Spain - Valencia Escape to the Continent

This major European city was once

held by an English cavalry detachment for over a year.

Curious? Find out where I am in just a moment.

On today's show, we are helping a recently married couple begin

the next chapter in a new country. There are incredible sights.

Oh, look at that!

The view is breathtaking.

And some surprises along the way.

Oh!

-I would like you to face this way.

-Gee!

Welcome to Escape To The Continent.

I'm in Valencia, which is

both a city and a region on the Spanish Mediterranean coast.

Now, in the early 18th century,

Spain was left without a king or an heir and the French,

not wanting to waste an opportunity to expand their empire,

crossed the border.

Unsurprisingly, the English did not like this one jot, so they joined

forces with the Austrians and by 1706, had gained power of this city.

It was to be short-lived, though, because 16 months later,

the English were back home.

That was three centuries ago, now it is the 2,500 hours

of sunshine every year that draws us to this striking region.

The Valencia region of Spain dominates the stretch

of the Eastern Iberian coastline, covering an area larger than Wales.

Founded by the Romans,

the regional capital is Spain's third-largest city.

At its centre, is the Plaza de la Virgen

and the largely Gothic cathedral.

In this recently revitalized city,

centuries old architecture sits alongside more modern

constructions, such as the City Of Arts And Sciences complex.

Just south of the capital,

the Albufera Natural Park is the location of the largest lake

in Spain and home to a rich variety of wildlife.

It is a popular backdrop for bird watchers and wedding photographers.

Inland, the Valencia region is one of Europe's most fertile,

with orange and apple trees and rice fields in abundance.

Spain's famous rice-based dish paella originates in these parts.

Heading west, the agricultural plains eventually give way to a more

mountainous landscape, offering a rich righty of scenery to

those seeking a new life in this vibrant region of Spain.

When it comes to property prices in this part of Spain,

boom time is over.

The average price of a home is £62,500.

That is four times cheaper than the average back home.

So what is it about Valencia apart from the bargain property

prices and the glorious sunshine that has attracted our buyers?

Let's meet them to find out.

Ken and Paula live in Hampshire

and run an online home business network.

They've been together for seven years and married recently.

And it was their honeymoon in Italy that finally convinced them

to seek new horizons away from the UK.

The whole idea of moving abroad probably started with Paula and I

a couple of years ago.

About the same time as we started our own business,

we thought it would be nice to take

the opportunity of its flexibility just to work somewhere that

was a little more socially to our preferences.

I think the honeymoon in a warm Mediterranean area

really opened our eyes.

But it won't be the first time that either one of them

has jumped continents.

I came from South Africa about 20 years ago.

Ken is from Ireland,

but he has lived in so many places across the world.

So this would be, for me, it would be my second move,

obviously first to the UK and then off to Spain.

Despite having travelled widely,

the move to Spain will be more of a leap of faith.

It is not a place we've travelled extensively.

We have had several holidays there separately over the years.

And, you know, the people...

It's a very powerful, proud culture.

It's very engaging.

They have chosen Valencia because of its climate and accessibility

to the UK, where their three grown-up sons will continue to live.

It has got the Mediterranean thing about it.

And it has got the temperature and the climate,

without being in the most ferociously hot parts of Spain.

We're not actually too bothered about being on the coast,

but it is a bonus having it nearby.

As well as running the business, Paula has a successful

writing career, and she hopes Valencia will boost her output.

I've written quite a few novels of the years

when my son was growing up, so I am very keen to get a little

writing hut or shed or a special little writing room.

I think it is the sun and the environment and the whole

ambience of living that outdoor life that really inspires you.

And from a writing point of view, it's lovely.

While Paula is putting pen to paper, Ken will be powering the pedals.

I like doing a lot of things outdoors,

so I like to do a lot of cycling, as much as I can.

There is a big cycling culture in Spain.

I'd really look forward to the challenges of the local terrain,

and see if I can crack a few heavy-duty Spanish hills out there.

With a budget of £250,000

and cash for a deposit already in the bank,

they are looking forward to starting this next chapter in their lives.

I think you've got to go into these things with you eyes wide open

and acknowledge that there are differences.

And if that intimidates you,

maybe you are not making the right move.

But if it doesn't and you feel you are flexible enough to overcome

those challenges, then I think big,

life-changing things can be very exciting.

Our buyers want us

to focus their house search inland from the coastal city

of Valencia and within a reasonable driving distance of its airport.

So where better to nail down the finer details of their planned

move than at Valencia's latest architectural masterpiece -

the City Of Arts And Sciences?

-Ken, Paula, welcome to Spain.

-Thank you.

-Hi.

What type of house do you want?

We want to be rural. We want to be out in the country.

We love that, that is why we live where we are now.

If we can have some views, sort of maybe the foothills

or the mountains, that would be absolutely gorgeous, we'd love that.

I think we want a pool and, you know, if there is no

barbecue, we'll build a barbecue for the outdoor life.

So we really like that.

A little bit of land that we could perhaps do things with,

-that would be important.

-How many bedrooms?

Three, I guess, would be a good place to start.

You know, for us, for anyone who wanted to come and visit and

the space to convert into an office if that is what we wanted to do.

Yeah, we both work from spare bedrooms at home,

so I think that is important.

We would really like a little cottage for a couple of reasons.

First of all, obviously, family.

Family and friends to come and visit.

But if we do find a nice property with a cottage, we would love it

if we could actually do some writing retreat, because I'm a writer.

Possibly a business couples retreat. Something...

If it's as we want - private and secluded - I think

a lot of business couples would love that.

I think the two of you are so energetic.

I think you have got so many ideas. I think you are raring to go.

