When I first saw the Rock of Gibraltar, it was the afternoon of our very first day in Spain, and that moment, although quiet and almost accidental, stayed with me much longer than I expected.

The apartment we had rented for a week was meant to be a temporary landing place, a peaceful pause after an intense year of planning, followed by several especially demanding weeks of packing and moving overseas from the United States to Spain. It was the kind of space where you finally allow yourself to exhale, to sit with the reality of what just happened, and to slowly begin absorbing a completely new environment.

What neither of us expected was the view.

From the terrace, almost unexpectedly and without any prior mention in the listing, the Rock of Gibraltar appeared in the distance, as if it had always been there waiting, quietly included but never announced. I was immediately mesmerized. There was something about its shape: rising, defined, almost sculptural that drew my attention in a way that felt both instinctive and impossible to ignore. It simply held my attention for a moment where I felt almost indifferent to everything else around me, as if the usual flow of thoughts had briefly stepped aside.

“How do you eat this? What is this product? Is it good?”

These are the types of questions I find myself asking, sometimes out loud, sometimes through Google, every time I go grocery shopping in Spain. And while it may seem like a small, almost trivial detail, it actually represents something much bigger: the everyday reality of relocation and the process of learning how to settle in abroad.

Thanks to technology, overcoming culture shock, at least when it comes to understanding food and daily essentials, has become easier. But even with all the tools available, the experience itself still requires time, patience, and a willingness to feel unfamiliar.

During the first several months after starting over in a new country, there were moments when I would stand in the middle of the aisle in the grocery stores just a little longer than usual, holding a product in my hands, trying to understand what it was and would it feel familiar, or would become part of my routine.

Trial and error becomes part of the process.

Choosing what will become your favorite food, what fits your routine, what feels comforting, it all takes longer than you expect, and that’s part of adapting to expat life.

The first time I walked into a grocery store in Spain wasn’t during my solo trip back in 2013, it happened years later, after we moved to Marbella from the last year.

It was late in the evening, right after a long overseas flight. Tired but needing a few basic groceries, we headed to the closest store, one whose name I still remembered from my earlier travels in Spain: Mercadona.

I wasn’t expecting anything special. But within minutes, we found ourselves standing in front of a seafood counter I couldn’t stop staring at, surrounded by an incredible variety of products and wondering how everything could look so fresh and still be so affordable.

That small, ordinary moment turned into my first real glimpse into everyday life in Spain and it stayed with me.

If you’re planning a move to Spain or simply curious about what shopping in a grocery store in Spain actually looks like, this guide will give you a closer look. Based on my personal experience living in Marbella, I’ll walk you through the main grocery stores, what surprised me the most, and what the cost of life in Spain looks like when it comes to food.

When my husband and I first started planning our move to the Costa del Sol, Marbella was not actually our first choice. Initially, we focused our rental search on Estepona, attracted by its charming old town and slightly quieter atmosphere. But after weeks of searching, we simply couldn’t find a rental that matched both our preferences and our budget.

So we expanded the search area, and that’s when Marbella unexpectedly opened many more possibilities.

From the very first time we started browsing rental listings in Marbella, we noticed something interesting: there were simply more options available. Marbella offers a wide range of housing, from luxury apartments near Puerto Banús to more relaxed residential Urbanzaciones that feel calm and local.

At the beginning, however, everything felt confusing. When you’re looking at a map from afar, many neighbourhoods seem scattered across the coast and the mountains, and it’s difficult to understand what daily life there would actually feel like.

Now that we live here, things are much clearer. We’ve had time to explore different areas, drive through neighbourhoods, and observe which ones feel lively, peaceful, luxurious, or family-oriented.

Based on that experience, I wanted to share an overview of some of the best neighbourhoods to live in Marbella. In Spain, these residential areas are often called urbanizaciones, which are essentially communities or residential complexes with shared amenities.

If you are visiting Marbella only for a single day, you might easily skip Museo del Grabado while rushing between the beach, restaurants, and the charming streets of the old town. But if you are planning a longer stay on the Costa del Sol, I would definitely recommend adding this museum to your itinerary.

