Property Description
If you looking for the no-frills, authentic experience of the Alpujarra of old, in a beautiful rural spot, this is the place.
For peace and tranquillity, away from it all, Puerto Juviley is hard to beat. Life here in the tiny agricultural hamlet is lived much as it always has been. The dozen or so villagers still plough their land with mules and the women do their washing in the river. There is no mains electricity, there are no shops or bars, no streets or street lighting.
The church opens once a year - for the fiesta of their patron saint. And once she has done her stuff, it doubles up as the disco too, with paso dobles very much the order of the day!
Walk along by the cane and bullrushes down by the river and you almost feel that you are in Mexico, rather than Spain.
This cottage used to be part of a "parador", or inn, catering to travellers along the Camino Réal (Royal Road) from Granada to Almería. Before motor roads were built - just before the Civil War - this pass was the only way through the mountains to the coast. Mules, horses and donkeys, sheep, goats and pigs on their way to market bedded down here for the night along with their owners.
Fear not, you can choose your own bedfellows! The house itself is old and unpretentious, very simply furnished but clean, well-swept and with more character than a Cervantes classic. Old, charming and characterful, it has been minimally modernized: it now has hot and cold water and electric light [solar powered], a bathroom (with bath, bidet and flush toilet), and a basic kitchen with gas cooker and fridge.
Otherwise the cottage is as it was over 100 years ago, built of local stone and plaster, bamboo, trees and clay. Walls are whitewashed and some rooms still have their original lime plaster floors. Although there is piped water, it is not chlorinated so you will need to fetch drinking water from the spring by the river.
The stairs are massive, not for anyone with wobbly legs, and in order to get to the second and third bedrooms upstairs, you will need to pass through the first bedroom. But here you will sleep well, the crickets singing down by the river to accompany your dreams.
There is a large covered balcony upstairs with a wonderful view up the valley and a small private patio downstairs with an old fashioned sink for clothes washing and a washing line, together with a table, chairs and sun umbrella.
The one kilometre track down to Puerto Juviley is steep and winding, a bit eyebrow-raising in places (don't go over the edge … ) but easily passable in an ordinary car. Parking is below the village and a steepish path leads up to the house. The English owners live a little further up the lane.
Certainly not luxurious, but for anyone who enjoys the genuine atmosphere of an age almost forgotten, it's a lovable, delightful place. The terrace spaces are really nice and there is a wealth of nature and wonderful countryside all around to explore. Children love it, and adults too.
Situated in a beautiful and tranquil river valley, here you can wander freely through the woods and fields and up into the mountains.
It is a natural adventure playground for children, with no danger from cars. Discover the nostalgic delights of making mud pies and dams in the streams! In summer there are natural pools for swimming in the river. Autumn and spring are perfect for walking and cycling, and the display of wild flowers and almond blossom from late January onwards is spectacular.
Lots of animals live near the river: wild boar, ibex, eagles, foxes, vultures and turtles. The sound of the gently burbling stream competes with birdsong and rippling leaves. It's only one kilometre up to the main road from here (and then quickly on to Granada, the Mediterranean coast … wherever you want) - but down here this is a very different - and really wonderful - world!
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00 34 958 763 381
Property Details
Ground Floor :
Entrance hall
Sitting / Dining room
Kitchen
Bathroom (shower over bath tub)
Private patio in front of the house
First Floor :
3 interconnecting bedrooms :
2 doubles
1 twin bedded
Terrace (part shaded)
Facilities
Open fireplace in the living room • Portable gas heaters
Gas Oven • Gas hob (4 rings) • Fridge / freezer • Juicer • Kettle • Coffee machine • Cooking utensils • Cutlery • Crockery
All linen, is provided (but not pool towels) • Cot
Basic outdoor table and chairs and a sun umbrella
Notes
12v solar power only, converted to 220 volts, so mobile phones and laptops can be charged (note however that there's no internet here). Radio cassettes are OK, but more powerful appliances such as hairdryers cannot be used
You will need to draw drinking water freshly from a spring near the river
Sorry, no animals; the owner is allergic to cats and dogs.
There are no roads in the village. Cars are parked down by the river and from there it is a short, uphill walk (2 mins) to the house.
This, plus the very steep stairs in the house itself, means that the house is not suitable for those who have walking problems
A starter pack of basics to get you through the first night can usually be arranged for a supplement (payable locally)
Out of consideration for the neighbours, and also to make it easier for you, we ask guests to arrive in the hours of daylight if at all possible.There is no street lighting (no streets either) so you will need to bring torches
There is no fixed changeover day, so visitors can arrive and depart on any day of the week
Location
In the tiny hamlet of Puerto Juviley; 10 km from Torvizcón (simple shopping, a few bars, a small hotel and a wine factory); 10 km from Órgiva (most facilities)
Granada 1 hr; Costa Tropical 35 mins; Málaga 2 hrs
See the location map above
Airports
Granada 1¼ hrs; Málaga 2¾ hrs
See our Links Page for web sites of airlines traveling to Andalucia from the UK.
Car Hire
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