Sunset in Spain

by Erna Walraven

Bidding adios to work and Sydney, Erna and Alex decide to pursue a dream of living in the north of Spain. They fall in love with a tiny Castilian village, and set about restoring a long-forgotten, falling down villa that will soon be their new home. Letting go of old ways, they get swept up in the colourful goings-on of their Spanish neighbours and the challenges of living a new life on a new continent - all while becoming minor celebrities among baffled locals who can't understand why anyone would want to cross the world to live in their modest village.



Sunset in Spain is a warm, funny and poignant story of a couple's search for new challenges and the joys to be had in ramping things up when most of us would be happy to start winding down.

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel, Memoir, Spain

370 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 29, 2022

Reviews

[Janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting read and taught me about a part of Spain unknown to me. A little repetitive at times.

[Maria Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book, written about an Australian couple travelling to Spain. The Authur lived in Spain previously and has had a desire to return. The book is about the couples search for what makes them come alive and search for community. Do they find those things, you will have to read the book to find out. I loved their zest for life.

[Cathy Saunders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story! Totally transported me to this ancient Spanish village. Full of quirky characters. I want to read what happens next!!

[Griflet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Skim read.

[Giovanna Walker · Rating 1 out of 5]

'From Sydney to Spain, the experience of a lifetime. Charming....like being on holidays with good friends.' Said the quotes on the cover.

The voice, the editing didn't do it for me. On the first page I found out that, in the 1970's '....it was my first time on a plane and my first trip to Europe's south, as opposed to the usual family outings to the Alps or the Black Forest.'

Ah. I read through a few chapters then googled and found out Walraven is a translator. Ah.

I guess my expectation was that it was Australians moving to Spain (her husband is Australian, and can't speak Spanish, so I wonder how he feels? We don't find out - or didn't when I gave up, at p264 we learn his Spanish is 'improving dramatically' - well phew!). Not quite 'everyday' people. She does mention her privilege in a short paragraph on page 4. But meh.

The writing didn't evoke for me any sense of place to be honest. Interspersed with various Spanish words and anecdotes 'Tapas, delightful as they are, were a tool of the Spanish Inquisition!' (their exclamation mark - part of the various editing quirks which did annoy me). Other sentences 'we had no common lingo between us' p22 (how OLD are you??) 'The train winds its way through delightful pine forests...' what is a delightful pine forest exactly?? Gosh that's only up to page 25. I was gritting my teeth reading this.

I read the end. It finishes up at the Pandemic and how they're stuck back in Australia. They sell their house here, but feel they have to buy another here in rural Australia (ah, rent???).

I was hoping for that 'everyperson' story, and it was sold like that, but isn't that at all. I'm thinking of spending more time in Spain, hence why I picked this up, and I'm learning Spanish, have some friends there and wondered about someone else's experience who I could relate to. Well, I didn't relate AT ALL.

Look, I know it's their story, but I didn't really care to be honest. Could have been much shorter, and not sure how it got published, am guessing from her contacts.

I'm sorry I bought it, not worth the $32.99.

[Mikaela Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable read. It brought Spanish culture to life, from a tourist's point of view. I loved following the author's personal journey into retirement, trying to find meaning and purpose, questioning what comes next and taking risks and noticing the joy and value in community. I also appreciated following the story of how they found a beautiful old home and set about buying and restoring it (and all the drama involved). It was so nice to see the author's love for a foreign country come to life after being hidden for so long. I have the same love for a (different) foreign country I lived in and I understand how that part of you, that longing and love for another place, how it stays with you and defines you, fading yet constant.
It was an entertaining and educational read. I recommend this book for anyone interested in Spain, anyone interested in buying and renovating/building in a foreign country, or anyone facing retirement and wondering what comes next.

[Heather Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everybody wants to move somewhere romantic and exotic to live, shop in local markets, and see red poppies in the fields and the Walravens did just that. Somehow an epiphany was realised over coffee and lo and behold they end up with a 'precioso' house in a small provincial town about 2 hours northeast from Madrid called Almazán.

A town of only about 5,000 inhabitants, the Walravens set down roots here, devouring tortillas and ensaladilla Rusas and drink copious amounts of coffee. They endear themselves to the locals, who wonder why they decided to live in their modest village. But the Walravens embraced the siestas, village life, the people, the Spanish language and of course, the cheese.