A visit fits especially well into a slow morning. After enjoying a traditional Spanish desayuno — perhaps toasted bread with tomatoes and olive oil, or a slice of tortilla Española, finished with a fresh café — you may feel perfectly energized to wander through Marbella’s historic center and explore one of its quieter cultural treasures.

Ever since I first saw an advertisement for a Candlelight concert, I dreamed of attending one. Back when I was living in Atlanta, life was full of a hundred distractions and endless tasks that kept me from booking the experience. But after relocating to Spain and embracing a slower, more intentional way of living — which I wrote about in my article “Slower Pace, Deeper Meaning. Emracing Slow living after moving to Spain” — my husband and I finally booked our tickets for a Candlelight concert in Marbella, where we currently reside.

After a little research, we decided on A Tribute to Hans Zimmer. I’ve always loved many of his compositions in films like Interstellar, Inception, The Dark Knight, Gladiator, and Pirates of the Caribbean and the familiarity of his music promised an intimate and deeply enjoyable experience.

What if I told you that some of the most beautiful stories of Spain aren’t in majestic palaces or museums but hiding in plain sight, on doorways, staircases, and walls?

Traveling and exploring is about noticing little details that create a bigger picture. Walking through the streets of old towns like Marbella’s Casco Antiguo, you’ll notice decorative elements that elegantly add a personal touch to buildings. They appear around doorways, along stair edges, framing balconies, or lining walls. They are so present yet often overlooked, rarely promoted as points of interest. But if you look closely, spotting each tile can feel like a treasure hunt, a little prize hidden in the maze of streets.

These tiles are called azulejos, and they come in countless colorful designs: geometric patterns, floral motifs (like Peaceful Bloom), or intricate storytelling scenes. When you start paying attention to these small details, a city shifts from being a backdrop to becoming a story. It’s in a chipped azulejo by a doorway, a faded ceramic street sign, or an iron balcony casting patterned shadows in the afternoon light. Big landmarks impress, but small details pull you in. They slow you down, spark curiosity, and make walking the streets feel like a personal discovery. Even the quietest street suddenly feels alive.

On my very first solo trip to Spain, which was also the first time I ever flew on a plane, I was determined to experience as much Spanish food as my budget would allow. I had imagined myself sitting at a charming café in Madrid, confidently ordering something authentic, tasting olive oil that felt like liquid gold, and beginning a lifelong love story with the country through its cuisine.

But my first meal in Spain was… at McDonald’s in Madrid.

Yes. I know. You’re thinking: Really? Flying all the way to Spain for fast food?

Part of it was culture shock. I had barely slept the night before, spending long hours at the airport in Helsinki before my flight to Madrid. I arrived exhausted, overwhelmed, excited, slightly anxious and suddenly surrounded by a language I barely spoke. After checking into my hotel and rushing out to explore downtown Madrid, I exited the metro, looked around at the unfamiliar signs, menus, and crowds… and chose the easiest option.

Recognition feels safe. Familiar brands feel comforting when everything else feels new. Anyone who has worked in sales and marketing understands this — recognition builds trust.

And McDonald’s was the first place I recognized.

But that first meal also became a turning point.

I promised myself – no more playing safe. From now on only Spanish food. And I kept that promise.

Like many interesting and adventurous stories, this one began with a single intention and unfolded into something much richer.

On a cloudy day, I walked into downtown Marbella with one clear plan – to visit the Archivo Histórico Municipal de Marbella. According to the information I found online, it was located inside the Centro Cultural Cortijo Miraflores. I working on an article about one of Marbella’s old buildings and hoped to find books, documents, or photographs that might be available for public use.

While I didn’t get to view archival materials that day, I did gather enough information to continue my research later. My visit had already served its purpose, and I was almost ready to leave.

Almost.

As I walked toward the exit, a small table tucked into the corner of the hallway caught my eye. Beneath a glass cover lay a few books and objects, quietly waiting to be noticed. Curious, I asked the kind woman at the reception desk, who had already patiently answered several of my questions, what it was.