I just wonder if maybe it's all...

It's this amazing dream at the minute.

Look, it is a big step.

We are not talking about a holiday home and so we'll just

retreat back to the UK for a certain chunk of the year.

This is a much bigger project. You know, the stakes are pretty high.

-Who speaks Spanish?

-None of us.

-No hands going up in the air here.

No, we don't speak. But we don't see that as a hindrance here.

We would love the opportunity to learn the language,

immerse ourselves with the locals.

How much have you got to spend? What is the budget?

Our upper limit would be £250,000, 300,000 euros, say.

And the more change we could get out of that, the better.

So we've got some money to decorate.

-Possibly renovate.

-Yeah.

Do landscaping in the garden.

All that kind of stuff which we love doing.

-Well, I have got a few properties lined up to show you.

-Yeah?

-Come on and let's go.

-Fabulous.

-Follow me.

-Thank you.

With a budget of up to £250,000,

Ken and Paula are seeking a rural property

with outside space and good views.

They'd like three bedrooms, space for an office and a swimming pool.

If possible, they would have a separate cottage or annexe

from which to run a writing holiday business.

They are keen to throw themselves into local life and plan to get to

grips with the language.

As well as introducing our buyers to unfamiliar Spanish culture,

we are hoping to uncover their dream home from a range of four

Valencian properties, including the mystery house,

which could offer our entrepreneurial couple

a whole new business opportunity they have never considered.

Our first property is located close to the town of Godelleta,

around 20 miles from the city of Valencia.

From the 8th century, much of Valencia came under Islamic rule,

so in addition to a church, the town features a medieval Moorish tower.

It is also an area known for its vineyards, and our first

property is located in a rural setting just outside of town.

It is part of a larger modern development and comes with its own

private swimming pool and mountain views.

Follow me.

And in you come.

Honest first impressions.

OK, our very first impression,

just as we were outside approaching the gate -

just a little untidy outside the house,

but very, very nice once you come inside the gates.

Very secluded, very large,

-very mature considering it is not that old.

-Iron bars.

Iron bars or iron working.

But iron bars, yes, OK. That's a no-no.

Yeah, it's only because I grew up in South Africa

and I lived all my life like that,

-so I am kind of... It doesn't bother Ken, it bothers me.

-Fine.

But I do like the arches. I like the roof.

I like that sort of very Spanish-style look.

It is very typically Spanish.

Once you come in the front of the house, this immediate area,

you know, it looks very nice.

I know the two of you are absolute go-getters

and you are ready to throw yourselves into a situation.

Into the pool! You are ready to jump into it.

Throw yourselves into this Spanish situation. So...

As a surprise, this is where you will be staying.

BOTH: Tonight?

-Oh, lovely.

-Oh, great. Fantastic.

-Oh, OK.

-Let's get the bags in.

-Are you happy about that?

-Let's get the swimming gear out.

-We will be able to throw ourselves into the pool.

-You will absolutely.

You can swim tonight, you can swim first thing in the morning.

You can take your time. You can go for a walk.

You can have a look around, see what it has got to offer.

Just experience what it would be like to wake up in a Spanish house.

-Good idea.

-In a Spanish environment.

-Fabulous, thank you.

A mixed response to begin with,

but hopefully by making this property their home for the week,

Ken and Paula will warm to our detached Spanish villa,

which was built around 14 years ago.

The main living space is accessed via a large terrace,

a perfect spot for evening entertaining.

Into the living room.

What do you think of it?

Nice, modern kitchen.

I like the open plan.

I like the way the kitchen is finished.

So it has gas and electricity, yeah.

So you've got all the utilities here.

I'd prefer not to have the sitting room

and the dining facilities close together like that.

Although, with the kitchen here, you probably...

This is probably the dining area

and then the sitting room might have to be somewhere else.

So sitting in here, within our lounge area, probably wouldn't...

-That's not so good.

-Yeah.

But having a terrace next to the kitchen,

-that kind of outdoorsy things is good for you.

-Yeah.

This isn't your thing, you need a bit more space.

Also on this floor,

there are four bedrooms, all served by a main family bathroom.

Off those bedrooms, two decent-sized doubles

and there are two smaller rooms.

But if space is a concern,

then this property has more to offer back outside.

Underneath the terrace, there are two rooms currently used

for storage, but which could provide office space

for Ken and Paula's business.

What do you think?

Uh... It's a strange little area.

You could do a lot of things in there.

It is set up with gas and water and electricity.

It could be a little mini home.

I like the idea of the office,

thinking that we will need something like that.

It's hard to say without the windows being wide open just how bright

and light it is, cos I think if you're going to come to Spain

and Valencia, you have to have light.

I think it would take quite a bit of work to get it

converted into something that was really going to work.

We are very keen on some kind of a little cottage or some

kind of outhouse that we can turn into a retreat, you know,

some kind of Spanish retreat for couples or for writers.

That wouldn't work.

Let's go towards the one bit that you've been attracted to

since we first got here - the pool and the view - to talk about money.

Come on.

The rest of the outside space includes a large enclosed

garden with fruit trees and vines, a spacious car port and an outhouse

set up to cook paella, a traditional feature of many Spanish properties.

-A stunning view. I mean, it really is all about that, isn't it?

-Yes.

It's quite gorgeous. How much do you think it is on the market for?

Let's start with you, Ken.

Well, this is our first chance to look at a Spanish property.

We are short of a few financial reference points here.

£140,000.

-Paula.

-120.

£120,000. OK, well, you are both way off.

-They have actually put it on for £250,000.

-Wow.

-Wow.

But remember, it is a buyers' market in Spain, so whatever the

value on the piece of paper, there is always room for negotiation.

