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Sweden to Thailand

Something that struck me as odd was how the husband dismissed cooking facilities in their living quarters because they had a restaurant. So they would eat each meal at the restaurant? Would she cook up one thing for the family and the staff could cook up menu meals for the guests? Would she be carrying food back and forth from the restaurant and home? Also, she liked having a pool for the kids. I can't see having kids traipsing around the pools and restaurant where there are guests. But maybe theirs will be a more communal establishment than any place I've ever stayed at. 

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On 2/28/2023 at 1:21 PM, proserpina65 said:

I wanted to stab myself in both ear drums every time she said that.  She was so fucking annoying.  No, you didn't move to Mackay to be at the beach.  You moved there for your husband's job.  I get it, I'd want to live as close to the beach as possible, but seriously, shut the fuck up about it.

I just got around to watching the Mackay episode, and I was thinking the exact same thing every time she said they moved to Mackay for the beach.  Uh, no, you didn't.  You moved there because of his job.  Her voice and uptalk drove me nuts.  By the end of the episode I was exhausted from listening to her.  She was a bit much for me.  Glad her husband doesn't like to talk very much.  The house they chose was the best of the 3 IMO.

  • Like 4
(edited)

The Swedish couple annoyed me. They were whining about buying a hotel, their budget was only 200k, and then complained about the owner’s quarters being so small. At most of these hotels the manager usually stays there, not a 4 person family, and what do they expect for 200k? Plus they picked the place without a pool and high likelihood to flood. Just dumb, dumb, dumb. I liked the first place and did find it on booking.com, and it looks nice! Only 16 bucks a night.

Edited by twoods
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Is Spain that cheap- 600 bucks a month for a 3 bedroom? I love it when idiots don’t know how European houses/apartments are complain about the size of rooms when their budget is ridiculously low. Maybe she should sell her massive wedding ring so their budget can be a little bigger (I am kidding). They were a pleasant couple, and that kid was adorable.

Edited by twoods
  • Like 6

I enjoy the episodes in Spain, and from what I have been seeing, it really is quite affordable if you stay away from the larger cities like Madrid and Barcelona. I wasn't familiar with Logrono, which apparently is the capital of the autonomous community of La Rioja. It's a rather large city of 150,000+ people. 

That 3rd flat was a no just because of being a  5 flight walk-up, but it did have a terrace. I was glad that in the end the flat they chose did have a park for the dogs not too far away. Javier made it seem as if there were no parks nearby.

Did the wife say whether she was fluent in Spanish? She said she was Mexican American, but made it sound like that was an anomaly in their area of Kansas. Cute kid. 

  • Like 5

Back to Thailand for a minute.

Where the heck are those little girls supposed to play? The only dry land I saw were those rickity wooden walkways with no railings and I wouldn't let my child walk on them alone, much less play hopscotch or tag. And where was the little tripod dog supposed to potty? In the middle of the walkway for the guests to maneuver through/around? What if the family didn't care for the food in their restaurant? Since the husband didn't seem up for cooking in their apartment, I see a situation. Where will everybody park their vehicles? I know most of the people there drive motorbikes, but will tourists? How will they get their luggage there if they're on a bike? I'll bet that water is stinky, and who knows what's in that muck. As you can see, I've given way too much thought to this episode.

  • Like 5
  • LOL 8
28 minutes ago, slasherboy said:

Back to Thailand for a minute.

Where the heck are those little girls supposed to play? The only dry land I saw were those rickity wooden walkways with no railings and I wouldn't let my child walk on them alone, much less play hopscotch or tag. And where was the little tripod dog supposed to potty? In the middle of the walkway for the guests to maneuver through/around? What if the family didn't care for the food in their restaurant? Since the husband didn't seem up for cooking in their apartment, I see a situation. Where will everybody park their vehicles? I know most of the people there drive motorbikes, but will tourists? How will they get their luggage there if they're on a bike? I'll bet that water is stinky, and who knows what's in that muck. As you can see, I've given way too much thought to this episode.

