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Portgordon Post - Portgordon's Village Newsletter Digital Edition

A new life in the land of fire: the dream of moving abroad.

By Shubhaa Forrest.

Andrea and Kevin first visited Lanzarote in January 1996, looking for a family holiday with their 3 young daughters away from the rain and the cold, their first international travel experience. From the day they landed on the island, Lanzarote revealed itself as much more than a sun-and-sand destination.
They fell in love with the breathtaking volcanic landscapes around Fire Mountains, the privacy of secluded beaches in Famara and the new flavours and aromas of the local cuisine. They ventured into small tapas bars and “tabernas” where, despite their basic Spanish, locals recommended their traditional dishes with pride.
After visiting the most famous landmarks and tourist attractions created by local artist Cesar Manrique, they followed the advice of their new local friends and started exploring the real Lanzarote: picture-postcard villages by the sea like Arrieta and Orzola, where traditional fishing and crafts seem to have stopped time. But it was in Los Valles, a hidden gem in a quiet valley, where they found their dream home.
And the dream of living overseas began! Full of excitement and anticipation, they flew back to England with a clear plan in mind: moving to Lanzarote by the end of the year. Carried away by the feeling of having found their forever home and life, little did they expect the bureaucratic hurdles and language barriers waiting for them in their migration adventure. For every question, every document, every official enquiry, the answer was always the same: come to Lanzarote and do it in person, of course, in Spanish.
And where to begin? Bank account, residence and work permits, GP registration, council tax, exchange rates, double taxation, schools for the children, Spanish lessons for the whole family, the property purchase process, estate agents, mortgages…
The list went on and on, each one casting a cloud over the blue sky they were looking forward to seeing every morning. They reached out to several removal companies, which were happy to charge extortionate prices for only moving their belongings, but did not offer any further support or guarantees.
Their friends in Lanzarote were trying their best to help, but that only opened another rocky road paved with powers of attorney, apostilles and sworn translations. So, they decided to learn from others’ experience, got in touch with British residents on the island, knocked on their doors and asked the question: how did you do it?
The answer: it is not about moving; it is about relocating. Followed by the magic words AGL International Removals. AGL International Removals made Andrea and Kevin’s dream a reality, advising and supporting them every step of the way, removing all hurdles from the path, and ensuring a smooth, easy transition and relocation to their dream life in sunny friendly Lanzarote.