Why this family chose to live in Vejer de la Frontera.
I love this interview, a very inspiring story of a family deciding to live out their dreams of moving to Spain. Marga also tells you all about beautiful Vejer de la Frontera, the place they decided to call home.
Name: Małgorzata (Marga) Żebrowska
Age: 44
Country of Origin: Poland
Number of years in Spain: 2,5
De la Luz Properties (if you need a real estate agent in the Vejer de la Frontera area).
Hi Marga! Please tell me about yourself and on how you all ended up moving to Spain
Let’s start with a small revelation: in Poland, my friends still call me Małgosia, which is a short version of my official name, Małgorzata. Here in Spain, however, I’m known as Marga. In a way, I live under two names, across two countries, carrying two different careers and identities in my heart.
My love story with Spain began in my early twenties. At that time, I was completely captivated by Spanish and Latin American music, and as a writer, I found myself drawn to the great authors of Latin America. The culture, the language, the rhythm, it all felt like an irresistible invitation.
Over the years, this fascination grew deeper. My husband and I got engaged during our very first trip to Spain, in Madrid, where we were both enchanted by the city’s elegance, its museums, and its architecture. We spent our honeymoon in Tenerife, and later, our son took his first steps in Fuerteventura. Spain quietly became the backdrop to some of the most important moments of our lives.
After each holiday, we found ourselves missing it more and more. Eventually, we reached a turning point: should we wait until retirement to move, or take the leap now, while our children were still young? Family choices are never simple, you’re always weighing dreams against responsibilities. But in the end, we decided to choose a life that felt truly ours.
And so we moved to Spain, ready to begin a new chapter under the sun, carrying all our pasts with us.
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You’re in Vejer de la Frontera. Why did you choose Vejer? And how would you describe the town?
I first came to Vejer de la Frontera directly from Poland in 2019 during a short four-day trip with my my husband and children. We were invited by a friend of mine, a Polish writer I had met online, and we rented a charming apartment in the old town. Vejer’s historic centre is one of the most beautiful in Andalusia, and the town itself is among the loveliest pueblos blancos, perched dramatically on a hilltop.
What struck me immediately was its atmosphere: the medieval castle, the winding streets whispering stories of the past, and the visible blend of cultures that shaped this region. I’ve always been drawn to places where diversity is part of the landscape, and Andalusia’s unique mix, especially the Arab influences, gives it a character I find irresistible.
Vejer also has a remarkable openness to people from different countries. It attracts a fascinating community of newcomers, all enchanted by the Mediterranean climate, the exquisite food and wine, and the sheer beauty of the town. That combination made Vejer feel like much more than a holiday destination. It felt like a place where we could truly belong.
You have a couple of kids. Did they have difficulties with the move from Poland to Spain? How do they feel about it now?
At first, we had planned for the children to continue studying online in the Polish educational system during our first year in Andalusia, which is very easy thanks to the online educational platforms. However, a Colombian friend of ours who lives in Vejer encouraged us to enroll the kids in a local school instead. We didn’t fully realize what a challenge this would be, as our children didn’t speak any Spanish at the time.
Fortunately, their integration into the Spanish school went very smoothly, thanks to the openness of their classmates and the dedication of the teachers. After two and a half years, my ten-year-old daughter doesn’t even remember her Polish school. She loves her class, has friends here, and participates in theatre classes.
Our thirteen-year-old son has kept in touch with friends from Poland, often chatting and playing online games with them. At the same time, he goes out with friends from Vejer, exploring the town’s streets, sometimes late into the evening.
The children are very happy with the move, especially my daughter. My son occasionally complains that Vejer is small and says that when it comes to university, he will definitely move to a big city. Well, he has spent his whole life in Warsaw, and in our town there isn’t even a single traffic light!
You were a writer in Poland and now work in real estate in Spain. Can you tell us about that?
Actually, I haven’t just been a writer in Poland; I still am. I’ve been writing for many years, mainly short stories, and this year, while living in Andalusia, I published my first novel with one of the best Polish publishing houses. Paradoxically, my writing career has really gained momentum only now, after leaving my home country.
For the past six months, I’ve also been working part-time at a real estate agency. I decided to take on an in-person job to practice my Spanish and meet new people. It has been a huge and very positive change after years of working remotely. Working in Spanish in real-life situations has rapidly improved my language skills, and the stories I hear from clients and colleagues often inspire ideas for my future novels.
