Digital Nomads: If You Can't Find Your Tribe, Create One!

La Finestra pizzeria, for 1.50 euro pizzas and 7 euro bottles of wine after co-working. Photo: Lesya

 

Arriving in a new country, especially if you turn up alone, can be tough. After going to the usual CouchSurfing and Meetup events and making a handful of friends, I inadvertently ended up creating a new community for digital nomads and remote workers, which this week surpassed 500 members. 

 

I'm terrified of how easy it is for the tone of personal travel blogs to veer into self-indulgence and crash over the cliff-edge of douchecraft. So I'm not attempting to tell everyone that they must do the same as me - heck, I know not everyone likes dealing with the hassle. But I know how important 'finding your tribe' is when you're living overseas, whether you're just staying a month, a few months, or longer term. They don't have to be from the same country as you; they can be from the country you're currently in, or indeed from anywhere. But your tribe is the people you gel with; the open-minded, global types who share your values. So I'm sharing my experiences in the hope it may help bring other groups together (and yes, also promoting my co-working and social group!)....

 

Cafe Berlin. Shameless selfie by: Voy (who has now moved on to the Canaries with his lovely girlfriend)

I was sitting with my laptop in Costa Coffee in Valencia's Avenidadel Marqués de Sotelo, in April. (Not a bad spot for uninterrupted wifi, but a little soulless). As I took a break from what I was writing, I noticed there were three or four other people also hunched over their laptops. Their pasty skin, shorts and flipflops were instant giveaways: These people weren’t from Valencia. "I wonder if they work remotely like me…", I mused to myself as I crunched on my gritty chai latte, "…and why do I always keep ordering the lumpy chai lattes here?". 

Addressing the more pertinent of the two questions, I observed they appeared to be working rather than messing around on Facebook so concluded they were probably digital nomads too. I felt like saying hello, but something about the silence in the cavernous chain café put me off. After I left, I wondered why I hadn’t risked a ‘hi’.  Would they have wanted to chat and work alongside me? (And would they have agreed to watch my laptop for me while I took a bathroom break? (Erm, 'hashtag digitalnomadproblems'...) 

The Solution

Joking apart, this isn't an uncommon dilemma for digital nomads and expats. Sometimes the endless whirlwind of trying to socialise and make new friends gets a bit overwhelming, and it's a relief when you finally find yourself part of a community or social group. I've found that everywhere I have lived overseas I've ended up wandering around for weeks feeling like the new kid at school, then somehow ending up organising events for everyone. I used to organise DJ nights via my Maldives Expat Parties group which involved taking up to 100 expats to resorts for 6 hours of dancing and drinking. (Getting that many drunk people home on boats was a challenge!). Incidentally, I made a video with a friend about the crazy expat life in the Maldives (above), the highlight was getting the seaplane pilots to dance on the plane wings! Then when I lived in France, I started a weekly social night called CouchSurfing Meeting in Nice, which became an official CS event. A rascally Parisian named Madani has now taken the helm. Madani has done wonders with the group, negotiating discounts and promotions at bars, and there are now 2,500 members. 

Some tips for creating a new social community overseas:  

• Find a suitable platform, such as Facebook, CouchSurfing or Meetup
• Gauge potential interest by asking online - see who responds
• Make firm plans and stick to them. Don't be flaky or people won't trust you! 
• Organise the event well. People will hold you responsible if anything goes wrong
• There may be some complaints, learn how to use them constructively to improve the event/meetups

Back to Valencia: After my Costa experience I posed the question to the excellent Facebook group, Expats in Valencia. Within an hour I had over 50 comments! It seemed that yes, there were dozens of people like me (digital nomads, remote workers and expats) who would like an excuse to co-work and socialise with like-minded people. Two hours later, I’d started a Facebook group calledValencia Coffees and Co-working. The concept was simple: If you’re a digital nomad/remote worker in Valencia and want to meet up at a cafe for some informal co-working, I’ll suggest a time and round a group of us up. There's no charge for the meetup (since most digital nomads are characterised by their desire to save cash), so you just pay for whatever you consume at the cafe. It’s ideal for anyone who doesn’t want the commitment/expense of a co-working venue, and wants to socialise after work too. This is the first time I'd created an event involving work rather than purely for socialising (read: 'boozing'), and it seems there's a demand for it.  

