work with a number of villa owners and management companies offering a bespoke in-villa service for visitors.

Will you stay living in Lanzarote?
Absolutely!  I can’t imagine wanting to be anywhere else right now.  Living the dream!

What is your website address where people can contact you
www.wix.com/lanzabeauty/bliss  or you can call me on 00 34 619 849 416

Many of you will have know about the accident that Allan Day was involved in around a month ago… and he has kindly allowed us an exclusive interview to see how he is feeling now, and how the future looks for him and his lovely wife, Elaine (Lainey). If you want to help, both Wax Bar & Legends Bar in Playa Blanca are collecting money to help the couple through this difficult time. You could also buy his CD from HERE. Happy reading…

On the 19th August, 2011, Allan Day was discharged from the hospital in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria and he flew home with his wife Elaine to Playa Blanca, Lanzarote where he was met by Cruz Roja (Spainish Red Cross) and whisked to Playa Blanca in their ambulance. On their arrival home Allan and Elaine were met by a hoard of local residents lining his driveway to welcome them back.

Allan knew he was in for a long haul of recovery and visits to the local doctors surgery and hospital in Arrecife.

One month on, Allan has been informed that his ribs are healing well and he still awaits a return visit to Las Palmas for a scan to confirm his fractured skull is healing well too.

Allan’s wrist was pinned during his treatment and this injury became infected so he was put on antibiotics for a week and the infected area healed.

Although they have experienced a few downfalls with medical procedures and service on the whole, Allan’s medical care has been excellent. Although Spanish is being learned, Playa Blanca’s Adam Morris helped them with communication on a number of hospital visits and many thanks goes out to him.

Right now Allan still waits at home eager to get fit and back to work. His pelvis appears to be healing well and he is just starting to put weight on his legs and in the process of beginning to walk again. His wrist plaster is to be removed in two weeks and physiotherapy will then be in order.

After the hospital recommended a private physiotherapist , to save money… Allan has been doing his own physiotherapy on his right hand which appears to be working well.

Elaine has taken on a nursing role at home and has been a major factor in Allan’s recovery. Elaine has also been working in her new job in WAX BAR.

The local community have pulled together and Wax Bar, Rooftops and Legends have been selling CD’s and taking donations from generous friends and holidaymakers which has helped with the worry of their finances.

Allan remains confident, as he has done from the start, that he will be back working as soon as he can and this will all be announced on Facebook which has been a major lifeline. Being at home alone and injured is hard but Facebook has kept him in touch with all his friends worldwide and has undoubtedly been of great help, keeping him positive and in very good humour.

Allan has a zest for life and is a happy character and will strive to get things back to normal as soon as he can. Depending on his condition he will hopefully soon be back singing his favourite songs round various hotels, pubs and at weddings and during the day he will be back gardening.

He feels he has been given a second chance and is looking forward to spending the rest of his life with Elaine who has been so supportive throughout and thanks all their friends and businesses on Lanzarote for being so generous and supportive including Paul, Nina and the team at La Bocaina, Ange, Dave and the team at MVP… Helen, Mark and the staff at  Wax Sports & Entertainment Bar… Rich and Kate and the staff at Rooftops Bar… Stuart, Hannah and the staff at Legends Bar… Roy at Electrobikes for providing a wheelchair, and Alan and myself from Gandy-Draper! Of course there have been so very many people who have been such a support to Allan and Elaine… and it would have taken him hours if not days to write everyone’s names (especially as he only has one working arm at the moment). You all know who you are… and he thanks you all from the bottom of his heart.

The recovery is not over yet by far, but has been made much easier by the ex pat community who have rallied round, pulled together and given so much hope. Allan and Elaine feel so humbled and personally overcome by so much love and support that people have given them.

Community spirit has prevailed.

After 5 years on the Island Allan and Elaine look forward to many, many more years in Playa Blanca. surrounded by friends who have, in many ways, made it so possible.

A note from Elle: Allan has insitsed that we also mention how handsome he is – so we have added this little gallery so you can indeed see that a picture paints a thousand words… and a gallery paints many many more!.

Carina is the smiling owner of Cafe Aroma, a favourite place of ours in Playa Blanca. Cafe Aroma does fabulous sandwiches, snacks, cakes and more… and is located in CC Papagayo (the Burger King complex) behind Playa Dorada. She is a regular stop-off for both Alan and myself. I love her hot chocolate – which I believe is the best in the resort.