Sometimes juggling three languages, English, Polish, and Spanish, feels chaotic, but at the same time, I can literally feel how much it helps me grow both personally and professionally.
Editor’s note: If you need a real estate agent in the region, you can reach Marga at De la Luz Properties. Also, Marga has experience in copywriting and journalism in English, Spanish and Polish. If you need her expertise, please leave a comment below and I’ll make sure to put you in touch.
What kind of people are attracted to the Vejer?
Vejer de la Frontera is a very special town, where tradition and culture are alive and cherished by the whole community, and where every resident contributes to its beauty. Narrow streets, small artisan workshops showcasing local craftsmanship, charming boutiques with unique clothing, and above all, numerous restaurants and bars serving exquisite local cuisine, attract people from all over the world.
There are not many foreign families with children living here permanently, but the town is home to many retirees and couples, some working remotely or running their own businesses locally. Because of its extraordinary light and the peace we enjoy outside the high season, Vejer also attracts many artists who need a quiet environment for their work. Nearby, in Montenmedio, the Andalucia Sunshine Tour, a regular equestrian competition, draws horse enthusiasts along with their magnificent horses.
As you can see, Vejer is a fantastic mix of people with different passions, united by a shared sensitivity to beauty and the simplicity of life in a small town, far from the noise and stress of the city.
How does real estate compare to other places like the Costa del Sol?
In Vejer we have a very particular real estate market. The town is clearly divided into two distinct areas: the newer part and the casco antiguo. Most local residents choose the new area and buy directly from developers, while people from abroad tend to prefer properties in the old town, drawn to its charm, beautiful terraces, and views of the ocean as well as the rolling hills and valleys of La Janda.
Buying from a developer is usually straightforward. You get a favourable mortgage, as is common in Spain, sign a reservation or pre-contract, and wait for your home to be completed. In the casco antiguo, the process can be more complex. Many older properties come with paperwork that needs to be updated or sorted out, which can involve some bureaucracy. In the end, though, you gain a unique home that can be rented out for much of the year. During the high season, occupancy is almost guaranteed, provided you hold a tourist licence.
Compared to Vejer, the Costa del Sol is generally more expensive. Its beaches are not as wide or as wild as ours, and the Mediterranean is simply not the same as the ocean. The Costa del Sol also has a distinctly international atmosphere, whereas here in Vejer we still enjoy an authentically Andalusian spirit.
What are your favorite things to do in the region? Are there places where you/the family like to go visit?
One of the things I love most about living in this region is how much there is to explore within a short distance. Vejer itself is a treasure with its white streets, charming artisan workshops, independent boutiques and beautiful viewpoints over the ocean and the hills of La Janda.
Nearby are some of the most stunning beaches on the Costa de la Luz. Our family loves El Palmar for its sunsets and surf atmosphere, Zahora for quiet afternoons, and Playa de los Alemanes for its golden sand and turquoise water. The area around the Cape Trafalgar lighthouse is one of our favourite spots for long walks.
Conil de la Frontera is another favourite destination. Its lively old town, long beaches and small port make it perfect for strolling, enjoying fresh seafood, or simply soaking in the coastal views. Just below Vejer, in Santa Lucía, the hidden aqueduct surrounded by greenery is a wonderful escape.
Not far from Vejer are towns such as Arcos de la Frontera, El Puerto de Santa María, Rota, Sanlúcar de Barrameda, ideal for day trips, and Cádiz with its historic streets, seaside promenade and unique energy is always a treat.
This region truly has it all: beaches, nature, history, food and culture, all within half an hour of each other. It is impossible to get bored here.
So what’s the long term plan Marga? Will you still be in Vejer de la Frontera or Spain 10 years from now? What are you hopes and dreams?
I hope that in ten years I will be fluent in Spanish and able to fully enjoy the culture here. I hope my children will be studying interesting subjects at university, that my daughter will achieve her dream of becoming an actress, even in supporting roles, and that my son will finally experience the buzz of a big city. I hope to be the author of bestsellers, and my husband a proud owner of the business we are currently building. And above all, I hope that our only concern will be choosing which restaurant to take visiting friends to, as they enthusiastically admire our beautiful town.
Thank you for doing this interview Marga!
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