Thousands of expats relocate to Spain each year with the idea of purchasing their dream home in the sun, relaxing on the beautiful beaches and enjoying the weather. It’s a popular choice with expats for the relaxing lifestyle, affordability and good quality living. If you are thinking of packing your bags for the land of sunshine and sangrias, here are a few things you should know about living in Spain. Paper work When dealing with Spanish bureaucracy it’s not uncommon for documents to get misplaced or lost. Always check you have every piece of paper that you think you might need and take several photocopies or scan the document so that you have a digital back up saved. Be sure to read through all the documents properly because an undiscovered error could set you back many years. Birthday When it’s your birthday don’t stand around waiting for people to throw you a party. In Spain, if it’s your birthday you will be expected to lead the celebrations. Start the party by buying a round of drinks for your friends and colleagues. Beaches Don’t go to the beaches in August – it’s the busiest time in the year as tourists from around the world flock to the sea. If you do venture out, it’s best to go early to get a good spot on the beach and make restaurant reservations in advance. Timing Don’t go to the bank, estate agent or post office between 9:00 and 10 in the morning. There will be a long queue and usually one employee holding the fort. In Spain the days start a little later so it’s best to begin your day accordingly. In Spain la mañana (morning) lasts until about 2pm, la tarde (the afternoon) stretches to nightfall, there is no word for evening, and the early hours have their own special name: la madrugada. Children Friendly In Spain children are allowed to stay up as late as their parents during the summer holidays and are taken to the restaurants. Remember if you are going out to have a quite drink it’s not unusual to have children running past your table. Culture Do not refer to Catalan, Valenciano or Gallego as dialects of 'Spanish' or Castilian as it may offend the Catalan, Valenciano, or Gallego. They are all languages in their own right, and are co-official with castellano in the autonomous communities in which they are spoken (ie Catalunya, Valencia and the and Galicia).