Co-working at Ubik cafe. Photo: Lesya

The very first meet-up was the following day at Federal Café, which isn't too pricey and is open all day. A charming Polish programmer named Voy and an American named David (who has somehow wrangled only working a mythical 3 days per month), were the only attendees. (Well, I had only given everyone 12 hours’ notice to turn up…). Six months later, we have 500 members and more than 20 nationalities! 

Working hard at Federal Cafe. Shameless selfie by: Voy

To keep it simple, we have one meeting every Wednesday afternoon and thankfully only about 15 of the 500+ members attend each time. They are a mix of regulars and newbies, given the transient nature of the demographic. We bond over travel tales and a fondness for after-work drinks. 
Some of the other members just join us for drinks in the evening. And some of the group have joined it ahead of relocating to Valencia. (If you want to live in Valencia, read my post, 8 Reasons to Live in Valencia in your 30's!). The remainder of the group who I haven't met yet are lurkers: I still haven’t figured out what they want yet!

Ubik cafe. Wine time begins when we clock off

Members also give spontaneous shout-outs on our Facebook page throughout the week if they're working from a café and want some company. We ask questions about visas and technical issues, and share upcoming events. On top of that, we organise some fun social events which have included hiking, checking out the Wine Festival, the Vermouth Festival, and a Halloween party.

Some of the group on a 9-hour hike in June (we all survived). Photo: Voy 

Chilling out after the wine festival in April. Photo: Peter

Enjoying the Vermouth Festival in September (Yes, there is a running theme...)

Some of the gang at the beach party in May

Cecile's monthly wine tasting event, which began with a Valencian Reds theme

So far we haven't needed to reserve a table in advance at the cafes, and the owners have been more than happy to host us since afternoons are quiet, although if the attendees exceed 15 I may have to start giving them a heads-up. Usually after a co-working session (around 6pm) we clear our laptops away and are ready for wine time, which costs about 7 euros per bottle in Valencia! One of the best deals is Cafe Artysana's Happy Hour from 5pm to 7pm. 

 

Videos by Voy: That time we went canyoning in August and forgot ropes. And wetsuits. And helmets. Which everyone else we met had with them...

Don't Go Chasing Waterfalls...

The fun part usually continues for several more hours with a bar crawl and tapas, and sometimes we head to La Finestra for a pile of authentic Italian pizzas at 1.50 euros each. Occasionally it has escalated to us hitting the clubs (which may not be the smartest thing to do on a ‘school night’, but then again, Valencia is a city which parties every night!)

  Some of best cafes in Valencia for free, uninterrupted wifi:

Ubik (Cheap, spacious, funky)

Federal (Serves food all day, spacious, but not super friendly)

Jardin Urbano (Vegan, cheap and very peaceful)

Bluebell Coffee (Small tables but good food, terrace)

Café ArtySana (Very nomad-friendly, cheap, spacious, funky, 9 euro all-day brunch deal, terrace)

American Cupcakes (Quiet, smells amazing, great cupcakes for 2.50 euros)
La Mas Bonita in Ruzafa/Patacona (Amazing cakes - Red Velvet with cheesecake filling is worth killing for, nice decor, spacious)
Costa Coffee (Only this Costa branch in VLC has unlimited wifi but you must check in via Facebook for access, very spacious, don't do the chai lattes)

Halloween 2017 house party

You can follow the exploits of Valencia Digital Nomads on *Instagram. (*We promise you won't see any cliched Insta-aspirational couples holding hands)

Forget Cannes, Go Canyoneering!

A stunning canyon in the Verdon

Would you believe that just a stone's throw from the bling of Cannes on the French Riviera are some of the world's most spectacular canyons filled with iridescent turquoise water. Canyoneering is the ultimate way to discover them!

The honey-coloured rocks of the Gorges du Verdon contrast sharply with the sublime turquoise blue of the rivers and lakes flowing through them. These stunning canyons are one of the reasons The Telegraph newspaper recently ranked the Var number two in its list of the Top 30 destinations in Europe you must see in your lifetime; placed ahead of even the Sistine Chapel and Gaudí’s Barcelona. The article singled out the “aquamarine waters” of the Gorges du Verdon as one the principle reasons for bestowing the accolade upon Var.

Every summer, visitors come in their millions to marvel at Provence’s magnificent canyons. Besides the world-famous Verdon nature reserve, the area is riddled with countless other gorges too, which may be lower profile, but are still absolute gems. For example, the Gorges du Loup (Wolf Canyons), which lies within easy reach of Nice.

Which spots are best?