Happy reading!

What is your name?
Carina Berens

Where are you from originally?
A small town near Cologne in Germany

And where are you now?
I live in Playa Blanca, in the south of Lanzarote

How did you get to Lanzarote?
I first went to Tipperary in Ireland, where I worked as an Office Manager for Ramada Hotels. Then I made the trip to this beautiful island of Lanzarote, and have been here ever since.

Why Lanzarote?
I came with a great friend of mine (Chrischi) who I have been close to for many years. She had suggested Lanzarote as she was already here working as part of an Animacion team in the hotels here.

When was this?
2005

What did you do when you first arrived?
I first worked in the German Cafe on the seafront in Playa Blanca.

What do you do now?
I took over Cafe Aroma in 2008, and we supply snacks, breakfasts, lunches, picnics etc for our customers.

Could you speak Spanish when you arrived?
No, not a word. I did however, obviously speak my Mother tongue of German, and was already fluent in English

And now?
I’m ok. I can converse. I understand most what I am listening to.

Your friends here – where are they from, predominantly?
They are mostly British and Irish, although I do have some German friends too.

Will you stay in Lanzarote?
I like to say that I am staying forever for now. I’m 28, and so still young. The world is my oyster… and I do not yet know where life will take me. I miss Chrischi, as she has moved to the UK now – but I have an abundance of really good friends here. Who knows what the future holds for me.

What, in hindsight, would you have done differently?
I would definitely have learned Spanish before I arrived. I would also have brought more money with me to settle in. You should always plan for tough times, then you have a nestegg to tide you over.

How can we learn more about Cafe Aroma?
I have had a page on Canary Nightlife since I took over the cafe. You can see me here: Cafe Aroma, Playa Blanca

Many of you will know that I have extremely long, blonde hair. It hasn’t always been this way. When I arrived on the island my hair was barely skimming my shoulders, and was in my natural brunette. However… the power of the sun, and the fact that I was going greyer than a greying thing in a greying competition… meant that it was killing my hair by dyeing the dark in so often. My hair was growing so fast – and I felt I was fighting a losing battle in keeping on top of it. I tried a number of hairdressers on the Island, and apart from one lady (Alice) in the early days who has since moved back to the UK… I felt that not one of those that I tried (make or female) really cared about my hair. To them it was a way of making a few euros… and not about the client themselves. This had me quite downhearted as you can imagine.

Mandy came to us a couple of years ago to have a website built… and it was whilst speaking with her, that I felt brave enough to let her loose on my hair. By this time, it was way past my shoulders, with as much grey as dark brown. Mandy suggested I try some highlights in it… to see how I felt. I let her do it (against my better judgement), but I have to say she was excellent. She took the time to listen to exactly what I wanted… but also made suggestions for styles and colours that I hadn’t considered. She really cared about what I wanted. I have been going back ever since… and can honestly say that I trust her implicitly with my flowing locks. Anyway – enough about me and my nonsense… you clicked on this link because you wanted to hear about Mandy, didn’t you?! Happy reading!

When did you move here?
2003

Where did you move from?
Yorkshire in the United Kingdom

Whereabouts on the Island are you?
I’ve lived in a couple of different areas, but recently I moved to Matagorda. We’re really happy there, and it’s great to be able to walk along the promenade with the dogs, looking at the sea.

Did you come alone? Or if not, then who was with you?
I came with my 3 daughters

Are your girls still with you?
The eldest and the youngest are, yes. The eldest works for Ryanair at Arrecife Airport, and the youngest is still in education at the moment. The middle daughter moved back to the UK and is working as a hairdresser. They all settled into Spanish life really well.

Why Lanzarote?
I ran a very successful hairdressing franchise in the UK, and then when I started a family – I worked mobile, and had a great group of loyal clients. However – I always dreamed of running a salon in the sunshine… and Lanzarote just seemed perfect! And of course Puerto Calero being a five star resort suited me and my dreams even better! I had headed over on a girlie holiday, for some rest and recuperation – and I just fell in love with the place. I’ve never looked back.

How are your Spanish language skills?
I speak Spanish well. I have Spanish friends, and this has helped me greatly

What is one of the best things about Lanzarote for you?
My friends – they have been a constant source of support for me – particualry when things have been hard for whatever reason.

