Murcia, the Eastern Jewel between cultures

Yes, I'm Murcian. Murcia is not the prettiest city that I've ever seen, nor would I even put it in my top 10, and maybe it's not worthwhile visiting if you're only looking for museums or to take your picture. But I'm going to tell you reasons why I think that Murcia is one of the best cities to live in that from those that I've been to.

1) The climate. It doesn't apply to you if you come for June to September and maybe even before: you'll arrive to a 40 degrees Celsius temperature cwhich will become normal to you, and the challenge will be when it hits 50 degrees Celsius. 300 sunny days a year and a clear blue sky for 80% of those. It barely rains, which causes problems, to be honest. But, in general, the weather during spring and summer is more than pleasant. It's rare for it to be a less than 8 degrees Celsius and only once in my whole life have I seen the temperature go below zero.

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2) The atmosphere and the locals. Familiarity, friendliness and humility. I'm not saying that Murcian's are the nicest people in the country for nothing. In general, they always have something nice to say and are ready to help. Also, the weather makes for a really good atmosphere in which everyone goes out to the street to terraces. Murcia is a thriving city, but without the disadvantages that come with being in a large city. You can get everywhere on foot and there's always somewhere for you to be.

You don't need to use transport unless you study in Espinardo or you're really lazy. By walking for more than half an hour you can travel around the whole city, the rest is considered the outskirts.

4) There are always discounts on buses to Granada, Madrid, Valencia... But you can find trains at a reasonable price, and from Alicante you can take AVE's (trains) and plane journeys to wherever you like. Also, the connection between Murcia and Alicante is really good, as there are 3 trains every hour for the price of 8 euros return journey. Travelling is really easy and remember that the beach is only a stone's throw away: make sure you check out la Azohia, Calblanque, Aguilas, La Manga, Cartagena, the regional park Las Salinas de San Pedro.

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5) The nightlife. Murcia has something that I've never seen done in another city: la zona de tascas. Loads of bars and pubs all in the same street, with different vibes, types of people, price, popularity, music and prices. Entrance is always free except on some special occasions. Also, there are usually offers on alcohol and it can be pretty cheap to drink. Also, there are clubs nearby, as well as in the other part of the city called Las Atalayas.

6) Things to do. I really miss this about Murcia, due to the enormous number of venues, there are concerts almost every day. There are always cultural events or something to do, and to be honest, it works really well. National music tours always stop here and we've even had big international artists in our city.

7) The local parties here are a treat, as thanks to the spring fiestas, if you are a student, you will have two weeks off in Semana Santa (Easter Time). Although I wouldn't recommend you come here on these dates: Murcia looks lovely and is full of flowers. Also, the Semana Santa is characterised by the fact that the Nazarenos hide sweets, monkeys and Easter eggs in their costumes: For real. All the parades, except the one for Silence, are a bit like horseback riding. Also, there is the Feria in September, where there's lots of attractions and the Huertos de Malecon fairground (which is a fantastic thing to do on your first visit to Murcia).

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8) The food. I'm a vegetarian, but this doesn't stop me from being proud of our traditional dishes: zarangollo (scrambled eggs with zucchini, onion, and sometimes potatoes) - our ratatouille, pastel de Cierva (you'll find the best one at the Peladilla), paparajotes (fried lemon leaves)... And if you're a meat-eater, don't forget to try the meat pasty (pastel de carne). Also, there is a multitude of bars all over the city, and all different kinds of restaurants, including some which cater to vegetarians and vegans. You'll never go hungry.

9) At the very least, prices of things won't hold you back when you compare them to those in a lot of other cities. Rent isn't that expensive and neither is the nightlife, and there are places to go and eat or have tapas where you can eat very cheaply. There are also lots of different supermarkets as well as local shops where you can buy fruit and vegetables at a good price (don't forget that you are in the orchard of Europe), as well as fish counters which pride themselves on their quality due to our location near the sea.

10) Just in case all of this hasn't convinced you, I have to mention that historic old town is lovely to walk around; and that the Cathedral is one of the prettiest ones in Europe, as well as having the second-highest tower. Some shops have still maintained the names of the trade unions, such as Trapería (second-hand store), Platería (silversmiths) or Jabonerías (soap factor), which adds even more to their charm. At the start of these, you will find the Real Casino, an architectural treasure which is worth visiting, even if you've just come for a day.

In conclusion, Murcia is a cross between cultures. We are between Andalucia, which has a great influence, the Valencian Community and Castilla-La Mancha. Here many customs have been combined, but all in all, Murcia has a vast culture that dates back to the al-Andalus period. And of course, us Murcians also have our own dialect, which is unique in Spain.