Uploaded on 2015-11-24 by NMcC

Presently, I live in Valencia City, in Spain. I have been living here since August 2012 and since the birth of my daughter in 2013, have come to regard and consider Valencia as my home. I certainly have no plans in the short- to medium-term future to leave Valencia to return to Ireland or England (where my wife comes from) or any other country for that matter. If I had been asked to select the top-5 criteria that I think contributes most to my city’s livability then I would choose and order the following: 1. Climate – Valencia enjoys a Mediterranean-type climate meaning it’s average annual temperature is 17ºC with summer temperatures rising to the mid-30s however winters are very mild with temperatures rarely dropping below 10ºC. 2. Health care – The health care system in Spain is funded by social security contributions. As a legal resident who makes social security contributions I have access to and benefit from free or low-cost health care. 3. Education – There are a great number of state- and privately run schools in Valencia and the Law on the Quality of Education determines that education authorities must promote the integration of foreign pupils and develop specific programmes in schools for those students that do not have a good grasp of the Spanish language. 4. Job opportunities – Although unemployment remains very high in Spain (22.2%) generally, job opportunities among ex-pats are still very good with many finding work in the private schools or in English language academies. 5. Recreational possibilities – Valencia offers a great array of parks, gardens and recreational areas, for example the Jardin del Turia, a linear park that is set in the river bed of the re-routed Rio Turia, has approximately 10 kms of gardens with areas for athletics, football, baseball, basketball, running and cycling paths and a children’s park. The question however, asks me to select the top five criteria that I think contribute the most to a city’s (any city) livability. It is widely known and accepted that since the mid-twentieth century cities have become the predominant living and working environment of humanity however livability as a concept is a difficult to rigidly define as the term itself – as well as the criteria by which one defines livability – means different things to different people. Bearing this in mind, the criteria I consider most important to the livability of any city are somewhat different to the criteria I think contributes most to Valencia City’s livability. Moreover, in considering these criteria I believe there is a great deal overlap between many of the other criteria and I will explain each one in turn: 1. Climate – Climate is a major factor in what makes a place livable. Climate affects our mood, can have a significant impact on our health (both mental and physical), it can determine (more or less) our day-to-day activities, and what we wear. Climate can also affect the way in which a society develops (or otherwise). 2. Economy – The economic ‘strength’ of a city cannot be understated since cities that prosper can afford to invest in amenities that keep the level of livability high. Such amenities are not just related to job opportunities and the ability to attract talented and resourceful workers and the biggest companies but also include the ability to invest in the city through the education system (which will provide the workforce of tomorrow) and health care facilities. 3. Environment – A pleasant environment isn’t simply related to climate but about being able to offer residents something to do (in a livable space) in their free time. What’s more, by offering residents amenities these should also be of a standard that will attract tourists who can support and sustain a local economy through hotel stay, dinner in restaurants, nights out in bars and clubs etc. Housing is another important consideration as this can impact the extent to which a resident will enjoy inhabiting a city. Housing must fulfil a number of criteria; it has to meet the needs of your family If you have one) and it must also be affordable relative to one’s income level. 4. Infrastructure – Infrastructure shouldn’t just be viewed as transportation alone, it must also include the other fundamental facilities and systems that service a city such as a clean, safe and reliable water supply, sewers and other sanitation standards, electrical grids and telecommunications. 5. Political stability – Although political stability features at number 5 in my list its importance to the livability of a city is crucial. Political stability requires that citizens interact freely and openly with legislators and grants them a fair and equal say in how a nation is run. As such, political stability and economic development are deeply interconnected through investment opportunities (either internal or international). This in turn creates a bigger and stronger economy which invests in the city (environment and infrastructure) and this increases one’s own sense of safety in the city and consequently one’s own impression of livability. 2. Why do we live where we live? (Valencia) ![Valencia: View of the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias from the old riverbed of the rio Turia][1] Source: http://homestayinvalencia.com/?q=valencia_riverturianaturepark As said, presently I live in Valencia with my family. My reasons for staying in Valencia and deciding to put down roots in this city – despite the fact that I am Irish and my wife is English – can be listed thus: 1. Climate – Valencia, being located on the Mediterranean, enjoys a very pleasant climate with about 7 months of shorts-wearing weather. There are only about 50 rainy days in the year. Winters are short (about 3 months – I say this because it always seems to be winter in Ireland!) and even then skies are cloudless and blue, sunglasses are still worn, daytime temperatures are about 18°C dropping to perhaps 10°C at night. Only very rarely does the temperature drop below 0°C. 2. Lifestyle and cost of living – The lifestyle in Spain is one that has developed