There are so many ways to explore, from shooting over the rapids on canoes to abseiling down the rock faces. Some of the bravest visitors even follow the hair-raising ‘via ferrata’ (‘iron road’ climbing routes) at Digneles-bains and Puget Théniers near Castellane. But one of the most fun ways is canyoneering, which encompasses all the best methods of traversing a canyon! And this area is also said to have some of the best canyoneering experiences in Europe. I'd be lying if I said it were an exact science, but for anyone who doesn't know it pretty much encompasses hiking, scrambling, wading, swimming, sliding and jumping your way along the route (sometimes abseiling is involved too). 

Not just for adrenaline-junkies

However, this isn't only an activity for adrenaline-junkies. Kids as young as 8 are allowed to join certain guided canyoneering trips, and sometimes people aged in their 70s will join, as long as they are able-bodied enough. The jumps tend to be just a few metres maximum, so all levels of ability can handle them. Those who want to take part in more technical jumps and climbs can take organised canyoneering expeditions for more experienced participants. 

Departures typically start from from a hilltop village such as Aups or Rougon. 

My canyoneering experience!

And that's how I found myself stumbling out of the village of La Palud sur Verdon one crisp morning on an organised canyoneering trek, headed for Baudan Bau Canyon. The trail wound through the hillsides covered in rosemary, thyme and mimosa trees before we found ourselves at the access point to the canyon. 

We began hiking directly alongside the river, where the rocks had been polished smooth over the years. The river was low because it was a hot, dry summer. After a brief  idiot's guide to abseiling basics, we continued along the canyon. The walls began to narrow so we began wading in the river, and before long a short series of small waterfalls came up, which we slid down on our bottoms. It felt rather like scooting down a slide at a water park, just tougher on the behind, and I was a little more nervous. Did I mention that I have mild vertigo? Fortunately it's not bad enough to stop me doing silly stuff like this. I have to admit, a couple of times I was pretty scared while standing at the highest waterfalls, but the guide talked us through the technical aspect of how to climb down so well and so patiently that I managed to calm my nerves. 

Mostly 3-5m jumps/drops/scrambles

When we came to a 3m high waterfall, we jumped off the edge off because it fed into a deep pool below. The water was cool but it was refreshing after the walk, and it was fun to swim for a couple of minutes to a point where we could stand up. There was another waterfall about 5m high which we had to abseil down, which was the one where I really had my heart in my mouth. It looked impossible to me from the top, just a slippery, sheer rock surface adjacent to a foaming waterfall (this descent was dry this time, as we were right next to the canyon wall). But when the guide explained where to put my feet, and I had watched three people go ahead of me, it was enough to convince me to just get on with it. And I'm glad I did. Not that there was any option to turn back at this point anyhow! 

The sense of accomplishment afterwards was fantastic. I feel 'accomplishment' when I have finished a long magazine article or finally destroyed the heap of washing up that piled up over the weekend; however, the sense of elation and satisfaction when you have done something physical that scares you a bit is one of the best feelings in life. There's nothing like doing something that puts you out of your comfort zone to make you feel truly alive. And that's why we travel, after all! 

There are many places you can book canyoneering trips from in the Verdon area, just drive around and you will find some, ask at a tourist office such as this one or simply Google it! 

The Top Canyoneering Sites in the area:


       NAME                       GOOD FOR                                                          DIFFICULTY

• Baudan Bau                 Waterslides, jumps, swimming                                             Easy
• Gorges du Loup           Lots of jumps & waterslides                                                 Easy
• Cramassouri                 Proximity to Nice & canoeing                                               Easy
• St Auban                       12m waterfall slide & varied terrain                                     Medium
• Riolan                            Slides, jumps & abseiling                                                     Medium
• Maglia                            Technical jumps, abseiling                                                   Medium-Hard
• Lance                             1,600m descent, jumps, abseiling                                       Hard

8 Reasons to Live in Valencia in Your 30's

Valencia is vibrant and youthful; the third largest city in Spain and yet, mysteriously, one of the most under-rated. Fortunately, going under the radar gives it some significant advantages, especially for those of us relocating there in our 30's...

 

 1) Feeling Young, Wild and Free

El Carmen. Photo: Sarah Harvey

Valencia has the gritty, urban, up-and-coming vibe of Shoreditch or Brooklyn 10 to 15 years ago; shabby-chic bars, street art, quirky independent shops, alternative fashion, a flourishing live music scene, music festivals, wine festivals, food festivals...It oozes creativity and has that random juxtaposition of architectural styles (art nouveau/baroque/art deco/60s concrete block/derelict crumbling glory/bulldozed hole in the ground) that always gives the eye something to marvel at. 

