Helping with house and garden, Caños de Meca

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Country: Spain

Updated

Last Activity: 04/02/2012

Description

I am living on the beautiful Andalucian coast with my two kids (12 and 14) that are both easy going and bilingual. The area we live in is a surfers paradise and is close to many local tourist towns that you could visit and explore. We have a house with 3 apartments that we are renting to tourists where there is always help needed. Caños de Meca is a little village at the Costa de la Luz, for anyone who wants to relax and enjoy nature and the local Spanish culture. It would be great if you had some skills in gardenwork, maintenance, computer skills or artistic flair. Playing piano or violin would be great for my daughter! We are happy to have couples.

Area

Atlantic coast

Type of work

Other,
Language practise,
Helping with Tourists,
Help in the house,
General Maintenance,
Cooking / shopping,
Babysitting / child care,
Building,
Gardening

Work

Most of the work I need doing is gardenwork. I would also prefer someone staying who likes kids as they often like to play games and theatre with the workawayers, also people playing an instrument are more then welcome (my daughter is beginner in piano and violin, my other daughter is beginner in playing the guitar)! On the odd occasion, it would be nice to have someone helping me in the house with cleaning, washing e.t.c. Along with jobs that need doing around the property, I am looking at doing some extensions to the house so it would be excellent if someone with carpentry, electrical or building skills could help us out. However, if you have none of these skills we are more than happy to find something to accommodate you.

I have quite a mixture of work to offer so not only would you be collaborating with me and my kids a fair bit, but if you had the ability to work independently when required this would be fantastic!

In summer (July, august) I am looking for a couple to take care of my houses while I am away. If you have maintenance skills, let me know. The houses are run by solar energy so you should have a hand for that. You can stay in a little room with attached bathroom, kitchen outside. You should like parties, there are lot's in summer...

Languages spoken

English ,Spanish, German

Accommodation

In winter you can have one of the apartments that we rent out to tourists. In summer I can offer a basic little room with an independent bathroom, that is adjoined to the tourist accommodation.

What else ...

We can also provide Wifi.

Me, kids,friends and Workawayers

Click to enlarge

The kids with Jason, the best Workawayer you can imagine!!

My daughter San watching the sunset

Me and my friend Karin

Raul (Workawayer) with my daughter painting

Me and my daughter at the beach

Richard (Workawayer) climbing up the hill behind our house

little house where Workawayers stay in summer

Susie (Workawayerin) schaut sich den Sonnenuntergang an

Workawayerin Rachel hatte Spass an Karneval ;-)

Katie,Richard (Workawayer) and the kids :-)

Martin (Workawayer) giving a musiclesson for the kids

Cynthia, Jake (Workawayer) and friends

Gage (Workawayer) and Christoph cooking

Piano classes with Sabella

Violin classes with Workawayer Sabella

Basketball time with the Workawayers

San on the top of the roof with Workawayer Claudia

Little house where Workawayers stay in spring and summer

Host ref number: 000000000291

Feedback left about host

(Excellent)

by host [02/11/2009]:

for Raul David

I can definitely recommend these people! Raul is a great painter and decorated and painted my apartment wonderful. Edel is very active and always full of positive spirit and very good with kids. They brought very good and creative energy at our place and also the kids felt in love with them. Thanks for everything you have given to us, good luck more

(Excellent)

by host [23/01/2010]:

for Richard

Richard and Katie stayed at my place for 3 weeks, they have been amazing and I felt really sad when they left :-( They got on perfectly with the kids (Richard playing football and badminton with them, giving them guitarclases e.t.c). Katie, as she is an interior designer, made me the whole plan for the future extentions of 2 more apartments, more

(Excellent)

by Richard [28/01/2010]:

for host

We stayed with Simone and her two girls for just three weeks and loved every minute of it! Not only did they make us feel extremely welcome but we were involved in all sorts of things such as gardening, cooking, hanging out with the kids, drawing up some exstension plans and any other odd jobs that needed doing. Simone is an excellent host and more

(Excellent)

by host [03/03/2010]:

for Friederike

I had 3 lovely weeks with Rike. She is a very nice person, very independant, balanced and I was very satisfied with the work she did.
I wish you all the best for the future Rike, and I feel a bit sorry that you were so unlucky with the weather here...rain, rain and again rain ;-) Thanks for having taken it with humor!