mainly because of its climate. Much time is spent, and many activities take place outside. Restaurants often have more people sitting outside on the streets eating with bars and cafés being the same. On account of the very high summer temperatures many Spaniards enjoy a siesta during the afternoon. This means that Spaniards tend to sit up later at night when the temperatures are more bearable so there is always life on the streets. Although I have noticed a slight increase in the cost of living in the last number of years, this is still lower than what I was used to in Ireland. In that regard Spain provides a seductively fine quality of life. 3. Environment – Valencia is billed as Spain’s third city, behind Madrid and Barcelona. Despite that it still has a large town air and a laid back feel to it, not like the huge, sprawling cities that I just mentioned which are no different in my opinion to London or Paris for example. Valencia is also extremely proud of its own heritage (language, culture and traditions) and holds on to these incredibly well. In the boom years much money was spent on the city attracting such sporting events as the F1 motor racing and Americas Cup sailing competition. Moreover, the old Rio Turia was transformed into a long, linear park with the landmark Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias (designed by Santiago Calatrava) placed as its centrepiece. Indeed, this became the backdrop to the recently released movie 'Tomorrowland' with George Clooney heading the cast. While many of these monuments and spectacles are designed (ostensibly) for tourism and investment, many locals can avail of them too. 4. Proximity to beach – Valencia is a very small city and getting about it is very easy. Valencia’s coastal location is another important consideration in my decision to stay here. With a fantastic Mediterranean climate and the beach being a mere 20 minutes by public bus a lot of my time and my family’s time is spent by the beach. 5. Connectivity – Valencia is now served by three international airports. There is of course an airport 8 km from the city and another, bigger airport in Alicante. Just recently a third airport opened in Castellon. These airports (Castellon and Alicante) are only about an hour’s drive along the A7/AP7 motorway. Moreover, these airports offer connections to England and Ireland and further afield. 3. To what extend does your own place of residence fulfil your ideal livability criteria? It is impossible for me to place on a scale from 1 – 100 how Valencia fulfils my ideal livability criteria, i.e., the top-5 criteria I selected in Question 1 simply because the scale is so broad so, for example, what might be the difference in 72 or 78, or 47 and 54? On a smaller scale (1 – 10) though, I can say that Valencia manages to fulfil my own personal livability criteria to a greater or lesser extent and on such a scale (1 – 10) I would place Valencia on number 8. 4. What would you change? Valencia is a pretty amazing city to live, work and raise a family, hence, in reply to question 3 I rated Valencia 8/10. There really isn’t too much I would change about the city in an effort to improve livability, with the exception of just two things. The first thing I would change is the system of waste disposal/recycling in the city. I am always amazed by the extent to which many Spanish households recycle (and rightly so) and I completely understand that, in a fairly large city (population 786,424 (as of 2014)) with many people choosing and having to live in medium-rise apartments, it is impossible to give everyone a bin – as they do in Ireland and the UK – which is left on the street once a week for collection. In Valencia, people carry their refuse daily to public bins on the street and separate their rubbish into each of the blue (paper & cardboard), green (glass), brown (organic), yellow (tetra cartons, plastic and tins) and grey (general waste) bins. The problem however is that teams of Spanish Romanies (gypsies) go through each of the bins each day scavenging for items that may be of use of value to them. I have seen some people even get in to the bins in search for such materials. This isn’t so much the problem – we all have to make a living! – what is a problem is the mess that is left behind on the streets. Oftentimes the rubbish is thrown onto the street and left there making some streets in the city incredibly unsightly. Another problem that seems to be endemic in the city is dog faeces. Ironically, while I find Spanish people very good at recycling, when it comes to cleaning up after their dog some people selfishly neglect their duties and responsibilities as owners of pets! 5. Why do we move? If I decided to change place of residence I would choose the following places, ordered with the most important first. Included in this list are the five qualities that played an important role during my decision process: 1. Singapore: Singapore offers a unique climate that is easy to live in all year round. In addition, Singapore is a cosmopolitan society that offers the highest standard of living in South East Asia. It is the hub of Asia and the centre of air travel for the region and it’s public transport system is efficient, inexpensive, and readily accessible. 2. Masdar City: Masdar City cradles a city that will be the future of the world. It is pioneering a greenprint for how cities can accommodate rapid urbanisation and dramatically reduce energy, water and waste. It is one of the world’s most sustainable eco-cities and is designed for high-quality living. 3. New York City: Most people have fantasised about living in NYC at some time or another. It is an ever-evolving city and one of the most vibrant places on the planet and although it is a megacity, each of the five boroughs has a distinct personality which offers its own unique character and culture. As Frank Sinatra says, New York is the ‘city that never sleeps’ and in NYC you can do whatever you want and get anything you want anytime you want. [1]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/14483990404263195.jpg