Sure, it has its fair share of Erasmus kids but I never feel out of place because the majority of the city bars are full of people in their 30s. I did some digging and City of Valencia statistics back up my initial impression of a youthful city. Apparently 33% are aged 30 to 49, and 19% are 15 to 29. Sure makes a pleasant change from Nice...

 

 

2) Valencia is Social Central

This city gets 10/10 from me not just for how easy it is to make friends, but also for the sheer amount of social events throughout the week. It goes a huge way towards helping you settle in, even if you turn up solo. Perhaps that’s why out of all the cities I’ve lived in so far (Cairns, London, Male', Colombo and Nice), it’s my favourite yet. (I've visited 27 countries so far but visiting somewhere is an entirely different thing to living there).

After floating the idea on an expat forum and getting dozens of replies within hours, I started a Facebook group called Valencia Coffees and Co-working for digital nomads and remote workers who want to bring their laptops to cafes to work alongside like-minded people, and maybe to enjoy some after-work drinks sometimes too. It’s proving pretty popular and attracts a very nice crowd of mostly 30-something young professionals, the majority are copy-writers or working in IT. 

There are also dozens of events, day and night, organised on Meetup.com. CouchSurfing is pretty active here too, mostly in terms of people using the ‘Hangout Now’ function on the CS app. I'd recommend it as another great way of meeting open-minded, globally-minded types. 

It's also really easy to chat to randoms at bars, festivals and sports events, you'll be amazed by how friendly everyone is! 

3) It’s Easy to Settle In

The City of Arts and Sciences, Valencia. Photo: Sarah Harvey

I’ve been chatting to a lot of fellow newbies about this because I wanted to find out if I’m not alone in finding it pretty easy to settle in here (even if you’re not yet fluent in Spanish). Well, it's certainly easier than the time I moved to a 2.2sq km island in the middle of the Indian Ocean then realised I didn't know anyone in the entire country or have any colleagues yet. So far everyone I’ve spoken to seems to agree that getting settled in Valencia is surprisingly easy. 

Certainly the fact that making friends in Valencia is a snap goes a long way towards helping you settle in, but there are also lots of useful online information resources (in English) such as Valencia Information Exchange and the two 'Expats in Valencia' Facebook groups. 

Marina Beach Club is a restaurant/bar/nightclub. Photo: Sarah Harvey

Wouldn't normally put 'lovely' and 'dentist' in the same sentence but I found a really lovely English-speaking dentist fairly easily, Puchades Clinica Odontologica; then opened a non-resident bank account at Bankia in Carrer de Russsafa within just 45 minutes, after simply walking in off the street and inquiring if it was possible. The very friendly clerk at Bankia only required my EU passport to open the account. There’s no set-up fee, the account is free for the first 6 months, and internet banking is available in English. (Pretty handy since most of us don't learn Spanish banking terms at school!). Most banks have an English-speaking member of staff, which was certainly a help. On that note, if you ever get really stuck with someone who doesn’t know any English, about a third of Valencians seem to be able to speak French! 

4) Eat. Sleep. Rave. Repeat.

You can party every night of the week in Valencia. But unlike in the notorious Spanish resort towns, you won’t find the streets filled with boozed-up bachelor party participants lying in pools of their own vomit. What you will find is find is bars and clubs full of people having a good time, all week long. There are bars absolutely everywhere but the best late-night venues are concentrated around Ruzafa and El Carmen. 

Valencia’s nightlife is really eclectic and fun, whether you’re going for cocktails with friends, dancing the night away in a club, or belting out some of your finest karaoke. That said, the nightlife never feels intrusive or OTT so if you’re just having a quiet stroll at night you won’t be bothered by hordes of party-goers either. 

My tip is to check out La Manera Coffee and Cocktails for authentic cocktails in the Old Town – I may be biased because it's run by friends of mine but it’s one of the few places to have an actual mixologist enforcing some quality control (cocktails can be a bit hit-and-miss elsewhere). La Manera is run by two cool Slovakian girls, so do your bit to support some ambitious female entrepreneurs!

5) You Can Climb that Fabled Property Ladder...

