How two old fools ended up in Spain…

Author Victoria Twead shown on terrace of new home in Spain

Why move to Spain? Why live in a tiny mountain village, with only six permanent residents, no shop and half an hour away from the nearest big town?

For my first blog post for Travelin4Health, I thought I’d shoot back in time, and explain how Joe and I ended up leaving England for the village of El Hoyo, tucked away in the Alpujarra mountains.

It was my fault, of course. Joe was about to retire and already dreaming of a tension-free life, lounging in his dressing-gown all day, writing his masterpiece and perhaps diverting himself with the odd mathematical problem.

But, no, I had other ideas. I had plenty of reasons, some vague, some more solid.

So one particularly cold, wet Bank Holiday, I broached the subject. I gabbled on about the weather, the cost of living being cheaper in Spain, the pace of life slower, etc, etc.

“Why don’t you write one of your famous lists?” Joe suggested, only half joking.

I’m well known for my lists and records, I can’t help myself. I make a note of the weather every day, the temperature, the first snowdrop, the day the ants fly, the exchange rate of the euro, everything. I make shopping lists, separate ones for each shop. I make To Do lists and ‘Joe, will you please’ lists. I even make lists of lists. My nickname at work used to be Schindler. (more…)

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Build Your Reputation as a Travel Writer or Photojournalist on Traveling4Health

Welcome, Traveling4Health Ambassadors.  I look forward to reading your story and encourage you to build your reputation as a travel writer or photojournalist on the blog site of www.traveling4health.com

We publish first hand accounts of real lives and lived experiences.  You will be given author credit and can include a link to your own website.  By registering as a contributor you will be given a free profile and the status of an author on our new social media website to launch in March.

First register yourself on our blog site.  It’s easy; just 3 steps;  1. register, 2. fill out your author bio (remember to include a link to your website or email address); 3. post a blog (select posts >add new).  If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at Ilene@traveling4health.com or call me at 253.334.1833.

We can’t promise to publish your story, but we will do so if it fits our genre and meets our editorial guidelines which will be forwarded to you upon your registration.  You will hear back from us one way or the other and we value your participation.

We promise to keep your contact information private and will not sell any of your contact information or content.  By posting a blog, you are agreeing to give us permission to publish your blog.

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The World is Your Oyster. Make The Most of it With Resources Abroad

The World is Your Oyster. Make The Most of It For Your Lifestyle!

In developing your personal network of global resources embrace the internet.

Yes, you can meet some questionable contacts but you also have a better chance than ever, thanks to the internet, of discovering a person’s reputation.

It’s a small world.  You can’t hide – especially if you’re putting yourself out on the public airwaves.

Identify people you recognize as like-minded and then reach out to communicate with them directly.

It’s the purpose of Traveling4health to give people a space to do that.  And in March we will launch our social media site to make that possible.

In the meantime, and so that this blog is not perceived as a “marketing piece” for Traveling4Health, let me recommend to you Simon Black’s very entertaining and story-telling style of “telling it like it is” from the perspective of someone who’s developing these resources for himself and sharing them with the world.

When it comes to casting your lifestyle survival net a little wider – the world is your oyster; make the most of it!

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“Five Dollars, Please!”

The top-tier hip replacement, annual mammogram, routine colonoscopy, or vanity nip-and-tuck seem to make all the headlines when it comes to traveling for medical care, but it’s the day-to-day stuff that sometimes reveals the most about health care abroad. At least that was the experience of Angie Johnson, 71,  of Panama City.

Johnson described an ugly case of bursitis in her elbow that developed last summer and the resulting trip to the local clinica with MediSalud as her insurance coverage.  “I got great treatment and paid for it every step of the way – with a wad of five-dollar bills,” she said.

“It was like going to a Dollar General Store times five,” Johnson quipped.

First aisle was her intake interview.  The interview  completed, she was directed to the clerk, who cheerfully requested, “Five dollars, please.”

Second aisle was the orthopedic surgeon.  His examination completed, she was directed to the next clerk, who just as cheerfully requested, “Five dollars, please.”

Third aisle was treatment.   Treatment completed, she was directed to the next clerk, who cheerfully demanded,  “Five dollars, please.” (more…)

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