(Excellent)

by Friederike [07/06/2010]:

for host

I obtained my first workaway experience with Simone and it couldn't have been better.
I planed to stay for 2 weeks, but I left after 8. :-) 8 weeks I won't forget.
She and her wonderful kids are living in a amazing part of Spain.
If you have the possibility to work for Simone, you shouldn't miss it!!!

(Excellent)

by host [21/11/2010]:

for Hendrika

Dianne is incredible, I had a great time with her. We played guitar together ( she has a beautiful voice), she gave piano lessons to my kids and painted..It was nothing she couldn't do, always I was discovering another site of her.
She is fun to be with and has a very good, peaceful character.
I wish her all the best, I would be happy if she would more

(Excellent)

by Hendrika [09/11/2011]:

for host

I had a great time in Caños! It was just as amazing as the first time last year. It is a wonderful family that made me feel very welcome (back). It was great being there an living with them. Simone always makes sure you can use your talents and are happy with the work you are doing. I loved it and probably will be back again, haha! So take care more

(Excellent)

by host [28/01/2011]:

for Thomas

What a positive surprise!! After disappointing experiences with young Workawayers, I made an exception and invited Thomas and Linda.. and didn't regret it one second. Luckily one planed week became two and a half months! They are tidy, clean, clever, a good laugh and lot's more. Thomas is very good at the computer and if you have the chance to more

(Excellent)

by Thomas [22/02/2011]:

for host

Staying with Simone was more than a wonderful start into the world of Workaway! Simone is very charming, nice and - between her chaotic moments to organize her day - easy-going and generous. Together we've done some website improvements and redesigned the 'instruction manuals' for her holiday guests. Additonally, every day there was plenty of more

(Excellent)

by Travis [11/02/2011]:

for host

We had a wonderful experience with Simone and her two daughters the five weeks we were here. Simone was wonderful to us as we got to know her before we house-sat for 3 weeks. We even became pretty good friends with Thomas and Linda, two other workawayers staying there. The area where we lived was gorgeous with the beach across the road and small more

(Excellent)

by host [11/02/2011]:

for Travis

Thanks Travis and Liz for taking care of my house. It was a big surprise for me how beautiful you painted it while I was away, good work! Thanks Liz for the nice decoration tips, thanks to you both for making the birthday party of my daughter San a unforgettable day..
I wish you all the best on your way and mabye we see us once again in this area..

(Excellent)

by host [11/03/2011]:

for Sabella

Sabella and Mick are very very nice people, they left today and we already miss them. They are hard working (they did lot's of work in the garden), independent and good fun. Also they are very good with kids: Sabella gave violin and piano clases to my daughter and she loved it! Mick played some guitar with my other daughter and they had lot's of more

(Excellent)

by Sabella [18/03/2011]:

for host

Simone is a great workaway host as she is very friendly, helpful and inclusive, we really enjoyed being included in the day to day life of her family and getting to know Faye and San. Simone is very flexible about what work you do when, so we were able to make our own plans and work around them, and to get out and about and appreciate the great more

(Excellent)

by Merrisa [21/05/2011]:

for host

Simone, her girls and our whole workaway experience was wonderful! We spent a little under six weeks in this absolutely beautiful location. The work was fun and Simone was flexible with hours, always willing to accommodate to ensure we had time to explore our surroundings. We will dearly miss Simone and the girls and hope to return for a visit more

(Excellent)

by host [21/05/2011]:

for Merrisa

Definitely one the best Workawayers I ever had! They are both very hard working and good with their hands. It wasn't necessary to say a lot, they have seen immediately what needs to be done and took action. They made a lovely stone terrace and they renovated the Workawayhouse, it looks wonderful now! They are very responsible and trustful people, more

(Excellent)

by host [19/06/2011]:

for Matt

Lynda and Matt are great people, 100% recommended! They are good fun and hard working, spreading good energy every single day. Lynda is very efficient and completes every job she is given very well. Especially the cleaning- which was so perfect- like I never had it before :-)
Although Matt is not experienced in manual professional skills, he is a more

(Excellent)

by Matt [19/06/2011]:

for host

We have had a fantastic 4 weeks with Simone and the girls and cannot believe how lucky we were to stay in such a beautiful location. Simone has been a brilliant host, who welcomed us from start to finish. We have learnt so much (by making a few mistakes!) and will take away a lot of new skills. Simone gave us lots of opportunities during our stay more

(Excellent)

by host [06/09/2011]:

for Brianna

Bri and Zac stayed at my house for 2 1/2 months in the summer and took care of my rental apartments and gardens while I was away. I would highly recommend them as Workawayers for any host!

