Posted: Wed May 19, 2021 6:08pm
Hi Chris,
I live 10 minutes from Purias and can highly recommend this area. Let me give you some brief information about each of the areas you mention -
Puerto Lumbreras - a mainly Spanish town with almost everything there, various shops, bars, good restaurants, weekly market, castle to visit, etc, etc. It has an older section and a newer part. Not sure how many ex-pats actually live there, but 10 minutes away, is a small town called Estacion (actually La Estacion) where there are many ex-pats living in, or around the town. There are several bars, one of which pre-covid, had a weekly quiz night as well as other activities.
Several shops, supermarket, hardware stores, etc. and close to Lorca, Purias and the coast.
Lorca - a larger town than Puerto Lumbreras, mainly Spanish with all the usual facilities, shops, loads of bars for tapas or menu-del-dia lunch, very good restaurants, there are even the big burger chains there, if that us what you fancy !! Weekly market and lots of smaller shops where you can buy more or less everything. Excellent hospital, very pretty historical section in the old town plus a modern pedestrian area for shopping. A large shopping centre is nearby (on the road to Purias) which has all of the usual commercial centre types of shops.
Purias - small village, Spanish, quite a few ex-pats live around the area, which is mainly agricultural, growing all sorts of vegetables for local and export. Because a house in this area has to have an acre of land, to be allowed to build, there are no "communities or streets of houses the same", as you find in areas south of here. We know quite a lot of ex-pats and we all like the slower pace of life here. Speaking Spanish obviously helps, but the local Spanish people are really friendly and always ready to help. A small supermarket, weekly market, hardware stores plus the obligatory bars and restaurants. There are even a couple of hairdressers !!
Lorca town is 20 minutes by car, the nearest coast is Aguilas (25 minutes) and is beautiful. Mountain area (Sierra Espuna) is about an hour away and is huge. There are many walks there and cycling routes.
We have been here 15 years and still love the area. As I said above, it is a slower pace of life than the busier areas (where there are far more ex-pats), it completely depends on what you want when you are here.
Cycling is very, very popular in the area (as in all of Spain) and I'm certain that with some basic Spanish, you would find a club to join. Mixing with the Spanish is the best and quickest way to improve the language ...... trust me !!
We were members of a walking group a couple of years ago, but it is no longer running. However, as the dreaded Covid starts to decrease, I'm certain that most of the walking groups will be active again. A Google search for "Walking groups in the Murcia area), should show quite a few.
I am NOT an estate agent, but I do know of several houses for sale in the area ....... if you are interested in seeing some when you are ready to make the move, please contact me and I will be happy to either show them to you, or put you in touch with someone who can help.
Good luck, as you already know, renting first is a definately advantage and allows you to see an area in summer and/or winter.
If you need anymore information, or have any specific questions, the please do not hesitate to contact me. Contacting me by PM is probably the best way forward if that is OK with you.
Best Regards and hope to hear from you soon.
Rodan
My name's Alex and this is my website all about Puerto Lumbreras in Spain. Register now for free to talk about Introduce yourselves in Puerto Lumbreras and much more!