What I would like the two of you to do is go off on your own now

and really take your time, have a

good look around, and I'll catch up with you in a bit.

-Thank you.

-OK, off you go.

The price of our first property at the top end of their budget

comes at a bit of a shock to Ken and Paula.

It is a modern, detached villa with an open plan living area

and four bedrooms, a private swimming pool,

set in a peaceful location around 20 miles from the city of Valencia.

First impression - very nice build, very authentic,

lots of lovely Spanish touches. I really like that.

I like the garden, the maturity of it, the variety of it.

Different areas for patios. You know, brilliant.

The things that perhaps weren't so good for me -

I thought the bedrooms were...

The major bedrooms were small, nothing stood out as a master bedroom

and one bathroom could make things a bit squashed when the house is full.

But overall, the house is good to go.

You could move in and start living on day one.

When we walked in the door, coming up to the steps, that was very nice.

Lovely palms and very nice greenery around. That was very nice.

We definitely don't like the fact that the lounge

and the dining is together.

Ken and I are very social, we spend hours chatting over dinner.

It is a very big part of who we are and what we do,

and this just would not work for us.

I think this has given us a very good idea of what the property

values are like in this particular area.

Here they come.

-My soon-to-be Spaniards.

-Yes.

That's that, I'm going to leave you.

I want you to enjoy it, immerse yourselves,

do something local, and then I will catch up with you tomorrow morning.

-Fantastic.

-Are you ready for your adventure?

-Yeah.

-Thank you.

-It begins here. Enjoy.

-OK, thank you very much.

-Bye.

-Bye.

It is the second day of the property search in Valencia, Spain,

and Ken and Paula are settling into their rented home for the week.

For breakfast this morning,

they have helped themselves to some of the local produce.

It is lovely to be having fresh orange juice overlooking

-an orange grove.

-Fantastic.

I mean, this outdoor breakfast...

Having cheese, ham and squeezed oranges.

-We haven't done that in the UK for a while.

-No, not at this time of year.

For our next offering, we are heading to the

village of Chulilla, which is 40 miles west of the city of Valencia.

At around 360 meters above sea level,

the medieval village is nestled in the surrounding mountains

and is a popular destination for rock climbers.

There is a wide selection of bars

and cafes centred on a quiet market square.

Our next property is a mile and a half outside of the village,

located in woodland on the mountainside.

Come in, come in, come in to the next property.

Oh, that's exciting!

I want you to tell me what you think before I tell you anything.

-This is...

-This looks very exciting.

-This is much more on it, OK?

From what we have seen before.

OK, the peacefulness and tranquillity,

and silence and quietness, the woods.

-The trees.

-This is rural and isolated.

And that looks very...

It looks like it has got the Spanish features,

but there is just something about it that is charming and nice and old.

I think we have seen enough, what do you think?

I think we should go now, yeah?

-No, you go, we're going that way.

-All right, come on, let's go.

-Great.

Built in 1984, this secluded Spanish villa seems to hit

the spot at face value, but will the inside deliver, too?

And in you come...

-..to...

-Oh!

-..a living room!

Oh, gorgeous fireplace!

So this is the main lounge, OK?

-I love that coffee table.

-Go on, have a good luck.

-What do you think, Ken?

-I love that coffee table. That's a door.

I like the brightness of it.

Sometimes these more traditional properties have small windows,

a little dark, very characterful. But this has got nice,

wide windows, doors. The lightness struck me. With the lovely fire.

-It's great, isn't it?

-Absolutely gorgeous.

And something very interesting out there.

Yeah, you can go straight onto the terrace, basically.

You've got a beautiful terrace attached to the lounge,

that you can go straight out onto.

-You look at that in a moment.

-And the view.

-And the view is there.

Oh, yeah.

As well as the spacious living area,

this floor also features four bedrooms, including a master

with en suite bathroom and three other good-sized bedrooms.

Plenty of options for the office.

There is also a stylish family bathroom.

But we are heading to the kitchen.

-This is huge!

-Yes. What do you think?

I can see us in this kitchen. I can see us cooking.

I can see us chopping vegetables, preparing salad.

I can just see that.

It is also nice for family when we get people come to visit us.

It is a nice size so that everybody can be helping.

You can have someone opening the wine over there, chatting.

You know, it has got it all going on.

I love that you can visualise that.

Now, you have seen the interior of the house, you think it is

all right, but in my opinion, I have saved the best till last.

Come on, there's more. There's more.

Paula wants somewhere to lock herself away when she writes

her books, and I have something in mind for her outside.

Oh, wow!

But first let's not forget the pool.

Yep.

That is a fantastic pool.

Ken, big enough for you, sir?

-I could handle a few lengths there.

-OK. So the pool is good?

The pool is lovely.

I mean, it's not a block, it's not a rectangular block.

I want you to do this, there. I'd like you to stand here.

Ken, I'd like you to join me. I'd like you to face this way.

-Gee.

-I want to

-A little cabin.

-Yeah.

-It's my little writing room.

Leaving me to the pool and the television.

You can go wherever you want, that's my writing room.

It's just so cute.

The wonderful thing about this cabin is that, actually, the woman who

owns this house at the moment writes her book in that cabin, weirdly.

But beyond that, they actually rent it out as well.

The potential is there for you to...

For our little writing retreat we were talking about.

What about you, Ken, where is your space?

There's a lot of places where I think I could enjoy being.

Are you feeling the love as much as Paula is?

Um... I think it is a beautiful home.

I think it is glorious.

I could see myself living here with Paula.

I think we could do our things here.

So, yeah.

From a practical point of view, it has got a number of features

that are important, but it goes beyond that.