What do you do for a living here?
I have my own business – which is a hairdressing and beauty salon in Puerto Calero.  It is called Mathparri. We also run training course through the salon, which is detailed on my website.

Speaking of websites? What is your website address, so that people can contact you?
www.mathparri.com

Fabio is one of those rays of sunshine in Playa Blanca – once met, you will never forget him. We first met Fabio in 2007 when he was the co-owner of “Made in Italy”. His attention to customer service when he looked after us for dinner that first time was exceptional – and we have since become good friends with him – and big fans of his pizzas!  Enjoy reading!

Where are you from, originally?
I am from Napoli in Italy originally, the home of Sophia Loren. I left there and went to Puerto Banus… where I started work washing up in a restaurant. I only did that job for two days though… because the bosses knew I was smart – so they put me straight away at the “front of house”. They then arranged to send me to Puerto Calero, and I worked there for a short time before moving to Chiswick in London (W4) in 2003. I did not speak any English when I arrived in London, but I learned very quickly, and it was in Chiswick that I opened my first restaurant.

Why Lanzarote?
When I had been in Lanzarote before… I had fallen in love with the Island. It is volcanic, like my Napoli – so I knew that I would be happy there. So in 2006 I moved over with my business partner and we settled in Playa Blanca. I just knew that it felt like home.

We opened “Made in Italy” – that was an extremely popular restaurant, with beautiful views across the water. Unfortunately, that business was not meant to be in its existing form – and so my business partner and I parted ways. I then opened “The Italian Job” which is doing very well. Many of the customers who knew Made in Italy now come to The Italian Job.

Could you speak Spanish when you moved to Lanzarote?
No – not a word. But I know that it is very important to get to know the local language. So I worked hard and now I am fluent in the language.

Your friends here, Fabio – where are they from predominantly?
My friends are mostly English. I love English people… from my days in Chiswick – I know what they want from a restaurant, and I work hard to make sure that they get it.

Who is here with you, Fabio?
I am a family man, and I live here with my girlfriend Sabrina, and our young son, Umberto.

Knowing what you know now… would you have done anything differently?
Not a thing – I never have regrets!

You can meet Fabio anytime at his restaurant, “The Italian Job”, in CC Papagayo Playa Blanca. It is our favourite Italian restaurant in the resort… and we recommend it very highly! If you would like to know more, then you can click here: The Italian Job restaurant, Playa Blanca, Lanzarote

Mike and Jules are two of the sweetest people we have met since moving to Lanzarote. They live up on the mountain in Playa Blanca with their dog (Dylan) and their two kittens (Freddie and Sammy). We try to catch up with them as often as possible… and so we are very happy to be able to share their experiences of life in Lanzarote with you. We struggled to keep Mike and Jules out of Le Moka for long enough to answer some questions for us. Just one example of how this generous and sweet couple have been was a year or so ago, they had visited us at our home and spotted that we were sitting on plastic chairs in the office. Just a few short days later, Mike turned up saying “we don’t need these… so you should have them”. What he had brought with him were two swivel office chairs from IKEA. Jules was horrified for our posture on the plastic chairs. We were so touched and thank our lucky stars that we have such wonderful friends. Happy reading!

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A few years back, Lanzarote was having its local elections… and as expat residents we were allowed a vote. Suddenly, Playa Blanca was covered in posters and banners, and there were cars blaring out messages… and we had door to door canvassers popping round to visit. One “gentleman” from the party that actually ended up winning, rocked up on his Segway. He strode to our gate and as soon as he heard our English accents, he turned on his heel muttering and with plenty of dismissive arm waving, and strode off to another house. Not a good first impression eh?

Conversely, we were visited the following day by a very attractive, very friendly Spanish lady. She immediately switched into speaking English, and went through the whole process with us… including explaining how we could actually vote. This lady made a big impression on Alan and myself, and we’ve never forgotten how helpful she was and how friendly. That lady was Yolanda Perdomo, and we are very grateful that she has taken the time to answer a couple of questions about her experiences of living in Lanzarote, with us. Enjoy reading!

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Sandy was one of the first people I got chatting to in Lanzarote forums when we were moving over. We did meet up, but most of our contact is restricted to Facebook and email these days – joys of a busy working life! Sandy has kindly answered a few questions about her life here in lanzarote… and here they are for you to read. Enjoy!

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