Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
28 Mar 2024
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 2 days
Feedback
70
Facebook verified
Email verified
Badges (3)
Details
Description
Bonjour! We are Eyal and Tia. Our home on a forested hill above farmland has an ever-changing view of the Pyrenees. Glass doors light the double-volume lounge, opening onto a terrace, pool and garden. We and our cats, Caramelle and Magic, want to share it with you.
In our free time, we host Shakespeare and poetry readings, and creative workshops for personal growth. These earn no income so, to pursue this dream, we need your creative, DIY, housework and gardening help to create a comfortable and stimulating environment.
We love to work hard, and to relax! We enjoy yoga, walking, cycling, swimming, and exploring local sights, gastronomy and events like the Marciac Jazz and Madiran Wine Festivals, as well as skiing in the Pyrenees.
Walks, cycle routes, restaurants, markets, wine farms, galleries, museums and horse riding are nearby. Within 2 hrs by car are climbing, skiing, river rafting, spas, caves, and beaches.Types of help and learning opportunities
Art ProjectsLanguage practiceHelp with Eco ProjectsTeachingGardeningDIY and building projectsAnimal CareCreating/ Cooking family mealsHelp around the houseGeneral MaintenanceCultural exchange and learning opportunities
CULTURAL, LANGUAGE AND SKILLS OPPORTUNITIES
- Local events include music, dance, food and wine festivals, and flea and farmers' markets.
- There are also classic car rallies, art and photographic exhibitions, walks, seminars, etc.
- We want to learn which music you like and are happy to share our favourite music too.
- You can join us when we visit local art galleries and musical events or go on your own.
- We can teach you computer, Internet and programming skills and learn from you too.
- Our books and movies include classics, drama, sci-fi, thrillers, philosophy, self-help, etc.
- We play board games such as Scrabble, Catan, Backgammon, CashFlow, and cards.
- You can learn to make lovely, healthy vegan and vegetarian meals, such as fresh hummus.
- Our DIY projects may enable you to learn or practise skills such as painting, woodwork, etc.
- We are in the Madiran wine region, where several vineyards offer tasting experiences.
- You can practise yoga with us and/or attend classes with an excellent teacher nearby.Help
SKILLS
- We value skills in housework, DIY, decorating, gardening, IT, or admin and welcome teachers of yoga, French, dancing, drumming, keyboard, recorder, guitar, or singing.
- We may ask you to help clean bedrooms and bathrooms for non-paying guests considered part of the family. No wages apply in these cases.
- Note: We're organised. You must be happy to follow a schedule, show up on time without reminders, and clean up after yourself (your room and bathroom, tools and equipment).
TIMING
- Volunteer arrival/departure day is Saturday (arrive p.m; leave a.m.).
- We prefer you to stay for 3 weeks. The minimum is 2 weeks, including the 5-day trial.
- Hours: Approx. 5 hours per day 5 days per week, plus help with all meals you eat. By agreement, you can do more hours one day to free time on another day.
SCHEDULE
- We awaken at 06:30 and do yoga at 07:15. Breakfast/coffee is at 08:00, followed at 09:00 by chores and planned projects. Lunch is at 13:00. Unless we arrange an afternoon session, you are free until evening chores at 18:00. Dinner is at 19:00. After dinner, we relax with music/board games/movies/reading, etc.
- You can arrange in advance to skip dinner and its chores to go out all afternoon and evening provided the house is quiet (toilette, etc. finished) by 22:30, Sunday to Friday.
- On weekends, volunteers help with any meals they eat. You can relax at home, although we encourage you to spend at least one day out to give everyone some space. Saturday eve may be late, as may Sunday morning! Sunday eve we retire early to rise fresh on Monday.Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Hebrew: Fluent
Afrikaans: Intermediate
French: IntermediateThis host offers a language exchange
LANGUAGE PRACTICE - We share most meals with volunteers, with interesting wide-ranging conversations. - We speak English at home. We can teach English vocabulary, grammar and writing. - Tia's qualifications: BA (English, French), BA Honours (English Poetry), MA (Creative Writing). - Tia's mother tongue is English. She also speaks some French, Afrikaans and Hebrew. - Eyal's mother tongue is Hebrew. He is fluent in English and is learning French. - You can participate in the amateur Shakespeare and poetry readings which we host. - To learn French, practise with us, watch French TV or DVDs, and join local activities. - Read, write and translate poetry from English to French or vice versa for pleasure. - Enjoy sci-fi, classic and foreign films or series in English and French or with subtitles.Accommodation
ROOMS
We prefer to host couples or friends who can share a bedroom and a bathroom. Our room and two guest rooms each have a private bathroom. There is also a separate guest WC. Some spaces in the main house can accommodate occasional extra guests. A spacious garden cabin can also hold up to four people. Those staying in the cabin use bathrooms in the main house. You might change beds, depending on guest configuration.
FOOD
We eat mainly vegetarian food, mostly from a vegan cookbook, i.e. fresh salads, fruit, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and grains. We try to source organic, minimise refined foods, and follow a low-gluten, low-sugar diet. Our meals are tasty, healthy and filling. Whether you are vegan, vegetarian, or omnivorous, you will be well-nourished.
Notes:
- If you are vegan or vegetarian, we happily adapt our diet to suit, and also for genuine allergies. We do not cater for picky eaters, such as "vegetarians" who don't like vegetables, nor do we offer different meals for a single sitting.
- We sometimes enjoy dairy, eggs, fish, seafood, poultry, pork, etc. and the region's delicious desserts, cheese and wine, so you may encounter these, even if you do not eat them.