You feel, you know, this is actually a really nice home.

And you are Mr Practical, and there is, obviously,

one big practicality that we need to think about, and that is price.

But I think we should retire to the pool area to mull on that,

don't you?

-Sure.

-It is only civilized, I think. Come on, let's get onto it.

The rest of the outside space comprises separate terraces offering

different areas for relaxation as well as an outside barbecuing area.

If Paula takes the log cabin for her writing room,

then there are also two storage rooms underneath the main

house that could be converted into a writer's retreat,

subject to planning permission.

So, Paula, let's start with you today, I think.

-How much do you think it is on the market for?

-250.

-Ken.

£225,000.

£225,000. You think it is £250,000.

You are both wrong.

It is on the market at £210,000.

-Mm!

-I didn't do such a bad job.

-You didn't do such a bad job.

Neither of you did, really. I know you are itching to get in there.

There is a whole lot of the house that you haven't seen.

-So off you go, and when you are ready, we'll leave.

-Thank you.

-Enjoy.

-Thank you.

I'm pretty happy, but not as happy as them.

£40,000 below budget, our mountain hideaway is a four-bedroom

villa with a spacious kitchen, large swimming pool and cosy log cabin.

Very rustic.

Oh!

A little retreat.

-How snug.

-Yeah.

So it is got a bedroom and a lounge, a little lounge.

-Beautifully decorated, isn't it?

-Yeah, it is.

If it is going to be a writing room, we would take away the bed

and have more either soft furnishings or something over

there that we could... Maybe two chairs, we could both sit.

I could have an area, you could have an area.

Fantastic. Very much the kind of thing we are actually looking for.

We love the countryside, we love the mountains, we love the view.

The house itself is rustic. It has got lots of little areas.

For example, this lovely little writing shed.

The pool area is beautiful, the patio area.

There is just so much going for this house, there really is

so much going for it.

It is a beautiful property.

Out of ten, I think I'd be scoring this a fairly strong 8.5.

It is a fairly solid contender.

This property has really stoked up

my particular, and am very sure Ken as well,

but has really stoked up my fire to move here, move to Spain.

Don't do it, Ken

It's lovely, isn't it?

-But I think for now we can leave this house behind.

-OK.

-Yeah?

-Let's go.

-It will be tough.

-Let me prise you away.

-Yes, pull us.

The fertile, marshy landscape to the south of the city of Valencia

makes it an ideal location to

cultivate rice, and today the region is the undisputed

home of Spain's most famous rice dish - paella -

which is traditionally cooked outside over a fire.

Since Ken and Paula are outdoorsy types

and regularly barbecue in their garden,

even during the winter months, we have arranged for them

to learn the art of cooking al fresco Spanish style to

create a classic Valencian dish.

They are meeting rice expert Santos Alvarez at the city's central

market, the place where the locals choose to pick up their ingredients.

It is a good opportunity for our buyers to brush

up their language skills.

The very traditional Valencian paella

is cooked with rabbit and chicken.

This is what we are buying now.

-Do you want to order?

-Please, yes.

You have to say... "Rocio," which is her name...

-Conejo...

-Conejo...

-..para...

-..para...

-..la paella.

-..la paella.

Unlike the traditional Spanish paella,

the Valencian version actually contains no seafood,

but it does feature a healthy mix of locally grown vegetables,

including tomatoes and beans to go with the rabbit and chicken.

Gracias.

-Gracias.

-Gracias.

-Gracias.

-Hasta luego.

They have taken a short trip

just south of the city to the paddy fields.

The Arabs were the first people to appreciate the marshy wetland

conditions and introduce the rice crop in the 8th century.

Today, the region produces over 110 million kilos each year.

It's very important,

very important for the paella having the proper kind of rice.

It is called bomba rice.

It is a variety of rice that we grow here in Valencia.

It absorbs very well the flavour.

But it has the advantage that,

with bomba, rice never gets overcooked.

Long before the rice is added,

though, the rabbit and chicken need to be cooked.

Put the liver also. This is the best part of the rabbit.

It is an opportunity for Ken to show off his barbecuing skills.

I know in England, it is

usually the man who is in charge of the barbecue, isn't it?

Yes, yes, that's correct.

In Valencia, it is the same with the paella.

It is always the man who cooks the paella.

My dad, for example, has never cooked nothing at home, but when

Sunday arrives, outside,

it was always my dad who cooks the paella.

-So he's the paella king.

-Yes.

-And the liver, you say this is the best bit.

-Yeah.

It is very traditional that, while we are frying the meat,

once everything is fried, we will eat the liver like the aperitif.

With Ken busy with the meat, true to the barbecue cliche,

Paula is tackling the vegetables.

Now, Paula, we are going to add the paprika.

It is a critical moment in the paella.

Because if the paprika gets overcooked,

the taste can be very disgusting.

-So, put the paprika... That's enough.

-Enough? OK.

-OK, put it on the oil.

-In the middle?

-Yes.

Move it, Ken. Come on, hurry up.

And now, Ken, please put the water.

The paella is then left for half an hour to allow the meat to

cook through.

Then short grain rice is added along with a little saffron,

which gives the dish its distinctive yellow colour.

Once the rice is cooked and absorbed all the flavour,

the paella is ready to taste.

Full of flavour. I can taste the saffron.

It is a fantastic variety of flavours, it's great.

I think that nutritionally, this is a very nice dish

because you can eat meat and vegetables, so it is very complete.

In fact, whenever we eat paella, we only eat paella and salad.

This is all.

-And of course, a cup of wine.

-Yes, absolutely.

Now they have sampled outdoor cooking Spanish style, maybe Ken and

Paula will be up for swapping the outdoor grill for the paella dish.

