Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
1 Sep 2025
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 3 days
Feedback
50
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Badges (4)
Details
Description
My name is Rainer and I am a well-known german writer (in the fifties) of novels, travel-literature and short stories. I am also a photographer of mainly artistic photography (portraits, landscape, body & nude) and a musician too. I play guitar and sing. Since summer 2025 I live in the mountains of Asturias. This is a new adventure for me and a new way of life. Before moving to Asturias I lived for ten years on Flores (Azores / Portugal) – a little island in the Middle of the Atlantic Ocean between Lisbon and New York.
On the West Coast of Flores I bought a beautiful piece of land (around 5000 qm), which builded up behind the village – divided into terraces – like an ocean wave with stunning views over the Atlantic, the steep cliffs with its lush green and the waterfalls. I had a great time there and over the years I transformed with the help of volunteers, friends, colleagues, fellow artists and workawayers the former pasture of cows into a beautiful seaside garden. My writing and living space became a place for creative workshops and cultural events – readings, concerts, exhibitions, etc. and also the legendary monthly jam sessions which took place for more than seven years. Please keep in mind that the feedbacks you find until the end of 2024 in my profile are from people who stayed with me at my place on Flores Island.
But now I am in Asturias. It is very different compared to Flores but of stunning beauty too. The old stone house I bought is located in a very small village above the Valdemurio Reservoir and overlooking the valley of Quirós. The comfortable house with its unique atmosphere will become my new writing- and living space. A place for literature, photography, music, exhibitions. Help me to take care of my new home, help me to transform it and be creative in Asturias.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
DIY and building projects
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
Interests
Mountain
Beach
Gardening
Hiking
Culture
Cooking & food
Books
Art & design
Music
Photography
Writing
Camping
Nature
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
This house set in the beautiful and stunning mountain scenery of Asturias is a place to be creative. A place to "ground" yourself in a way, to charge your batteries, a place for well-being and a place to be and to live in the moment – what we should do all the time, don't we!?
As I am a well-known artist myself – being a writer is my main occupation but I am also a photographer, creative writing teacher and musician – there can be an interesting exchange between us. Especially if you work, just got started or want to work as an artist yourself or just have an interest about it.
What I am not interested and what is pretty boring for me are these kind of "wannabe artists" – people who can tell you the whole day how fantastic they are and how fantastic their creative ideas and projects (which they never make) are. I am a professional artist and too long in this "business" already to listen to these kind of stories. So let's make it simple and bring it to the point: An artist is not someone who thinks it is cool to be an artist. An artist makes art. Art is work. Hard work. A passion, a way of life, a journey. If you agree to that we will have a great time together :-)
And as I am new in Asturias I am very keen to explore the region too. Do some good hiking, visit places and cultural events or have a day on the beach.
Help
I look for people who are curious, creative and open minded and want to be part of the story of this very special place in the mountains of Asturias. You should be interested in art itself and how an artist works and lives. For people who are not open for that – maybe only looking for a "cheap" place to stay – this is not the right place.
There is always help needed in the house. The usual tasks to keep it clean, tidy and comfortable. The house is in a good condition but jobs for now will be painting walls inside, change and install some new lighting, furniture, prepare one part of the house (an around 8 m wide original stone wall) to become a space for exhibitions. Also some kind of gardening – as I want to have plants around the house. But there is no garden!
Eating well is also a big thing – so creative chefs in the kitchen are always welcome.
Creative and practical help is also needed to tell the story (fotos, films, social-media, etc.), create PR and marketing for myself and my new place in Asturias. Of course it would be great too (but it is not a must!) if you are a creative person yourself, maybe play an instrument for some Jammin', or write, paint, dance, make photography (behind and/or in front of the camera), films, sculptures or what ever...
Of course I don't expect that you will help me with all of this tasks during your stay – important for me is that you can work independently for a couple of hours in the morning. This gives me the chance and the space to work on an actual book project and write some pages during this time. Or prepare some photos for an exhibition. This is very important for me and a big help!!