- We practise intermittent fasting, so eat only lunch and dinner, and sometimes shift meals if entertaining or going out. However, you can have breakfast if that makes you happier. :)
FACILITIES
- Our 12m x 6m outdoor swimming pool is open from May to November.
- We offer good WIFI. Your use must not interfere with our access.
- We use Skype or WhatsApp for outgoing phone calls.
- We normally do laundry on Monday and finish ironing and packing away by Wednesday.
- Musical instruments include a keyboard, recorders, electronic drum set, Cajon, etc.
- Many walks and cycle rides are possible. You can borrow our bicycles, at your own risk.
- The Chemin de St Jaques—the pilgrim route to Santiago de Compostela—passes nearby.
IMPORTANT NOTES
- We love animals and our cats are friendly, but we do not usually accept visiting pets.
- The property is unsuitable for children (the pool is unfenced and the terrain rough).
- We do not allow smoking anywhere on the property. This is non-negotiable.What else ...
TRAVEL INFO
- Our house is 2.5km from Maubourguet centre (car 7min, cycle 12min, walk 30min).
- There is no public transport between our house and Maubourguet.
- We have extra bicycles and secure parking for your own bicycles.
- You can rent cars from airports or local rental agencies, and we have parking spaces.
- Car time to airports (mins): Lourdes 36, Pau 52, Biarritz 110, Toulouse 118, Bordeaux 122.
- Trains run from all airports to Tarbes Station, then buses to Maubourguet (except Sun).
- On Saturdays, we can often help with lifts to and from Tarbes Station or Maubourguet.
- Compare ways of getting here and click through to providers: rome2rio.com
- Compare train and bus routes and book tickets: trainline.com
- Local bus timetable: mestrajets.lio.laregion.fr/horaires
- You must get travel insurance before you join us. See workaway.info/links-insurance.html
COVID-19
You agree to:
- Show us proof that you are fully vaccinated against Covid.
- Be willing to wear a mask whenever we wear masks.
- Heed pandemic conventions: social distancing, hand hygiene and, if necessary, quarantine.A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We have a good connection, but we ask Workawayers not to stream or download videos while we are working, to avoid slowing down our conference calls and other work.
Space for parking camper vans
There is room on the driveway to accommodate a small van without blocking access to the garage or the carport.
Can possibly accept pets
It depends on the size of your pets and whether they get on well with cats. The borders of our large property are porous (fence can be crossed and our gates are often open); we cannot guarantee your pets will stay on-premises, nor can we take responsibility for their safety. Also, it is an absolute rule that pets on our premises do not eat any human food, including leftovers. Begging in the kitchen or dining room is strongly discouraged.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Approximately 5 hours a day 5 days a week
Feedback (34)
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(4.9)
Communication:
(4.9)
We had enriching conversations and they made me feel very welcomed.… read more
Allison… read more
And her lemon meringue pie is to die for! No, really, you might as well… read more
We enjoyed conversations with them at meal times, including sharing our different musical tastes. We learned about some Dutch musicians that we hadn't heard of before and enjoyed watching them on YouTube together.
Teun and Tamara are both creative, practical and… read more
I learned plenty of "life hacks" from Tia and also her advises to visit… read more
They are very friendly, open-minded and intelligent. And I've really learned a lot from them (not only in terms of housekeeping, but in general, their worldview). I felt like I was… read more
Evan came to us as a last-minute Workawayer, so we could not plan to use his best skills of writing and music, but he did some good work in our garden, shaping hedges, cleaning up flower beds of cannas and irises, and weeding the vegetable patch. He loves cooking, so was happy to lend a hand in the kitchen and even to take full responsibility… read more
La conversation intelligente, et une excellente cuisine. C'est un bon endroit pour rester! Eyal et Tia sont… read more
They are not only highly experienced in restoration and renovation; they are also great cooks who enjoy taking time over meals and can transform simple ingredients into tasty, beautifully presented dishes. They were also good-humoured, considerate guests who adapted to our lifestyle, making it… read more
We enjoyed interesting conversations about her life in Argentina and her experiences… read more
She was courteous and patient during a time that we were exceptionally busy with work, which we really appreciated.
We enjoyed interesting mealtime conversations with Ida Marie, and also had fun spending time with her away from the house, such as the day we went to the mountains, rushing ahead of the… read more
The first conclusion is that 2 weeks isn't enough.
They are such rewarding, inspiring and intelligent people.
They have a daily shedule from monday-friday and Tia helps you trough the first week. The following time you always knows what to do and then it feels like home. In your… read more
He attended to all his tasks with care and took pains to finish things well, which we deeply appreciated, but he also knew how to… read more
They are both very warm and open people who shared so much with me. I was happy to help them renovating some rooms and doing gardening work.
Tia made such healty and delicious food for us! And I loved joining them for yoga every morning. I had many opportunities to take a bike… read more
The work is well structured and easy to follow. If you have specific skills you will be given work to suit it. If… read more
She is a brilliant cook, putting creativity and love into her food. She enhanced our normal healthy meals, which are pretty tasty… read more
The location is beautiful, as is the house and Tia and Eyal, who were excellent company. We had some great conversations, good food, wind down dvd evenings. I was looked after very well (including treated to a lovely… read more
LOVE! Viola
Workwise, they were willing… read more
As guests, they were courteous, responsive and helpful. They happily ate unfamiliar foods, tried yoga for the first time and came… read more
Eyal and Tia have beautiful… read more
They were excellent company at mealtimes - both deep… read more
We so much enjoyed your company, as well as appreciating your skills in yoga and graphic design and the variety of other things you were able to do for us. Your calm demeanour and courteous, sensitive, willing approach made it easy to live with you. Your joy and creativity were… read more