Casa Pilar Alto, Illora, Granada Newsletter 22nd May 2007

Illora Weekly News
Dateline 22.05.07

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The few hours a day we put into painting the rooms of Casa Pilar Alto Illora as building nears completion have recently only added to the respect we already felt for those who work here all day. With temperatures hovering between 30 and 35, three or four hours painting is exhausting for us. Our trabajadores put in 8 hours of really hard labour without a second thought and trot off home with a spring in their step, whilst we lie panting in another almost-painted bedroom.

Last week, we were barely in the place. Our friend Reeta very kindly flew over from the U.K. for a little holiday and a lot of giving us the mobility we needed to acquire those things which will turn Casa Pilar Alto Illora from a newly refurbished building into a hotel. As a result, we sit knee-deep in TV’s with DVD players, sofas, armchairs, hairdryers, curtain poles, curtains, light fittings, ceramic planters and much more, with limited space to store them until it is their turn to be put in place.

We also took the opportunity – for the cause of search engine optimisation, you understand – to take a few trips beyond the immediate environs of Illora and Granada, so that I could write about them and add them to the our web site. The first of these was to Salobrena – a lovely white-painted hillside town by the beach. I am challenged with a few ceilings, so my heart goes out to the one who did this. The drive to Salobrena makes the trip more than worthwhile – that the scenery is “breathtaking” seems a little lame. The town is lovely, the beach long and the hilltop castle…. high. Here, “breathtaking” works in a different sense – never try the climb just after lunch, is my advice.

On the Sunday we set out to Bermajales Lake and Alhama de Granada. Bermajales is a quiet spot – at least, it was when we got there - and requires a nice drive through the flat land below Illora and Granada – a pleasant change from Illora’s hills. Alhama de Granada has a reputation as a tourist hotspot but we found ourselves sitting in the main square in early evening, wondering what the fuss is about. You find out once you get to the larger of the churches, which looks like a miniature imitation of the cathedral in Granada. Alongside this is a wall which overlooks the deep gorge, which the rio alhama runs through. Alhama de Granada is a spa town and has been for centuries – much loved by the Moors. Definitely worth a visit, on reflection and both Salobrena and Bremajeles are no more than an hour’s drive from Illora.

Whilst we were shirking our responsibilities at home, the Spanish workers currently with us built a brand new terrace – at last bringing to a conclusion the early ambitions we had with Klaus’s back-filling and dry wall building. By far the highest of, now, 4 terraces, the new one sits right up against the rock, which dominates the centre of Illora and features a lovely wrought iron window we found in one of the stables – from before the days when windows included glass. The view is even better than that shown on our web site, at present. The terrace, and the view, will appear soon on the web site – once the capa fina is also finished and we have acquired the terrace furniture.

Next week is election week in Spain - local and regional elections take place on 27th May, with similar timing, I suppose, to the U.K. However, the Spanish take their elections rather more seriously – or, at least, the candidates and the media do. Loudspeaker vans extolling the virtues of whichever party tour the streets day in, day out. Posters are everywhere in every town – often six, or more, identical posters side by side. Presumably so that six people passing side by side will each be able to read them. We have been canvassed shortly after arriving in March by two friends who are standing – for different parties, which made it tricky. We solved the problem in the manner of much of the British electorate – we simply forgot to register in time.

I am tempted to name the bedrooms after the colours we have painted them – the first room, shown on the web site, is “piedra” (stone) and has been joined by “azul” (blue), “miel” (honey) and salmon (have a go at translating this one yourself). My only concern is what happens when, as surely will be the case, we have to use the same colour in two bedrooms. On the other hand I find an online “Double Bedroom” is boring. My ex-colleagues know of my love for having “Contemporary” or “Classic” bedrooms. Perhaps we should go for having a “Rustic Double Room” – or do we risk sending the wrong message, given the wonderfully modern bathroom and superb beds that come with each ? Alternative suggestions at this crucially formative stage are welcome.

In the meantime, I must get back to painting – the lounge suite for the small lounge has arrived and we have not finished painting that “terracotta”. The Spanish team have just finished creating our regulation width interior staircase. Casa Pilar Alto Illora, Granada, is closer to completion than anything I could show you would suggest, but this will change rapidly.

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Hasta luego !

Matthew and Cathy Brooks

Casa Pilar Alto
4,6 Cuesta Pilar Alto
18260 Illora
Granada
Spain

Email: stay@casaillora.com

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