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the property:
Our cottage is not isolated or secluded. It
is part of a small traditional agricultural community in the Alpujarras
region, near Granada. Puerto
Juviley is a hamlet consisting of 15
farmhouses and a church, with no shops or bars and no concessions to
tourism. It is in a beautiful unspoilt valley. Lots of animals live near the river: wild boar, ibex, eagles, foxes,
vultures, turtles. The sound of the
gently burbling stream competes with birdsong and rippling leaves.We are only 1km from the main road, but it is like a different
world. However it is only 40 minutes to the beach, an hour to the city of
Granada.
El Parador (de Nuestra señora del Rosario)
is part of an old inn and apart from the addition of a basic kitchen and
bathroom, the cottage retains all the original features.It is not luxurious, but it is comfortable and reasonably priced. It’s
ideal as a base for rural tourism and we welcome families with children.You will meet Spanish people and may get involved in village life.
accommodation:
The cottage was built with stones and earth, plaster, wood, bamboo and
clay which were all sourced in the
valley. The walls are whitewashed
and some rooms still have the original lime plaster floors.We have added a kitchen and bathroom using cement and tiles, as
well as bamboo and poplar beams.
On the first floor there are three
interconnecting bedrooms, with two double beds, two single beds and a cot,
which can be arranged to suit our guests. The ground floor has an entrance
hall, staircase, living and dining room (with open fire), kitchen with
fridge (gas), cooker (gas), the usual basic cooking equipment, bathroom with hot and cold water, flush toilet, wash basin, bath
and bidet. Water is piped from a
mountain stream and is not chlorinated, so drinking water is drawn freshly
from a spring.
There is a large covered balcony upstairs
with a wonderful view up the valley and a small private patio with an old
fashioned sink for clothes washing and a washing line, together with a
table, chairs and sun umbrella.
The house is lit by solar power, converted
to 220 volts, so that mobile phonesand laptops can be charged. Radio cassettes are OK, but more
powerful appliances such as hairdryers cannot be used.In winter, candles provide
romantic extra lighting and there is a log fire, together with portable gas heaters.
The cottage is cleaned before and after
your stay, not while you are there.
We
provide bed linen and towels and clean
ones will be supplied once a week or as necessary.
We expect you to bring
your own beach towels. We can
supply a coolbox and sun umbrella.
pets:We never invite any animals in any of our houses as I am allergic
to cats and dogs, and so, sorry, we
cannot allow pets.
access:There are no roads in the village. Cars
are parked down by the river and it is a short walk(2mins) up to the
house. Please note that the house
is not suitable for those who have problems with walking.
transport:
We are about an hour from Granada and forty minutes to the coast.The airport at Granada is about an hour away, Málaga two hours and
Almería three hours.
Our local shopping village is Torvizcón
(10 mins) and the town of Órgiva, which has many alternative and
international amenities is just 15 minutes by bus or car.The coastal towns of Motríl and Salobreña
(40mins) have large supermarkets.
There are 3 buses a day to Granada and 3
returning which stop at the top of the track.
It is possible to stay at the cottage
without a hired car, especially if you are bringing bicycles. But please bear in mind that you will spend a lot of your holiday
waiting for buses and walking between buses, just like many local people. We do not recommend families with children using public transport,
particularly in summer because of the heat.Hiring a car can cost less than 100 pounds per week, which can work
out cheaper than transport to and from the airport.
surroundings: We
are situated in a beautiful and tranquil river valley. You can wander freely through the woods and fields and up the
mountains. It is a natural
playground for children, with no danger from cars.Discover nostalgic delights of making mud pies and dams in the
streams! Local people are
friendly and helpful and may invite you to join in their activities.In summer there are natural pools for swimming in the river, as
well as public pools in Órgiva and Torvizcón. Autumn and spring are
perfect for walking and cycling, and the display of wild flowers and
almond blossom from late January onwards is spectacular.
Making
your holiday as easy as possible
We can arrange a
starter pack of basics such as milk, bread, tea and coffee, the
ingredients for a simple pasta meal, snacks, drinks and breakfast to get
you through the first night if you arrive on a late flight or on a Sunday.
(We charge 5 pounds per person). If
you have any special dietary requirements we can lay in supplies and you
pay us when you arrive.
Local produce is usually available, we will
give you guidelines on how to buy fresh, organic and specialist foods in the nearby towns.Eating out is relatively cheap if you know how and where(10 euros
buys a three course meal). There is often a local fiesta going on where
the entertainments are generally free.
We can
offer classes in Spanish language
and culture (please ask in advance) to help you get the most from your
stay, as well as advice and help about routes and visits.
(Please note that visits to the Alhambra in
Granada must be booked in advance. At
busy times such as summer and Easter it’s best to do this a week or two
in advance. We would be happy to
help you with this.)
Families with
young children may appreciate supplies of nappies, the loan of a box of
toys and books …. we can even arrange an experienced English speaking
babysitter!
There is also a
large variety of complementary and alternative therapies available, such
as massage, reflexology and
aromatherapy: many practitioners speak English and will do home visits.
The English owners
(Cathy and John and their children Juanito (13) and Tomas (9) live nearby.
They all speak good Spanish and can give you lots of help and information
if required, but will otherwise be unobtrusive. They have experience of
helping in a medical emergency and other holiday crises, as they have been
running this holiday cottage for 17 years. The telephone number of
their home can be used as an emergency contact number. (Mobile phones do
not always work inside the houses).
booking:
We do not have a fixed changeover day, so visitors can arrive and depart
on any day of the week. This allows
you to take advantage of cheaper mid week flights, and to come to our
house as part of a longer holiday.
Out of
consideration for our neighbours, and also to make it easier for you, we
ask people to arrive in the hours of daylight if possible.There is no street lighting (no streets
either!) so you will need torches.
The price for one
week is a flat 225 pounds (for the house, regardless of numbers) winter,
spring, summer and autumn for up to 4 adults, and children stay free. We
choose not to accommodate more than 4 adults as it can become intrusive
for our neighbours and also the
amenities are limited.
A week is
normally the minimum booking but exceptions can be made for long weekends
including Spanish public
holidays, however you will
pay relatively more per night (e.g. a
four day weekend would cost 160 pounds). 2 weeks 450 pounds, 3 weeks 675 pounds, 4 weeks
900 pounds.
Wecan also offer longer lets at a discounted price during autumn and
winter.
In winter we have
to charge extra for the use of firewood. It is a limited resource and we have to buy it in.However use of the gas fires are included in the price.
Most people book
well in advance especially during school holidays and half terms, but we
also take last minute bookings. We
usually ask for 50% to reserve the booking and then the other 50% one
month before the holiday or on arrival if a late booking.
We do not take a
deposit against damages, we find that most people respect the house and
replace any breakages.
In the case of
cancellation by you, the first 50% is non returnable, but the second
payment may be returned at our discretion.If we are able to re-let the house we normally return the full
price.
To
make a booking, enquire about availability, or ask any questions please
email me, Cathy, at Cathyparrot2@yahoo.co.uk
or telephone us on (0034) 958 34 33 07 and leave a message with your
number if we are out.
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