The flood waters were only there during the rainy season, the girls have the beach too. Other dogs manage well enough, so I think it will do fine. The family can hire any cook/chef they want, so that checks off food. Parking in the same place the previous owners and drivers did. They carry and pull luggage the rest of the way. As for water smell, not really. Unless people are throwing trash in or defecating into it, which they usually aren't... 

8 hours ago, seacliffsal said:

Was the Spain episode the first one in which the producers didn't even bother to try to have a real estate 'expert'?  I liked the 'local friend' who served in that role.

I loved the apartment they chose.  Couldn't believe city center, 2 baths, 2 or 3 bedrooms (I forget which) and all for $600!  

Yeah what a deal.

Guess the low housing costs figured into their decision to move there.  He’s going for school but if it was a high cost area like London,they’d probably look for another school elsewhere.

Guess the second bathroom was more important than outdoor space to them.  

Both seem to enjoy shooting the episode.

Kind of in the middle of nowhere compared to more famous places in Spain — hence the low-cost housing.  But presumably he’s going to school for culinary skills so being in the Rioja wine region must be a part of it.

  • Like 3
1 hour ago, aghst said:

But presumably he’s going to school for culinary skills so being in the Rioja wine region must be a part of it.

His school is where he'll be going to teach English. I don't think he's going to culinary school. Maybe I missed something. She'll be remotely managing a pet sitting business. Hmm...

Nice couple. 

  • Like 1

Rerun tonight of Adrian in Lille with newlyweds who've come for his PhD around Christopher Marlowe. Bride was giving me internal screaming vibes. She, who had no plans to ever leave Wichita. Oy. They chose Adrian's compromise place and it looked nearly the same as when they were hunting--so as usual, they moved out the minimal accessories and I guess put in some storage somewhere. 

So interesting that there was no talk about traveling around France or elsewhere while they were living there. LOL. Guessing she's already on overload (good she found remote work) and no has no plans to leave Lille. I was left wondering if the eyeglasses she wore at the end came from Wichita or France (they looked good).

Forgot to mention how funny Adrian was kvetching about how nice the couple was and how it's easier sometimes to work for demanding clients. LOL!

Edited by buttersister
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  • LOL 2
9 hours ago, Grrarrggh said:

The flood waters were only there during the rainy season.

I, too wondered about the rainy season. On the "5 months later" recap, dad had on high wader boots, and while the water was lower, the ground around the huts was still saturated. I think it would be an awesome place to stay, buy it's not the luxury, high end resort that some people want, definately more rustic.

22 hours ago, mojito said:

His school is where he'll be going to teach English. I don't think he's going to culinary school. Maybe I missed something

Yeah, per their tiktok he is teaching English through nalcap program the https://www.educacionyfp.gob.es/eeuu/convocatorias-programas/convocatorias-eeuu/nalcap.html

While you can do it until you're 60, it seems an unusual choice for a married couple with a baby.  More like a "just graduated from college" gap year before you get a real job thing,  but good for them for making it work.  

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On 2/21/2023 at 3:41 PM, aghst said:

I did like Adrian saying no initially to yoga.  She probably went along with it to take a short shot of them doing it for the show.

Also, she can stop over-using the adjective "fabulous."

Sex and the City is now over a decade ago?

 

 

Almost 20 years ago!!! Series ended in 2004. Time flies...

  • Like 1

Gothenburg, Sweden. I'd love to hear the story behind her name, Holden. Makes me think of Catcher in the Rye. Apartment #1 had plenty of room. But we didn't see the bathroom, did we? #2, great location, great price. How can she request a studio and then complain about the smallness of a studio? I bet she takes this one and is just producer complaining. #3 is too far out. They did not need to show Petunia using the toilet.

