SUN, sea and sangria – for many Brits, that’s the dream. 

But for Daniel Efford, a British expat who’s spent nearly four decades living in Spain, the fantasy often clashes with a far more sobering reality.

In a TikTok video that’s racked up more than 100,000 views, Efford offers a blunt truth bomb to would-be expats: “It’s brilliant, but not easy. Let me explain.”

READ MORE: Are you an expat or an immigrant in Spain? The Olive Press canvassed the debate on this hot topic

Efford, an operations manager for GRSA International based in La Cala de Mijas on the Costa del Sol, isn’t new to this conversation. 

He also runs a YouTube channel with friend and co-host Mark called Life in Spain Unfiltered, where the pair share their combined 60 years of experience navigating Spanish life. 

They describe the channel as ‘unfiltered and honest’, promising to tackle everything from bureaucracy to cultural clashes, with ‘nothing off limits’.

His TikTok video strikes a chord with many, particularly those considering a permanent move to Spain based on week-long holidays. 

“I think one of the biggest stumbling blocks that people have, is that when they come to Spain, they come as holidaymakers,” he says. 

“They look at life from the holidaymaker view and don’t really consider what happens behind the scenes.”

And it’s those behind-the-scenes realities – dealing with Spanish bureaucracy, securing stable housing, finding a job, and learning the language – that often catch new arrivals off guard.

“So they come for a week, see how it works or see the way of life, and think ‘I can do that’. It’s just a mistake,” Efford warns.

For Efford, the key to making a life in Spain isn’t just good weather or cheap beer – it’s preparation and perspective. 

He urges those thinking of relocating to dig deeper than the beach bars.

“If you’re thinking of moving to Spain, first you can check out what happens in Spain by asking local people,” he says. 

“Do a bit of homework, speak to locals – I’m not talking about the Brits at your favourite bar – talk to local Spanish people who speak English or who you’ve been able to build a bond with.”

Efford highlights how the tourist lens often clouds reality. 

“We have this problem that the tourist view clouds common sense. It clouds it because we see a lifestyle that we enjoy because we are a tourist.”

It’s a sentiment that’s echoed across the comment section of his video. 

One user, who moved to Lanzarote in 2020, shared: “We did our homework. One thing for sure is you don’t want to be living in tourism areas.”

Another commenter offered a tip that Efford fully endorses: “The best thing anyone can do is learn the language. A huge number of doors will open to you as an English speaker with Spanish! And you’ll make friends who will help you settle in.”

Efford encourages people to step outside the expat enclaves and get to know the day-to-day Spain that isn’t found on postcards.

“Talk to the local people and take into account what they say, how they say it, the information you’re getting… And not just from one person – listen to as many people as possible, because there’ll be some scary stories. I can share a few…”

Despite the cautionary tone, Efford isn’t here to kill the dream – he just wants people to go into it with their eyes open.

“You just have to find the right ingredients for that life to be livable.”

And for some, those ingredients have already been found. 

As one TikTok commenter puts it: “I absolutely love it, the best move we ever made! Visiting the UK now, weather is nice but people are miserable, struggling financially, shops run down etc. It’s such a shame.”

THIS is the dramatic moment as a bull runner was struck and thrown by a charging bull during a traditional bull-running event in southern Spain this weekend. 

The incident occurred on Easter Sunday during the Toro Embolao in Vejer de la Frontera, a town in the province of Cadiz, when a bull named ‘Orensano’ – weighing 490 kg – collided with a runner on Calle Alta. 

The force of the impact sent the man airborne before the animal fell on top of him.

READ MORE: SPANISH RECIPE: How to make the perfect rabo de toro – the bull’s tail

The injured man suffered serious contusions and had to be carried by bystanders to a nearby ambulance.

Video footage shows the shocking moment the runner was flung into a building and the frantic efforts to get him to safety.

The bull was also catapulted on top of the runner, and then proceeded to run away from the commotion, back down the street.  

Due to the severity of the man’s condition, he was later evacuated by helicopter to the Puerta del Mar Hospital in Cadiz. 

His current condition has been described as serious, with a reserved prognosis.

Orensano, from the Salvador Domecq ranch, was reportedly the most aggressive of the three bulls released along the route, which winds between the San Miguel district and La Plazuela.

The Toro Embolao is a longstanding Easter tradition in Vejer, drawing both locals and tourists to its narrow, winding streets each year. 

Despite increased calls for tighter safety measures at such events, they remain a deeply rooted cultural fixture in many parts of Andalucia.

The incident follows chaos just a day earlier in the nearby town of Arcos de la Frontera, where a bull escaped during the Toros del Aleluya festival and attacked spectators.

A woman was seriously injured and at least two others hurt after the 570 kg bull, called ‘Vaporoso’, broke through safety barriers on Saturday.

Footage shared online shows chaotic scenes, with people knocked to the ground and screaming as the bull broke through the barriers and entered the spectator area.

The injured woman was gored by the animal as she lay on the ground and tried to get up, but to no effect. 

She suffered a serious goring to the thigh that reached her femoral artery, and a Guardia Civil officer came to the rescue by applying a tourniquet at the scene. 

She was later operated on in hospital and is now recovering. 

Another two people sustained injuries, including minor fractures caused by the crush of the fleeing crowd.

Furthermore, several children and even elderly people were behind the fences as the incident occurred. 

Despite the scare, Miguel Rodriguez, the town’s mayor, insisted the fencing had been thoroughly inspected beforehand. 

“It’s not normal for this to happen, but in any arena boards can break or unforeseen events can occur,” he said.

Following the incident, the Town Hall reinforced the fencing with additional chains and anchors to prevent further accidents during the ongoing celebrations. 

The mayor pointed out that despite the seriousness of the incident, there was ‘no major tragedy’ to regret.