Languages
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
Spanish: Beginner
French: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
My Spanish has to improve!! Maybe you can teach me, or we learn and practice together. If you are interested in German – this is my mother tongue.
Accommodation
In the house I have a comfortable room for guests with a nice balcony. This room will be yours during your stay.
What else ...
The old traditional stone house which is my working- and living space is in a very little village nestled above the Valdemurio Reservoir and overlooking the Valley of Quirós. The village is not even a village, just a few houses. At the moment we are 8 inhabitants. So don't expect big nightlife here! But expect wildlife: Here in Asturias we have bears, wolfs and eagles.
My neighbor is a Refugio with 26 beds and above our "village" is a famous rock formation for climbers. So it's not totally lonely here and there will be always some people around...
Oviedo – the next big city – is around 40 kilometers away. There goes a bus five/six times a day in both directions. The bus stop is on the main road in the valley. It's a 15 to 20 minutes walk down from the house – walking up again may take some minutes longer.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We are in the mountains here and the signals for phone & internet are not the strongest!
How many Workawayers can stay?
One
My animals / pets
Kaleko
Sappho
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (25)
His place is just beautiful, very wild with an amazing view. He took us to a hike and taught us a bit about writing and some guitar. We also watched some movies together.
He made sure that we were warm enough during the night and upgraded our tent with a massive, very comfortable mattress.
We can recommend him… read more
I would highly recommend this place to anyone who wants to explore the purity and authenticity of the Island's nature while being in a creative space. I stayed the month of November - it gave me everything from sunny to rainy and windy days, so I saw the Island in different atmospheres and can… read more
Photos
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(4.9)
Cultural exchange:
(4.7)
Communication:
(4.9)
His place is just beautiful, very wild with an amazing view. He took us to a hike and taught us a bit about writing and some guitar. We also watched some movies together.
He made sure that we were warm enough during the night and upgraded our tent with a massive, very comfortable mattress.
We can recommend him… read more
I would highly recommend this place to anyone who wants to explore the purity and authenticity of the Island's nature while being in a creative space. I stayed the month of November - it gave me everything from sunny to rainy and windy days, so I saw the Island in different atmospheres and can… read more
Overall my experience there was very positive and Rainer and his two lovely cats were… read more
The work was pretty physical and fun (we worked digging the roots, preparing… read more
It was a very interesting experience. Video recording and editing is my passion, so it's worth it.
Thanks!
I was on Kotuko for 4 weeks together with another nice workawayer
we were allowed to learn a lot about the simple life,
in harmony with nature and get to know this wonderful island!
Kotuko is in a quiet and beautiful location. Reiner was a great host who always took good care of his workawayers,
he is a funny and… read more
Les paysages de flores sont magnifiques, les oiseaux et la nature sont omniprésents
Il était très agréable de vivre avec Rainer, les discussions que nous avions étaient toujours très intéressantes, entre musique, littérature, cinéma, ou voyage, c était toujours un plaisir d… read more
I was a bit unlucky with the weather, but thanks to Rainers big efforts to make my stay as pleasant as possible (he showed me around on the island when ever we had the oppurtunity and gave me some very… read more
I spent only two weeks there but that place became my home easily and Rainer became a… read more
I did workaway at his place "Kotuko" ,in March. This is quite different then the other experiences. The Kotuko, itself is one of his art piece. A reflection of Rainer's own world, own mind. The place is basically a garden. When you enter to Kotuko you will see that except the kitchen,… read more
We always cooked dinner together made of potatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, and rice.
I helped him with creating a video for his website, and some gardening work. I really liked what I… read more
Rainer is an amazing host, he has a huge knowledge about books, movies and travelling.
He is a writer, and when I joined him for a hike&write tour, I learned a lot about creating characters.
Writing a good book might need a talent, but there are many things you can learn… read more
