Corkonians Abroad: Loving our life in Costa Del Sol sun

Where are you from, Gina, and where do you currently live?

I am originally from Galway city but moved to Cork back in 2002. Currently, I live right on the border between Marbella and Estepona on the Costa Del Sol.

We came on a holiday when our daughter was three months old and fell in love with the life here, and the weather.

My other half, Rob O’Hea, from Ballincollig, is a software developer. He was already working from home so all we would need is electricity and a wifi signal to set up. We decided to give it a go, with the thinking that if it didn’t work out we could always move home. Ten years later we are still here!

What is life like in your new home?

Well, the day-to-day is pretty much the same as at home. We still have to work, get to school, clean the house, make dinner, all the regular everyday stuff, but the weather is significantly better, which does take the edge off.

We do enjoy a more outdoor lifestyle here, even if it’s just sitting out on the terrace rather than being stuck inside the house.

How might you spend your weekends?

Due to the great weather, there are a lot of outdoor activities to enjoy here. This weekend, for example, our plan is to spend a few hours on the beach on Saturday, then on Sunday we are going on a hike and picnic near Tarifa with some friends.

We enjoy going out for a spin for the day to discover and explore somewhere new.

Eating is a big event for us. We love having friends over or going to their place for a meal just as much as we enjoy going out for dinner. We try to make a whole day or evening of it, and of course playdates for our daughter Síomha.

If we have visitors over, we will often relax at a chiringuito (beach bar) for the day. There is usually a DJ or live music.

Síomha just started GAA on Sunday mornings with Coast Gaels in Marbella and it’s a lovely way to meet others from the Irish community here.

Tell us a bit about the culture of where you live? What are the main differences from Ireland? Any culture shock type moments for you over the years?

The Spanish, especially here in Andalucia, have a very healthy view of the work/life balance. Life is not all about work. Time should be taken to relax and enjoy time with friends and family.

Siesta is still a strong feature here. It does not mean to go to bed and sleep but rather it’s the time that the family all get together, have a family lunch around 2pm or 3pm and relax after until about 6pm. Nearly everything shuts down between 2pm and 7 pm. It took us a good while to get used to that.

Supermarkets and shopping centres all stay open, but all the restaurants and shops would close until the evening. This is becoming a little more flexible during tourist season, but if you try to get a meal around 5 or 6 o clock, they will look at you like you have two heads.

The multiculturalism here is very evident, our daughter has friends from all over the world including the UK, Spain and Ireland of course, but also Peru, the US, Argentina, Jordan, Ukraine, Iran and Syria.

I understand that you run wine/history/tapas tours. Tell us about it?

Anybody who knows me will tell you that I am obsessed with both food and history and that ancient civilisations fascinate me. In a past life, I worked in the radio industry where I was basically paid to talk. Over three years ago, I decided to combine my chatting skills with my passion and knowledge of local food and history and I began to give food and history tours throughout the old town of Marbella. 

It has been a great success. 

I take people off the beaten track to some amazing restaurants and tour around the old town of Marbella, learning all about its history from the distant past right up to the present day. My food and history tours have now expanded to full-day tours. I bring small groups to Tarifa in the south-west to explore the town and then to the breathtaking Baelo Claudia, a full Roman village found under the sands of Bolonia Beach… possibly one of the most beautiful beaches in Spain.

Alternatively, I travel in the opposite direction towards the beautiful and vibrant towns of Frigilana and Nerja. Tour guests can stroll through Andalusian white villages, go horseback riding on the beach, explore Roman ruins and kayak in crystal clear waters.

There is so much to do here, the options are endless. My aim is to deliver an unforgettable adventure for people and hopefully make it the highlight of their visit to the area.

Rob and I have a tour business together at HeyCosta.com.

What has been your most memorable moment in your new location so far?

There have been many but the first that pops to mind is our first time at El Festival de la Luna Mora de Guaro. It translates into The Festival of the Moorish Moon in Guaro. Guaro is a village about 40 minutes inland from Marbella. Every year around the second weekend of September, they have a festival celebrating their Moorish past. They have an Arabic-style market in the village, with Arabic-themed music and entertainment. Then, when it gets dark the village is illuminated with thousands of candles, at least 20,000 are used and the effect and atmosphere are just breathtaking.

Any special mentions to friends or family back in Cork?

The benefit of living just a two and a half hour flight away from Cork is that we get to see family and friends very often, home is never too far away.

If you were back in Cork for one day, what would be the ideal day for you?

We usually come back to Cork over Christmas or in August, so they are two very different experiences.

At Christmas, we usually stay with family on Gardiners Hill. A quick trip into town is a must to pick up last-minute gifts, see the lights and of course, a sneaky drink in the Mutton Lane or Henchys really gets me in the Christmas mood.

During the summer it’s a different story, we usually stay with family in Schull. Síomha gets the freedom we had as kids, gone in the morning with the other kids and back for dinner. A day trip to Barleycove is a must and an evening drink in Hacketts or O’Regans, then finish the evening with a barbecue in the garden, watch the sun go down, and on a clear night enjoy a view of the Milky Way.

Is there anything that you especially miss about Cork?

The English Market, I just love that place. I have happily spent hours just wandering around, especially in Mr Bells.

The Cork craic, there is something special about the Cork wit and sense of humour. It’s not there anymore, but Tony’s Butchers on Sundays Well, the lads were so lovely in there. Tony and Tom always looked after me and always had a juicy bone for my dog Bailey.

For more see https://heycostatours.com or email is gina@heycostatours.com