But before that, we need to find them a Spanish home.

The next property is in the town of Pedralba,

around a 45-minute drive inland from the coast.

Situated in Valencia's lower plains, on the banks of the Turia River,

the rustic town is surrounded by fruit trees and vineyards,

and features a baroque-style church.

Our property can be found a short distance outside the town,

in a quiet setting amongst orange groves.

I'm going to get you to start just about here.

There we go.

Before I say anything, take it in and tell me what you think, Ken.

I see we have two buildings here - we have one on our right

and one ahead of us.

That's the main house.

This is a completely self-contained two-bedroom apartment with

two bathrooms, which you will be able to have a look at later.

But that comes with the property.

-Paula, what do you think?

-I like the fact that we are walking in

and you are sort of coming into the property amongst the olive trees.

That is really nice. I like the look of the house.

It looks very Spanish-y.

And that covered veranda looks very nice, too.

And obviously a lovely pool.

I see a bit of decking and my mind is ticking over

on a few little things we could do.

Why don't we take a step inside and I'll show you more of this

wonderful property. This way.

In terms of space, this property gives them everything they've

asked for, sitting as it does in three acres of land.

But will it offer the character and comfort our buyers are after?

In this way.

Oh!

It is a massive kitchen. Bright and airy.

But what do you think before I tell you anything?

-Can you see yourself in here?

-Yeah, I like it. The centrepiece is lovely.

-Really nice.

-It's quite a feature.

I always like those centrepiece things, they look very, you know,

elegant and right in their place in the kitchen.

And a huge range cooker - electric, but it is huge.

Yeah, it is.

-You can see this is definitely made for people who love of food.

-Yeah.

I want to show you more of this house cos what this property

gives you is size. So come on, this way.

Come into the living room.

But I'd like you to face this way, so that you can take it all in.

-Light and very airy.

-Yeah.

-And that looks like a lovely big room, too.

It does. It is like a summer lounge area -

a separate room that they have had built.

It is just a huge space, and it all links in with the kitchen.

You have got a hall area into this massive living room.

Is it the sort of space you could see yourself in, Ken?

It is not quite as snug and warm as I would like,

and I think that is the space working against it almost, for me.

We could possibly get around that just by the way

we decorate it and the way we furnish it.

There are three bedrooms within the main house, and two

of those can be found on the ground floor, one of which is en suite.

And there is also a family bathroom.

The third bedroom, the largest, is upstairs.

This is the master bedroom. It is a really good size.

I know you like a large bedroom, and this is a really large bedroom.

-But the best bit is this.

-Oh!

-Look at that!

-You wanted views?

Here is your view.

Not bad, huh? I know you love fruit trees and olive trees.

You have got a substantial part of the orange grove

-and the olive grove in front of us.

-Oh, lovely.

It comes with the property.

-So we could go and pick our own fresh oranges.

-You can.

You can make your own zumo de naranjas.

-Ken, what do you think?

-I think the view is breathtaking.

This whole balcony thing off the master bedroom, patio doors,

-fantastic.

-I think we should retire to the pool area,

because we are very good at that, and talk money.

-OK.

-Yes.

-This way.

And Ken and Paula will need to consider the separate villa

when making their price guess.

It comes with a spacious open plan living area and two bedrooms

and two bathrooms, so it would make an excellent writer's retreat.

Within the grounds, there is also a separate workshop and storeroom.

As well as a paella house.

The rest of the garden is made up of lawn and terraced areas.

There we go. This is nice, isn't it?

Right, so now that our feet are nice and cool,

let's get our minds ticking over.

So, who should we start with? I think we will begin with Paula.

-How much do you think it is on for, Paula?

-It has got a lot of land.

It has got lots of space,

lots of room area as well as the self-contained

little rental room.

And because of all that, I would say probably 275.

£275,000 from Paula, thank you.

-Ken.

-Probably a good guess.

I think £275,000 is where I might expect it to be,

but I'm going to say 250.

£250,000. And you said £275,000.

Ken, on the money - £250,000.

-Estate Agent Ken gets it.

-What do you think?

From the little I know of Spanish house property prices

and what we have seen, I'd say it slots in there quite logically.

I want you now to go off and have a really good look around.

Rummage around, look in all the cupboards

and all the little spaces, and I will stay here, if that's all right.

-OK.

-Mm-hm.

Well, this house has put them in a quandary

because it has got the size and it is secluded, it's rural,

it's got a huge pool, but for some reason,

I sense that it is just not doing it for them.

Something for them to think about.

Bang on budget, this spacious double villa property offers

Ken and Paula space both inside and out.

There are three large bedrooms in the main house

and two further bedrooms in a separate villa,

which offers Paula the chance to run her own writer's retreat.

Big room.

Like a lot of other rooms in the house, it's...

You know, it's a great size.

-No problem with a big bed and a load of extra space on top.

-Yeah.

I'm feeling very confused right now.

There is so much to this property.

The grounds are so extensive, there is so much potential.

My mind is just whizzing with ideas.

I can't stop thinking of things that I can do, so it's confusing.

I'm still a little bit fixed on the other property,

probably from the point of view of privacy more than anything.

But this property has got the retreat,

and we are really keen to do the retreat. That is a big thing for us.

So, my heart is a bit divided at the moment.

You know, I'm surprised.

It's got a lot of space throughout the house,

it's not just one or two key areas.

Most rooms seem really a generous proportion.

But warmth, personality, individual property...

I wasn't getting that very quickly.

-Hello, house explorers.

-Hello there.

-Satisfied?

-Well, we have seen a lot.

-A lot to think about.

-A lot to think about.

-There's a lot to see, yeah.