Their dreams are put to the test when plans to move there permanently are disrupted by the wretched pandemic. However the ending (without giving too much away), is both optimistic and hopeful. I hope there will be a sequel to the next chapter of their lives.

[Anne Maree · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I have enjoyed watching travelogues there are very few in literature that I have found riveting. Sunset in Spain is one though. What has drawn the protagonist back to Spain? Well you have to read it to find out but it is so detailed and immediate that I still get up some mornings picturing the old seventeen century home in a small village with it's stone floor and giant floorboards. A time when trees were giants. I am also keen to read up more on the history of the Franco years and the legacy fascism left. Rather than exploits and cheap eats, Sunset in Spain speaks to a generation of westerners looking for community and life with nature.

[B · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got one & a half chapters in, but it just wasn’t holding me. There wasn’t enough description of the location, the buildings, the people, the food. I think I may have been spoiled by the passionately lyric descriptions in ‘Under the Tuscan Sun’ & ‘A Year in Provence’ & so my bar is now high. I’ve never been to Spain. I wanted to be transported. This type of book is right up my alley, but I found it disappointing.

[Lynne Benton · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 - a bit slow until the story of the house really cut in; then I was caught up in the decision and the process; whilst I don’t usually enjoy ‘we did this, we did that’ as they always remind me of the letters some people write at Christmas to everyone, this one doesn’t have that feel very much .. I was left pondering and admiring the nerve to capture a dream and live an adventure .. hope there’s a sequel post pandemic focusing on house …

[Wendy Kendall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I have visited Spain & just loved it. Part of my travels were in the area covered in the travels of the author & her husband.

An Aussie man & a Dutch woman revisit where they met. What starts as a wish to revisit becomes a ‘need’ to buy a ruin & live there. This takes us on a ride through much red tape, dilemma & experiences.

I am giving this a score of 4.5 stars.

[Nissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would gladly let people borrow this book as long as I got the book back!

It’s a fantastic escape read of a non fiction journey!

The excitement to maybe move to a different country altogether is fascinating!

[Tracey Inglis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading about a newly retired couple pursuing a dream of living in Spain. Having travelled to Spain in recent years I enjoyed reading this adventure. If only I could speak another language I would be up for a similar adventure.

[Pam Welch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sunset in Spain by Erna Walraven

I really enjoyed this book. It gives an
Insight to the real Spain and the community they have. The picture she paints is so vivid you feel you are there.
Makes me Want to go and live in northern Spain.

Thanks Affirm
And Erna Walraven.

[Mfeehan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite a nice intro to being a foreigner wanting to live in Spain. There was a lot of repetition and it could have done with a good editor. But lovely to hear all the Spanishisms if that’s a word come out in the book. So loved it for that

[Elle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A 4.7 for me. I really enjoyed this couple and their adventure to find a house in Spain. It’s pushed us to realize our dream of living in France. Thank you.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hope you get home soon

[Lynette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I don’t think I would be brave enough to buy a ruin to renovate in my own country, let alone in a foreign country. Would like to know how it all worked out.

[Kay Sanos · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book allowed me to dream, to imagine doing something similar in Italy. A lovely read

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a die hard Francophile, after reading this I could be persuaded to become the Spanish equivalent, a Hispanophile non? 3.5 🌟

[vicki player · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it

[Emma Wilkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fairly good. A light read after you’ve finished something with depth or even a book you’d pack for lazy days on a relaxing holiday.

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thinking about revisiting Spain I enjoyed this comforting read

[James D · Rating 5 out of 5]

a year in espania

A great story of leaving one way of life to start another, in another part of the would, with a whole new group of new friends. Great reading.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t realise this was a travelogue when I picked it up at the airport (on my way to Spain) and it was the first I’ve ever read and maybe just not the genre for me. I was waiting for the story to develop and unfold further but understand this is more a journey, and perhaps the ending to this particular chapter of their lives stunted the story that could have been written otherwise. But then I wonder if it would have even been written if it wasn’t for that ending.

It was repetitive at times and I was skim reading through a portion of it. I haven’t been to the north of Spain, and didn’t quite fall in love with it from this book, whereas I absolutely love the south and just wasn’t quite transported to Spain. But, understand that perhaps rural northern Spain may be a completely different world to where I’ve been. The last few chapters were really enjoyable though and I’m glad I finished the book, I’d love to read what comes next now, and hope nothing but the best for this couple. Thanks for sharing your story with us.