Welcome to My Apartment in Spain! Are Spanish homes different from American homes? | Vlog #4

Summary

The video script offers a personal tour of a Spanish apartment, highlighting differences from US apartments such as the absence of carpet and separate kitchens. The host discusses living conditions during winter, the challenges of finding an apartment in Spain, and provides insights into local amenities like transportation and water quality. The apartment is praised for its light, updates, quiet location, and reasonable rent, but criticized for the lack of an elevator and poor local connectivity.

Takeaways

• 🏠 The host initially stayed in various accommodations in Spain before settling into an apartment.
• 🌡 Spanish apartments are typically not carpeted and have tile or ceramic floors to stay cool.
• 🍳 Kitchens are usually separate and might be accessed through a hallway.
• ❄️ There's often no central heating, which can make the apartments cold in winter.
• 👥 The host held a housewarming party and got feedback from friends on the apartment.
• 🛏 The bedroom has a guest bed that is put up on the wall when not in use.
• 🌞 Spanish apartments often have balconies or places to get fresh air.
• 💧 The water in Valencia tastes bad due to high calcium content.
• 🏢 The apartment is located in a quiet area close to the beach, which is a plus.
• 💰 The rent is 675 per month including Wi-Fi, with electricity billed separately, and the apartment is 69 square meters.

Q & A

What are some key differences between Spanish apartments and US apartments mentioned in the video?

Spanish apartments typically have no carpet, using tile or ceramic floors to keep the house cooler. Kitchens are usually separate from the rest of the living space, and many Spanish apartments do not have central heating, which can make them cold during winter.

How does the speaker describe the layout of her Spanish apartment?

The apartment has a separate kitchen, a narrow hallway leading to the bedrooms and bathroom, and an office space. The layout is similar to typical Spanish apartments, but more modern in terms of furniture and design.

What challenge does the speaker face due to the lack of heating in her apartment?

She mentions that the apartment is cold in winter, with the indoor temperature often feeling as cold as outside. However, she is surviving thanks to a small heater.

What does the speaker note about typical Spanish kitchens compared to American kitchens?

She points out that Spanish kitchens are usually closed off from the rest of the apartment, whereas American kitchens are often open and integrated with the living area. The term 'American kitchen' is used in Spain to describe an open kitchen layout.

What does the speaker highlight about laundry in Spanish apartments?

Most Spanish apartments have washing machines in the kitchen but do not have dryers. Clothes are typically dried on drying racks, which can be problematic in humid climates where clothes take longer to dry.

How does the speaker describe the process of finding an apartment in Spain?

She found the process stressful and competitive, noting that many agents and landlords didn’t respond to her inquiries. She eventually secured her apartment after the landlord personally contacted her and offered her the place.

What are some features the speaker loves about her apartment?

She loves the amount of light in the apartment, the updated interior, the proximity to the beach (a 5-minute walk), the reasonable rent price of €675, and the responsiveness of her landlord.

What are some of the speaker's complaints about the apartment?

She dislikes the lack of an elevator, which makes it difficult to carry groceries or her bike up the stairs. She also mentions that public transportation in the area is not well-connected, making it hard to get home late at night.

How does the speaker describe her neighbors and the thin walls of the apartment?

She mentions that the apartment has thin walls, making it easy to hear neighbors. For example, her friend can hear the neighbor above her using the bathroom every day. Despite this, her friend encourages her to sing loudly, as noise is part of apartment living in Spain.

What does the speaker say about the water quality in Valencia?

She notes that the tap water in Valencia has a bad taste due to the high calcium content, which makes it unpleasant to drink. She often buys bottled water as a result.