Somewhere in the middle of 2015 we decided to buy a finca in Andalusia. We already had a beautiful house in mind in Corumbela and that would be it, I had decided in my head. When we went to take another look at the beginning of March, we had found 2 more options next to it. That was a complicated switch in my head, but the last finca just outside Canillas de Aceituno was what we fell in love with immediately. Anyway, then you buy a house in Spain.

There is still something to consider. I can give you one advice: never do it alone!! It really works differently there than in the Netherlands. We have called in the Second Home Andalusia team. Very helpful and they support you in every step needed to realize your dream. All team members have been living and working in this region of Andalusia for years, speak the languages and each have their own specific expertise and background.

Okay, then you've arranged all the paperwork, permits and insurance. Next focus: furnishing our new home, Casa Flotante, itself. The previous residents have lived there with great love and pleasure. Still sad. When you sit at the table at the notary's table feeling very happy, you see that they sign the purchase contract with pain in their hearts. Health and age ensured this bitter farewell. Fortunately, they quickly found another house where they need less land and therefore less maintenance.

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If you live in Andalusia, you must have already visited major cities such as Córdoba, Seville, Málaga, Cádiz and Granada, but did you know that in just 1.5 hours you can immerse yourself into the completely different world of Marrakech, the former capital of the Moroccan empire, the land of fairy tale storytellers, snake charmers and belly dancers!

I had been dreaming of visiting Marrakech for some time, but because I am blonde and everyone warned me that the men there are very pushy, so I persuaded a friend to come with me, safety in numbers! I should point out that we were never bothered, no one was intrusive, we always felt safe, even late at night, so in my experience this "story" can go to the land of fables!

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This spring I fell under the spell of a new hobby; diving. A friend told me that in Andalusia, and in particular the Costa del Sol and the Costa Tropical, it is surprisingly beautiful under water. Diving has always fascinated me and I never had time for it in the Netherlands, so I started to look into it here.
 
After a few phone calls and inquiries, I discovered that from the beginning of 2019 a Dutch diving center has existed on "our coast", consisting of an SSI diving school and a shop with all the necessary diving equipment. Dutch Scuba Divers is located in Caleta de Velez, between Torre del Mar and Nerja and on a daily basis they take people diving or snorkeling to the most beautiful dive sites in southern Spain.

After the first meeting I noticed that they operate in a different way to the other diving centres that I had visited before. Peter and his instructors work very closely with all the divers and snorkelers, they are very competent at what they do and are always ready for some fun!

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artist impression Bosque de Málaga 2019

Walking through Calle Larios, the main shopping street in the lively centre of Málaga, I witnessed the construction of the Christmas lights for the approaching holidays. Every year the city attracts visitors and tourists from far and wide with its beautiful atmospheric lighting on Calle Larios as the highlight.

With the impressive light show of 2018 still in mind, we are looking forward to the new concept with the promising, fairytale-like name El Bosque de Navidad, ‘The Christmas forest’ which will bring Christmas to the main street. 

The huge arches that spanned the shopping street in 2018 and the three previous years, were inspired by the beautiful cathedral of Málaga. When you were under these arches in the heart of the city, you actually imagined to be inside ‘La Manquita’ the beautiful cathedral, with only one tower. Many colourful stained glass scenes and other Gothic and Renaissance elements gave this light artwork a devout appearance that even non-believers were speechless.

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