I think we should leave here and continue thinking elsewhere.

Shall we? Come on.

Let's go into the sunset.

It's the final day of Ken and Paula's time here in Valencia.

Although our first property may not have been to their liking,

by staying there, they have seized the initiative

and explored the local villages.

On their travels, they have come across a furniture maker,

who has spent the last 23 years making a replica badminton cabinet -

a classic piece of English furniture.

Oh, wow!

The detail!

But with so many ideas flying around their heads,

have our buyers really absorbed the practical considerations

a move to Spain would entail?

So before our final house tour this morning,

I am taking our sun-loving couple to Valencia's beachfront to meet

some British ex-pats who also enjoy the outdoor life to find out

how relocating to Spain has been for them.

-Miles, Ingrid, hello.

-Hi there.

Meet Paula and Ken, your cycle buddies for the day.

I'm going to leave you kids to it. Enjoy.

Ladies bike for you, away you go.

Ken, take your pick, they're both the same.

Miles and Ingrid moved here 24 years ago.

Miles is a writer himself,

having contributed to many travel books on the area.

They are taking Ken and Paula on a literary

and touristic tour of the city's seafront.

Well, here we are, Valencia's beach.

-It looks fantastic, doesn't it?

-Doesn't it just?

But really, you know, you need to try

and think of it as it was just over 100 years ago.

There would have been striped beach tents like that.

There would have been fishing boats lined up.

Bathers in full costume.

And oxen, oxen to pull in the fishing boats.

This was a favourite spot for painting for Joaquin Sorolla,

perhaps Valencia's most famous 19th century son.

He really was a painter of Valencian light.

You can see, it is a special light that we have got here.

And he specialised in landscapes, not portraits?

-He did do portraits as well, to make money.

-Portraits for money.

-OK.

At almost two miles long,

the palm fringed promenade offers a range of dining options.

This restaurant has been going for more than a century

and was a favourite of writer Ernest Hemingway back in the days

when it was just a shed on the sand.

Next stop, the former home of Valencia's most famous

literary son - Vicente Blasco Ibanez.

He lived about the same time as Sorolla, the painter.

And what Sorolla did in pictures, he did with words.

This was just his summer house,

so you can see, he made quite a bit of money.

One of his novels was made into a film.

Now, we're talking early 20th century here,

so it was a silent movie, but they made it in Hollywood.

And so that is really where he got his international fame

and where he made his money.

With Rudolph Valentino, no less.

Yeah, the film was made with Rudolph Valentino.

After their paddle tour, I am rendezvousing with them

at one of the cafes along the promenade

to learn more about the realities of life in this part of Spain.

You have settled in Valencia, you probably had other options, what do

you think the big advantage of this part of Spain offers

-versus other parts?

-Other parts of Spain?

There is a word in Spanish - alegria - it means sort of joy,

lightheartedness.

And people who live on this coast, the Levante people,

the Levantinos, the Levante that used to be the coast of Spain,

for me, have a sort of lightness, a joy about them

that you don't find in the Basque Country or

up in the cold capital of Madrid.

They are open, they are easily accessible.

It is easy to strike up conversations.

You can scarcely go through a supermarket queue without

having some intercourse, so to speak,

some social dealings with the checkout girl.

How would it be for the two of them?

Because neither of them speak any Spanish.

I think that would be quite difficult.

I would certainly recommend listening to some recordings,

having the basics, being able to do the basics, and then build on that.

You can get by.

There are whole colonies of British people down the coast,

on the Costa Blanca, who live in their slightly compartmentalised

little world - English butcher, English baker, English bar.

But they're missing out on a huge amount.

But what about the cultural side of actually fitting in in Spain?

What are the important things that they need to know?

The timetable is completely different from Britain.

Lunch is never before two o'clock.

And if you're going to fit in, you better stick to their timetable.

And dinner, nine o'clock would be the earliest.

It is easily done because we flip back to England every

so often. It is a one-hour time change when you come back here.

You just make it two hours and you are bang on time for lunch

and dinner.

A good way to work it out.

I know you have been here for 24 years

and you are pretty Spanish, but what do you miss about Britain?

I miss spring and autumn, because here the seasons...

Well, it's very warm at the moment, but it could change in an instant.

So you don't get... You don't get autumn,

you don't get spring, and I really miss the spring flowers.

I miss good draft beer. Good real ale, I miss.

And I miss a greater variety of cheeses.

I think that is about it, actually.

Miles and Ingrid have given our buyers a good

insight into life here in Valencia.

But if you are considering buying in Spain,

there are a number of practical considerations to bear in mind.

Unlike in the UK, a sum is paid up front to take

the property off the market, initially for 30 days.

At that deadline, an option contract is then signed

and a deposit of up to 30% is paid.

Allow for between 10% and 14% of the purchase price

to cover the costs of buying a property.

This includes Transfer Tax, the Spanish equivalent of stamp duty.

If you are buying off plan or a new build,

you must make sure the License of First Occupation has

been granted before completing the purchase.

This gives the building its legal status and is only granted

once the developer has fulfilled their obligations.

For our mystery house, we are returning to the town

where we began, at Godelleta,

with its Moorish tower opposite the plaza of the church.

Ken and Paula seem to have thrown themselves into the Spanish way of

life, apparently prepared to embrace almost any thing, but today's

mystery house will really test how adventurous they are prepared to be.

Before we see the main house, I am taking them to the star attraction.

The property is a challenge on many fronts and requires some work,

but are they willing to take the bull by the horns?

Goodness me!

You've taken us to a bullring!

Can you get anything more Spanish than your very own bullring?

Get out of town!

-This is really a property?

-No, this is part of the property.

