Meet Salina : a life built around community in Madrid

Meet Selena, an American expat who moved from Texas to Madrid at just 24, despite never having visited the city before.

Eight years later, Selena is still living in Spain and has gone through quite the expat journey, from teaching English and learning Spanish to navigating multiple visas, building a community from scratch, and eventually switching to Spain’s digital nomad visa.

In this episode, Selena shares what motivated her to leave the US and try life in Europe after a six-week backpacking trip opened her eyes to a different way of living. She talks about why the sense of community she discovered in Europe made such an impression on her, and how she took the leap to move to Madrid without knowing exactly what the future would look like.

We also talk about one of the biggest challenges of expat life: building a community from scratch. Selena shares how joining a football group helped her meet people from all over the world and led to friendships that have lasted almost eight years. Her advice? Put yourself out there, even when it feels uncomfortable. You never know where one conversation might lead.

Selena also talks about learning the local language and integrating into Spanish life, why she believes you can't really get by with English alone, and how learning Spanish has made everyday life, bureaucracy and finding accommodation much easier.

We compare Madrid with other parts of Spain, talk about the slower pace of life, the importance of patience, and why expats should always have a Plan B, C and sometimes even D when it comes to bureaucracy and visas.

Selena shares some of her favourite Madrid restaurants, tapas bars and cafés.

Selena's Madrid recommendations:

• 🍴 La Confusa – Traditional Spanish tapas, plus an excellent cheesecake
• 🍷 Taberna de la Copla – Vermouth and classic Spanish tapas in Malasaña
• 🍽️ Cantina Singular – Small family-run restaurant with a twist on Spanish food, near Metro Bilbao
• 🍷 Casa Alberto – Historic restaurant in Madrid's Literary Quarter, known for its vermouth
• 🍷 Lamiak – Great tapas, wine and sharing plates
• 🍸 La Berlona Bar – Chic and slightly more upscale, perfect for a date or when you want to impress
• 🍷 Hermanos Vinagre – Casual, fun and very Spanish
• 🎨 Los Gabrieles – Historic tapas bar with beautiful interior details, including paintings and tilework
• ☕ Maria Peperina Cantina – Great coffee and big windows in Arganzuela
• 🥐 Casa Victoria – Central café with a fun atmosphere, brunch and great coffee

🎵 Selena's expat song:Vivir la Vida by Marc Anthony – a feel-good salsa track that captures the fun, energy and rhythm of life in Spain.

If you're thinking about moving to Spain, starting a new life abroad, or simply wondering what it takes to build a life and community in another country, this episode is for you.

Listen to the episode and discover Selena's journey from Texas to Madrid!

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Credits:

Intro outro Ice tea, Not the king

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