  • Like 7
7 hours ago, Grizzly said:

Gothenburg, Sweden. I'd love to hear the story behind her name, Holden. Makes me think of Catcher in the Rye. Apartment #1 had plenty of room. But we didn't see the bathroom, did we? #2, great location, great price. How can she request a studio and then complain about the smallness of a studio? I bet she takes this one and is just producer complaining. #3 is too far out. They did not need to show Petunia using the toilet.

I just googled her. She is on several websites as K. Holden. 

It's probably a family name. There is a man with a similar name to her on LI. 

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UK and TX to Merida.  A long distance couple marry during the pandemic and decide to live together in Merida.  They will telecommute to their jobs overseas so they need fiber optics.

House one is over budget but very well decorated yet doesn’t have fiber optic Internet.

House two is more modest, under budget and has fiber optics.

House three is well under budget, has fiber optics but is completely unfurnished so they’d have to buy furniture in a rental.

This feels short term though apparently moving to Merida is the only way they could live together?  Their budget wasn’t that low, maybe they could find something in Texas for $1300 a month.

I forget his job but she’s an attorney in the UK — who could do her job remotely from overseas?

Maybe this is more an extended honeymoon.  He teases her about having dozens of kids.  She kept harping aBout an authentic hacienda but none of the homes were.  House 3 was more “traditional” but to me it was just a modern boxy construction like the other two except older with white appliances in the kitchen.

He looked at one property with a big backyard and pool and said he didn’t want do yard work or keep that pool clean.

Their personalities were mostly pleasant but tHeir circumstances smell fishy.

  • Like 2

Y'all might have missed it, but I gather the Gothenburg, Sweden, HH has anxiety and a cat. 

Merida, Mexico:  I remember previous episodes in Merida where the houses were in two parts--the front building is the living area, then there's a little swimming pool, and then the bedroom is in a separate building in the back.  I think those are so cool and was disappointed there weren't any in this episode.  I was actually thinking they were the predominant style there, which reveals I wasn't doing much actual thinking at all.

So I'm grateful for this episode, because I can just see myself on a ski lift talking to a stranger who says he's from Merida and I'd say, "Oh, Merida, where the houses are in two parts with the swimming pool in between" and he'd be thinking, "What the hell are you talking about?"

  • LOL 11
On 3/14/2023 at 8:02 PM, Grizzly said:

Gothenburg, Sweden. I'd love to hear the story behind her name, Holden. Makes me think of Catcher in the Rye. Apartment #1 had plenty of room. But we didn't see the bathroom, did we? #2, great location, great price. How can she request a studio and then complain about the smallness of a studio? I bet she takes this one and is just producer complaining. #3 is too far out. They did not need to show Petunia using the toilet.

Yeah she chose the one which was like a dorm as she said.  Probably university housing or private housing which is most often rented by students.

Otherwise the prices were surprising for Sweden.

With social anxiety, she even talked about how #1 and #3 had space for hosting people.

 

 

  • Like 4
On 3/14/2023 at 8:02 PM, Grizzly said:

Gothenburg, Sweden. I'd love to hear the story behind her name, Holden. Makes me think of Catcher in the Rye. Apartment #1 had plenty of room. But we didn't see the bathroom, did we? #2, great location, great price. How can she request a studio and then complain about the smallness of a studio? I bet she takes this one and is just producer complaining. #3 is too far out. They did not need to show Petunia using the toilet.

I'm sorry, I found that disgusting. Maybe she is ok with using the same toilet seat as a cat, but now anyone who visits her will know, which maybe is a good thing. Would not use her bathroom.  Does the cat flush? 

5 minutes ago, ECM1231 said:

I thought it was disgusting too, but honestly didn't even realize that was possible. 

Our cat could pee in toilet too. Never trained her to do it, but she was smart and watched fam using toilet. Happened to catch her one day. Got it on video, then shut door so it never happened again. 