One of Valencia's many chilled-out plazas. Photo: Sarah Harvey

Trying to get on the property ladder can feel as slippery as Edmund Blackadder trying to shimmy up a pole covered in Castrol GTX. However, I’m not the only one to have noticed that Valencia right now offers us 30-somethings a tangible chance to actually own some property. What’s more, due to some major city redevelopment plans/the general pace of gentrification, buying a property in Valencia will be an amazing investment. So I’m wheeling out Anna who runs a Valencia-based property franchise for details: She tells me property values in Valencia have increased by around 8% in the past 12 months and this figure is expected to shoot up even faster in the next five years due to the redevelopment plans for the (currently shady) Cabanyal beach area and the proposed ‘Central Park’ being built over the railway tracks south of Xavia station. It’s currently possible to get a nice one-bedroom apartment in the city for €60,000 or a good quality 3-bedroom apartment for €105,000, according to Anna.

I'm still undecided on taking the plunge because I have too many other cities to explore after this one, but the idea is tempting...But even if you're only renting, you can get a really good room in a shared apartment for €400/month, and sliding towards something more studenty for €250/month or even as low as €150.
 

6) Fall in Love 

Photo credit: It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

Fall in love in Valencia. The city is full of fascinating, ambitious 30-somethings of all nationalities living life to the max. So even if you turn up single, you’re not likely to stay that way for long. What with all the social events, sports clubs (and let’s not forget dating apps) I will put money on you getting coupled up within months. Not that it's a meat market, it's just a magical kind of place...And if you are already with someone, it’s a great city to explore with them. I’m not going to start gushing about picnics in the park and yada yada, but Valencia is an amazing city, there are hundreds of bars and restaurants, there’s a 7km-long park, there’s a beach...you get the picture. One more observation: Seems like the majority of people in Valencia (Spanish and expats alike) don’t even start their families until their late 30s and early 40s, so you won’t feel like a social outcast for not having had everything figured out by 25, or, you know, having a career and an insatiable wanderlust...

7) Valencia is Foodie Heaven

Red Velvet cake at La Mas Bonita. Photo: Sarah Harvey

Life’s too short to not enjoy food. I’m sure you've figured this out by now too. Valencia is famous for being the birthplace of paella (OK technically speaking it comes from the rice fields of Albufera in the district of Valencia, which happens to be a cool day trip, but let's not split hairs). 

Tapas is, of course, in plentiful supply, and Valencia has more open-top sandwiches than mankind has ever known. They start from as little as €1, washed down with a €1.50 glass of red wine at one of my cheap-and-cheerful pre-party spots, Porque Lo Digo Yo in Carrer de Cadiz, in Ruzafa. (My favourite is the blue cheese with cured ham and tomato chutney). 

Even tapas can get a little boring after a while, but thankfully there are also a heap of international restaurants, including Thai, Chinese, Italian, French, Korean and sushi (the sushi isn't world-class but the rest are pretty decent). There are even five Michelin-star restaurants as of 2017.

8) The Active Outdoor Life

The Turia, Valencia. Photo: Sarah Harvey

The Turia (the huge riverbed that was turned into a 7km-long park snaking through the town) is one of the biggest hubs of activity in Valencia. Apart from being a superb chill-out space, there are cycle lanes and jogging lanes stretching the entire length of it. You can also join one of the many low-cost al-fresco yoga sessions or a group workout with a personal trainer for as little as €2-€5, such as with Tranamos. (If you insist on being indoors, gym bunnies will find countless gyms for as little as €20/month, or up to €120/month for the fancy Tyris Spa + Fitness gym in Avinguda del Regne de Valencia which has three saunas and countless hydrotherapy pools).

All kinds of sports groups for tennis, football, volleyball and hiking are organised on Meetup.com. Skateboarding and rollerblading is big, with the main hangouts being the skate park next to Parc Gulliver and at the Marina. 

Sadly, waves are almost non-existent in the flat, shallow bay although I have spotted some surfers occasionally catching some small waves. This is one thing that would make Valencia better, nay perfect…

Me, jumping for joy on the main beach (in winter)

I plan to investigate scuba diving options but it seems like the best bet is to join a dive centre in Valencia and they’ll take you to some coves out of town, which figures, because the visibility looks to be about 3 metres max at the city beach. (My standards are high after living in the Maldives, and I can’t help being disappointed by knowing we won’t see sharks or mantas, but will keep you posted on my future scuba outings!). 

In the winter, snowboarding and skiing can be found just two hours away in the mountains, again, if you don't know anyone, there are often group trips organised on Meetup.com.

  

There you have it, my first impressions of Valencia and why I think it's fantastic for 30-somethings...I should have moved here years ago! How about you?!