I had arrived expecting to spend no more than ten minutes in the building.

Her answer changed that completely.

What followed was nearly an hour of unexpected exploration and warm conversation with the people who work there. Instead of leaving, I found myself drawn into a small but thoughtful exhibition dedicated to olive oil production and archaeological finds from the Marbella area, some dating back to BC times.

It felt less like a formal museum (like High Museum of Art in Atlanta) and more like a place for a quite discovery, modest in size, but rich in meaning.

It was a late December evening during our third week after moving to Spain when my husband and I were discussing places we needed to visit soon. Considering our current home is in Marbella, a trip to Málaga was an almost obvious choice.

So I started researching how to get there from Marbella and what to see. Since it was winter and a cloudy day, visiting a museum seemed like the perfect plan, warm, cozy, and a delightful way to spend a few hours indoors. Our first stop was the Picasso Museum, which I shared impressions and photos of in a previous article “What They Don’t Tell You About the Pablo Picasso Museum in Malaga”

During my brief research that evening, I stumbled upon a surprising fact that made me say, “Wow, how did I miss this?” Málaga’s history spans around 2,800 years, making it one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe and the world.

This realization made me reflect: What would it feel like living just an hour away from one of the world’s oldest cities? I didn’t know, but a quiet sense of admiration and curiosity washed over me. Imagine the stories, artifacts, and historical treasures scattered across the city, some on display, some still waiting to be discovered.

With so much history, it’s impossible to cover everything in a single blog post. However, here are some fascinating historical facts about Málaga that I found worth sharing.

I first traveled solo in Spain in 2013, starting with Madrid, and then several month later did a second solo trip through the country that took me from Barcelona to Valencia, Seville, and back to Madrid. From there, I flew to Cancún, Mexico, where I lived for nine years working as a photographer. (Take a look at my Cancun website). Since 2025, my husband and I have been living in Spain (currently in Marbella, though we’re always dreaming about our next Spanish home!).

Spain is a beautiful country and a must-visit destination for solo female travelers. And no, that’s not just hype. With its stunning architecture, rich history, vibrant culture, and delicious food, Spain offers unforgettable experiences for anyone willing to explore it.

In this article, you’ll find my guide to the top solo travel destinations in Spain for women, along with tips on where to stay, why hostels can be fun, and practical advice to make your solo adventures safe and enjoyable.

Long before it became known as the Garden of the Costa del Sol, Estepona carried another name — Astabbuna, shaped during Moorish times. The town has always been a place of passage, layered with histories that settled rather than disappeared. Walking its streets today, that history is felt softly, through texture, light, and walls decorated by flowers. 

It was December when I first walked into Estepona’s old town, during that soft season when places seem to exhale. The streets were calm, the light gentle, and the air carried the scent of flowers even in winter. I remember thinking how unusual it felt, a town so alive with color, yet so peaceful. 

The soft scent of lantana, paperflower, florist kalanchoe, Chinese hibiscus, and countless other flowers follows you through the streets. It floats in the air, quietly accompanying each step. Estepona proudly carries the title “Jardín de la Costa del Sol” and it earns that name effortlessly.

“Learn the rules like a professional, so you can break them like an artist.” — Pablo Picasso

Since moving to the Costa del Sol, and more specifically to Marbella, our days have been filled with practical beginnings: paperwork, learning the rhythms of daily life, discovering local stores, and slowly mapping the places that give this region its cultural depth. Among those places, one visit felt inevitable from the start: the Pablo Picasso Museum in Málaga.

Booking tickets online with a reserved time slot turned out to be a smart choice. It helped us avoid queues and made the visit feel relaxed from the very beginning, something I’d highly recommend, especially during busy seasons. If you’re planning to visit in the summer (very high season in Spain), reserving tickets well in advance is especially important, as time slots can fill up quickly.

As a former art’s student, I came in with a general understanding of Picasso’s importance, his stylistic shifts, and his place in art history. Yet I had never felt particularly drawn to his work on a personal level. Visiting the museum gave me the space to finally engage with it directly, without preconceptions.