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  • Mind Blown 3

Lyons, France. Ooh la la. David is a fine looking man. They are an attractive couple. Why such a small budget? Didn't they sell her 5 bedroom monstrosity in Miami? If he would spend more to buy, why not just buy? Can't picture them getting anything but #1. But the sexy bargain hunter promises to buy her a big house someday if they get #2.

  • Like 2
12 hours ago, Grizzly said:

Lyons, France. Ooh la la. David is a fine looking man. They are an attractive couple. Why such a small budget? Didn't they sell her 5 bedroom monstrosity in Miami? If he would spend more to buy, why not just buy? Can't picture them getting anything but #1. But the sexy bargain hunter promises to buy her a big house someday if they get #2.

He didn't have a job yet so I guess he didn't want to rely on her income.

Maybe he does't want to commit to buying long term in Lyon either, since he said Parisians wouldn't dream of living anywhere else.

He was going to buy that place with the low ceilings and way out of the way to save $200 a month.

What the heck is International Development?  Must pay well enough for her to develop some champagne tastes.

  • Like 4

Lyon, France

At first, I had negative feelings for the glamorous-life wife, but in her TH, she came off as being reasonable. The place they got was a good compromise. I thought the first place was gaudy. (That's Miami style?) Too much space, trim, and sparkly things. 

Nice couple. Hope they find their way to Paris someday.

 

  • Like 4

I really enjoyed the Lyon episode and fell in love with choice #2 so was glad that was the one they chose.  David was very upfront and honest about Parisians not even wanting to visit elsewhere in France.  I agree with an above poster that David doesn't want to live there long-term and he is looking to get back to Paris.  The couple actually seemed like they loved each other, so that was pleasant!

  • Like 7
14 hours ago, Grizzly said:

Lyons, France. Ooh la la. David is a fine looking man. They are an attractive couple. Why such a small budget? Didn't they sell her 5 bedroom monstrosity in Miami? If he would spend more to buy, why not just buy? Can't picture them getting anything but #1. But the sexy bargain hunter promises to buy her a big house someday if they get #2.

Just saw this one and David and Magda are a striking couple! I'm glad they compromised on flat #2. It had the most charm and at $1200/monthly was a bargain, ugly kitchen and all!

I've never been to France, but my son has traveled there a bit and I've seen many photos of the gorgeous cities he's visited. Do Parisians think Paris is the center of the universe? The realtor said Lyon was the 3rd largest city, so it's not exactly Hicksville.

  • Like 4

It sounded like she was making a very good living.

That $1800 a month has to be less than their rent/mortgage on their Miami McMansion.

So I sympathize with her point, she doesn't have to settle for a cramped place, pointed out that they wouldn't choose to live in a tent when David said housing doesn't matter.

They're not in their 20s any more so they don't have to scrimp.

 

 

 

 

 

  • Like 6
On 3/15/2023 at 2:38 PM, StatisticalOutlier said:

So I'm grateful for this episode, because I can just see myself on a ski lift talking to a stranger who says he's from Merida and I'd say, "Oh, Merida, where the houses are in two parts with the swimming pool in between" and he'd be thinking, "What the hell are you talking about?"

Reminds me of a story. One of my cousins lived in Springfield (one of the many USA Springfields), was on the metro in Moscow and asked where she was from. When she told the man Springfield, he asked if she knew the Simpson family lol. She says she still can't decide if he was serious or joking. 

Edited by Grrarrggh
  • LOL 6
9 hours ago, aghst said:

What the heck is International Development?  Must pay well enough for her to develop some champagne tastes.

It's working at developing places around the world. She mentioned visiting and living in Africa and the Carribean, that makes sense. Working for NGOs/government aid, the UN, World Bank, international foundations. It's usually for the good. 

  • Like 2
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17 hours ago, ECM1231 said:

Just saw this one and David and Magda are a striking couple! I'm glad they compromised on flat #2. It had the most charm and at $1200/monthly was a bargain, ugly kitchen and all!

