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Blue Door Team

Bronagh McLaughlin (2004 - 2008)

When I decided to move to Spain I wanted a place that didn't have a large foreign community but yet had all the conveniences of a city, and for me Cordoba has the right balance. Even though it is a small city, there is lots going on and, after four years of living here, there is still always something new to see and do. And even if you do get bored and want a change of scenery for the weekend, Seville, Madrid, Malaga and Cadiz are right on your doorstep.

Fari Greenaway (2006 - 2009)

Cordoba's about the same size as Plymouth. It's surrounded by some beautiful countryside (with wild lynx etc.). The city itself is incredibly charming. The old town is full of postcard images, wrought iron balconies and pots of geraniums, medieval churches and cobbled streets. The best month by far is May, but throughout the year there are cultural events: a carnival, music festivals, the Easter parades, the Christmas lights. If nothing else, Córdoba really does know how to throw a party.

Jeremy Knight (2002 - present)

Cordoba is great. Everyone I know lives within walking distance of work. Flights to the UK etc. are a fifty-minute train journey away at Malaga. There's not such an ex-pat community here (my main British friends are from work) so you quickly have to become integrated into Spanish lifestyle and make Spanish friends. Pretty sure of fine and hot weather from April to November (although outdoor pools don't open till June!). Good bars and great restaurants, although you can't get a curry in Cordoba!

Joe Limmer (2006 - 2009)

Cordoba's beautiful, and is a great place to live. As teachers, we tend to be in a place for the majority of the year, and then leave for the summer. In Cordoba, this is an advantage, as the heat of the summer is too much for most people. Best times of year are spring and autumn. It's not far to the coast from here but, to be honest, I never seem to get round to going very often. From April onwards, Cordoba seems to be one long festival.

Lisa Dold (2006 - present)

Cordoba is a beautiful city, which is, in my opinion, the perfect size. It's big enough to have the facilities of a city (plenty of bars, restaurants, cinemas, gyms, etc.) but with many of the advantages of a town. You can easily get from place to place on foot and you get to know the city very quickly. The climate is great during winter, not too cold and with very little rain, but summers can get very hot and temperatures from April on can easily be in the mid 30s. Cordoba is nowhere near the coast, so when it gets hot it can be quite stifling.

The ex-pat community in Cordoba is very small so I would only recommend it as a place to live to teachers who are looking to integrate (something which can pose its own problems). However, if you're looking to immerse yourself in the Spanish way of life, Cordoba offers a more authentic experience than Seville or Granada.

Paul Ashe (2006 - present)

Coming from London, where you can buy just about anything, I sometimes feel frustrated by the lack of amenities in Cordoba. However, with its bid to be European Capital of Culture in 2016, it is improving in a big way.

It is a very manageable city with lots going on, especially when the weather gets warmer. It is truly what I would call a charming city, despite the bitter (although short) winters.

Sally Clarke (2007 - 2009)

I've found Cordoba a great place to live. Although it's a city, it isn't so big you feel completely anonymous, yet it still has all the amenities you need. In addition, the historical part of the city is really beautiful, and residents take great pride in their culture and neighbourhoods, which is fun to become part of. There isn't an enormous amount of ex-pats living in Cordoba, which suits most people just fine. Although it's more difficult if you don't speak much Spanish, I seem to have got along okay with my very basic grasp of the language, but don't come here expecting to meet loads of fluent English speakers. Cordoba is in the heart of the traditional south, with white-walled houses, bullfights, flamenco and fiestas, the best of which take place in May, turning the month into one long party.

Sandy Stevens (2005 - present)

A fantastic city - the perfect size - not too big or small. Plenty to do - sports clubs, gyms, dance classes, etc. And some fab places for eating out. As if that wasn't enough, from April onwards the place is jam-packed with various types of cultural and music festivals, so there's no time to be bored. And all this contrasts with the beautiful surrounding hills and a nearby lake if you need some peace and quiet. The people are great fun and very friendly.

Gabby Hewitt (2004 - present)

Cordoba is an easy place to live. The quality of life is very good, and people here really value family, friends, food, fiestas and all the other good things in life. Apparently, it's the eighth biggest city in Spain, but you'd never guess. It feels like a town and everybody knows everybody. If I had a euro for every time I've said "isn't it a small world?" ... Anybody coming to Cordoba should be aware of a few things though (I wasn't):

• It gets really hot in summer. Incredibly hot.
• Fans (for women at least) are almost essential in summer and not just sold as tourist souvenirs.
• In winter it's perfectly normal to see women wearing fur coats and sunglasses.
• They talk about the weather here almost as much as us Brits.
• They really do have siestas here (especially in summer).
• They're obsessed with ham (and assume you will be too).
• They don't get vegetarianism (apparently ham is not really meat and tuna is not fish!).
• You can't get 'normal' white wine in most bars. If you ask for white wine, you get fino which is a fortified wine made locally (it's very nice but stronger than you might expect).
• Everybody here supports wither Real Madrid or Barça (as well as Cordoba FC) so you need to decide which one to pledge allegiance to.
• People from Cordoba truly believe their city is the best. They take a lot of pride in being Cordobés as a result.
• From the moment you arrive you hear how wonderful the month of May is. Believe it. May is a great month and, without doubt, the highlight of the year for many people. It can't be missed.
• Cordoba is beautiful and I still love the fact that walking to work you pass through parks full of palm trees and orange trees and the sky is nearly always blue.
• A lot of people who come to Cordoba end up staying longer than they intend (as I did) because life's good here.