Vija at the Property Shop. Phot Credit Vija.
Vija started her big adventure in Ireland at 21-years-old and moved across to the Costa Blanca in Spain 13 years ago with her husband.
Originally from Latvia, she says it was a simple transition from Ireland to Spain having left her home country. “Once I moved from my country the next move was easier. The difficulty was choosing where? My husband always wanted more for us, when we decided we wanted to leave Ireland we looked at the pluses and minuses of many different countries, even Australia. Here was the best option.”
“My husband came out here first, he was a barber and made sure that the business was doing well before we brought the children and myself over. There were no regrets. I didn’t find it a difficult move because everyone speaks so many languages. I speak Russian, Latvian, English and I get by and communicate in Spanish.”
“It was an easy transition for our kids too, they’d been in Gaelic school in Ireland and then when we moved here, they adapted so quickly, we moved in the June and they were fluent by Christmas in Spanish and Valencian.”
When the family had settled in the area, they decided they needed a new challenge and took on Milo’s Bar
“I wouldn’t say we had a dream of opening the bar, it just happened. We took over the bar on the Cabo Roig strip and we gave it a go. I had to take over the kitchen, I had no idea what I was doing. I had to learn from scratch, I really appreciate the customers who supported us from day one, because we knew so little of running the kitchen and business. Ten years later we are still here.” She credits her staff and children for all their help: “My staff, I’m absolutely blessed with the people we have, our staff are amazing, understanding and supporting.”
It took Milo’s Bar time to grow into the bar it now is and find its flow
“Ten years is a long time to find your identity as a business, we wanted to be different at the start, we had lots of ideas and we had to change and think this is what people want. Our bar eats, sleeps and lives golf. We have a golf association who work with us, two golf outings every week and we organise things for charity events with them. We will have a charity event for Paddy’s Day too.”
“After spending ten years in the kitchen at Milo’s Bar, I took over the Cabo Roig branch of Property Shop. So, I run the bar and I also sell properties. I always need a challenge. I started in July and sell everything from resales to new builds, I get to be glamorous and I love communicating.
Contact Vija on 624481190 or email vija@propertyshopspain.com for more information on properties to sell or buy.
Vija works hard but she also takes a moment each day to remember she lives in a beautiful place
“We work and work and forget where we live. Every morning, I take a sunrise photo and I really enjoy it. Every day I can start the morning with a positive vibe. I really enjoy having an early walk. We just need to appreciate what we have, as it is an amazing place to be. I have no regrets at all about coming here.
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