I've never been to France, but my son has traveled there a bit and I've seen many photos of the gorgeous cities he's visited. Do Parisians think Paris is the center of the universe? The realtor said Lyon was the 3rd largest city, so it's not exactly Hicksville.

I wish I could watch this but dropped cable, just have hulu, other streaming devices. My SIL told me about it because my daughter is teaching in France and spends time there. Would have been fun to see some sites if I can't be there. ; )

17 hours ago, ECM1231 said:

Just saw this one and David and Magda are a striking couple! I'm glad they compromised on flat #2. It had the most charm and at $1200/monthly was a bargain, ugly kitchen and all!

I've never been to France, but my son has traveled there a bit and I've seen many photos of the gorgeous cities he's visited. Do Parisians think Paris is the center of the universe? The realtor said Lyon was the 3rd largest city, so it's not exactly Hicksville.

My daughter has been to Paris, and taught (not paid well but in France) in high schools in Quimper and Annecy now. Annecy is gorgeous and she can hop over to Geneva etc being close. Her friend is working in Paris and coming to visit her and although Paris is hyped up, it's very expensive and touristy. There is much more to France than Paris.....but don't tell everyone. ; )

  • Like 2
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3 hours ago, debraran said:

I wish I could watch this but dropped cable, just have hulu, other streaming devices. My SIL told me about it because my daughter is teaching in France and spends time there. Would have been fun to see some sites if I can't be there. ; )

My daughter has been to Paris, and taught (not paid well but in France) in high schools in Quimper and Annecy now. Annecy is gorgeous and she can hop over to Geneva etc being close. Her friend is working in Paris and coming to visit her and although Paris is hyped up, it's very expensive and touristy. There is much more to France than Paris.....but don't tell everyone. ; )

People who live in major cities are often insistent that they couldn't live anywhere else, not that they're ever tried.  There are plenty of folks from London and New York City who are convinced that leaving those cities is akin to moving to Mars.  It's a quirk, not a very charming one, though.

  • LOL 2
15 minutes ago, Notabug said:

People who live in major cities are often insistent that they couldn't live anywhere else, not that they're ever tried.  There are plenty of folks from London and New York City who are convinced that leaving those cities is akin to moving to Mars.  It's a quirk, not a very charming one, though.

Just as there are people living in tiny villages that say and think the same. Too many people with such fixed opinions. I've often wondered if instead of drafting people into the military or a service corps, the government should instead move city/country people to places the opposite of where they live for 2-5 years? Walk a mile, and all that.

Edited by Grrarrggh
  • Like 5
On 3/16/2023 at 4:02 PM, chessiegal said:

They can.

catflush.jpg.ef2fe530a948b9b695abd439a51200f9.jpg

Mine would probably run my water bill up sky high if I let them use the toilet. 😉

On 3/16/2023 at 3:33 PM, debbie311 said:

I'm sorry, I found that disgusting. Maybe she is ok with using the same toilet seat as a cat

Idk, is it really worse than sharing a toilet with men?

On 3/16/2023 at 11:03 PM, Grizzly said:

Why such a small budget? Didn't they sell her 5 bedroom monstrosity in Miami? If he would spend more to buy, why not just buy?

He wanted to save money to eventually buy a place.  Most likely in Paris.

On 3/17/2023 at 1:32 PM, ECM1231 said:

Do Parisians think Paris is the center of the universe?

Yep, generally.  Paris is quite nice, but I'd prefer one of the smaller French cities myself.  Wouldn't turn down the opportunity to live in Paris, though.

On 3/18/2023 at 6:37 AM, debraran said:

although Paris is hyped up, it's very expensive and touristy. There is much more to France than Paris.....but don't tell everyone. ; )

Yep, keep Carcasonne a secret. (That's where I'd want to live.)

On 3/18/2023 at 10:15 AM, Grrarrggh said:

I've often wondered if instead of drafting people into the military or a service corps, the government should instead move city/country people to places the opposite of where they live for 2-5 years? Walk a mile, and all that.