This is part. This comes with the property.

I wanted to show you this before I showed you anything else.

-There you go.

-Wow.

-What would you do with that, then, Paula?

-It is a hell of a kitty.

-You could get a lot of writers in there.

-A lot of under five-year-olds.

-Oh, my goodness!

-It's bonkers, isn't it?

Absolutely. Unbelievable.

I was sort of hoping there might be space for our own tennis court,

-you know.

-Well, there we go.

But we have gone off in a different direction.

-You could play a really good game of rounders or baseball in here.

-Yeah.

You would get a tennis court on there.

You could get a tennis court in there.

-You could get loads. You could do what you want with it.

-Yeah.

So this comes with the property. You get your very own bullring.

You'll be pleased to know, there is a house attached as well.

-That's a good point, yes.

-So this isn't the property?

This is part of it. There are rooms where you can retire to.

-Would you like to see those?

-Yes, please, that would be great.

The property's original owner was in the bullfighting world.

And as well as the ring, the package comes with stables

and a tack room, a children's playground

and a swimming pool in need of a clean.

With a bit of imagination,

there's scope here to turn the mystery property

into a small leisure complex,

and the idea hasn't made our buyers see red so far.

Here it is. Here is the villa.

-What do you think?

-Traditional.

-Mm-hm.

-Traditional hacienda.

-Yeah.

-Nice areas of shade.

-OK.

On the basis of one side of it, it looks very nice. It looks very...

-It looks big, spacious.

-Yes.

Typical Spanish villa decor and presentation.

-And you have got the drive that comes in.

-Fantastic driveway, regal.

-Beautiful palm trees.

-It is really well done.

And the property is at the end of the drive.

And this is what would greet you.

-Shall we go inside to see what else it has got to offer?

-Love to.

Constructed in 1980, all the accommodation

in the main house is across one floor.

Come in. Two double bedrooms.

Master bathroom.

Into the big old living space.

Obviously, you need to put your own touches on it to make it

feel like your own, but I want to know what you think of it so far.

There is a lot of things going on here.

A lot of elements we haven't seen in play until now.

So I guess it takes, you know...

Sort of forget what you have seen up to now, now start again.

It sort of challenges you that way.

The layout on the same floor, bedrooms leading off the dining area.

It is a very different style and layout to what we have seen so far.

-So I'm just trying to get it all in order.

-Take it all in.

And sort of try and see yourself and see

if you could be living in this type of environment.

As well as the two bedrooms off the entrance hall,

there are two further bedrooms off the living area.

But I want to show our buyers more of the entertaining space outside.

Now, check out this for an outdoor kitchen-barbeque zone.

-Wow!

-It has even got its own dance floor.

Come on, Ken, I bet you have got some moves.

-You know, it is almost as if they are catering for the town.

-Yeah.

"Come to the bullfight, eat our food, have a good dance."

"Let your kids play."

This is not a tennis court, it is a Valencian game called fronton.

And I guess it is similar to tennis and squash,

and you play in pairs, and you just hit the wall.

I know, Paula, you love your outside space and your mind,

I can almost hear it ticking.

-What is it thinking?

-I'm not sure, actually.

-Wow.

There are just so many different things going on here. It's just...

Bullring, this area, the fronton, that area... It is just so unusual.

Really, really unusual for a home.

So, yeah, a lot to think about.

Now, whatever it was Paula and I thought would be the lifestyle we'll

generate in Spain, this just shreds it.

So I think we would have to think about the essential building

here and how it would work for us

and how we spend most of our day and could we get it done there.

And I think you have almost got to dismiss bullrings

-and fronton courts.

-All right.

Well, there is a little bit more I want to show you. Come on.

Leaving the outdoor entertainment space to one side,

the property also has more conventional terraced areas.

All in all, the land area amounts to three acres.

How much do you think, Paula, that this property,

with its bullring and its various areas, is on for?

Between 220, 225 for this.

-Ken?

-£280,000.

So £225,000 and £280,000.

It is actually over your budget by £50,000.

It is on for £300,000.

I think it does force you to challenge your house buying

priorities that you came in with.

And I know it is easy - it's over budget

and there are few things wrong with it, let's dismiss it, let's move on.

Easy decision, OK? But I do think it is worth saying, "Hang on a minute,

"this is just so different in its facilities, let's rethink it."

OK, well, I'm going to give you ample opportunity to go and rethink

and formulate your opinions. Go off and have a look.

Go and explore, get involved, and I will see you...

I might be down there, I might be... I don't know,

you will find me somewhere. Or I will come and find you.

-We may not, it's big.

-I know, we may never find each other.

So long, we may never see you again.

Over budget by £50,000, the owners of our Spanish theme park

are open to offers, and the property has a ready been reduced in price.

As well as the main villa, it comes with its own bullring,

a children's playground and horse-riding facilities.

The house has four bedrooms arranged off a large living space.

When I first saw the bullring, I was pretty rolled over.

I thought this cannot be a home, this cannot be a property.

But it was. Yeah, pretty weird.

Interesting but very tricky

because the house doesn't work for us itself.

The land itself, there's just so much going on and it's big enough

that we could do all the things that we wanted to do.

It's just that I think it would take a lot of work to set it up

the way we want.

I've enjoyed the different thought process it forces upon you

coming to this property and the facilities that it has.

It hasn't really advanced our thinking, to be honest about it,

about moving to Spain and this being a serious contender on the list.

The thing it could do,

if you want to get really integrated into the community, this gives you

a lot of possibilities for inviting the community into your home. And

if that is the route that you would like to take, I mean, start here.

-Ha-ha. Seen enough of the mystery?

-Yes.