Zac is the perfect house master and took extremely good care of my big garden while I was away. He has a large knowledge of plants and gardening in general more

(Excellent)

by Brianna [24/09/2011]:

for host

We stayed in Los Canos de Meca for two months while Simone (the owner of Casa Meca) was away.

It was an incredible experience and one that we would never have had the opportunity to take part in without www.workaway.info. Simone was offering a two month placement at her house in the South of Spain. She invites a couple to stay at her property more over summer and take care of the gardens and guests.

We arrived at the end of June and spent a few weeks with Simone and her daughters, learning the ropes of Casa Meca. In mid July, Simone left for vacation and we became the caretakers of Casa Meca.

Our day generally consisted of a late wake-up of about 10am, a few hours work in the day, a siesta in our apartment or at the beach, and then dinner and a drink out at night.

Work consisted of taking care of the garden (watering, pruning, raking leaves etc), meeting and greeting guests who arrive at Casa Meca, managing the solar power and dealing with anything else that arises.

We had plenty of spare time to enjoy life in Andalusia. We had our fill of tapas in tiny street bars in Vejer. We spent over 100 hours at the Lighthouse beach, soaking up the sun and surfing when the conditions were right. We made friends with the locals and got to know (through our broken Spanish/English) details about their lives in Los Canos. We met fellow travellers (including some Aussies from back home) and had numerous little fiestas of our own. And of course we made the most of Los Canos’ amazing summer nightlife – parties on the beach, the amazing La Jaima bar with its view over the ocean, concerts at Las Dunas and games of billiard at the Camping Chameleon cafe.

The accommodation is extremely comfortable and met all our needs. We had a comfortable bed, internet, a private shower and toilet, and an outdoor kitchen with sitting area, perfect for preparing food on balmy summer nights. ‘Casa Workaway’ provided more than the usual amenities a traveller could usually want for!

Simone is very lovely and we always felt welcome and comfortable in her home and on her property. She made sure our stay was perfectly comfortable and was very flexible in the hours we worked to ensure we enjoyed ourselves as much as possible.

If you have any further questions about spending the summer in Los Canos at Casa Meca, feel free to email us and we’d be happy to share with you any more information – brianna.delaporte@hotmail.com.

Cheers

Brianna and Zac

(Excellent)

by Jonas [14/11/2011]:

for host

I stayed in a nice studio appartment, helping Simone with different things around the house. It was a very nice time, and I really enjoyed it! Thank you :) I'm coming back to visit soon!

(Excellent)

by host [14/11/2011]:

for Jonas

Jonas stayed at my house for some weeks and I was more than happy with him. He is a very good electrician and “renovated” the whole electricity in my house. Also he is very nice person you can have fun with and he is very reliable. If you have a chance to invite him don't hesitate, I am sure you will not regret ;-)) Thanks for everything more

(Excellent)

by Jamie [21/11/2011]:

for host

We stayed for 3 weeks in the amazing studio apartment. The work we did was mostly gardening and fixing fences to stop the dog escaping! The area is really beautiful, right next to the beach and with nice walks in the forest. Simone also took us to another beach where you can hire surfboards which was great.
Thanks for everything I'd love to come more

(Excellent)

by host [21/11/2011]:

for Jamie

Jaime and Jacklyn are very nice people and good workers. I was very very happy with them. They did all the jobs perfectly well (the dog still can't escape ;-)) Welcome back any time and all the best on your way!

(Excellent)

by pam [06/01/2012]:

for host

We spent 2 months from November till January in Canos de Meca and have had a fabulous time we have become very close to Simone and her daughters and were very sad to leave.

We had excellent accommodation and were able to use a couple of the apartments which gave us both independence and privacy which I think was perfect for a long stay.

We more

(Excellent)

by host [07/01/2012]:

for pam

I can recommend the Tipping family 100%!
I miss the personality of Pam: full of ideas, never giving up, very creative and a big heart. I miss Mark, always with a smile on his face and a good joke. I miss Rowan, this polite young guy offering me a seat when needed ;-). The work they did was incredibly good and I think I have now the most more

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