That's not a bad idea, depending on where.

On 3/19/2023 at 12:41 PM, Rickster said:

Interesting article about the wave of Americans moving to Europe, especially Portugal, Spain and Greece, for lower cost housing (not sure if this is paywalled)

 

The Good Life On The Cheap 

 

I'd move to Greece in a second if I could afford it.  The south of Crete was wonderful.

  • Like 4

We've been to France twice, spent time exploring Normandy (I wanted to see Omaha Beach - my dad landed there D-Day plus 20), and Provence. We spent several days in Paris both times. Paris is so beautiful, just the architecture alone. The first day we were in Paris we had arranged for a skip the line tour of the Eiffel Tower. We decided to walk rather than take the Metro, and I'm so glad we did. Just looking at all the beauty along the way was worth it. I'd go back again in a heartbeat.

This was the view from our hotel room.

parisfeet(1).jpg.5adbfac5888585b49d045ced5abb6a95.jpg

 

  • Like 9
  • Love 1

California to Mexico City.

Young couple, the guy just out of college and the woman some kind of a counselor.  Forget whether they were married or were going to marry.

He has a mechanical engineering degree but gets a lucrative management consultant job in Mexico City.  But he's worried that he might not last in the job and then wouldn't have a fallback option as easily as back in CA.  So he wants to stick to the $2500 budget.

She wants to be in a neighborhood with a lot of expats, which happens to be "posh" with more expensive dining options.  She's making a greater sacrifice she says since she already had a job back in CA so she wants to be comfortable.

They want at least 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, so they could each have an office in addition to the bedroom.  She wants "homey" and he wants modern.

First apt is in Polanco, under budget, has hardwood floors but the Kitchen and some of the other spaces are small for them.  He says the neighborhood is posh, not really them.

Second apt. is in Condessa, over budget, very modern with concrete walls and floors.  Way more spacious than the first one.  Too modern for her.

Third apt. is also in Condessa but is furnished -- they wanted unfurnished -- and has only two bedrooms and the rooms are too small for their liking.  It is on budget but they eliminate this one right away.

Guy pushes for #2 and she initially talks up #1.  There's a $400/month rent difference but he says that kitchen is too small and they'd have to buy a fridge.

So they choose #2 and 3 months later, she finds a way to do her counseling practice and he's enjoying his job.

#2 is industrial and dark walls and floors but there are large windows and although they don't show it much, they've furnished it so it looks less industrial and impersonal.

It's a lot of space though for two people.  Wonder if they hire housekeeping, probably do, sounds like they're both making good money and neither seem like they'd be interested in doing a lot of work around the home.  In fact probably dine out or take out as many people in their twenties tend to do.

  • Like 2
1 hour ago, chessiegal said:

We've been to France twice, spent time exploring Normandy (I wanted to see Omaha Beach - my dad landed there D-Day plus 20), and Provence. We spent several days in Paris both times. Paris is so beautiful, just the architecture alone. The first day we were in Paris we had arranged for a skip the line tour of the Eiffel Tower. We decided to walk rather than take the Metro, and I'm so glad we did. Just looking at all the beauty along the way was worth it. I'd go back again in a heartbeat.

This was the view from our hotel room.

parisfeet(1).jpg.5adbfac5888585b49d045ced5abb6a95.jpg

 

Haven't we seen those feet before? 😄

23 hours ago, aghst said:

California to Mexico City.

Young couple, the guy just out of college and the woman some kind of a counselor.  Forget whether they were married or were going to marry.

They were married.  In fact, they'd gotten married twice.  The first one and then another in Puerto Rico, I think.

I thought he was super cute until about halfway into the episode there was a camera angle that wasn't flattering and after that I couldn't regain the super cute.

Also, I forgot to mention in the Gothenburg, Sweden, episode, the HH was looking at a bay window or similar and said it would be a great place for her cat to relax. 

  • Like 2

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