Experience Andalucian life with us in Jimena de la Frontera, Spain

Details

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  Description

  We are Pete and Helen, a couple from Manchester, England . In 2017, we moved to the beautiful region of Istria in northern Croatia, where we bought an Istrian stone house, which we renovated, with some help along the way from some lovely Workawayers, who we now call friends. And, now we're doing it all over again, having sold our Istrian idyll and relocated lock, stock and barrel, to the beautiful southern region of Cadiz in Andalucia. We have bought what we hope will become a majestic old Andalucian townhouse again - but currently, she's a bit tired and we're giving her lots of TLC.
  
  The major structural work is completed, as well as most of the big internal renovation, so we're now onto the really nice work - the finishing touches. Because we are often working from home, we cannot stress enough that anyone who visits needs to be independent and self-sufficient, as we will not be available all of the time - another reason why we would prefer a couple to visit.
  
  Our house is located 30 minutes from the beaches of Sotogrande and Torreguadiaro, in a beautiful pueblo blanco. We are located about a minute from the town square, with bars and restaurants, and we are also on the edge of the Los Alcornocales National Park. If history is your thing, the ruins of a Moorish castle sit high above the town. There is a train station 1km away, which links us locally and nationally to the rest of Spain.
  
  IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR GUESTS
  
  We are looking for self-sufficient travellers to come & stay with us. Obviously, once you are in our home, we will provide you with what you need to be comfortable and relaxed and feel at home - and we'd extend the invitation for you to eat with us at mealtimes. We'd understand however, if you preferred not to do this, all the time.
  
  If you cannot drive, where we live is perhaps not right for you, unless you are an expert with local transport. We'd prefer to have a couple stay with us, as we think this will be easier all round, as you can choose to be as involved in our routine, or as self-sufficient, as you prefer. Therefore, we are really sorry that we won't consider applications from solo travellers. Unfortunately, we can't really accommodate a family either, as we don't think we have the amount of space we'd all need, and we do still need to do our day to day work website design work, meaning that there will be times when we are not available.
  
  We think we are easy going and don't have too many house rules - as long as you help along the way after mealtimes etc, and obviously understand that this is our full time home, not a holiday house, we're sure we'll get along fine. We appreciate contact from independent-minded people who have the kinds of skills we are looking for, in return for a slice of Andalucian life. (We also very strongly recommend, as a sensible precaution, that anyone travelling and who visits us via Workaway, has valid travel insurance),

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  DIY and building projects

  General Maintenance
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  Interests

  

  Beach

  

  Events & social

  

  Culture

  

  Movies & TV

  

  Music

  

  History

  

  DIY & crafts

  

  Art & design

  

  Photography

  

  Cooking & food

  

  Blogging

  

  Architecture
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Anyone wanting to immerse themselves in culture and history, needs to come and stay in Andalucia, with its rich and diverse traditions. Although English is spoken extensively, a smattering of Spanish is always a good thing, especially in the more traditional areas. If food and wine - and sherry! - are your thing, this is most definitely the place to be - seafood, tapas, paella, meat dishes, Moroccan influenced food. It's all here. We can guarantee whenever you stay, there will be a fiesta of some kind happening somewhere nearby - the perfect way to integrate and experience Andalucian life. There are lots of ferias in Andalucia and we are sure that whenever visitors stay, there will be at least one happening in the region. Easter - Semana Santa - is a HUGE deal in Andalucia, and is an occasion that really needs to experienced.
  
  We are close to the coast, but if you wanted to travel a little further afield, Malaga can be reached in less than two hours, and in the other direction, our favourite coast, the Costa de la Luz, the Coast of Light. This area of Andalcuia has to be seen to be believed. From Tarifa and its windswept beaches, perfect for surfing, to Cadiz - which is breath-takingly beautiful, along and up the coast to the famous Sherry Triangle of El Puerto de Santa Maria, Sanlucar de Barrameda and Jerez de la Frontera, you will fall in love too. We definitely recommend that if you are interested in staying with us, you need to have your own transport. There is so much to see and experience, and as we have explained, we unfortunately cannot take you everywhere as we will need to work a lot of the time.

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  Help

  We are looking for people who are happy to pick up a paint brush, sand a window or door frame or two, clean up & paint a few terracotta pots or basically just muck in with light tasks around the house.

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent
  Spanish: Beginner

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  Accommodation

  Our house is a traditional Andalucian townhouse. On the ground floor, we have a utility room with WC, a separate living room and a large open plan living/lounge space with dining area and kitchen, opening out onto an internal courtyard. On the first floor, we have three double bedrooms (one with en-suite), a bathroom and a large, open lounge area. A flight of stairs from the first floor takes you up to the roof terrace, with extensive views across the campo and down to Gibraltar.
  
  Kitchen/lounge areas - newly renovated with dishwasher, eye level oven, hob, fridge freezer and large walk-in pantry. Dining table. Woodburner. Sofas and armchairs. TV (we can get Netflix, Sky movies, sports channels etc).
  Utility room - washing machine, condenser dryer, WC & handbasin
  Three double bedrooms - the one you would have has views over the internal courtyard.
  Upstairs bathroom - recently renovated, with walk in shower and slipper bath.
  Living area on first floor - equipped with music system and comfy chairs, overlooking internal courtyard.
  
  We have fixed line internet.
  
  The house is located on the main road in the village and parking is at a premium. However, if you have your own transport (preferable), there is plenty of parking around the house and the main square, as well as on the outskirts.

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  What else ...

  From previous experience with Workaway visits, we have said that we would host for a week or less, initially. This gives you, and us, the time to decide if we are right for each other, and to decide if we both want to extend the stay, if necessary.
  
  Local transport is available - although we are no experts as we don't use it - and as previously explained, there is a train station in the next village. Taxis are also available. However, our preference would be to host a couple who have their own transport as it means you can be independent and not reliant on us, and you can plan your own time, away from the house.
  
  We think we are easy going and don't have too many house rules - as long as you help along the way after mealtimes etc, and obviously understand that this is our full time home, not a holiday house, we're sure we'll get along fine.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  My animals / pets

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