-The bullring and all of that, yeah.

-Is it still a mystery?

-Fronton.

Fronton, side-on, back-on, yeah.

All right, well, it's time to leave here then. So this way, follow me.

Between the 8th and 13th centuries,

the Muslim Moors from North Africa occupied much of Spain.

Their influence can be seen throughout the Valencia

and region in the architecture, the food, but also in ceramics.

In the Middle Ages when Spain was back under Christian rule,

the city of Manises was the most important production

centre for Islamic-inspired ceramics in the country.

Today, there are still over 100 factories and workshops in the city.

I'm curious to find out more about the legacy

left behind by the Moors.

I'm meeting Esther Leon Jorgez at one of the workshops.

-Come on, let's see one of the rooms.

-Oh, wow! This is amazing!

Look at these tiles.

Oh, that ceiling is fantastic!

So, what is the history of these tiles, how far back today go?

They have their origins in Andalusian and Mudejar period.

The Andalusian and the Mudejar period.

Right, I am not up on my Spanish history, so you tell me,

-what year are we talking?

-It's about 12th century.

Wow, so medieval, very old. Very, very old.

The Moors were the first ones having these tiles at their homes.

They keep their houses clean

and they maintain their houses fresh and condition it.

And I suppose, when you have these tiles,

it keeps your house nice and cool as well.

Because this part of the world gets very hot. But the colours

and the painting, it's so beautiful, isn't it?

Yes, they are very typical from here

because they are colourings extracted from outside of different

metals, which can be found here in this region.

As well as tiling the inside of their homes,

from the 16th century,

it was common across Spain to hang decorative tiles on the outside.

The tiles, called azulejos, typically feature

images of animals, kings and queens and medieval trades.

Today, the factory, which opened in 1925,

produces a range of pottery from vases to decorative plates,

many brightly coloured with local iconography,

made using centuries-old production techniques.

-So, this is the final stage, then.

-Yes.

So this is when the tiles and the plates

-and everything really come to life.

-Yes.

This process begins with a plate, just a white plate.

And then a stencil is placed on it.

And then with charcoal, yeah,

the drawing is transferred to the plate.

-Do you think I could have a go?

-Yeah, of course. Pot provar?

Could I? Thank you.

I say it with such confidence, but I actually...

It is going to be an utter disaster.

Painting has never been my strong point. I don't have the patience.

Many of the motifs on the modern creations such as a birds

and flowers emulate original Moorish emblems or, in my case,

tried to emulate.

-Asi, muy bien.

-Yeah, you're doing really good.

I'm petrified of ruining this plate.

Who knew!

It was so calm and peaceful when we walked in here,

so tranquil, and now the pressure is on.

A circle.

She has been doing this since she was 14 years old.

14! OK.

-You're doing great for having just...

-No, I'm not.

You're all very sweet, but let's be honest here.

I think it is time I left it to the professionals.

It has been fascinating to see how a 700-year-old industry is

still going strong in this city of ceramics.

There we go. Muchas gracias.

After you.

It is time to catch up with our buyers to see if they have

made a decision about any of the properties.

So, we are back in central Valencia to discuss

the journey that the two of you have been on.

-And I really think it has been a journey.

-Absolutely, yes.

You've never been here before.

-How do you feel about this area in Spain now?

-We love it.

-Yeah.

In terms of the area, the country, this part of the country,

it has cemented a lot of good feelings

I had about it before I came out.

So, which property is your favourite?

I really like the pine forest property, the mountain property.

It was the only property that gave me a really warm and clear buzz

and a feeling that, "Gee, I could see myself enjoying living here."

A lot of major things got ticked off my list with that property.

It had beautiful views, the little nooks and crannies

they had made and the privacy and seclusion really ticked my boxes.

But from a functional point of view,

the house itself might be a little bit too small for us.

When we got here, we are really at the beginning of your journey.

You are absolute newbies to all of this.

You have got this idea of moving abroad somewhere warm.

Where are we now after our journey together?

I'm not sure how Ken feels, but what I would like to do is investigate

a few little things on the mountain property.

I possibly think that we could convert the downstairs

sort of workshops into a retreat.

I don't think Ken is completely fixed and keen on that idea,

so we'd have to talk about that a little bit more and see

if there's a way to do that.

Or the possibility of maybe buying a little strip of land next to it,

because that is sort of part of the forest,

and maybe doing something there. I mean, that would be my first choice.

That is so exciting that you are actually...

Not only do you like it, but you are thinking about going back

and doing some more investigation. That is quite serious, Ken.

I think there is a next stage of interrogation to go through,

due diligence, and I think it would be sensible to see again,

get the opportunity to ask a few more questions,

find out a few issues, get to the bottom of those,

that'd be a good start.

So excited for the two of you.

I think this is the start of a whole new life for you.

You are recently married, newlyweds, in love,

and you are going to move somewhere hot.

And I hope it is that mountain property, I really do.

-I hope I can come back in six months and stay.

-You can.

We'll invite you to come and visit.

That's all I wanted, an invite. Brilliant.

Well, both of you, best of luck.

-I've really enjoyed my time here with the two of you.

-Thank you.

-Thanks very much.

-Shall we go for a swim now?

-Yes.

-Or a drink.

-Let's go for a drink!

-Yeah.

When Ken and Paula first started their journey with me

here in Spain, they just had this inkling of an idea that this

is maybe where they would like to live.

Now, they are practically on the verge of moving here.

But they are newlyweds and this will be a whole new life for them.

And you know what? With their can-do, positive attitude, I think

their time here are will be an absolute success.

Join me next time for another Escape to the Continent.

If you had planned to escape to the continent, too,

and would like our help, you can...